Artists to Watch in 2009: On Notice

Gretchen and John Rich are two turn-offs to me. Both seem very arrogant and egotistical! Don’t care for either of them or their music!

Chris Young helped kill his fledgling career by putting out an extremely weak and rushed first album. The song “Drinkin’ Me Lonely Tonight” built high expectations (like Randy Houser’s “Anything Goes”) that went completely unfulfilled on his album. The preponderance of lackluster filler material made Chris’ album an unpleasant thing to endure. Stumbling out of the starting gate that severely was a huge mistake and he’s lucky his career is still at the “sputter” stage. Great singles and radio acceptance could yet redeem Chris, but his latest single didn’t do near as well on radio as it should have.

Gretchen Wilson needs to get back to interesting songs like on “All Jacked Up” or she’s toast. When the quality of an artist’s music goes into decline its expected people will lose interest, well except for Alan Jackson that is….

Jessica Andrews needs to get fed songs from the same songwriter committees that service Carrie Underwood so she can compete head to head. I much prefer Jessica’s voice and also find her far more interesting and attractive than Carrie. Relying on songs written by her fiance will be a ticket on a fast train to nowhere.

I wish John Rich would just go away. Mars would be a nice place for him.

I can see watching Jessica, But do we really have to even pay attention to the others at all?

Rick makes an even better point on John Rich, but if he goes can he take Big Kenny with him? That whole redneck group Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson was just a quick buck for record execs. There is little real talent.

I have never started paying attention to Young and maybe church could take a few lessons from some of the great songwriters in Texas. Those guys know it is not all about them. (Pat Green excluded.)

If country music could view John Rich the way that John Rich views John Rich, he’d be the biggest star in the genre. John Rich!

Big Kenny is a very talented guy with a huge heart. It’s incredible that he maintained his relationship with Rich for as long as he did.

Todd Snider didn’t seem too high on Big Kenny in his open letter to Texans:

yesterday i went over to big kennys house to co-write
you wanna hear about people who are ready to blow the devil and kill they mothers
for less than two hundred grand in royalties
people who then spend the two hundred grand on four hundred grand worth of shit
i got stories for you

Maybe so, I didn’t look at it like that.

I think Wilson needs to put out a good album, to be sure. But I frankly don’t care how big a hit it is. Of course, I consider “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today” to be her best record to date, so I’m hardly a typical fan.

I can’t stand John Rich, or Big Kenny (musically)! Big Kenny has, perhaps, the worst voice on country radio.

I’m excited for Eric Church’s new album. A while back, the9513 posted a link to a performance of his on NPR featuring his new song “Without You Here.” I enjoyed his first album and if this new song is any indication, I’ll enjoy his next.

Great list, Jim. I couldn’t agree with you more. I have to think that Gretchen Wilson’s days of topping the charts are now effectively over. I’ve actually enjoyed her singles but I’m hoping this obnoxious “in your face redneck pride” trend is on its way out. History may remember her as a flash in the pan/one hit wonder. As for John Rich, I think his ego is waaaaay larger than his talent warrants. Nevermind that I cannot stand his uber conservative political opinions (keep ‘em to yourself John), his voice and songwriting are quite unremarkable. I also have little hope for Jessica Andrews. I enjoyed her singles but it’s been six years since “There’s More To Me Than You”, an eternity in the out of sight, out of mind mentality of radio programmers. I really don’t know anything about Chris Young if that tells you something about his career. I think Eric Church has the most promise so we’ll see you in January 2010 for their report cards!

If I get caught up in the horse race from time to time, you must forgive me, Barry–I’m a record man by pedigree. I see the truth in every point you’re making, but in terms of the state of the industry and the state of these artists’ careers, things like hits and sales matter.

What you’re presenting is a hypothetical situation where Wilson sits down and records as artistically engaging an album as she’s capable of, one which is designed primarily with artistic considerations in mind. IF she were doing that, and IF she were on an indie, and IF she managed to sell 150,000 units…

IF all of that were true, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, because the perspective from which we view and evaluate her music would have changed.

But Wilson is a mainstream artist, and she’s making a play to a mainstream audience. so we have to have a conversation about her music which makes sense in the context. And the bottom line is that for Wilson’s career to flourish, she needs a huge hit and she needs one now.

That’s the reality of Gretchen Wilson’s world. Of course the major label model is broken–no one in country music has been more vocal about that fact than I have. But the fact that it’s broken doesn’t mean I’m going to act like it doesn’t matter.

