Album Review – Jesse Welles – “Middle”
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Even before Jesse Welles wrote, recorded, and released this fully formed 10-song studio album amid sometimes daily song releases on social media, his musical output hovered somewhere near the impossible.
Mile 0 Fest Announces Impressive 2019 Lineup
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Now that so many fans made the trek last year and were happy to report it was no Fyre Fest—it was perhaps one of the best festivals they’ve ever attended—they’ll be lining up for tickets this year too, especially with such an impressive 2nd year lineup.
Kristina Murray Announces New Album “Southern Ambrosia”
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If you’re looking for the next generation’s version of Emmylou Harris, Kristina Murray is not a bad place to start your quest. A hidden gem of east Nashville and a regular at the Honky Tonk Tuesday Night events at the local American Legion Post 82, she’s been seen as a duet partner with J.P. Harris and other cohorts occasionally.
Darius Rucker’s Take on Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s “Straight to Hell”
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You complain that the songs from today’s top country stars are no good and they should start cutting songs that are halfway decent like the ones your favorite independent and underground artists play … until they attempt to do that very thing, and come across like total dork asses.
Album Review – Rhyan Sinclair’s “Barnstormer”
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The 17-year-old Rhyan Sinclair proves this Kentucky wave of country music is no anomaly. It’s broad-based, and multi-generational. She like a chute of new country music life rising from the soil. But don’t slot her as just another name in a gaggle of artists emerging from Kentucky. She has the voice, the style, and songwriting to stand out.
Randy Houser Returns to Form in “What Whiskey Does”
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“What Whiskey Does” is a return of Randy Houser to his more original form, and for the better. This is the Randy Houser who had built a fan base who would back bite you when you mentioned Randy’s participation in “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” or other offenses, and assure you he was true country.
New 50th Anniversary Edition of “Country Music USA” Book Asserts Country Music “Has No Center”
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This is all especially concerning since Country Music USA is the basis of the new Ken Burns film on country music, which will reach a much wider audience than this final chapter, and like all Ken Burns films, be referenced by many generations to come as a master work of country music history.
Willie Nelson Plans to Tribute Old Blue Eyes on Next Record
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Willie Nelson calls Frank Sinatra a “close friend,” and the two played shows together in Las Vegas, and even once recorded a PSA for NASA together. “I learned a lot about phrasing listening to Frank,” Willie says. “He didn’t worry about behind the beat or in front of the beat, or whatever – he could sing it either way…”
Cody Jinks Speaks to Everyday Struggles in New Song “Lifers”
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If you’re looking for reasons why Cody Jinks has accrued such a rabid, dedicated, and wide fan base—including the many who refer to themselves as “Flockers”—it’s because he writes and records songs that feel like they were composed exclusively for them, ripped right out of their personal narratives, with people & characters that feel like family.
Frank Newsome’s “Gone Away With A Friend” (A Review)
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The simplest way to describe Frank Newsome’s Gone Away with a Friend is to imagine Ralph Stanley’s rendition of “O Death,” amplified by two, and multiplied by twelve. On the surface, this may seem like a listening experience that would ultimately become tedious, but the exact opposite is true.
How Are Performers Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame?
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Being elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor any country music performer, musician, songwriter, or professional in the country music industry can receive. Unlike other Hall of Fame institutions, the Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the most exclusive, most selective, and also one of the most secretive […]
Vintage Album Review – Lucinda Williams’ “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road”
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Perfection is certainly not at the heart of the appeal or staying power for Car Wheel on a Gravel Road. Instead it’s the sloppy, sticky, loose feel of it all, carried upon the words of Lucinda’s candid and real character recitations that make the record feel like the ultimate insight into the disheveled mind of the broken hearted.
Maren Morris Is Not The Leader the Media Loves to Portray
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It remains stupefying why pop star Maren Morris continues to be portrayed as a leader, feminist, and groundbreaker, etc. in country music by fawning media members who’ve been rendered starry-eyed simply because they’re find guilty pleasure in some of her tunes.