Song Review – Jamey Johnson’s “What A View”
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Ever since the release of Jamey Johnson’s last original album—2010’s The Guitar Song—fans have been eagerly awaiting new music from the 2-time CMA award-winning songwriter. It’s finally here.
Why God & Gospel Are Re-Emerging in American Music
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Slowly over the past few years we’re seeing the re-emergence of both God and Jesus in roots music content, and the popularization of gospel. Why? Possibly for the same reason the devil works so well, because God and Jesus are beginning to re-emerge as “folk” characters too, that even non-religious people can identify with as personifications of good.
Review – Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – “Wasted”
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It might be true that we would never know Lukas Nelson from Adam if his pops wasn’t the almighty braided one, but this might be more of a commentary on the parody and glut of music the American consumer must sift through to satiate their music wants rather than a commentary on Lukas’s talents. Because as far as talent goes, Lukas got an unfair share of the heavy persuasion for any family.
Embarrassment of 2012 ACM Awards Won’t Go Away
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Like the most awful of childhood memories, I’ve attempted to suppress my recollections and thoughts of this year’s ACM Awards into the deepest and darkest recesses of my psyche, but like a bad acid reflux condition, the bile keeps rising. Yesterday Fox News contacted me for some quotes on a story entitled: Some country music fans say Ashton Kutcher not offensive, popular country music is.
The Original Deep Blues Festival Returns for 2012
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The Notorious and Legendary Deep Blues Festival, brain child of BBQ Restaurant owner Chris Johnson in Bayport, MN, has decided to return for 2012 after a 2 year hiatus. The Deep Blues Festival ran from 2007 to 2010, becoming one of the biggest alternative blues festivals in the world before deciding to call it quits due to financial concerns.
Review – Wrinkle Neck Mules “Apprentice To Ghosts”
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What separates The Wrinkle Neck Mules from the standard fare of Southern-based country-inspired rock is a fierce passion embedded in every element of their approach, from their songwriting and singing, to the lyricism and sounds, there is a weightiness, a fiercity, almost like Apocalyptic or battlefield poetry. It’s a great balance that conveys energy and importance, without being uncultured or immature.
The Origins & Epicenters of Underground “Muddy” Roots
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From the outside looking in, one may look at the lineup of The Muddy Roots Festival for example, and wonder how all these bands could all be booked right beside each other and it work seamlessly. This illustrates the dramatic sonic and geographical diversity that goes into creating what we know now as the underground country roots, or “Muddy Roots” world.
2012 Official Anti-ACM’s Saving Country Music Live Blog
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Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 2012 Official Anti-ACM’s Saving Country Music Live Blog! The way this works is as the night proceeds we will leave our ACM observations from the broadcast in a timeline below. You are strongly encouraged to participate by leaving your comments below as well. Think of this as a commiseration party, where folks who feel country is on the wrong path and find a collective of like minds.
LIONEL RICHIE IS NOT COUNTRY !!!
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Country music’s complicit and overly submissive posture towards Lionel Ritchie has been nothing short of miraculous. But the truth of the matter is that Lionel Ritchie isn’t using country music, country music is using Lionel Ritchie. Just like Jason Aldean said to CMT, country music needs to erase “negative stereotypes” that country music is, well, indeed country.
Album Review – Ray Wylie Hubbard ‘The Grifter’s Hymnal’
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If there’s honor amongst thieves, then it only seems fitting there should be a Grifter’s Hymnal. And if there’s going to be a Grifter’s Hymnal, it’s only fitting Ray Wylie Hubbard should compose it. The ingredients of grifters are already mixed there on his palette: Tales of dead and dying things and dens of iniquity, the struggle or the soul between good and evil, and the difficulty sometimes of telling the two apart.
2012 ACM Awards Preview & Predictions
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Well shit, it looks like the Academy of Country Music Awards are this Sunday, so what better to get you prepared than to hold this charade up to the light and see what we’ve got. You should expect Reba McEntire’s skin to be taught, Blake Shelton’s jokes to be flat, Taylor Swift reactions to be be precocious, and let’s all pray to Jesus that the camera doesn’t find Keith Urban’s wife…
Billy Don Burns to Release “Nights When I’m Sober”
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Legendary country music songwriter Billy Don Burns, who over his 40 year career has written songs for Willie Nelson, Connie Smith, Sammy Kershaw, and many others has partnered up with Rusty Knuckles Records and will be releasing a new album this summer, Nights When I’m Sober (The Portrait of a Honky Tonk Singer).
Jawga Boyz Reinforce Negative Stereotypes in “Mud Jugs”
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This is what they’re trying to do to Southern culture these days folks. They’re taking away your pride, your heritage, your farms, your music, your family life and sense of community, and replacing it with a piece of molded plastic for you to vomit your carcinogenic refuse into after you’ve blessed your oral cavity with the sweet gift of Cancer. Congratulations!