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Randy Rogers Readies 3rd Annual Sake of the Song Festival
- Galleywinter has the lowdown on Randy Rogers’ 3rd Annual Sake of the Song Festival this Friday and Saturday, plus the history behind the festival.
- Jerrod Nieman added “The Way It Used To Be” to his MySpace, go check it out.
- When John Hiatt married his wife Nancy they each had a kid, which means the kids were always around, but now that the kids are grown he says they’re romantic again, and it’s that romance that influences his new album, Same Old Man. John Gerome describes it as “a middle-aged man’s love letter, his travelogue to a long and durable relationship.”
- Carrie Underwood is a vegetarian. Jessica Simpson wore a t-shirt proclaiming “Real Girls Eat Meat.” Speculation abounds. Could this whole “feud” simply be a marketing ploy to keep Simpson in the limelight? All that aside, the question everyone should be asking themselves is, what happened to Jessica Simpson’s feet? (thanks for the link, Lynn)
- Pat Green’s newest single, “Let Me,” is up on his MySpace. He got Huffed.
- Dierks Bentley dishes to Craig Shelburne about life on the road and the bus. For some people it’s tough, but Bentley thinks it’s a blast, even when he sleeps in a bunk just like the rest of the band.
- Country Universe’s “100 Greatest Women” inches closer to the Top 10 by the day. It’s currently at No. 14 with Barbara Mandrell. Here’s a snippet from Kevin:
She completely transformed the notion of what a country music entertainer should be, breaking down barriers for women and raising the bar for all of those who followed her.
- Faith Hill’s first Christmas album, Joy To The World, is slated for a September 16th release date and includes mostly standards but will have one original in “A Baby Changes Everything,” written by Tim Nichols, Craig Wiseman and K.K. Wiseman.
- Sarah Buxton added five more songs to her MySpace blog for your feedback.
- On July 15 Taylor Swift will release a CD/DVD collection exclusively through Wal-Mart. Titled Beautiful Eyes, the collection will contain previously released material with two new songs–the title track and an acoustic version of “Teardrops On My Guitar.”
- Checkout NPR for Kathleen Edward’s set list from a recent show at Philadelphia’s NON-COMMvention and listen to a live recording from WXPN.
- Several contestants who tried out for Nashville Star, and for one reason or another didn’t make it, joined Matt during his live blog last night and made a few interesting revelations about the show and its process.
Popular Stuff
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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.
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.
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.
Forgotten Artist: David Rogers David Rogers (1936-1993) is proof of the adage that it’s great to be on a major label, but only if the label is truly behind you.
Forgotten Artist: Charley Pride For the ’70s, Billboard has Charley listed as its third ranking singles artist behind only Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard. 
In this exclusive interview with The 9513, the Show Dog Records trio talks about growing up around Waylon and Jessi Colter, and about how those experiences have helped shaped their music as they set off on their own country music journey.
One of an emerging wave of artists empowered by decreasing production costs and a rapidly changing distribution landscape, Kelleigh Bannen has taken a do-it-yourself approach to her debut album, Radio Skies.Tagged In This Article
Barbara Mandrell // Carrie Underwood // Craig Wiseman // Dierks Bentley // Faith Hill // Jerrod Niemann // Jessica Simpson // John Hiatt // Kathleen Edwards // Nashville Star // Pat Green // Randy Rogers // Sarah Buxton // Taylor Swift
Current Discussion
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- Thomas: "whereas rap was the word of truth, today country is where you go for honesty".....
- Razor X: The Jim Lauderdale track is excellent. Another one that I liked better than I t...
- Dylan Gramm: Why does that statement make Keith a racist?...
- f_t_e: Namely this: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/30/toby-keith-obama-white/ "...
- f_t_e: Yeah, because if there's anyone who would have supported John McCain, it's the m...
- Josh: Rascal's "I'm Moving On" was good.. that's all I got....
- Mirandas2cool: Kenny really has made some bad choices lately. I really like I go back and his o...
- Dylan Gramm: What's the Jim Lauderdale track like?...
- leeann: I didn't mention it in my review, but I didn't like the Skaggs duet either. It ...
