"Merle Haggard meets the Ramones"

JILL AND I are opening our 18th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY this morning by listening to the "FERVOR" EP by alt.country pioneers JASON & THE SCORCHERS -- led by Sheffield, Ill., native JASON RINGENBERG.
“Twenty years ago Jason Ringenberg was the pioneer of what then was called 'new sincerity.' Now he is feted as alt-country's elder statesman," wrote John Aizlewood in Britain's Guardian newspaper.
Rank and File, Jason & The Scorchers and Uncle Tupelo all emerged in the 1980s, playing a style of country music infused with punk attitude.
Searching for a proper description, critics called the music "cowpunk." Eventually it became known as "alt.country," a musical style that spawned books, magazines and countless albums.
Listening to "Fervor" this morning, I can barely remember how startingly it sounded two decades ago. Were the punks playing country, or were the country boys playing punk?
Yes to both queries.