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Shooter Jennings Backs Waylon On Posthumous Project
Andy Tenille dishes on a posthumous Waylon Jennings project that hits the streets this summer. Titled Waylon Forever, the outlaw is backed by son Shooter Jennings and his band, the .357s, on nine tracks of originals and unlikely covers.
“This album really got its start back in 1995,” the country-rocker recalls, “when Dad asked me to […]Continue reading "Shooter Jennings Backs Waylon On Posthumous Project"
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Miranda Lambert Accused of Assault; Still Dating Blake Shelton
The sheriff’s department in Tyler, Texas is investigating an alleged assault case involving Miranda Lambert. According to reports, Lambert and her boyfriend Blake Shelton were attending a CD release party for an Adam Hood show when she was approached by Aisha Esbay for a photograph. She said Lambert told her “maybe later.”
Esbay said she went […]Continue reading "Miranda Lambert Accused of Assault; Still Dating Blake Shelton"
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Ride Along For Taylor Swift’s Hendersonville Boy Tour
Jody Rosen of Blender magazine had a chance to ride around with Taylor Swift in her Lexus and wrote an in-depth article on the teen phenom. Rosen calls the experience “Taylor’s Hendersonville Boy Tour.”
We’re in front of Sam’s, the rake who prompted Swift to write the revenge ballad “Should’ve Said No,” one of the preternaturally […]Continue reading "Ride Along For Taylor Swift’s Hendersonville Boy Tour"
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Ten Most Disappointing Albums of 2007
The list of the most disappointing albums of the year includes a few good albums, some great artists, disappointing studio sets from veteran acts and two poor debut records. Here’s hoping that everybody does better next time.
10. Living Hard, Gary Allan
Gary Allan is at his best when he paints outside the lines. Smoke […] -
Kenny Chesney Produced Willie Album Hits Shelves In January
Songs like Johnny Cash’s “Hurt”, Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”, and George Strait’s “Amarillo by Morning” chartered considerably lower than other songs from these artists’ catalogs, but are sometimes considered signature songs; even over higher charting singles. With that in mind, Country Universe wants to know: What is the definition of a hit?
Sarah Borges, Lucinda Williams, […]Continue reading "Kenny Chesney Produced Willie Album Hits Shelves In January"
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Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, & Barbara Mandrell Inducted Into Music City Walk of Fame
I’ve posted a number of interviews with Billy Joe Shaver and I may be a little biased, but I think the interview that Brady scored for The 9513 is the best yet. I was giddy like a school girl when he walked next door to Waterloo Records and played me the recording.
On November 20 Time […] -
20 Top War and Soldier Songs
War. It is the central issue of contemporary American political debate. It is also an unfortunate and deeply personal part of the American culture. War affects the way we see our place in the world, our duty to our nation, and our role within our communities. It can bond families in solidarity and it can […]
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Preview “Close Up The Honky Tonks” From Dwight Sings Buck
Think about the most exciting act you’ve ever seen perform live; who was it? Hazel Smith says for her it was Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys.
Acuff would be twirling his fiddle bow as Bashful Brother Oswald bellowed a hee-haw as he made his Dobro scream. Onie Wheeler would honk that harmonica and belt […]Continue reading "Preview “Close Up The Honky Tonks” From Dwight Sings Buck"
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Wagonmaster Is “The Past Of Hank Williams And Early Nudie Suits”
In October of 2005 Jason Boland checked himself into rehab after trying to kick his alcohol habit for a few years. He said it was a scary prospect coming back to music sober, he didn’t know whether was going to like it or not.
“Our strengths are always our weaknesses. Music was one of the things […]Continue reading "Wagonmaster Is “The Past Of Hank Williams And Early Nudie Suits”"
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Album Review: Big & Rich - Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace
Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace is a mish-mash of mediocre, cliché-ridden, and thematically unrelated songs that, at best, sounds more like a collection of demos than the highly anticipated third album from a duo that has sold over 4 million units.
Weak? No, my friends, “weak” is not the word needed to accurately describe this […]Continue reading "Album Review: Big & Rich - Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace"
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Miranda Lambert - “More Like Her” This kind of material, as opposed to her tough-chick-done-wrong romps like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder and Lead,” is where her real promise lies
Joey Rory - “Cheater, Cheater” It’s actually downright frivolous, but that just makes it all the more fun. And really, are you allowed to say “ho” on country radio?
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.
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.
Forgotten Artist: Wynn Stewart Both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard have cited Wynn Stewart as a major influence on their careers, yet somehow, he was never able to translate his enormous talent into extended and consistent success for himself.
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.
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.Current Discussion
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