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CSO Reviews & More 2009
2009 - 2008 - 20072006 - 2005 - 20042003 - 2002

Main Featured Artist / Band Extra Reviews & Stories

Hank III 
Rebel Within

By: George Peden

One listen and you will quickly know. Hank III, born Shelton Hank Williams, is an acquired listen. However, on saying that, if you like what you hear from this stubborn modern day outlaw, one offering a punch and a kick to the established ideals of what many consider country music, then you’ll understand, and quickly, that it’s about the music more than the cha-ching of an in-tune industry cash register. more

Nick Verzosa 
The Smoking Gun
EP

Review By: George Peden

You have to be a little envious. I mean, how many of us would love to slam the door on our workplace, grab hold and tightly grip a dream, and then with all the daring a great idea brings, start out on something we would love to do? ...

 

Flynnville Train - Redemption
By Jim Weaver

Flynnville Train's latest CD is titled Redemption, although I must admit I'm not sure where the titled comes from. So far I don't see anything these guy need to be redeemed of. Like their first self-titled CD,  this is full-throttle music with no fillers. Lead Singer Brian Flynn says; “Much of the album we recorded on first take and that reinforces the emotion, the translation of our hearts in each song.”  It also solidifies the fact that bands that kick-ass live should be able to kick-ass in the studio as well, and FT does.  more

Check out these Gretchen Wilson Photos from a recent show!

Joe Nichols via the Internet – Courtesy of CMT
Fan Club Party review by Cheryl Harvey Hill, Sr. Staff Journalist

CMT broadcasted Joe Nichols' fan club party LIVE from Nashville this morning. I signed on a little late due to the time zone difference but, luckily for me, the party started a little late so I didn't miss much. I logged on to my computer in time to hear him sing “It Would Be Her,” one of my all-time favorite tunes, and I was pleased to hear him say it was also one of his favorites. I learned from other fans later that he had kicked off the party with a couple of his up tempo tunes, “Brokenheartsville” and the appropriately titled “Joe's Place.”

Audie Blaylock 
Cryin' Heart Blues

By: Jim Moulton

Audie Blaylock's second CD from Rural Rhythm Records titled Cryin' Heart Blues, is a very warm sounding affair. Blaylock sings a lot of bluegrass ballads with three and four part harmonies. His four member band sounds very sweet and the banjo's and vocals are so warm...

Merle Haggard - I Am What I Am
By: Jim Moulton

Merle Haggard's newest CD in five years is a refreshing acoustic affair with a touch of pedal steel and some electric pickin'. I had to fight to get a finished copy, but it was well worth the fight. Haggard is a smart man sticking with what is tried and true. His band, The Strangers, accompany him in his studio, the California "Shade Tree Manor Studio". Reggie Young helps out on guitar, with Rob Ickes on Dobro...

Backseat Molly  Texas Not Tennessee
Review By: George Peden

The five-piece band Backseat Molly sum it up in the title cut to their debut album. Texas Not Tennessee is more an intended defiance than an album name. These spirited, youthful rockers have set their bullseye aim on home state popularity.
And it’s working.

Juni Fisher 
Review By: Cheryl Harvey Hill

The extraordinarily talented, singer, songwriter, Juni Fisher, just might also be the most beautiful cowboy poet to ever saddle up and “Let 'er Go, Let 'er Buck,' Let 'er Fly." Her newest album, like her previous project, is a historically accurate music tribute that chronicles the old west; this time, it is the Pendleton Round-up and the women and men of early rodeo...

Mountain Heart  In Concert
By: Jim Moulton

Mountain Heart has been around quite a while as an excellent bluegrass band, they are in the process of changing into a country rock, southern rock jam band, The newest member, Josh Schilling ...

