Comments on: Small Texas Town Catches Gabe Fever; John Rich Salivates

By: Brroy

Brroy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:52:14 +0000

I saw Emily West’s Opry debut in April. She is amazing. I would much rather listen to her than Underwood or Swift (Both are totally worthless). There’s no contest, she’s real country. Not something made up to sell records to people who don’t have a clue about country music.

By: leeann

leeann — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:43:04 +0000

I think one can be a fan without being fond of someone. I would consider myself a very moderate fan of Toby’s, but I’m certainly not fond of him. I’m even a very moderate fan of John Rich, but definitely not fond of him either.

By: Stormy

Stormy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:29:54 +0000

A lot of people aren’t fans of Toby’s.

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:11:01 +0000

Well Luke Lewis also wasn’t very fond of Toby Keith (who’s not fond of Luke Lewis either).

By: Stormy

Stormy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:35:58 +0000

Also, Luke has nothing but raves for Shania.

By: Mike Wimmer

Mike Wimmer — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:29:04 +0000

Jamey Johnson’s album will be the best album to come out from any major label this year.

I love Luke Lewis’ comment about “the Soccer Mom Sh*t” come out of Nashville. Though, really, it’s kinda funny he says that and yet the label is the home to Sugarland, Julliane Hough, Billy Currington, Josh Turner, Reba, and other artists who dont exactly sing “Outlaw” songs.

By: Julia

Julia — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:43:44 +0000

The Taylor Swift songs, “Beautiful Eyes” and “I Heart Question Mark” are tracks from an upcoming Walmart Exclusive CD/DVD to keep the tweens happy in between albums, not for the sophomore record. The two tracks were supposedly written when she was thirteen and have nothing to do with the new material going on album number two.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:49:22 +0000

I just hope the Nashville Star viewers / voters also catch Gabe Fever in the final few installments. He is at least a competent singer, which gives him a leg up on most of the remaining competitors….

I watched that performance of Emily West again when Opry Live replayed that episode a week ago and her vocals are like a work of fine art. Full of emotion and yet technically flawless as well. I could listen to Emily sing ballads all day…..

Thanks for the link to the article on Crystal Shawanda. She is really a sweet gal with a lot of unique talent and I hope she succeeds here in the US as well as her native Canada. Even though her CD is scheduled for release here in the US on August 19th, its nice to know its available in Canada already in case her label pulls a “Jypsi” or “Ashley Monroe” type stunt…….

I agree with Luke Lewis in that I too an tired of all that airhead country soccer mom sh*t! Unfortunately Top 40 radio programmers feel just the opposite….

By: M.C.

M.C. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:27:55 +0000

I understand, Brody, thanks for clarifying. The People story also uses the word “welcome in talking about Jewel’s comments about Simpson, but I didn’t think that was what she was doing in her comments.

As for the crossover acts, I do think Jewel’s song “Anyone But You” is as country as most anything released on a Music Row record this year, at least this side of Ashton Shepherd and Jamey Johnson. And the other song from her album I like, “Till It Feels Like Cheating,” is pretty good contemporary country.

By: Brody Vercher

Brody Vercher — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:09:16 +0000

Matt B: I didn’t see “Beautiful Eyes” on her MySpace player, good catch.

Kelly: I definitely feel you on that particular song, at least according to what my reactionary definition of raw is, but I see what Jim means, too. From the samples I’ve heard though, that song isn’t indicative of the rest of the album.

M.C.: I never implied there was anything wrong with the things you mentioned, but in hindsight, I can see that in my haste to get the news up I probably took the title of the People article a little too literally. And I agree that anyone who wants to sing a country song ought to be able to do it, only I think that most crossover acts these days aren’t trying particularly hard to sing a country song.