50 Years Ago: George Jones Records Overlooked Country Classic
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As the eventual title track to George’s February 1976 album, “The Battle” came out in the aftermath of George’s divorce from Tammy Wynette, and at a time when his career was in a commercial slide.
The Ben Davenport Band’s “Slow Start”
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It’s been a while since I’ve heard such great texture and diversity in a record that still clings tightly to its country roots. Reflecting back on a lifetime of memories, accomplishments, failures, and the fortunes and lessons that come with both, it is a self-critique and cathartic, fiercely personal, and an album you can tell Jim Yoss made for himself, be damned if anyone else likes it
Auto-Tune In Country Isn’t Evolution, It’s Falling Behind
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Forget about the intended use of Antares flagship software product known as “Auto-Tune” for a second. Almost since the inception of the pitch-correction software, Auto-Tune has been utilized as a vocal effect as well, and one that has become an indelible part of popular music. But country music stayed mostly on the sidelines of the Auto-Tune phenomenon.
10 Badass Johnny Cash Moments
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What made Johnny Cash the ultimate badass was his ability to bridge people together regardless of taste in music, cultural differences, or political ideology. Johnny Cash could tackle some of the most difficult issues facing a tumultuous American society as it saw the emergence of rock and roll and the counterculture because they man had such an air of respect about him.
The Autopsy Report of Wayne Mills Released
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Chris Ferrell was in court Thursday (1-16) for a “discussion date” and to take care of some minor procedural defense motions. The autopsy report was also made available for the first time through the Medical Examiners Office. The autopsy report also included a postmortem toxicology workup testing for a wide spectrum of substances in Wayne’s body.
Keith Urban Says The Country Definition Is “Totally Meaningless”
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Recently when Keith Urban was interviewed by Michigan Live and was asked if definitions like “country,” “rock,” and “pop” are important or meaningless, Urban replied, “Totally meaningless to me. I make music and people decide what it is. That’s it. I don’t think about it any more than that.”
Trace Adkins Brawls with Impersonator / Enters Rehab
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Country star Trace Adkins has checked himself into rehab according to Country Weekly after taking his first drink in 12 years and ending up in an altercation with a Trace Adkins impersonator aboard a “Country Crusin'” cruise ship headed for Jamaica. Adkins was scheduled to continue on the cruise, but his performances have subsequently been canceled.
Tim McGraw’s “Lookin For That Girl” (A Rant)
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What kind of fresh hell has Tim McGraw unearthed here? Apparently the once high-flying country star has been inadvertently inoculating himself with inebriating bronzer agents from his incessant chemical tan treatments that have now seeped into his blood stream. “Lookin’ For That Girl” isn’t a cry for relevancy, it is a barbaric yawp, a banshee scream, a cacophonous ode to the onset of monoculture and wholesale mediocrity.
DJ Bobby Bones Gets Into Feud with Kacey Musgraves
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Bobby Bones has been a polarizing figure from the beginning, but just ratcheted up a notch by getting in a public battle with Kacey Musgraves over the last few days through Twitter. Musgraves conducted an interview with Bobby Bones on November 5th, the day before the 2013 CMA Awards, like many of the artists that performed or that were up for awards or in attendance did…
Review – Johnny Cash’s “She Used To Love Me A Lot”
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Learned country fans will recognize “She Used To Love Me A Lot” as a David Allan Coe single released in early December of 1984 off his album Darlin’ Darlin’. That version of the song also emanated from Columbia Records, with Billy Sherrill as producer, though it’s probably not fair to call Cash’s version a cover of David Allan Coe because Cash’s version was very likely recorded first.
The Cadillac Three Poised for a Big 2014
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Hard to pigeonhole, and certainly not what one would traditionally consider mainstream country music, their ability to appeal to mainstream fans, Southern rock fans, and even some independent and underground fans with a sound that despite whatever lack of depth is hard to not label as authentic and gritty, The Cadillac Three could be a band who finds themselves at the nexus of of the “bro-country” phenomenon, and its backlash.
Travis Tritt: Artists Are Portraying “Something They Aren’t”
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“There’s a mentality in the country music world of Nashville that says, “You don’t know anything, and we know how to do this.” It’s “We know what’s best for you: You get to the microphone, sing what we tell you to sing, play what we tell you to play, and you’ll be fine.” That scares people away from branching out and doing things that creatively are out of the box.”
Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band Crash Bus in Colorado
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Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band crashed their small tour bus Sunday night (1-12) while traversing the snowy Colorado roads in the midst of a 6 week Winter tour. Nobody was seriously injured, but members of the band suffered bumps & bruises and the bus was totaled. Anyone willing to sell, loan, barter, or otherwise procure a touring vehicle for the band is encouraged to contact them.