Alt Country

These vital tracks take the swagger, honky-tonk heartbreak, and twang that built Music City and chase 'em back with a shot of whiskey and a dose of punk attitude. From Uncle Tupelo to Ryan Adams, every one of the modern artists here worship at the altar of country rock pioneer Gram Parsons.

Not content with the spit-polished sound of modern country? Belly up to these next alt-country songs positively steeped in the music's twang 'n' heartbreak traditions. Take special note of the scene's amazing sweet, strong women such as Iris DeMent and Lucinda Williams.

Think you already know all the best that alt-country has to offer? Think again. Here are the deep catalog tracks that offer as much as their better known peers. Yep, that is the White Stripes' Jack wrangling the incendiary guitar intro on Loretta Lynn's "Portland, Oregon."

Like outlaw country before it, alt-country — also known as Americana, No Depression, and insurgent country — found itself pushed outside the Nashville scene because it's so ruggedly traditional. These essentials are a generous slice of pure alt-country attitude, from the '60s and '70s pioneers Gram Parsons and Steve Earle to the sound's modern torchbearers like Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, and the Old 97's.