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Kenny Chesney - “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven”
Oh, what might have been.
George Strait recorded “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” for his recent album Troubador, but when the track didn’t make the final cut, Kenny Chesney grabbed the song and it’s now the first single from his upcoming project, That Lucky Old Sun.
I, for one, would like to hear King […]Continue reading "Kenny Chesney - “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven”"
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Reckless Kelly - “Ragged As The Road”
Songwriter: Willy Braun
Despite being perennial favorites in the Texas scene, Reckless Kelly only recently scored their first number one on the Texas Music Chart with , “Ragged As The Road,” a song inspired by the travels of Woody Guthrie as recounted in his autobiography, Bound For Glory.
“Ragged As The Road” consists of a series […] -
Tim McGraw - “Let It Go”
Songwriters: Tom Douglas, William C. Luther, and Aimee Mayo
The release of the title track from Tim McGraw’s album, Let It Go, extends a series of bizarre decisions, creating a case study on how not to manage an album. Despite having one of the top selling tours in country music, he only has one chart […] -
Dolly Parton - “Shinola”
Songwriter: Dolly Parton
Songwriters, take note: building your hook around a pop culture reference that’s sixty years old does not a good single make.
It’s obvious from the single releases from Backwoods Barbie that Dolly Parton wants to get back on radio but that she’s not willing to make many compromises. Witness the wailing steel […] -
Kid Rock - “All Summer Long”
Songwriters: Kid Rock, Edward King, Gary Rossington, Matthew Shafer, Ronnie Van Zant, Robert Watchel, Warren Zevon
Already a worldwide, cross-format smash, Kid Rock’s heavily derivative “All Summer Long,” which insatiably samples the signature licks from both Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves Of London” and Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” is currently working its way up the country charts–a […] -
Justin Moore - “Back That Thing Up”
Songwriters: Jeremy Stover and Randy Houser
It is a rare gift indeed when an artist can record a song that is completely centered around obvious sexual innuendo and still sound charming rather than sexist or simply obnoxious. That, however, is the feat Justin Moore has accomplished on his debut single, “Back That Thing Up,” an […] -
James Otto - “For You”
Songwriters: Jim Brown and Liz Hengber
The prevailing line of thought says artists need to release singles during the summer that deal with having a good time, how great life is, or how much fun the party is; it seems marketing departments think the radio audience is willing to accept less substance during the summer […] -
Carrie Underwood - “Just a Dream”
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Steve McEwan, Gordie Sampson
I’ve been more than critical of Carrie Underwood’s bombastic vocals on Carnival Ride, but, as I noted in my review of that album, there is one song on which Carrie’s performance really works, and that’s “Just a Dream,” Carnival Ride’s deserving fourth single. Deserving not only because of […] -
Randy Travis - “Dig Two Graves”
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley and Robert Regan
When my grandfather passed away in 1989, my grandmother had her name chiseled into the stone next to his with the date of death left blank and though she went on to live another 17 years and appreciated the time she had with her family, she looked forward to […] -
Pat Green - “Let Me”
Songwriters: Marc Beeson and Danny Orton
Ardent supports of the Texas music scene come across as nothing more than biased fanboys to some when they bemoan Pat Green’s Nashville transition, but material like “Let Me” makes me sympathetic to their plight. I’m only a casual fan of Green, but he has released some excellent material […]
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Forgotten Artists: Bradley Kincaid In a manner similar to Alan Lomax, William Bradley “The Kentucky Mountain Boy” Kincaid was one of the great American musicologists and collectors of American folk, country and parlor songs.
Forgotten Artists: Goldie Hill Had Carl Smith and Goldie Hill been born 30 or 40 years later, they might have been like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw–the dominant married couple in country music.
Miranda Lambert - “More Like Her” This kind of material, as opposed to her tough-chick-done-wrong romps like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder and Lead,” is where her real promise lies
Joey Rory - “Cheater, Cheater” It’s actually downright frivolous, but that just makes it all the more fun. And really, are you allowed to say “ho” on country radio?
Josh Gracin - “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” Despite initial marketing that touted the album as deep and personal, “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” is anything but deep or personal.
Josh Turner - "Everything Is Fine" Turner is the rare example of an artist who records material that’s both quality and trademark.
Darryl Worley - "Tequila On Ice" A groovy mid-tempo that sways, a refreshing reprieve from the exhausting pace of a format that clamors for loud music and swelling choruses.
Blake Shelton - "She Wouldn't Be Gone" It’s all about nailing the melody rather than providing a legitimate interpretation that accentuates the lyrical content, although Shelton does do a pretty good job of injecting what limited emotion he can.
Don’t look now, but Darius Rucker, lead singer of 90s rock group Hootie & The Blowfish, has a country hit on his hands. What you probably haven’t heard is that Rucker is the first black artist to chart a single in the country top 20 since Charley Pride last did it in 1988.
News that former Sugarland member and co-founder Kristen Hall is suing her ex-mates, to the tune of $1.5 million, goes a long way towards providing a bit of context regarding the Atlanta singer/songwriter’s sudden departure from the group.
In Memory of Don Helms (1927 - 2008) Helms dated back to a time when an excellent four or five piece band and a good singer were all that were needed to make great country music. No drums, no light shows, no production tricks in the recording studio–just good music.Current Discussion
- Razor X: OK, I'm listening to it now and I feel like I have died and gone to Hillbilly He...
- Stormy: Steve: We all know that Brady is a little strange and somewhat eccentric. WE d...
- Stormy: I’ve always wanted my music to sound like a good band And I want Russell ...
- Trent: Do you have proof steve, sound's like your the one with secrets, this blog is ab...
- Trent: Hey ???, why don't you use a name you MORON to make your stupid comment!...
- Jake B.: This review is very harsh.. What do you expect out of someones second album? She...
- J.R. Journey: ... and let's not forget Tom Shapiro either. Another first-class songwriter who...
- Matt B.: WTF? "Steve"?...
- J.R. Journey: I'm pleased to see Matraca Berg getting the recognition she deserves. It's long...
- steve: i dont know about mattb but i heard brady v is queer....
