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Featured Artist /
Band Of the Week |
Extra Reviews & Interviews |
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 Toby
Keith
That Don’t Make Me a Bad
Guy
By: Cheryl
Harvey Hill
11/17/08
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 Ralph Stanley II
By: George
Peden
I’ve heard a lot of music and
listened to many albums this year at CSO Central. As we approach
year’s end I’m left with a question. Could Ralph Stanley II’s
This One Is Two be one of the best I’ve heard for 2008?
... |
 Patty
Loveless - Sleepless Nights
By: George
Peden
10/28/08 |
 Lee Ann Womack
By: Jim
Moulton
Lee
Ann Womack has tried most formulas of country music, with
arguably her best music being in her first couple of
traditional country albums. "Never Again", "The Fool", "Little
Past Little Rock"... |
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 Kenny
Chesney
Lucky Old Sun
By: Cheryl Harvey Hill
10/20/08 |
 Billy Currington
By: Brianna Nightingale
Billy Currington recently released his
third studio album, just one year after Doin’ Something Right
went Platinum. Little Bit Of Everything was co-produced by
Currington and Carson Chamberlin... |
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 John
Michael Montgomery
Time
Flies
By: George
Peden
10/15/08 |
 Ten Questions With
Dean Dillon
By Todd Sterling
Liner
note junkies will be familiar with the name Dean Dillon. The
Tennessee native has penned hits for George Jones, George
Strait (who has cut more than fifty of Dillon’s songs), and
Kenny Chesney, among many others... |
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 The
Road Hammers
Blood Sweat & Steel
By: George
Peden
10/6/08
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 Melonie
Cannon
By: Jim
Moulton And The Wheels Turn is the second recording made by
Melonie Cannon, daughter of Nashville Producer, Buddy Cannon. Her first CD
opened up a lot of ears a couple of years ago... |
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 Mark
Wills - Familiar Stranger
Album review by: Cheryl
Harvey Hill
9/23/08
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 Jessica Simpson
By: Brianna Nightingale
It
has been a while since I have heard an album that, as a whole, was
quite as inspirational as Jessica Simpson’s new release, Do You
Know... |
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 Martina
McBride -
Live In Concert
Review By: George
Peden
9/15/08
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 Deanne
Moore
By: Jim
Moulton
Deanne Moore is a very talented young lady who can do it all. I'm
looking at her resume' and seriously, I do not think that I have seen a much
more diversified one... |
|
 Heidi
Newfield -
What Am I Waiting For
By Brianna
Nightingale, CSO Staff Journalist
9/7/08
|
 Ten
Questions With Jeremy Spillman
By Todd Sterling Every day
in Nashville teams of songwriters assemble in offices all
over town in hopes of writing the next big hit. The level of
talent in Music City is jaw-dropping. While many have the
gift to string words together and marry them to memorable
melodies... |
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 Keith
Anderson - C'MON!
By: Brianna Nightingale
8/27/08 |
 Scarlet
Kings
By: Brianna Nightingale
Every song from the Scarlet Kings is a treat, especially for
someone like myself who primarily listens to the melodies in
songs. This is a group that is unique, but in such a way
that they draw in listeners, leaving them feeling completely
satisfied and impressed... |
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 Sugarland - Love On the Inside
Album Review By: Brianna
Nightingale
8/12/08
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 Vince
Gill
By: Jim
Moulton Hmmm. Well,
this disc can open several cans of worms. You
have seen these grey best of collections for
artists, now they have greatly cheapened the
product, I think it's a couple of bucks cheaper
too. Like a digipak with a Styrofoam disc tray.
No liner notes, just a URL to go and download
them... |
 Ashton
Shepherd
Sounds So Good
Review By: George Peden
7/31/08 |
 Michael
Thomas
By: George Peden
You have to start somewhere. George
Strait did it with Strait Country. Alan Jackson
stoked the flame with Here In The Real World,
while a shy wannabee from Oklahoma...
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 Jewel
- Perfectly Clear
By: Brianna Nightingale
7/16/08 |
 Lost Trailers
By: Brianna Nightingale
The history of the Lost Trailers began years
ago when Ryder Lee and Stokes Nielson met in a church band.
