Nashville country/contempory country is a big bag of shit. Now alt.country, newgrass, and some folk stuff, are the goods.
Uncle Tupelo
Whiskeytown
Slobberbone
(early) Wilco
Son Volt
Slobberbone
Richmond Fontaine
NICKEL CREEK
The Duhks
Gillian Welch
Great lake Swimmers
Alison Krauss and Union Station (I know they are pretty much contempory country now, but Alison krauss has a voice like no other)
Mindy Smith
Abigail Washburn
Bellwether
The Bowmans (www.myspace.com/thebowmans)
Pinetop Seven
Chew on some of that, baby.