Country Album Sales Down 16.3 Percent in 2007
- Total album sales in the U.S are down 15 percent in 2007, but country music album sales dropped even further in 2007–to 16.3 percent–and no country artist made the top-10 digital chart in 2007. Sounds pretty bleak, but then again, so does a lot of the music. Dig.
- Charley Pride will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 2008 Mississippi Gov.’s Awards on Feb. 8 for Excellence in the Arts. The only artist to sell more albums at RCA Records is Elvis Presley.
- Take a guess at which album topped the Washington Post’s Top Albums of 2007 list.
- Chet Flippo digs the new duet album from Anne Murray.
The world could sorely use a bit of beauty just now, and I’ve found some. Anne Murray is releasing a gorgeous CD of duets with some of her favorite women singers, and it’s an absolute joy. Murray has quietly gone about her business for years of recording songs she loves and, along the way, has racked up an admirable country music chart history with such No. 1 country hits as “Could I Have This Dance,” “I Just Fall in Love Again” and “A Little Good News.” It’s hard now to believe that she first charted country in 1970 with “Snowbird.” How time flies.
- Is the Tim McGraw for governor story really gaining legs?
- Galleywinter’s Brad declares “Texas Music” of the ’90s and early ’00s dead, but says 2007 marked a “changing of the guard, a rebirth…the start of a renaissance.”
You can’t fake or copy the authenticity of Ryan Bingham, the soul of Adam Hood, the depth of Josh Grider, the melodic genius of Randy Rogers, or even the firepower of Miranda Lambert…so don’t try. Be yourself…people will dig you all the more.
- Little Big Town gained a new member. Actually, band members Phillip Sweet and wife Rebecca had a baby girl, Penelopi Jane Sweet.
- The third installment of Country Universe’s “Best Debut Singles of All Time” features some fantastic songs an artists. Can’t wait to see who made the Top 10.
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We've labored long and hard to come up with our list of the Top 10 Country Albums of 2008. Click here to see who claimed the honor of the year's top album, as chosen by The 9513's staff and writers.
Don’t confuse disappointing with worst, as that list would most likely be dominated by obscure indie knockoff bands along with a couple of mainstream releases. There has to be a modicum of expectation that’s dashed upon the release of an album for it to qualify for the year’s most disappointing.
Join host Kelly Dearmore as he shines the light on several noteworthy album releases you might have missed and interviews various artists, from Sarah Borges to Trent Willmon and Reckless Kelly to Wade Bowen, in the first two episode of The 9513 podcast.
Jim Malec counts down the top 20 country music news stories of 2008. How many times do you think John Rich will be mentioned?Tagged In This Article
Anne Murray // Charley Pride // Little Big Town // Miranda Lambert // Tim McGraw
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January 4, 2008 at 11:11 am Permalink
See Jim, you were right….overrated….
January 4, 2008 at 11:52 am Permalink
The examples just keep coming. I swear, if you went by critical reaction, this album would have to stack up in the top ten of all time. Seriously, someone show me an album that has received more critical acclaim, across the board? There aren’t many. If any.
As an aside, ranking any Miranda Lambert album ahead of any Patty Griffin album, in terms of artistic quality, takes balls.
January 4, 2008 at 12:52 pm Permalink
springsteen isn’t on that list. ‘magic’ should be in the top 10.
January 4, 2008 at 2:09 pm Permalink
Jim, Ultimately, I still dont think that she is as overrated as maybe that album might be. I was just trying to have a little fun. It seems to be a clear case of non-country writers and bloggers deciding that they will “diversify” the same way that their fellow non-country scribes are trying to. Very redundant and predictable, especially considering that they all have the same 5 or 6 non coutry albums at the top of those lists (anyone ever heard of M.I.A.??)
January 4, 2008 at 3:42 pm Permalink
Miranda’s album has been on so many of these lists because it is worthy and of high quality. It is not because some secret underground society of critics got together and said “lets rank Crazy Ex-Girlfriend really high to piss off all the non-fans.” It seems every media source can see the great talent that Lambert has and what a fine album she released in 2007 (all except for one).
Having all that said, I don’t think it was the very best album of 2007 like the Post says (I think the only one that was better was Trisha Yearwood’s), but that doesn’t excuse the continued badgering and bashing of Miranda Lambert that occurs on this site just because a lot of critics like her album. If you have a problem with her album and the recognition it receives, maybe you can give feedback to the people composing the lists instead of bashing an artist who happened to release a damn good album. It’s not her fault that a lot of people like what she released. I’m sure you’re all crossing your fingers that she’ll release a piece of crap when it comes time for her to release another one. Just don’t hold your breath.
January 4, 2008 at 3:45 pm Permalink
Dave S–just so we’re clear, I’m the only person at The 9513 who has openly spoken out regarding the amount of praise this album has received.
January 4, 2008 at 4:47 pm Permalink
Dave S: Other than Jim’s editorial, I don’t think there has been a continued badgering or bashing of Miranda Lambert’s album. Five songs from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend were actually nominated for our Best Songs of 2007 list and two made it. I thought it was a good album, with some great songs, that seems to be assigned too much importance based on the attitude of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder & Lead.” It’s a good album that is probably overrated, but that’s more a commentary on other critics rather than Miranda Lambert’s ability or her album itself.
January 4, 2008 at 5:04 pm Permalink
Can’t we just be happy that a contemporary country album is actually getting noticed at all by the hipster music press? If Miranda weren’t on those lists there probably wouldn’t be any country on them at all.
January 4, 2008 at 7:27 pm Permalink
Haven’t we beaten this horse dead a few times over by now?
January 4, 2008 at 10:28 pm Permalink
Just wanted to say, since I don’t say it nearly enough, thanks for the shout-out!
January 6, 2008 at 6:12 pm Permalink
No problem Kevin, it’d be a disservice to our readers to not call more attention to your blog.
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