I like Gillian Welch
She is my favorite right now, I like her new album too. It was well worth the 5 year wait. My favorite thing about her is that she is absolutely despised by many current country musicians simply because she's from New York and not "Truly country" but to be frank, she's better than any act on CMT. She's what I consider real country, or roots country, roots folk blah blah blah etc etc. I don't know what it is but she just speaks to me in a way no other musician does, I feel like she knows the hardships of my family. I also think every man has that one female singer that just seduces our sense of hearing, she's definitely that for me. God I adore her. Props for good taste man, seriously.
I find it funny though that I'm sitting here talkin' country and hip hop in the same thread. I think that's because I'm from California, Pomona is where I was born but I moved further away from LA and moved out near San Bernardino. Not too many Country/Folk enthusiasts out here, but my folks listen to it but I grew up around hip hop, never really learned to enjoy it until the last few years.
In terms of influence on my musical taste it goes like this in this order:
1. Bob Dylan (I know he can't sing but he's my boy, I tend to hate perfection in music anyway, something fake about being overly talented.)
2. Bone Thugs N Harmony (I love them, they're actually really talented and from the golden age of hip hop.)
3. Gillian Welch (For reasons stated above.)
4. Tom Waits (Who doesn't love the cookie monster?)
5. Shane MacGowan (He's a hideous drunk but damn is he a real poet.)