Easton Corbin - Debut CD
By: Brianna Nightingale

Raised by his grandparents due to his parents’ divorce, Easton Corbin spent much of his early years working and playing on the family cattle farm. Although none of his family members played musical instruments, Corbin always knew that he wanted it to have a great influence on his life. “My grandparents liked to watch the Opry,” he remembers. “We’d start Saturday night off with ‘Hee Haw’ and then ‘Opry Backstage’ and then ‘Opry Live’.”

The Cowboy Heroes
There’s More To Country Music

By: George Peden

The cowboy way. It starts with the imagery, rich and big, of the campfires, the ready steeds, and the life that unfolds from the saddle point of sauntering the lonely trails. And, of course, there’s the music...

Josh Turner - Haywire
By: Brianna Nightingale

Josh Turner began choosing songs for Haywire, his fourth studio album, months before he began recording. While Turner had “Why Don’t We Just Dance” on hold with the publisher, someone else showed interest; therefore, he had to record it or he knew he may eventually have to give it up and move on...

Easton Corbin
Live at Billy Bob’s Texas
Connie Breeden, CSO Journalist

After a very long drive to Fort Worth, Texas, and winding our way through lots of traffic, we finally arrived at Billy Bob’s, the world's largest honky tonk. Luckily for us, Easton Corbin, one of country music’s newest artists...

Gold Heart - My Sisters and Me
By: Jim Moulton

This young group of sisters playing guitar, fiddle and mandolin along with their sweet three part Appalachian harmonies has put out their third full CD titled My Sisters and Me. This CD has a very full and professional sound and is an excellent job of recording and mastering...

Mike Dekle - Tributes
By: George Peden

Mike Dekle has to be one of the most radio-overlooked acts in country music. Not that he has cause for sleepless nights and worry. His bank balance grows nicely thank you from a steady stream of royalty checks...

Carrie Underwood - Play On
By: Brianna Nightingale

In a local Nashville radio interview, Underwood revealed that she feels more open now that this album has been recorded. “People will learn more about who I am when they hear this,” she said...

The Grascals
The Famous Lefty Flynn's

By: Jim Moulton

This is the fourth album of this much celebrated bluegrass group, as they grow into their ever evolving sound. The Grascals are not traditional in sound, but traditional in spirit, with a modern feel to the sweet recording in the twelve great songs featured here on The Famous Lefty Flynn's...

 

Mike Runnels - The Tender Years
Review By: George Peden

“I spent my first 18 years in Beaumont, Texas. That gives me the right to play country music, and it’s where I first learned what makes for the best country music.” Mike Runnels bio...

 

Susan Hickman - Self titled
Review By: George Peden

You can’t help but compare Texas new country act Susan Hickman to Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. Lambert and Underwood both have made remarkable and speedy inroads courtesy of fans and radio...

 

Kara Suzanne - Parlor Walls
By: Jim Moulton

The sophomore album of Kara Suzanne titled, Parlor Walls, is a very creative, relaxed, sometimes upbeat with a taste of country selection which really caught my attention...

  Mark Wayne Glasmire
Life Goes On

Review By: George Peden

There is no denying country music has more than its fair share of lovin’, hurtin’ and leavin’ songs. You know the type. The rain drizzles at the lonely and shadowed end of town, as the single Bud sign flickers noisily against the falling specks...

 

Megan Linville, Danny Wells, Thom Shepherd and Trent Willmon at The Bluebird
By: Brianna Nightingale

Notorious for booking incredible songwriters that showcase their talent, Nashville's famed Bluebird continues to perfect their track record...

 

Steve Trent & Small Town
Review By: George Peden

I’m confused. Depending which photo you look at, this popular and emerging band from Indiana is either a five-piece or an eight-piece outfit. No matter and no worry. Size may matter for some...

 

Best of 2009
By: Jim Moulton

Greetings folks, well looking back over the last year I will try to share my top ten favorites. Personally last year was a bit disappointing to me as compared to years before. Because it was a difficult year in many ways, financially, for our country, many people out of work, usually hard times brings out great music...

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