28 Comments
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June 17, 2008 at 10:26 am Permalink
That’s interesting about Dann Huff producing Pat but it’s not all too different from the stuff off his Don Gehman produced stuff.
June 17, 2008 at 10:27 am Permalink
Pat Green got “huffed?” Though its not really striking or innovative, that song beats the hell out of “Dixie Lullaby”, and its hard to argue that Pat got “huffed” against his will. Sometimes I wish people in Texas would stop acting like he got kidnapped and has been forced to do more mainstream music.
June 17, 2008 at 10:34 am Permalink
Mike,
I often feel the same way about Texas Music fans and Pat’s ‘move’ to mainstream. Actually, you could argue the same stuff w/Jack Ingram’s move…
June 17, 2008 at 10:36 am Permalink
All I said was “he got Huffed.” Any connotations you associate with that, negative or positive, are your own.
June 17, 2008 at 10:43 am Permalink
Nice to know that, at 28, Jessica Simpson considers herself a “girl.” Of course, since she appears to be completely clueless as to the double entendre on her shirt, that may be for the best.
Also, depressing isn’t it that children of the 80’s are now almost 30. I am so old. So very, very old…..
June 17, 2008 at 10:44 am Permalink
I think we’re going to need an explanation as to how “Let Me” beats the hell out of “Dixie Lullaby.”
June 17, 2008 at 10:44 am Permalink
Also, Kathleen Edwards. Yeah!!
You know, her albums never strike me immediately as being my favorites out of the box. But I always seem to drift back to them on a regular basis.
June 17, 2008 at 10:54 am Permalink
Brody, to be clear on my comments: I wasn’t referencing you, I was referencing other people who often think that way, it’s the human nature of “build them up to break them down” thing.
June 17, 2008 at 11:01 am Permalink
Don’t get Huffy, boys. Zing!
June 17, 2008 at 11:09 am Permalink
Matt: Although, listening to Barbie Doll and then Lips of an Angel, one COULD make a case that the real Jack Ingram was abducted by aliens and replaced with a human-like clone.
At least, that the centerpiece to my apocolyspe theory.
June 17, 2008 at 11:34 am Permalink
Stormy,
As a long-time fan of Jack, I can see where you’d say such things but I just find his Big Machine CD to be an extension of Jack (Lips of an Angel being the exception). I also couldn’t help but feel happy that he got the success on a national level that he’s already achieved in Texas with that record.
June 17, 2008 at 11:38 am Permalink
I wish people would stop lumping all texas music fans into one group! The idiots who claim that pat green (or jack ingram for that matter) is doing this against his will are not only ignorant, but are the same dolts who havent listened to a Robert Earl Keen album made after ‘92. It is very convenient for you to use that minority group in such a way. The fact is, Green and Ingram arent representative of “Texas Music” at this point, and are more of a representation of modern country that is made in Nashville, not in a good or bad way, it is what it is. If you want to continue lumping us all into one group, you should recognize that most “Texas music” fans are more open-minded and accepting of new, original artists than just about any other region/state in the country. I was in Florida last weekend and you couldnt find a bar that featured anything other than cover bands. To quote Ray Wylie Hubbard, “Screw You, We’re From Texas”
June 17, 2008 at 11:53 am Permalink
…sorry, i meant to put a :-) on the end of the last phrase, I dont want any non-texan’s getting all “huffy”…
June 17, 2008 at 1:24 pm Permalink
How many times is Taylor Swift going to keep re-releasing the same album with one or two new songs added to it?
June 17, 2008 at 1:27 pm Permalink
Razor,
To be fair to Taylor, this isn’t a re-release of her first album but rather a CD/DVD combo. That being said, it is time for her next record to come out.
June 17, 2008 at 1:44 pm Permalink
“Nice to know that, at 28, Jessica Simpson considers herself a “girl.” Of course, since she appears to be completely clueless as to the double entendre on her shirt, that may be for the best.”
I would hope she’s not that clueless. I mean, she’s no rocket scientist, but she can’t be that oblivious. Anyway, while I can appreciate her, um, culinary proclivities, she’s making me remember fondly the days when country singers were thought of as classier than pop and rock stars.
June 17, 2008 at 1:46 pm Permalink
Would that be before or after Loretta Lynn crowed triumphantly about The Pill?
