Listen to the older stuff. Only good new stuff is Chris Stapleton
Moo, give me some essential country. Entry level and obscure is both good, I prefer both
Kayden Jones
Adam Jenkins
John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads
Jose Hall
Tim McGraw - Don't Take The Girl
Zachary Robinson
Ryan Adams - Shining Through The Dark
Alexander Peterson
I wouldn't disregard *all* of it.. check out David Cobb's compilation album (titled "Southern Family") as well as Lucinda Williams
stuff (granted, she's been making music from the 1980s and never fell off)
But yes, most modern country is absolute horseshit compared to the older country music. There are some examples of good "modern" country music but it's rare
Parker Sanchez
Hank Williams Jr - A Country Boy Can Survive
Gavin Carter
also see Magnolia Electric Co by Songs: Ohia
those are the two you should listen to if you're really gonna genre tourist it with two albums
Isaac Baker
The fuck is your problem?
Grayson Edwards
not the guy you're replying to but it makes more sense to compile a bunch of recommendations into one post rather than a bunch of posts, depending on who you're asking it's kinda spammy