Country is an inherently reactionary genre, so alt-country - a reaction to a glitzy era of Nashville pop - is in some ways the most pure country music of all, a return to the core values of evocative storytelling and campfire-warm production. The Avett Brothers and Bonnie “Prince” Billy wring incredible pathos from spare, halting melodies, while Songs: Ohia and My Morning Jacket slip into CSNY-esque country rock like an old sweater. A creaky old Johnny Cash fits right in, intoning end times Bible imagery and sounding downright excited about it.