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Rodney Atkins - “Invisibly Shaken”
Songwriters: Rodney Atkins and Bill Kirsch
Rodney Atkins’ latest single from his blockbuster album If You’re Going Through Hell is the somber piano ballad “Invisibly Shaken,” which Atkins co-wrote with Bill Kirsch. It tells the tale of a guy who is pretending to be ok with a breakup, but is in fact, “invisibly shaken, quietly […] -
Bucky Covington - “I’ll Walk”
Songwriters: Lonnie Fowler and Brent Wilson
For a demonstration of the influence of American Idol, look no further than Bucky Covington, who has been able to place his first two singles inside the top 20 despite being a mediocre artist, but if there’s any sensibility left in this world, his next single, “I’ll Walk,” won’t […] -
Mailbag: Are They For Real?
This month’s edition of the mailbag features a sample of real emails from real people that we receive here at The 9513. We get a good laugh when these come in, so hopefully you’ll enjoy them as well.
I have lyrics to a song that only you guys can sing or the whole meaning will be […]
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Album Review: Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind
Far too much of the country music coming out today is “successful” in achieving a very limited aim; to be enjoyable by leaning heavily on pop-rock conventions while using the lyrics to vaguely define the emotional point of the song and to provide just enough of a hook for folks to sing to. […]
Continue reading "Album Review: Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind"
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Album Review: Kathy Mattea - Coal
Kathy Mattea’s recently released album, Coal, is a superb concept album centered around coal and it’s effect on the people who depend upon it for their livelihood. She’s taken a collection of songs that stood well on their own when released previously and molded them into her greater thematic vision to tell the story […]
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A Nation’s Affair With Western Culture: The Story of Marty Robbins’ “El Paso”
Born in Glendale, Arizona as Martin David Robison in 1925, Marty Robbins spent his childhood idolizing Gene Autry and the cowboy way. “I wanted to be Gene Autry,” he once said. “I wanted to ride off into the sunset.”
His penchant for the the Old West was further fed by romanticized stories told by his […]Continue reading "A Nation’s Affair With Western Culture: The Story of Marty Robbins’ “El Paso”"
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Brandon Rhyder - “Before I Knew Your Name”
This song is currently #1 at the Texas Music Chart
This single by Brandon Rhyder, which I believe is his first #1, kicks off with a cool roadhouse twang vibe and when his smooth, melodic voice chimes in, it provides a very interesting contrast.
Things start to unravel shortly thereafter.
The first verse really illustrates the problem […]Continue reading "Brandon Rhyder - “Before I Knew Your Name”"
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Album Review: James Otto - Sunset Man
James Otto has garnered a few mentions on The 9513 thus far, including making Jim Malec’s list of Artists to Watch in 2008, but even so, his name may not be familiar. Hopefully that will change with the release of his sophomore album, Sunset Man, featuring John Rich and Otto as producers, with Jay […]
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Trent Willmon - “Broken In”
The title track from Trent Willmon’s Broken In is the second single to make it off the album. It’s a simple song, but it’s well constructed and Willmon’s rough vocal suits it just fine, giving it a refreshing sound and an air of authenticity.
“Broken In” conveys the cowboy character without the embellished romanticism and […] -
Kevin Fowler - “Best Mistake I Ever Made”
This single is currently #1 on the Texas Music Chart
Why, Kevin Fowler? Why did you write and sing this song?
Why, Texas Radio? Why did you spin this song 1,131 times last week, thus forcing me to review it?
Why, Red Dirt Music fans? Why have you established yourselves as an […]Continue reading "Kevin Fowler - “Best Mistake I Ever Made”"
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Forgotten Artists: Bradley Kincaid In a manner similar to Alan Lomax, William Bradley “The Kentucky Mountain Boy” Kincaid was one of the great American musicologists and collectors of American folk, country and parlor songs.
Forgotten Artists: Goldie Hill Had Carl Smith and Goldie Hill been born 30 or 40 years later, they might have been like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw–the dominant married couple in country music.
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.
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.
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.Current Discussion
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