Whiskey Riff’s Political Coverage Is Deceptive and Concerning
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Whiskey Riff’s unscrupulous journalistic practices are disturbing, and they’re now being exacerbated by deciding that political coverage also needs to be part of the Whiskey Riff diet.
Outreach Must Be An Imperative of Independent Music
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If you’re reading these very words right now, it is very likely that at some point in your life, you went through a musical awakening. At some point, you were exposed to a piece of independent music, and it changed your life. It opened up a whole new world that you would have never known existed if it wasn’t for someone opening that door for you.
Recap – 2011 CMA Awards
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My overall grade of the 2011 CMA Awards would be “not terrible.” Jason Aldean could have swept the awards, and ushered in a new era in country music where a country rap song was the reigning Song of the Year. But Taylor’s Entertainer of the Year victory at least means that at least a little authenticity is still alive in the “country” genre. Or at least for another year.
Idol Scotty McCreery’s Lip Sync ‘Clear As Day’ on CMA’s
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During Martina McBride’s rendition of her song “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” three times during the performance, you could clearly see a teleprompter flashing words in Martina’s direction. During Scotty McCreery’s abridged performance of the song ‘Walk In The Country” from his new album Clear As Day, he was clearly lip syncing.
CMA 2011 Preview: We Were Wrong About Taylor Swift
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We were wrong about Taylor Swift. I was wrong about Taylor Swift. We were blinded by our prejudices. When Taylor Swift first came on to the scene, she sang cheesy teenage pop songs, and we chastised her for it, when she was doing what all the great songwriters did over the years: write what they knew about, what inspired them.
Review – Jason Boland & The Stragglers “Rancho Alto”
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The heavy thematic focus on Texas and Oklahoma in Red Dirt music is what has made the movement strong throughout that region. It’s also what keeps it from progressing beyond. I’ve always believed that good songwriting allows you to look past proper names, and delve into the meaning of what a songwriter is attempting to convey. Jason Boland does this in Rancho Alto.
CMA 2011 Preview: The Jason Aldean Effect (& Predictions)
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Just like how Taylor Swift’s big 2009 sweep of the awards caused a dramatic pop-oriented shift in the genre, an Aldean sweep could cause a shift to Aldean’s calling cards of checklist songs and country rap. And a win for the song “Dirt Road Anthem” would all but make the formation of the mono-genre complete.
Viral & Serial Videos Important Tool to Independent Artists
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Following this success and attention to video, many independent artists are making video a bigger priority. And not just one video, but multiple videos, “serial” video releases if you will, of both viral and more conceptualized varieties, to keep their music in the forefront of fan’s minds over a longer period than just an album’s initial release.
Muddy Roots Expanding to Europe
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It has become evident over the past few months that Muddy Roots is the answer that many artists and fans have been waiting a long time for. Now Muddy Roots has announced that they are expanding to Europe, with a full-fledged two day festival June 9-10 at the “Steakhouse Saloon” compound in Belgium this upcoming summer.
Song Review – Willy Tea Taylor’s “Life Is Beautiful”
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“Life Is Beautiful” is a laundry list song; a laundry list song that schools all of it’s counterparts by simply being honest, and thankful. It is one of the best songs of the year, and not a better, more necessary year could it have been presented to us. It is a masterpiece, and if it doesn’t move you, then well, I just give up. So give up 4 minutes of your time, and change your life.
CMA 2011 Preview – Where in the Hell is Jamey Johnson?
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But even someone who is tepid on Jamey can see that The Guitar Song deserved a CMA nomination for best album. If the mainstream is going to use Jamey to say, “Look, we do have traditional artists that we accept and promote,” then they need to follow through with it. This may have been Johnson’s only chance at a CMA nomination, and the powers that be blew it.
First Ever “Country Boy Band” Being Cast
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I can’t make this up folks, there is actually an effort out there to put together what is being called a “country music boy band.” So if you have the ambition to be a musical monkey, then shave your balls, shove a sock down the front of your pants, spike your hair and bleach the tips and get your ass to CountryBoyBandSearch.com to sign up!
Album Review – James Hunnicutt’s “99 Lives”
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In 99 Lives, Hunnicutt creates a circle of wisdom through fearlessly conveying his personal, intimate experiences in life, and by intimating his fears and frailties, and his victories against them. Honesty is the benchmark of all great albums, and 99 Lives’s honesty is unchecked, complimented by the most powerful voice in all of independent country roots.