Young people in the South listen to contemporary radio hits just like all young Americans. But for people in New York, the sounds of Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie and many other well-known artists are regional delights. Young Southerners, specifically Alabamians, may be asking themselves what kind of music emerges from the South nowadays.
On Dec. 1 of last year, The Oxford American magazine provided some answers by releasing its 12th annual Southern Music edition. For the second consecutive year, the magazine is choosing a single Southern state as its focus — Alabama. Last year the publication featured Arkansas’ music scene.
“The great thing about Alabama music is that every American genre is represented in the state,” said Marc Smirnoff, editor of The Oxford American. “There is so much to that Alabama sound.”
The OA’s music issue is typically its largest of the year, with a circulation of 50,000. According to a press release, the issue has received praise from publications such as The New York Times and The Boston Globe and artists such as Chris Isaak and Tom Petty.
The issue includes a 176-page magazine and 26-song CD. It can be purchased for $10.95 at most newsstands and bookstores as well as the OA’s website. Alabamians can look forward to in-depth coverage of their regional music.
“The CD and 80 percent of the magazine are devoted to Alabama,” Smirnoff said. “All artists on the CD are discussed in the magazine.”
Given that many of the featured artists are relatively unknown, Smirnoff said he understands why young people may be skeptical.
“It’s all a matter of previous exposure and preconceptions,” Smirnoff said. “When it comes to the older stuff that some of our featured artists cover, I have learned that college kids have their barriers.”
Despite the generation’s seemingly natural distaste for black-and-white movies and scratchy records, Smirnoff said he believes young people, especially college students, should be intrigued by Alabama’s music. Citing students’ fascination with contemporary music and their general willingness to listen to “good” music, he said most music-savvy students will enjoy the CD.
“We’ve tried to come up with a party mix that will work in the presence of smart listeners,” Smirnoff said. “We crave critical responses and have found that students actually do like it.”
The CD does feature some familiar names. Dinah Washington can be heard covering Hank Williams, and Odetta covers a song by Bob Dylan. Smirnoff said he thinks those well-known tunes should automatically help skeptics warm to the lesser-known artists like soul artist Mary Gresham and garage rock group The K-Pers.
“Everybody says ‘I like good music,’” he said. “If that’s true, then people should see how open-minded and critical they can become on the subject [of obscure, good music]. Then it becomes fascinating.”
Visit oxfordamerican.org for extended coverage of Alabama music, including web-only articles, videos and more songs not available on the CD.
