My idea of country is Hank Williams Senior (while his son is the antithesis), Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Lorretta Lynn, Patsy Cline for the "oldies" and Uncle Tupelo, Jayhawks, Old 97s, Neko Case, Son Volt, Drive-by Truckers for the modern era. I'm a huge fan of Uncle Tupleo which essential launched the alt-country genre. I would argue alt-country is natural descendant of the old greats, NOT Kenny Chesney God-awful crap, all of which perverted the real country sound.