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Editor’s note
: In an occasional series called Through Lines, we’re taking a look back at records that help tell the evolving story of Nashville music, one decade at a time. Our installment on the 2000s comes to us from former Scene
music editor Tracy Moore, who called on a variety of contributing writers to discuss a wide range of releases from the decade. Also see our installments on the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s.
Nashville music fans faced an increasingly frustrating problem in the Aughts: deciding which of many exciting local independent acts — often as not, very new ones — to check out on a given night. By mid-decade, the issue grew more serious, with a slew of top-notch recordings to match those thrilling live shows, and national attention turning our way. Though the era saw many artists wrestle deeply and sometimes publicly with notions of “selling out” — remember when that was still a sick burn, kids? — the crowded scene meant more competition. It produced a high caliber of work that channeled the city’s history and roots, and forged ahead in directions no one expected from a place still primarily known for hawking country.