Album Review – Paul Cauthen’s “Black on Black”
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Paul Cauthen is not a unimportant or insignificant character in country music. His footprint and fan base are impressive. But Paul Cauthen is also the performer who most fundamentally gives into the id and the ego.
Review – Lee Ann Womack Sings Chris Knight’s “Send It On Down”
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When Lee Ann Womack set out to construct her 2014 album The Way I’m Livin’, she went looking for songs that weren’t written by committee as is the norm in Nashville these days, but songs that originated from one person going through a human experience who then shared that experience through song. Such a search if it was to be thorough and prudent would almost invariably involve Chris Knight.
Is Country Music Finally Improving? Aaron Tippin Thinks So.
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As Tippin says, country music appears to be shifting away from so-called “Bro-Country” to music of a little more substance lately, and though there still seems to be much more work to be done and a few more Bro-Country hits could still materialize (or something even worse to take its place), positive signs that country is moving in a more positive direction are appearing.
“Something In The Water” Becomes Bro-Country’s Coffin Nail
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But what “Something In The Water” had that no other song that could offer battle to Bro-Country had previously was substance, and one of the most powerful performances we’ve heard from a country artist in the last few years. This is what was needed to defeat Bro-Country. It wasn’t going to take pandering. Leadership is what was needed, and an exhibition of raw talent that could not be denied.
Country Music Star Doesn’t Have an Opinion on ‘American Sniper’
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Everywhere you turn, the new movie about American Navy Seal Chris Kyle called American Sniper has been causing a political stir amongst movie goers and beyond. But one country star, Jimmy Michael Montgomery, known for such hits such as “Beer Truck” and “Remember Back When” surprisingly says it’s not his place to enter the fray of what has become a political discussion.
Sturgill Simpson’s Theater Tour is Selling Out Quickly
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Get ’em while the getting’s good because they’re about to be gone. That’s not a sales pitch, that’s the simple reality of Sturgill Simpson’s upcoming tour starting on 1/29. After going on a sold out club tour in the latter half of 2014, Sturgill’s next stint on the road sees him graduating to bigger clubs and many theaters to house the growing demand. But even with more capacity, many dates are selling out almost immediately.
Review – Kay Berkel Teams with Daniel Romano for Great Little EP
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Whether you’re looking for some new music involving country music Canadian throwback Daniel Romano since it’s been exactly three years since his last release, or if you’re looking for a new name that embodies that classic country sound and style from the Golden Era that has been so lost and overlooked in the current country music malaise, this little four-song EP from Kay Berkel will be right down your alley.
Chris Stapleton’s Debut Album “Traveller” to Finally be Released
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For years now, the long-awaited solo album from country music songwriter Chris Stapleton has been like the White Whale of albums to informed country music listeners who pay attention liner notes. Meanwhile other fans remember Stapleton from his days in the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers. Beyond his songwriting, Stapleton’s solo sets are things of shiver-inducing magic.
Miranda Lambert’s “Roots & Wings” Blurs Lines Between Art and Ad
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On Thursday (1-22) country music fans were treated to a surprise when Miranda Lambert unexpectedly released a new song totally divested from her recent album Platinum called “Roots and Wings.” The song starts off a little checklist-like, talking about red dirt stains and tall pine trees, but resolves in one deliciously juicy “I got roots, and I got wings” lyrical hook…
Dierks Bentley’s Alter Ego Douglas Douglason & Hot Country Knights
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Move over Chris Gaines and Earl Dibble’s Jr., there’s a new alter ego in the country world, and he’s a soft-core porn semi-star sporting a mullet and playing cheesy 90’s country rock in the country music equivalent of a hair metal band. Douglas “Big Rhythm Doug” Douglason and his band Hot Country Knights is apparently a real thing, or a fake thing that’s pretending to be real
Album Review – Ryan Bingham’s “Fear & Saturday Night”
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Fear and Saturday Night might be Bingham’s best album yet. This is an album of all peaks and no valleys. As the perfect experience for the classic rock buff hiding in every country and Americana fan, Bingham scrapes the grime off the sweaty denim of 70’s Stones and douses it with a little Dylan poetry set to grooves left in the residue of a Faces studio session and articulated with riffs that awaken the spirit of a freer time.
John Mayer & Keith Urban Profess Their Love for Sturgill Simpson
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The Sturgill Simpson love continues to pour in from different sectors of the music world, and now extends to songwriter and guitarist John Mayer, who is apparently “jealous” of the Kentucky-born country music performer. One of his biggest fans in mainstream country has been Keith Urban, and in a recent interview, when asked about Sturgill, Urban said “He’s the best.”
Jamey Johnson Signs with Paradigm, Releases “Alabama Pines” as a Single
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It’s a new year, and a new Jamey Johnson as the traditional country artist continues to shake up his situation after an extended period of not releasing any new original music after a dispute arose with his publisher. Announced on Tuesday (1-20), Jamey Johnson has signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency for booking live performances and tours.