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James Otto – “Groovy Little Summer Song”
Songwriters: James Otto, Carson Chamberlain and Al Anderson.
Like blistering sunburns caused by prolonged exposure to the long, hot days of summer, country songs that celebrate the season of fun in the sun can quickly become over-baked and painful. James Otto’s new single “Groovy Little Summer Song,” however, breaks through the pack and delivers a self-aware, [...] -
Rodney Atkins – “Farmer’s Daughter”
Hold your horses, cowpokes–Rodney Atkins’ new single, “Farmer’s Daughter,” is not a cover of Merle Haggard’s classic piece of country music poetry. In fact, Atkins’ innocuous vignette is about as far as possible from that father’s rumination on the night he’ll give his daughter away to a city boy.
Here, perhaps country music’s most family-friendly [...] -
Trailer Choir – “Rolling Through The Sunshine”
Three friends named Butter, Big Vinny and Crystal sounds like a team of crime-fighting mice from a mid-‘80s Saturday morning cartoon, but together they are, in fact, Trailer Choir. Up until now, the band is best known for its song, “Rockin’ The Beer Gut,” and the fact that Big Vinny–a 400-plus pound former Sonic manager [...]
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Chris Janson – “Until A Woman Comes Along”
On his MySpace artist page, new BNA Records act Chris Janson says that his music sounds like, “Hot, sizzling bacon.” That may be a bit of an exaggeration (depending on how much you like the sound of pork frying in its own fat), but there’s no denying that the 23 year old has a dynamic, [...]
Continue reading "Chris Janson – “Until A Woman Comes Along”"
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Jonalee White – “Naked As Fools”
With a name like Jonalee, a psychic would probably have no reservations about predicting a rendezvous with country music in your future. Jonalee White fulfills that fate to varying degrees of success with her new single “Naked As Fools,” a song that flirts with relevance but ultimately remains just a tease.
The tune’s soft start shows [...] -
Little Big Town – “Little White Church”
In the Mixed-Gender Pop-Country Band Popularity Contest, Little Big Town is lagging somewhere behind Gloriana and Lady Antebellum these days. That’s a shame, because they’re more dynamic than either of those two groups. New single “Little White Church” has the potential to put the quartet back in the race.
Though it shares a title with a [...] -
Gloriana – “The World Is Ours Tonight”
When Gloriana topped Lady Gaga to win the fan-voted Breakthrough Artist of the Year at last fall’s American Music Awards, the music industry let out a collective “Gloriana who?”
Followers of this Music Row foursome wouldn’t have been surprised.
As opening act for Taylor Swift, the band won over a host of youthful fans, with their [...] -
Uncle Kracker – “Smile”
Since Uncle Kracker’s debut single “Follow Me” shot up the pop charts in 2001 and paved the way for artists such as Jason Mraz and John Mayer, the singer has straddled the lines between rock, pop, soul and country(ish) music.
That qualifying -ish reflects the lightweight fare he’s touched within the genre on “When the [...] -
Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”
In country music, home is where the hits are.
Small town living is the go-to topic for Music Row writers looking for a cheap hook. In the rural utopia they‘ve invented for today’s country radio, a few hard-and-fast rules apply: Saturday nights are spent in a hell-raisin’, hard-drinkin’ fury; Sunday mornings are saved by [...]Continue reading "Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”"
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Brad Paisley – “Water”
Songwriters: Brad Paisley, Chris DuBois and Kelly Lovelace.
Reviewing most of today’s mainstream country music is a lot like reviewing fast-food hamburgers. From the Rodeo Burger to the McRoyal to the Kickin’ Mexican Burger, it’s always the same taste, made from the same ingredients, marketed in a way that tries to imply the product is something [...]
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While the voice of country’s future took home this year’s big honor, a legendary voice from country music’s past scored a win for Album Of The Year. Check out the winners in The 9513's 2nd Annual Country Music Awards now!
Josh Turner's fourth album, Haywire, furthers his reputation as one of the leading men in contemporary country, a true, traditional voice in an ever-changing Nashville scene.
Having played on more than 500 albums and toured with artists that range from Hank III to Dolly Parton, Randy Kohrs has become one of the go-to musicians when there’s a need for a resophonic guitar
Sammy Kershaw – “Better Than I Used To Be”
As the title track off his upcoming album, “Better Than I Used to Be” is a straight-up look back on the career of a country music staple.
Emily West Featuring Keith Urban – “Blue Sky” Emily West turns in a gorgeous performance on “Blue Sky,” hitting notes few of her contemporaries can reach.
What does Alan Jackson like on his eggs?
Cheese and corn; he still likes bologna; a load of salsa; hens? Answers to the questions you'd never dream of asking. (
In each and every instance, the best country albums of the past ten years were built on the backs of songs -- stories about you and me from birth to death and stories that paint landscapes rooted in every region of America and beyond. These are the top country albums of the decade.Current Discussion
- Ben Foster: That was the meanest favorable review I've ever read. You harshly criticized the song's use of cliches, and then ...
- Ben Foster: I knew I hated this song the moment I heard the 30-second iTunes preview, but I couldn't quite describe why. ...
- Krystina: I love this song and it really hits close to home and makes me remember that feeling...I think she is ...
- luckyoldsun: Noah E-- I wonder why "Long Line of Losers" stiffed. When I heard it on Kevin Fowler's CD I thought it would ...
- stormy: But that would only make you money if it paid comission. And then it would depend on how much ...
- Chris N.: That's gonna be a tough one, as "Sissy's Song" was on the last record.
- Chris N.: Of course, Jon. I'm certain I could buy and sell you.
- stormy: Jon: Yeah, but does it pay more than 50,000 a year on average?
- Jon: And yet it generally pays more than playing or writing music...
- Steve Harvey: I think Miranda Lambert could pull off a pretty compelling rendering of 'You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone'.