I’m charged with reporting on all of country music–the artists, the writers, the fans, the industry. I think my willingness to go after the system sometimes leaves some people thinking I’m an industry anarchist. But I’m not. I want to fix the mainstream, not abandon it. I want to fix the industry, not become the kind of writer who constantly blames it for everything that is wrong with music.

Chart position and sales are nothing more than stats. But stats are important unless we’re just going to discount commercial considerations.

I’ve got nothing against popular success and definitely get the need for success in pop of any sort Jim. And in fact, I don’t disagree with anything you’re saying in terms of observations of the situation as it has been–but I’m suggesting that the “given relaity” actually is changing now, a development an awful lotta people who love all the music, chart country included, would encourage. And I salute you, by the way, on the terrific job you’re doing here.

“but when I started at Belmont (this decade)”

No, I won’t hear it. In my head, you’re a slightly older, somewhat drunker Christopher Meloni, in a hat. La, la, la. Not listening.

I think she should focus on making music that sounds like only she could have made it, not any fool with a microphone.

I mean, there are people who can make music that slides right off them but sticks to their audience. I’m thinking of Trace Adkins, for instance. But I’m just not convinced that the world needs a female Trace Adkins.

But I do think the world could use the voice of a woman who was going to tell you some truths about the world and the things people do (for better or for worse) to live in it. I don’t care what tempo she does it at, just that she does it.

I don’t know, as a listener, what makes “Redneck Woman” seem more authentic than “All Jacked Up,” but it sure does.

Drew from the forums posted this quote from Church regarding the next album:

“‘Sinners Like Me’ changed my life. But you can’t make the same record again. I wanted ‘Carolina’ to go to some different places,” says the Granite Falls, N.C. native. “The first album was more aggressive and moody. This one is more diverse, more musical and a little brighter. I hope people can at least hear that we’re still taking chances.”

I’ve heard several of Church’s new stuff through live shows/youtube, but I’ll reserve judgement until I hear the record as a whole.

Good luck Eric.

I am not a John Rich fan, but I agree with the post that “Never Mind Me” was a REALLY good song. If that wasn’t going to be a hit given the circumstances at the time of its release, then John Rich is never gonna record one by himself.

As for the discussion about the music industry in general, I think there is something to be gained for having flawed major labels, or at leasta system where major labels release and radio stations play things some of us don’t want to hear. I don’t think that the Red Dirt scene for example would have developed the way it did without Nashville going more pop during the 90’s. The separation between whats being played on the radio and what other independent artists are recording is part of the appeal of those independent artists. Conflict is not always a bad thing, especially when creativity is involved.

I started college in ‘99, so I guess I’m older than you, Mr. Malec. I pictured you looking more like most of my professors than my fellow students. You writing is extremely mature and well thought out. I will continue to read your valuable insights, only with a little more amazement given your relative youth.

I think Eric Church has the least chance out of the five he always creeps me out and i haven’t liked any of his songs so far.

Idle – I’ve heard John in small venues as you mention, and I’ve heard him do “The Man”. Thats’ why I stated earlier that I do believe that he has talent, but it always gets overshadowed (to me anyway) by the attitude and big mouth and stupid stunts and I dont want to have to wonder if at any particular time if I’m gonna see his talent or his attitude.

Steve M.,

Everyone in Nashville, including Chris Cagle.

“I think what killed Gretchen Wilson’s career was the fact she was shoved down everyone’s throats.”

So why does Carrie Underwood still have a career, then?

“The thing I like about the 9513 is that it doesn’t try to ignore country radio, or worse yet, rail on about how it’s some sort of monster needing to be destroyed.”

Country radio is doing a fine job of destroying itself. No need for anyone else to assist in the suicide.

Perhaps I should elaborate slightly on my point (in order to prove that I agree with Razor X’s snark): I’m not defending what’s on country radio or how it’s run, but I think it’s counter-productive to ignore it. Country radio is still the number one spot to hear new music for the majority of people. The 9513 doesn’t ignore that fact, and it doesn’t ignore the fact that a lot of what is on country radio is garbage.

I view No Depression and CMT.com as flip sides of the same coin. They both tend to wax rapsodic about most everything they hear, and tend to ignore the other side. I don’t get much out of that, so I mainly read those sites for articles on artists I’ve already heard of. I tend to trust the 9513 a lot more, since I know that they’re (relatively) unbiased about their reviews.

(On that note, I discovered Joey + Rory months before they’re song started going into rotation at my local station thanks to this site – so there you go).