Realizing that they each had their hearts set on making
music... |
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 Mark
Chesnutt
Rollin’ With the Flow
By: Brianna
Nightingale
7/6/08
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 Lauren Adams
By: Jim
Moulton
Lauren
Adams has a CD titled Secret Heart that is infectious, the
lyrics and melodies along with some sweet
slide work make you want to keep listening... |
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 Montgomery
Gentry - Back When I Knew It All
By: Brianna
Nightingale
6/26/08
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 Brent
and Randy Mason
By: Jim
Moulton
Brent Mason is one of the most talented guitarists around, plus
he is an "A" call Nashville studio musician which means he is in high demand for
his talent as a hired gun... |
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 Ray
Scott - Crazy Like Me
By: Penny Rondinella
6/13/08
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 Ten
Questions With
Rivers Rutherford
By Todd Sterling
I had the pleasure of meeting Rivers
Rutherford at a party late last year celebrating his number
one hit "These
Are My People," co-written with Dave Berg and
recorded by
Rodney Atkins... |
Phil Vassar - Prayer of a Common Man
By: Brianna
Nightingale
5/25/08
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 Randy
Travis
By: Jolene
Downs
Randy Travis has one of the most distinctive voices in the
industry and it is little wonder that you will find him among
the top 10 selling solo country artists... |
 Toby
Keith - 35 Biggest Hits
By: Jolene Downs
5/12/08 |
 Gaylynn
Robinson
By: Cheryl Harvey Hill
Life got you down? Kids driving you crazy? Overwhelmed by the hectic
pace required to simply survive these days... |
 James
Otto - Sunset Man
Review By: George Peden
4/27/08 |
Honky
Tonk Tailgate Party 08
By: Penny
Rondinella
 The
first thing I'm going to say is: if you have the chance to catch
this tour, do it! You are not going to want to miss it.
These four cowboys put on a heck of a good time... |
 George
Strait - Troubadour
By: Brianna Nightingale
4/14/08 |
 Mike
Aiken
Hula Girl Highway
By: George Peden
When Mike Aiken needs musical inspiration, he doesn’t have
to go far. There’s no struggling writer’s loft for him;
there’s no pacing the floor, wringing his hands in
desperation... |
 Jeff
Bates - Jeff Bates
By: Jolene Downs
4/7/08 |
 Carrie
Hassler and Hard Rain 2
By: Jim Moulton
Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain 2 is a bluegrass / acoustic
country masterpiece that is one the best quality CDs that I
have heard this year... |
 Alan
Jackson - Good Time
Album review by: Cheryl Harvey Hill
3/17/08 |
 Katie
Armiger
By: Brianna Nightingale
Although Katie Armiger is only seventeen years old, she has
recently released her second album, which is overflowing
with songs that portray her strong vocal ability as well as
her incredible talent as a songwriter... |
 Chris
Cagle
My Life’s Been a Country Song
By: Brianna Nightingale
2/27/08 |
 John
Carter Cash
By: Brianna
Nightingale
Although it seems as if it should be required to know a lot
about Johnny Cash in order to be a music journalist, I will
admit I didn’t know a whole lot about him when I started
writing country music reviews... |
 Willie
Nelson
Moment Of Forever
By: Cheryl Harvey Hill
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 The
Grascals
By: Jim Moulton
Keep On Walkin' is the Grascals first CD in a
couple of years, the sound is real traditional with hardly
any special effects. The harmonies on this CD are killer,
with memorable hooks from a great selection of songs... |
 Sarah
Johns
Big Love In A Small Town
By: Jolene Downs
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 Tabatha
& Southern Fry’d
By: Brianna Nightingale
One thing I love about the internet is that you can find
independent artists from around the world that you would
never have a chance of hearing on the radio. Many of them
are so good you want to turn the radio off and turn MySpace
on... |
 Chuck
Wicks
Starting Now
By: Brianna Nightingale
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 Charlie
Allen
By: George Peden
He's more Tritt than Strait, more McGraw than Jackson, and
more Otto than Keith. But more than a casual and easy
pigeon-slot comparison, newcomer Charlie Allen is exciting
and authentic. In essence: he is his own brand... |
 Rhonda
Vincent
Good Thing Going
By: Jim Moulton
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 April
Taylor
By: Jim Moulton
Ok, I want to apologize for
putting this off so long, it is just too good. April Taylor
is a special talent who has a remarkable CD with a great
collection of songs. |
 Rissi
Palmer
Self-Titled Debut CD
By: Jim Weaver
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 Julianne
Hough
By: Kevin Snyder
Most new artists share the same problem of trying to build
their name to sell it to the public and radio. Julianne
Hough has already built up a reputation for herself as a
two time champion on the television series Dancing With
the Stars... |
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 Patriotic
Country 3
By: Jim Moulton
I reviewed the first
installment of this series a while back and remembered
it being very good, so I went for part 3. The 3rd
compilation hits me in a different light... |
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 Phil
Christie
By: George Peden
If you like your music richly mellow, flavored just right with
equal doses of Americana and Folk, then Phil Christie, a
Neil Diamond similar-sounder, is worth a listen. Blessed
with a smooth, easy and clear tone, this Canadian is out
with his latest, Rearview Mirror...
