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Main Featured Artist /
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Extra Reviews &
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The
Grascals & Friends
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (and restaurant) has been
putting out special releases of good music for a few years, this
one is a real special treat. Picture the Grascals as the house
band, they have recorded mostly older classic country covers,
done very tastefully, with many special guests. |
Craig
Campbell
Self-Titled Debut
Craig Campbell was born and
raised in the small town of Lyons, Georgia. Being
able to perform with Tracy Byrd and Luke Bryan
helped him catch the break he needed to pursue his
own musical career.
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 Keith
Urban
Get Closer
When it comes to "country music", Keith Urban is living proof it
doesn't matter what country your from, country music is country
music and if Urban is singing it, all the better. Country music
fans all over the world have embraced this adorable winner of
Australia's coveted Aria Award... |
Looking
Forward…Looking Back
Yes, it is that time of
year again. After a hurried year of worldly and personal
events, it is time to pause and reflect on what music
pleased for 2010...
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 Billy
Currington
Enjoy Yourself
If you are looking for an easy
album, one you just set and play, then Billy Currington’s latest
may win your vote. After all, Billy sells a zillion albums,
nestles into the Billboard Chart... |
Two Country Christmas Tunes and Artists Worth Checking Out
Meet Dean Crawford and Tommy Joe
Wilson |
 Randy
Houser
They Call Me Cadillac
Randy Houser is the half hippie, half redneck,
son of the south, he sings about in the song "Whistling Dixie."
If your not from the south, his alluring voice, playful
demeanor, and let's rock attitude, will have you wishing you
were. |
LoCash Cowboys in Joyland-Brandeton Florida
While visiting with my parents
in Florida this past weekend, I was delighted to see LoCash
Cowboys were appearing nearby. I'm always excited when able to
catch up with this talented and extraordinary duo... |
 The
Band Perry Launches CD in a Hometown Concert
Everybody's a buzz about 10/10/10.
Several ethnic groups swear there is something magical about the
number ten, and having the number ten times three has caused an
outright fervor. The new group out of Greeneville, Tennessee
probably doesn't need any luck since they have enough already
and I can... |
David Wood -
Here & Now
Talk to most fans and the
pulling power of country music is its honesty. Country music is
homegrown real. There are stories, often life driven and open in
the lyrics... |
 Cody
McCarver - Benefit Concert for Operation Troop Aid
As a certified "military brat," I
want to give Cody McCarver a heartfelt "hooah" for stepping up
to the plate in support of Operation Troop Aid. |
Easton
Corbin - Concert Review
I'm sure you've
been advised at some point in your life, to just "roll with the
flow." Well, it appears newcomer, Easton Corbin, has heeded that
advice and his ability to "Roll With It" ... |
 Rodney
Atkins - Self Titled Album
Available Exclusively at Cracker
Barrel
Native to East Tennessee and
often called the "guy in the ball cap" or "the all
American Country boy", Rodney Atkins is not only a
talented singer and songwriter, but he is a loving
husband, devoted father, and a man who takes
pleasure in helping The National Council for
Adoption... |
Zac Brown Band
- The Foundation
For a long time, I had been fighting
this guys material, like, who is he? Covering all this stuff and
sounding like Charlie Daniels, doing Southern Rock in his shows. |
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 Joey
+ Rory = Album Number Two
The fact that we don't need last names to recognize the amazing
2010 ACM
Award winners for Top New Vocal duo speaks volumes about
who they are and naming their second album simply Album
Number Two,
isn't at all pretentious... |
Allen Brown
and The Long Hard Ride Band- Natural Disaster
In his bio, Brown says he "has
stayed true to his love of 'Real Country Music' but has added
his own flair that he refers to as 'allentude'"... |
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 Hank
III
Rebel Within
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
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Krysti Worley
- "Cowman"
In 2001, this Texas talent released
her debut single, “Cry Like A Baby”. The track created fan and
industry interest, staying on the charts for 20 weeks and
hovering around the Top 10. |
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 Flynnville
Train - Redemption
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 |
Justin
Honaman - Let Go & Let God
When
we last visited the crooning Coca Cola exec several years back,
Honaman had just released his debut, Saturday In The South, a
CSO praised affair of pop country... |
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 Joe Nichols via the Internet – Courtesy of CMT
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.
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Troy Olsen
- Self-Titled Debut
Where would you find a great, traditional sounding, country
voice in the middle of a barren desert? Well, let me tell
you where! Just look under the black hat of Arizona cowboy,
Troy Olsen...
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 Merle
Haggard - I Am What I Am
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... |
 Marty
Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives -
Ghost Train - The Studio B Sessions
In stores now, is one of the most classic
country recordings that I have heard in a while...
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 Juni
Fisher
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...
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Coldwater Canyon -
Just Gettin' Started
Coldwater Canyon Band is comprised of five
handsome guys who know how to keep their fans on
edge of
their seats. Their new CD titled Just Gettin
Started is
not your typical country album...
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 Easton
Corbi
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’.” |
Joanna
Mosca - Keep On Going
New York based Joanna Mosca, not only is a talented singer
and songwriter, she's a loving wife and mother with a
masters in hospital administration...
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 Josh
Turner - Haywire
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...
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Doug Bruce
- A Good Place
In the hard-edged world of country music, many labor. There
are those who win the tip jar gigs, the show fairs and the
out of town music festivals. Some, prompted by family and
money, get to cut an album...
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 Gold
Heart - My Sisters and Me
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... |
Kelly
Kenning - Broken Bones
I must thank the source. A shout out to Bobby Lopez, the
award winning and genial host of the syndicated CD Tex Radio
Show, heard on great American stations everywhere every
week... |
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 Carrie
Underwood - Play On
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...
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LoCash
Cowboys
The LoCash Cowboys are a high
energy, action packed, country duo that are guaranteed to
rock any venue they step into. Once you've seen them perform
live, you will fully understand why they decided to title
their Stroudvarious label, debut album, This is How We Do
It... |
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Nick
Verzosa
The Smoking Gun EP
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? ...
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Check out these
Gretchen Wilson Photos from a recent show!
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Audie
Blaylock
Cryin' Heart Blues
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...
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Backseat
Molly Texas Not Tennessee
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.
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Mountain
Heart In Concert
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 ... |
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The Cowboy
Heroes
There’s More To Country Music
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...
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Easton
Corbin
Live at Billy Bob’s Texas
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...
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Mike Dekle
- Tributes
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...
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The
Grascals
The Famous Lefty Flynn's
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...
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Mike
Runnels - The Tender Years
“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...
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Susan
Hickman - Self titled
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... |
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Kara
Suzanne - Parlor Walls
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... |
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 Mark
Wayne Glasmire
Life Goes On
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... |
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 Megan Linville, Danny Wells, Thom Shepherd and Trent
Willmon at The Bluebird
Notorious for booking incredible
songwriters that showcase their talent, Nashville's
famed Bluebird continues to perfect their track
record... |
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 Steve
Trent & Small Town
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... |
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Best of 2009
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... |
