Drama Behind Richie McDonald’s Split From Lonestar And Willie Nelson Has Chance To Be “Fallen Angel” For A Day
- Still Is Still Moving posted a story from Marsha Sills about Willie Nelson’s day in court this past Tuesday. The women were giddy and the Assistant District Attorney was a little dismayed at the reaction.
Songwriter and singer Willie Nelson’s court appearance in St. Martinville on Tuesday always will be on the minds of those women who met him as he left the courthouse.For the small group of fans, including courthouse employees who gathered outside, Nelson was their fallen angel for the day.
- Big & Rich talk to LiveDaily about their newest album, songwriting, Muzic Mafia, and a whole slew of other things. When asked about their upcoming release, they had this to say:
I think this album is just a collection of great songs. There’s no angles or slants to anything. It’s just great songs, coming right at ya. It’s just the best of the best of what we’ve written. There’s not an “8th of November” for you or anything like that, especially with this album. It’s just great songs, one after the next after the next after the next. I think this record could be the most successful thing we’ve ever done.
- City Girl, Country Girl gushes about the Standard Songs for Average People album from John Prine and Mac Wiseman.
Though I’ve made much of my love for Prine, I must say Wiseman just might steal the album. The 81-year-old “Voice with a Heart” lives up his clunky, if completely accurate, nickname. Wiseman interprets the lyrics with gravity and wry humor when appropriate — never hammy as so many younger artists are when tackling older material. Wiseman certainly isn’t as iconic as Bill Monroe, or Flatt and Scuggs, but this album serves as a reminder that sometimes music is about who can have the most fun, and I wouldn’t pit anyone against Wiseman.
Excellent review. I’ll add this one to my ever growing list of “Albums to Buy When I Get More Money.”
- Edward Morris has an article detailing the events leading up to lead singer Richie McDonald’s departure from the band Lonestar. The band feels like they got pigeonholed into doing a certain kind of song, and they feel part of their decline was brought on by conceding too much song-picking power to McDonald. Perhaps sensing the downward spiral, their producer quit producing them in order to work with Rascal Flatts.
Britt says McDonald revealed his intention to leave after BNA Records had severed its ties with the group.
“We were actually sitting down to a meeting to talk about other possibilities for our record deal,” he explains. “That’s when Richie told us he wanted some time to think about what he wanted to do. Then he let us know a couple of weeks later.”
To make matters even worse, the band says that McDonald started leaking his split to the media before he ever gave them a definite decision.
- Dale Watson’s From the Cradle to the Grave receives more praise from Kathy Coleman at About.com, receiving a full five stars. Twang Nation has some nice things to say about the album as well, albeit using a different rating system. Instead of stars, the author opts for four and a half naked women.
- The Statesman lists 10 crucial Drive-By Truckers songs that will convert anyone.
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Big & Rich // Dale Watson // Drive By Truckers // John Prine // Lonestar // Mac Wiseman // Richie McDonald // Willie Nelson
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April 30, 2007 at 10:51 am Permalink
Naked women? well yeah but ’round Twang Nation way we refer to them by the more PC name of mud-flap girls.
Here’s another fine review for Dale at Pop Matters:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/33543/dale-watson-from-the-cradle-to-the-grave/
April 30, 2007 at 10:54 am Permalink
I usually see them more as emblems on the door or something, but mud flap works as well.
But I thought the “naked women” might get you the most clicks. ;)
April 30, 2007 at 11:12 am Permalink
There is some irony in the fact that Big and Rich seems to be reaching the top of their game with their new single and approaching album, while Rich’s former group, Lonestar, seems to be headed down the tubes.
As soon as Lonestar released “Mr. Mom” to radio, I pretty much knew the pre-”Im Already There” Lonestar fans grew to love was long gone.
April 30, 2007 at 11:23 am Permalink
I like the idea of albums with the best material that an artist can put together without having to adhere to some format or mood. Hopefully the Big & Rich album can deliver.
April 30, 2007 at 1:09 pm Permalink
The Big & Rich album is sequenced really oddly — most of the slow or midtempo material is the first half, and the rockin’ stuff is all in the second half. It’s a little cockeyed. That said, the material is probably their strongest yet, plus you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Wyclef Jean namecheck Reba McEntire.
April 30, 2007 at 1:18 pm Permalink
>>But I thought the “naked women” might get you the most clicks. ;)
I like where your head is at, friend.
April 30, 2007 at 1:45 pm Permalink
The B&R is going to be huge. Most of today’s consumers don’t listen to albums as a whole–they listen to particular songs, and the concept of the record becomes somewhat irrelevant.
April 30, 2007 at 4:38 pm Permalink
I used to listen to particular songs, and still do some times (ie: when listening to my iPod or working out, etc.), but I feel like the aural experience of listening to a well produced album is much better than having a piecemealed album…even if they are all great songs.
This would be a good topic to dive into more and ask readers what they prefer.
April 30, 2007 at 4:46 pm Permalink
Brody- Dude, how does Bowen get robbed of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award AGAIN!
April 30, 2007 at 5:06 pm Permalink
Because Marcus Camby has artificially inflated stats since no one else on the Nuggets knows what defense is. One writer for ESPN said Bowen should only make the second team! Spurs aren’t consistently #1 in defensive efficiency just because of Tim Duncan, but because Bowen is a freak of nature when it comes to defense. He was robbed. Besides, most people don’t like the Spurs because they’re “boring,” an argument that is oft used to discredit traditional country music, and don’t want to see them praised for anything.
April 30, 2007 at 7:21 pm Permalink
Word! I’m sick to death of the boRing gripe. If winning without hot-dogging is boring then, lord, BORE ME! Nice move bringing in the country music analogy, but you’re right..old school don’t get the sneakers.
May 1, 2007 at 5:20 am Permalink
Big Shot Rob all the way!
May 1, 2007 at 7:50 am Permalink
I’m dying from staying up so late to watch the game, but that was unbelievable. I don’t see how one guy can come up with so many amazing clutch shots.
May 1, 2007 at 8:02 am Permalink
Sooo sleepy….must watch Nelly slap Cuban tonight.
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