My Morning Jacket Singer Believes Country Music Is Dumbing People Down

American rock band My Morning Jacket have an eclectic sound that's somewhere between pop and country, but lead singer Jim James says neither genre holds much appeal for him. In fact, he credits country music with "dumbing down the human race."

Although the Kentucky-based group's unique sound has made it difficult for them to find commercial success on the radio, James insists that he won't be switching to pop or country music anytime soon.

“Having a hit would be awesome, but I don’t know if it’s meant to happen,” he tells Rolling Stone. He's more concerned about producing quality music than about creating a chart-topping single, calling pop radio “such a waste of time.” But he has even harsher feelings about modern country music.

“I feel like modern country is deliberately dumbing down the human race,” James declares. “They’re deliberately making people take glory in being uneducated and racist, and it’s just sad. I think it’s absolute mind control."

Despite his harsh words about country music, James doesn't mind collaborating with artists who are on the outskirts of the genre, such as Quiet Life and Shovels & Rope.

While country music has certainly changed in the last several years, it continues to gain popularity across the nation. How do you feel about James' critique of country music? Is it right on the money, or is the genre simply changing and evolving? Sound off in the comments section below!

Quit Complaining About Modern Country Music!