June 17, 2008 at 1:48 pm Permalink
Matt,
It’s still all the same old material. There are two new songs, and she only has one CD out, so that means it’s largely a re-release of the material on the first CD, right? How many times do they expect people to keep shelling out for the same set of songs?
June 17, 2008 at 2:01 pm Permalink
The “previously released” songs on the Taylor CD are different versions, they’re not the same recordings.
June 17, 2008 at 2:01 pm Permalink
CD
1. Beautiful Eyes (Exclusive)
2. Should’ve Said No (Alternate Version)
3. Teardrops On My Guitar (Acoustic Version)
4. Picture To Burn (Radio Edit)
5. I’m Only Me When I’m With You
6. I Heart ? (Exclusive)
DVD
1. Beautiful Eyes Video (New)
2. Picture To Burn Video
3. I’m Only Me When I’m With You Video
4. Tim McGraw Video
5. Teardrops On My Guitar Video (Pop Version)
6. Our Song Video
7. The Making of Picture To Burn Video
8. GAC New Artist Interview
9. Should’ve Said No Video (2008 ACM Awards Performance)
June 17, 2008 at 2:27 pm Permalink
At least she is offering different versions and a DVD but still, 3 releases of essentially the same CD is a bit much. They are trying to milk this for all it’s worth!
June 17, 2008 at 2:28 pm Permalink
“she’s making me remember fondly the days when country singers were thought of as classier than rock and pop stars…”
I’m a bit young, but its hard to imagine such a day, at least post WWII. Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Keith Whitley, Glen Campbell, George Jones, Tanya Tucker: these were great performers, but classy is not a word that comes to mind.
Perhaps country performers were thought of as classier than pop performers pre- WWII.
I admit I know people who believe country music is somehow “more moral” than other forms of music. This claim has always seemed pretty dubious to me.
June 17, 2008 at 2:31 pm Permalink
From the CMT blog. Not sure if I am allowed to post a link, but here it is:
http://blog.cmt.com/2008-06-17/nashville-star-trace-adkins-is-a-tough-act-to-follow/#comment-23585
June 17, 2008 at 2:36 pm Permalink
I often feel the same way about Texas Music fans and Pat’s ‘move’ to mainstream. Actually, you could argue the same stuff w/Jack Ingram’s move…
Oh no, Ingram didn’t make a small move to mainstream, he loaded up the truck and he moved to Beverly, Hills that is. Green has a long, long way to go to catch the sellout Ingram made.
June 17, 2008 at 2:43 pm Permalink
I just find his Big Machine CD to be an extension of Jack (Lips of an Angel being the exception).
You can’t make “exceptions.” Releasing that song, while the original (and another copy) are still receiving plenty of radio play is pure commercial activity. I assume he’s had plenty of exposure to the business to retain control, so that decision is totally on him. Don’t excuse him because you like him.
On the other hand, Taylor Swift is obviously being ‘handled.’ She’s the cow being milked for money and it will destroy whatever chance she has for a real career. With this rerelease, her shelf life just shortened. She’s being sold to the Walmart shopper just like a T-shirt or the $5 24-pack of Pepsi products.
June 17, 2008 at 3:13 pm Permalink
I would hazard a guess that the Jessica Simpson t-shirt has more than one meaning.
As if her debut song wasnt bad enough, I am officially already tired of Jessica Simpson as a Country art. If only for her father and the media circus she brings with her. Yuck.
And if the record labels want to know why fans are not buying CD’s, perhaps they should look into customer loyalty. If your a fan of an artist, you really are a second class citizen if you buy his/her CD on the week it is released. Just wait a year and you will get the same CD with 5 songs.
B.S.
June 17, 2008 at 4:29 pm Permalink
The circumstances behind Sarah Buxton’s latest new song on her MySpace titled “Tomorrow” are really sad. Here is a link to a Variety article on the accident that took the life of Sarah’s dear friend (the link can be really slow to load, so keep trying):
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977396.html?categoryId=18&cs=1
This sort of thing is unfortunately far too common here in Los Angeles………
June 17, 2008 at 6:10 pm Permalink
honestly isn’t everything that jessica simpson (or daddy simpson) does a marketing ploy to keep her in the limelight
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