Album Review – Kiely Connell’s “My Own Company”
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Singer and songwriter Kiely Connell first burst into the music consciousness in 2021 with her excellent debut album “Calumet Queen.” Her voice was so striking, and her songs so emotive and cutting, she made a lasting impression.
Leonard Cohen Could Have Been a Country Star (RIP)
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As if mother universe hasn’t had a dandy old time over the last few days running all of us stuck on the mortal coil through the mother of all emotional gauntlets, now we’re being asked to field the devastating news that Canadian songwriter, performer, poet, and novelist Leonard Cohen has passed away this Thursday (11-10) at the age of 82.
Of Life & Limb: Why The Savannah Welch Story Feels Beyond Comprehension
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Amputations are things we’re only used to hear about happening in war zones, not during lazy afternoons at the Wimberley Farmers Market. The news was so shocking, with the thought of this musician and a mother that has brought so much light and vitality to people being encumbered now for the rest of her life feels so unjust. Not Savannah. Anyone but Savannah.
Alan Jackson Walked Out on Beyonce’s 2016 CMA Performance
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Alan Jackson has been known throughout his career for putting his foot down for the integrity of country music, regardless of the ramifications. That’s what happened at the 1994 ACM Awards when Jackson instructed his drummer to play without sticks when the producers insisted his band mimic playing to a backing track.
Saving Country Music’s Apolitical Election Survival Playlist
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For those fed up with the political system, scared to vote either way for two of the most unlikable Presidential candidates in recent memory, voting with trepidation, not voting in spite, or just plain wanting this whole election thing to end and hoping that somehow the United States can find a modicum of healing after it is all over…
Muddy Roots Festival Announces 110 Bands for 2017 “Reunion” Year
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November may be a little bit early for some folks to be planning what they’ll be up to on Labor Day 2017, but Muddy Roots would like for you to consider the raised skirt and perfumed inner thigh of their lineup for the 2017 installment of the Muddy Roots Festival in Cookeville, TN.
It Wasn’t Beyonce Who Challenged Racial Hatred at the 2016 CMA’s
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Nearly a week removed from the 2016 CMA Awards, and what are we still talking about? We’re not talking to each other at all. We’re shouting. We’re yelling. We’re digging into our predisposed positioning stances and blaming the other side. We’re not discussing the music.
Little Big Town’s “Better Man” (written by Taylor Swift)
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“Better Man” is interesting for many reasons. Unfortunately, most of those reasons have little to do with the music itself. But this track is far from the worst transgressions on country radio, and it is refreshing to hear song that’s not all rosy targeted to the mainstream set. It will perform well as a cozy winter single tiding over Taylor Swift fans.
Album Review – Paul Cauthen’s “My Gospel”
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One of the most difficult undertakings for a music reviewer is to share your opinion on a record that you ultimately favor more than fault, but happen to have more critical observations for than positive ones, especially when public sentiment is tilting so favorably towards it already. It just becomes a recipe for misunderstanding.
Travis Tritt Rips the CMA’s for Booking Beyonce
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“As I see it, country music has appealed to millions for many years. We can stand on our own and don’t need pop artists on our awards shows,” Tritt said in a series of tweets on November 3rd. “I love honest to God country music and feel the need to stand up for it at all costs. We don’t need pop or rap artists to validate us.”
Album Review- Erik Dylan’s “Heart of a Flatland Boy”
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‘Heart of a Flatland Boy’ is refreshingly raw and energetic, with tightly-wound songs all written or co-written by Dylan, and a straightforward but effective production approach, blurring the lines between country and heartland rock in both the sound and themes, and painting a mental picture of places and people that are filled with a meaningfulness…
This Country Music Is Racist / Beyonce Bullshit (A Rant)
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I told you booking Beyoncé was a bad idea CMA’s. Now you’re a racist reprobate in the eyes of the politically-charged Millennial entertainment media and sycophantical pop diva worshipers who will nail people to crosses to prove the depth of their fanaticism, and so is all of country music and its bumpkin fans.
TV Ratings for the CMA Awards Hit All-Time Low
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It was a historic night for the CMA Awards as they celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a cavalcade of stars both new and old Wednesday evening (11-2), but not even a last-minute addition of pop superstar Beyonce, or an appearance by Taylor Swift handing out the evening’s Entertainer of the Year award could salvage ratings for the show.