I'm all about the lyrics. John Prine, Steve Goodman, Jeffrey Martin, Joe Pug, Slaid Cleaves, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt....those guys can/could write circles around pretty music all day long. I haven't heard an original melody in 20 years, but every day I hear great new lyrics. OTOH I do love to listen to and play Hawaiian slack key and gypsy jazz, both of which are 90% pure instrumental.
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