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Album Review: Eleven Hundred Springs - Country Jam
In conversation, as well as in my writing, I’m often dismissive of current, corporate, country music radio, so it’s typical to field accusations of “elitism,” of trying to pigeonhole country music’s sound into an early 60’s George Jones mold for narrow-minded nostalgia’s sake, and of requiring that every song have the pretense of earth-shaking […]
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Jim’s Big State Wrap-up: Sunday
Concluding our post-event coverage of the 2007 Big State Country Music Festival, here is the second half of my weekend wrap-up.
Sunday:
Colin Gilmore, 11:15.
The son of Texas icon Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Colin played to a small but very enthusiastic crowd at the BMI stage. Admittedly, I only had chance to stick around for about […] -
Jim’s Big State Wrap-up: Saturday
The beer is always free when you can’t drink it.
Lucky enough to be on the VIP list for last weekend’s Big State Festival, I was taunted by the endless supply of free golden-bubbly goodness available in the festival’s private lounges. Let me reiterate: Free. Beer.
But, alas, there were bands to see, interviews to conduct, […] -
Nothing Like Last Of The Breed Will Ever Come Along Again And New Book Names Top 100 Country Fan Clubs
I can’t read enough about Last of the Breed. It’s to the point where I don’t remember the last time I was this excited about one thing. My intense excitement is mostly due to something Chet Flippo mentions in his review of the Last of the Breed album, “nothing like this is ever going to […]
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Texas Country on Radio Free Texas
With the advent of iTunes and MySpace, music on the internet exploded, which led to podcasting and internet radio station. The Beaumont Enterprise reports that thirty million Americans have listened to internet radio within the past week. I don’t listen to a lot of radio, period, but when I do listen to internet radio, one […]
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Randy Rogers on Making it Big and Selling Out
Eric Banister has a great article over at Americana Roots about Randy Rogers and how he’s trying to stay connected with his fans as he becomes more successful. He is conscious about what his fans think and doesn’t want people to start calling him a sell out because he’s getting a little bit of fame, […]
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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.
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.
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.
Forgotten Artist: Charley Pride For the ’70s, Billboard has Charley listed as its third ranking singles artist behind only Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard. 
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
- Stephen H.: Stormy, I think his comment implies that Obama is a presidential candidate in ge...
- Paula: We stay there all the time Kelly and have always had a pleasant stay....
- Kelly: that pub crawl is the only thing that would make me ever want to stay at that sm...
- Stormy: Dylan: Because it implies that black people want a white leader. And of course...
- Paula: Dang! The pub crawl is the week before I go to Nashville. I'll be there the wh...
- leeann: I *did* mention the Lauderdale song in my review. I really liked it. He sounds...
- Thomas: "whereas rap was the word of truth, today country is where you go for honesty".....
- Razor X: The Jim Lauderdale track is excellent. Another one that I liked better than I t...
- Dylan Gramm: Why does that statement make Keith a racist?...
- f_t_e: Namely this: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/30/toby-keith-obama-white/ "...
