Quit With All This “Gatekeeping” Talk in Country
60 Comments
Accusing someone of “gatekeeping” is just an intellectually lazy, thought and discussion-ending enterprise designed to win arguments online as opposed to addressing the very real and systemic issues.
Sturgill Simpson Reveals Plot for Double Album on Joe Rogan Podcast
56 Comments
The always elusive and enigmatic Sturgill Simpson stopped by the studio of Joe Rogan in Los Angeles to record a long-form podcast recently, and revealed some interesting tidbits about his musical plans in the coming future both recorded and live during the nearly three-hour discussion.
American Aquarium Signs with New West Records, Readies Release of “Things Change”
33 Comments
Fans of American Aquarium have known the name of their upcoming album for a while. Now they have the details. This is not the situation of a band on the mend backing into an effort to survive. Arguably ‘Things Change’ sees the 12+ year project by BJ Barham just now reaching its stride.
Song Review – Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy”
87 Comments
Jason Aldean is the latest mainstream country music bro to make it hard to be a mainstream country hater with his latest single, “You Make It Easy.” It’s certainly not anywhere close to an exceptional effort, and we’d be fools to believe that the puffy purveyor of such filthy tire fires as “Dirt Road Anthem” and “1994” has turned a page.
VP of Cumulus Country Doesn’t Listen to Country, Swears Off Sturgill Simpson
76 Comments
The country music genre used to be full of people who were passionate about the art form. They found purpose behind bringing the music to people, and that is why they decided to become performers, songwriters, side players, DJs, managers, publicists, roadies, journalists, or whatever it took to push the music forward.
Album Review – Vivian Leva’s “Time Is Everything”
22 Comments
Vivian Leva sings like she breathes, she performs like she moves a kettle from the stove to the table. Effortless, as they say. The music springs from her lungs and sparks from her fingertips as she sows original compositions from the inspirations she encountered from the earliest of ages because making traditional music is all she’s ever known.
Sturgill Simpson Cast in Recurring Acting Role in New CBS Series “$1”
78 Comments
Sturgill Simpson will make his acting debut as a recurring character in a new CBS television drama series called “$1.” The new series is characterized as a mystery set in a small rust belt town in post-recession America, where a one-dollar bill changing hands connects a group of characters involved in a multiple murder.
“I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” Jake Owen? Really?
77 Comments
Jake Owen ain’t Jack. And he ain’t no Mellencamp either. It appears the years of prolonged exposure to radioactive bronzer treatments have finally all but officially fried his brain. Yes this song makes me nostalgic. It makes me nostalgic for a time in music when new songs from country artists weren’t complete and utter shite.
On The Mike Huckabee Appointment and Resignation From the CMA Foundation
183 Comments
Political affiliations aside, Mike Huckabee may have been the most qualified individual in America for the position on the CMA Foundation he was appointed to. But none of this mattered to an expressly slim yet vociferous minority within the country music industry, and an especially politically-bias part of the country music press corps.
Alan Jackson: “I Love Chris Stapleton. But What He’s Making Now Really Isn’t Real Country”
214 Comments
Alan Jackson isn’t one to pull punches, or to not say what’s on his mind when somebody asks him. His Hall of Fame career has been marked by taking hard stances for the cause of real country music. Alan Jackson was recently interviewed as part of a GQ feature, and had some interesting things to say about Chris Stapleton.
Lineup for 2018 Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic Announced
5 Comments
A traditional like few others will transpire once again this summer when Willie Nelson celebrates the 4th of July by gathering together friends and family for his annual 4th of July Picnic. For the fourth year in a row, the event will be held at the Circuit of the Americas speedway just south of Austin, TX, and will include many long-standing invitees.
Saving Country Music’s 2018 Country Music Hall of Fame Picks & Prognostications
130 Comments
Once again as spring nears, it becomes time for the annual exercise to ponder who perhaps the CMA will deem worthy for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. About this time the secret CMA-approved committee is going over their final ballots and whittling down the precious names to the few who will make it.
The Hellroys Bring The Hilarity in “Hellroys Is Real”
27 Comments
Whatever happened to the hilarious songs of Shel Silverstein and the innuendo of Roy Acuff’s early material? Like so much of the great stuff about country music, it’s mostly gone. That’s where the Hellroys out of Ohio come in with their new record, “Hellroys Is Real.”