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Stagecoach Music Festival ‘08: Day Two
The weather was still bearable in Indio, as it would thankfully remain for the duration of the festival, and day two was underway. I made sure to get there in time to check out Mr. Johnny up-and-comer himself, Hayes Carll.
Hayes has lots of buzz around him these days and I was happy to see […] -
Country Music Hall of Famer Eddy Arnold Passed Away This Morning
Country Music Hall of Famer Eddy Arnold passed away early this morning at age 89.
Before Garth Brooks came along, Arnold was easily country music’s biggest record-seller. Sales of his discs from the mid-1940s to the present, in every recorded medium from 78s to CDs, have topped 80 million. Along the way, Arnold became a key […]Continue reading "Country Music Hall of Famer Eddy Arnold Passed Away This Morning"
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Texas Tunesmith Heir Hayes Carll Bears Torch For New Generation
Chip Frazier feels that Hayes Carll is carrying the torch for the next generation of the Texas/Americana Troubadours. He has the same aspects of humor, songs, and storytelling that made his predecessors–guys like Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Ray Wilie Hubbard–great.
Bill Friskics-Warren agrees that Hayes Carll conjures up thoughts […]Continue reading "Texas Tunesmith Heir Hayes Carll Bears Torch For New Generation"
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“Real Men of Genius” Salutes Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley joins “Mr. Push Up Bra Inventor” and “Mr. Tiny Thong Bikini Wearer” as one of the subjects immortalized in Anheuser Busch’s “Real Men of Genius” radio spots. In the ad, he’s saluted as “Mr. Sad Country Song Songwriter” (listen).
“Getting a ‘real men of genius’ spot is pretty much the pinnacle for a dude […]Continue reading "“Real Men of Genius” Salutes Dierks Bentley"
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Former Hee Haw Star Jim Hager Passed Away From Aparent Heart Attack
Jim Hager, one half of the Hagers duo, died on Thursday from an apparent heart attack. Jim and his twin brother Jon rose to fame after joining the cast of Hee Haw in 1969.
Taylor Swift (sans makeup) and Carrie Underwood both made People magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful People” list. And so did Barbara Mandrell, which […]Continue reading "Former Hee Haw Star Jim Hager Passed Away From Aparent Heart Attack"
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New Reckless Kelly Album Slated For June 24
The band Reckless Kelly plans to release their new album, Bulletproof, on June 24 on Yep Roc Records.
Band frontman Willy Braun co-wrote one of the new songs, “God Forsaken Town,” with Robert Earl Keen, based on a person holding out from evacuating during Hurricane Katrina. Another song, “American Blood,” criticizes the war in Iraq because […]Continue reading "New Reckless Kelly Album Slated For June 24"
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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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Brad Paisley Recording Duet With Buck Owens
The forthcoming Brad Paisley instrumental album won’t be strictly instrumentals. According to GAC, there will be three or four vocal pieces, including a duet with Buck Owens.
Brad got permission to work with the track from Buck’s company, and Brad thinks it’s “the most special thing on the record.”
“He wrote a song that works great as […]Continue reading "Brad Paisley Recording Duet With Buck Owens"
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Who Could Sue Country Music?
In light of 50 Cent and Universal getting sued for promoting a gangsta’ lifestyle, Mike Severson asks who could sue country music for the lifestyle it promotes? “Soccer moms? Former 70’s rock fans? The state of Texas?”
Sugarland, Little Big Town and Jake Owen all share the No. 50 song on Billboard’s Hot Country […]
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Hayes Carll Releases Lost Highway Debut, Trouble In Mind
Andrew Dansby of The Houston Chronicle sat down with Hayes Carll behind the Continental Club to “get some fresh air and smoke some cigarettes,” while he talked to the witty singer-songwriter about life, heroes, and his new album, Trouble In Mind.
“A lot of the songs on this album are about specific memories,” he says. “Living […]Continue reading "Hayes Carll Releases Lost Highway Debut, Trouble In Mind"
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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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