See. You named all the groups that were creative way back ( And I listen to all of them). There are very few NEW music acts that are creative today. The fact that country music usually tells a story, allows the artists to introduce creative ways to sing said songs. Some of it is the same ole, same ole. But more creative songs are coming out of country music than any other genre today.
I could not disagree with you more.
Country is the one genre that has gone to complete shit over the last 30 years.
Rap's working on it at a much more rapid pace of the last 10 years, but there are still a few decent acts out there.
As far as country released this century goes, Hank III, Avett Brothers, Drag The River, Shooter Jennings, and Old Crow Medicine Show are pretty much the only acts worth half a shit.