It could be my distaste for John Rich that makes me look at everything he does with skepticism, but “The Man” strikes me as a glib panderfest. The verses are well-written, I will give John Rich that. But lines like “When I see people on my TV taking shots at Uncle Sam” reflects the kneejerk conflation of protest with ingratitude to our troops that has needlessly and destructively polarized political dialogue. I would like to see more thought and nuance in a song that honors our country’s “Greatest Generation.”

And the line “We’d all be speaking German, living under the flag of Japan” makes me cringe. I understand that the reference is to their respective regimes at the time of World War II, but to call those countries out as such and imply that they embody evil is distracting, to say the least. Another example of sloppy writing, in my view.

I think Chris Young has a great voice, and if only it could be allied to some killer material, he could easily become one of my favourites. I wasn’t too impressed by the song Voices, so my hopes aren’t all that high for his second album, unfortunately. And if radio wouldn’t play a genuinely good song like Drinkin’ Me Lonely, I’m not sure they’ll play lesser material by Chris.

I like Gretchen Wilson, and I actively prefer her when she’s more subdued and low-key. But it looks as though country radio doesn’t, and I would frankly be surprised if she got another big single hit.

I quite liked Eric Church’s debut. I hear the follow up is supposed to be brighter and more positive; this rings major alarm bells for me from a personal will-I-enjoy-the-record pov, though it might help at radio.

Jessica Andrews has never done anything displaying any depth or that interests me at all. I don’t expect her to do so in future, either, although she does have a good voice. I guess her style fits right in with the current mood at country radio, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her make a breakthrough this year if Lyric Street push her aggressively. I wouldn’t be surprised by another failure, either.

I despise John Rich for his public personality so much I can’t really judge his music fairly.

I hope Chris Young manages to find himself and some good material to become the recording artist I think he can become. As for the others, I was never gung-ho on their voices anyway.

I don’t like the sniping at John Rich – if you don’t like his music, fine. Just judge his music on its merits. I realize some don’t like his attitude or politics, but the fact that I am not enamored of the politics of the Dixie Twits or Barbara Streisand doesn’t stop me from purchasing and enjoying their music IF and WHEN they produce good albums.

With most artists I do ignore any extraneous issues like poloitics or personality – it’s the music that matters. But John Rich really is Just.That.Annoying. I might still be prepared to overlook all that if he did make great music.

I think Gretchen Wilson’s problem was that no matter what she did, it often came off as manufactured. “Redneck Woman” is so cleanly produced that almost none of her so-called grit comes out. “Here for the Party” is just one of 87,000 party songs. “When I Think About Cheatin’” is at the best a nice try at a 70s sound that doesn’t quite hit the mark. “All Jacked Up” was so exaggerated and over the top that I can only listen to it as a guilty pleasure. Blah blah blah, yakkidy smakkidy. So many times she just seems to be pandering to radio, and the success of “Redneck Woman” has become a burden. I’ve said it before: “Achy Breaky Heart” is to Billy Ray Cyrus as “Redneck Woman” is to Gretchen Wilson.

John Rich should be interesting to watch. I actually think that Horse of a Different Color is one of the best albums I’ve ever heard, in part because of the wide variety of styles that it combines. But some of the lines he’s coming up with now are outright horrible, and “Another You” is horribly bland, just like most of the tracks from his solo BNA album. Big & Rich’s third album was pretty weak too. As for his BNA album being weak, that was pre-Big & Rich, but what the heck happened to him now? Did fame get to his head?

As for Jessica, I am still disgusted that the very blandly sung “Who I Am” is her biggest hit, not just because it kept Travis Tritt’s excellent “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” from #1. Andrews has some potential, she just isn’t using it, especially not on something as lame as “Everything”.

Eric Church does have interesting material at times. I thought “Two Pink Lines” was rather original, for one. I saw him live and he really had a refreshing grit that didn’t exactly come out on the album.

As for Chris Young, all I know from him is “Drinkin’ Me Lonely” and “Voices”. I don’t even watch Nashville Star, but I do find it funny that Miranda Lambert is by far the most successful NS contestant, when she didn’t even win.

I think Sara Evans is well enough established that it would take more than a couple of minor setbacks to significantly derail her career.

Gretchen Wilson lost it for me when I saw her “Behind-the music” style bio in which she bemoaned the lack of time she got to spend with her little girl, then 3. Then she proceeded to get up on stage and sing about partying and getting jacked up. Heckuvan example to set for that little girl. “I can be a strong, proud country girl, but it takes a lot of liquor and bad behavior.” Didn’t care what she had to say after that.

whoever wrote the section on eric church is a d bag. eric has more talent then anyone in country music today, and writes his own music unlike 90 percent of the other musicians