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 Carlene
Carter
By: Jim
Moulton
This CD is raw, spirited and just a masterpiece by one
of the Carter Family Royalty, Carlene Carter. This has been
quite a year for me, lots of great music, but this record
really has moved me with its twelve original songs... |
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 Angel
Band
By: George
Peden
Start with three
distinct voices. Voices rich, clear and full, add celebrated producer Lloyd
Maines, include a pitch perfect band, then blend an assortment of meaningful and
inspired tunes. The result is, if I dare play with the obvious, angelic... |
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 Mountain
Heart
By: Jim
Moulton
This refreshing, cutting edge bluegrass group really has
put out a real masterpiece on this album. Recorded at "The
Ark" in Ann Arbor, Michigan... |
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 Kathy
Mattea
By: Jolene
Downs Kathy
Mattea is an extremely versatile artist who packs a very large
emotional punch with her music. Her latest album, Coal,
is an incredible musical journey... |
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 City
Moon
By: George Peden
It would easily be ten years. It must be. Could it really be that
long? Back then, I was doing a show on Melbourne (Australia)
radio and a listener asked if I’d heard of City Moon...
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 Tift
Merritt
By: Jim Moulton
Well, here I am back in the middle of the night reviewing a CD
and listening on my headphones. I have listened to Tift Merritt
before, but never reviewed anything by her...
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 Trent
Willmon
By: Penny Rondinella
Trent Willmon is here to prove with
the release of his new CD, Broken In with Compadre
Records, that he's not only the "Beer Man," or just
another pretty face...
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 Becky
Schlegel
By: George Peden
What a deeply satisfying album For All The World To See
is from Becky Schlegel. The voice, the songs, the artistry of
the musicians, all adds to an album that, simply, is clear,
melodic and easy on the senses...
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DeAnne
Moore - Never Too Late
By: Jolene Downs
DeAnne Moore is a newcomer who feels like a long-time friend
almost immediately. Once you've listened to her, you come away
with the feeling that she's just always been there. She earned
her Bachelor's Degree in Abilene...
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 Royal
Wade Kimes - How The West Was Sung
By: George Peden
Let me get this out and upfront –
I’m a Royal Wade Kimes fan. A big one. His music brings a
gritty approval for those who rode the rough and lonely trails
and lived the bedroll existence of bygone times...
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 Country
Compressor Pedal Shootout
By: Jim Moulton
Greetings Friends, well I guess you wonder where I disappeared
to, but I have been up to something different. After almost
seven years of doing CD reviews, I decided to review another
type of musical product that involves country music, guitar
pedals, specifically, compressor pedals...
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 Kelly
Aspen
By: Brianna Nightingale
Kelly Aspen is the type of country singer who has big dreams
and works hard to fulfill them. “I have wanted to be a singer
for as far back as I remember,” she said...
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 Randy
Archer - I Can Hardly Wait
By: George Peden
I Can Hardly Wait is the new release from Randy Archer. The
former hit-seeker with country duo Archer Park has turned his
hand and voice to a religious album. And before the wowsers turn
their ears away, it’s wholesome, melodic and well crafted...
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 Crystal
Sands
By: Brianna Nightingale
Realizing the importance and thrill of writing her own songs,
Crystal Sands began transforming her own poems into melodies at
the age of thirteen. She has always loved to write...
