Small Texas Town Catches Gabe Fever; John Rich Salivates

I don’t know how anyone can listen Emily’s performance, as noted above, and not get goosebumps. That’s a country singer, right there, and that performance is dripping with passion.

How much do you want to bet that “I Heart Question Mark” will be written out in emoticons on the back of Taylor’s next CD?

I disagree with you here, Kelly. “All I Want To Do” may have a poppy tint because of the confectionery lyrics, but the record is actually quite sparse.

There’s a million miles between Julianne Hough and “All I Want To Do,” musically speaking. In my opinion, the later is pop country done very well, with more emphasis on the “country” than on the pop, whereas Hough’s production is tarnished by expectations of what sounds good on radio.

It’s easy to get lost in the all the vocal nonsense of the song, but when you really listen to the record, it’s more acoustically-based than most of what’s on country radio right now.

I know I’m a bit of a dissenting voice on this particular topic.

Although “Rocks in Your Shoes” never quite captured me, I am incredibly impressed with this clip and Emily in general. She deserves widespread success.

Also, from what I’ve heard of the Sugarland record, the instrumentation is not overabundant, at least through the lens of commercial country music.

I love that Hayes Carll fella. I really do.

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.

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….

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.

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

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.