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 Jason
Meadows 100% Cowboy
Interview/Album Review By: Brianna Nightingale
When asked to describe himself to interviewers on Nashville
Star, Jason Meadows said he is “a cowboy, country as a dirt
clod.” After talking with him and listening to his album, 100%
Cowboy, I believe it...
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 Josh
Gracin
We Weren’t Crazy
By: Brianna Nightingale
In the past I heard that Josh Gracin went in to Lyric
Street, sang in front of a few staff members and ended up with a
record deal. I knew it couldn’t be quite that simple...
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 Zane
Lewis
By: George Peden
Turbo-tonkin’ Texan Zane Lewis is out and active with his
second album, a self-titled sizzler. Lewis simply, and
energetically, delivers with a power brand of hip country, all
without hype or hoopla...
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 Concert
Review
Sawyer Brown, Phil Stacey, Rissi Palmer, Carolyn Dawn Johnson
and Chris Young in Hoffman Estates, IL
By: Brianna Nightingale
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 Mike
Runnels
Jukebox Boulevard
By: George Peden
Mike Runnels is country. The Austin, Texas singer
songwriter knows how to twist and juice his lyrics, leaving you
decidedly aware how life and love can leave you somewhere far
from where it started...
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 Allison
Moorer
Mockingbird
By: Jim Moulton
Allison Moorer has done a little bit of all types of music and
different types of recordings. Her big sister Shelby Lynne just
finished a very polished jazz sounding CD called Just a
Little Lovin' that was sparse, but emotive and one of her
best...
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 Luke
Bryan
I’ll Stay Me
By: Brianna Nightingale
Luke Bryan learned all about hard work while he was growing up
on his parents’ peanut farm in Leesburg, GA. His childhood was
also the time when he acquired his love for country music...
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 Shawna
Russell
Goddess
By: George Peden
Happy is the person who can find
what truly makes them content. Country newcomer Shawna Russell
seems to have found the answer...
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 Shelby
Lynne
Just A Little Lovin'
By: Jim Moulton
Shelby Lynne has always sang and recorded music with passion and
reason. Lynne's last CD was a very well done set of songs that
she wrote called Suit Yourself...
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 Craig
Morgan brought in 2008 at Wildhorse Saloon
By: Brianna Nightingale
What is better than bringing in the New Year with a few good
friends and Craig Morgan? I can’t think of anything off the
top of my head; well, unless there were more friends and two
Craig Morgans...
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 Randy
Thompson
Further On
By: George Peden
The album rocks in part, slows to
measure the mood on the slower cuts, and is generally a tight
musical odyssey for a guy renowned for taking years between his
album releases. But that’s okay – quality takes time, and this
is a top-drawer effort...
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 Blue
Highway
Through The Window OF A Train
By: Jim Moulton
After many listens to this
recording, I have just fallen in love with it. More than
anything, the depth of the lyrics really struck me...
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 Owen
Temple
Two Thousand Miles
By: George Peden
In a market flooded with wannabees and clones, once in a great
while it happens. Someone comes along, someone with a voice and
a message that makes you second take and draws you in...
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 BadBob
& Jimmy
Posted Places
By: George Peden
Hmmm…it's a fine line, this comedy thing. I mean, what makes
someone laugh often makes another cringe...
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 Marshall
Tucker Band
Carolina Dreams Tour '77 DVD/CD
By: Jim Moulton
Like Surprises? I do. I have been reviewing lots of Shout
Factory / Marshall Tucker Band re-releases recently...
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 Megan
Linville Concert Review
By: Christina Struck
I first heard Megan Linville when a friend suggested that I
check out her Myspace page...
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 Justin
Honaman Saturday In The South
By: George Peden
Good deeds never go unnoticed. Country newcomer Justin Honaman
has a dual purpose in life. He wants to make country music. He
also wants to assist less fortunate people, in particular
kids...
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 Doug
Stone
My Turn
By Jolene Downs
Doug Stone has released
his latest studio album, My Turn, on his own TNT Records
label. Stone is an artist that has dealt with more than his fair
share of adversity...
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 My
Top Picks of 2007 - Predictions for 2008
By Cheryl Harvey Hill
Would someone please slap the powers that be at Curb!?! Please...
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 Jim
Moulton Picks His Top 10 of 2007
Well, I thought doing the top ten CDs for this past year was
going to be easy, but it turned out to be a lot of thought and
work...
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