There’s just about no better place to be in the world in the dead of winter than Florida, and it’s even better when you get to listen to some of your favorite songwriters showcase their stuff.
The world is waking up to just what a wonder it has in its midst with songwriter and performer Sierra Ferrell. From busking on street corners for ragged dollars, to now being recognized with some of the top awards in the industry.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are once again Grammy winners. So are Grammy favorites Brandi Carlile and Brandy Clark. Chris Stapleton is the king of the country categories so far. And Allison Russel is finally a Grammy Award winner.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right now in country music.
Attention all you card carrying members of the country music community, by the power invested in me, I am officially declaring May 19th, 2023 an official country music holiday.
We have reached the point of insanity these days with the amount of albums coming out each week in the greater country and roots realm. It’s like a full-time job just keeping track of it all, let alone navigate through the sea of releases to try and find what may be appeal to you.
There may not be a greater cautionary tale in the history of country music for what can happen when you chase trends and try to forage in the greener pastures of pop than what happened to The Band Perry. The sibling trio of Kimberly, Reid, and Neil Perry was one of country music’s most promising bands.
Brandy Clark is one of the most critically-acclaimed country songwriters of our generation, garnering nine Grammy nominations among other accolades, and is a stellar singer and performer to boot. Now she’ll be making another run for critical acclaim on May 19th.
Luke Combs said it best while accepting the trophy for Entertainer of the Year Wednesday night (11-9) at the 2022 CMA Awards: “This is my fifth or sixth year being at this awards show, and country sounded more country than it has in a long time tonight.” In truth, the CMA Awards righting the ship goes back even further.
Concept albums have been an integral part of country music history, with the release of certain projects completely reshaping the country music paradigm, including in recent memory. Just in case you need an illustration of the breadth and importance of concept albums in country music
According to numerous journalists, artists, and activists, after MIranda Lambert’s appearance on stage at the Bridgestone on Friday evening with Jason Aldean, all of her good will and Miranda’s active efforts to make country music a more inclusive place deserves to be called into question.
It’s a remarkable achievement that an album like this was even made under the otherwise repressive jurisdiction of the Music Row system in Nashville. No, you should not consider this like a conventional album release by Ashley McBryde, meaning a succession of potential radio singles and album cuts.
The amount of album releases these days can be dizzying. And it can be even more daunting when you have a release day with some super big titles that suck up all the attention when some of the other releases from smaller and more independent artists are just as important or enjoyable.
‘Rolling Stone’ published a list of the The 100 Greatest Country Albums of All Time this week, and as per usual, it has many arguing its merits, omissions, and inclusions. There was a time when whatever Rolling Stone said was taken as the definitive word in music. These days it’s more polarizing.
Hailey Whitters proves on ‘Raised’ that eulogizing small town middle America doesn’t have to be so trite. Whitters and her co-writers like Lori McKenna, Brandy Clark, and Nicolle Galyon know how to take the yearning we all feel for a sense of home…
Hailey Whitters is a really important artist to this whole thing. With Americana-level writing chops and a traditional-leaning sound, yet mainstream-level appeal and acceptance, she’s vital to the effort to save country music. She illustrated this with her last album ‘The Dream.’
Hayes Carll came out promising that his seventh record would lean more heavily on the country influences of the native Texan compared to his previous releases. And sure, “You Get It All” probably is a bit more country-sounding. But more importantly, it’s a good record.
Not every season of Austin City Limits these days is worth stopping down for, or has such close ties to the country and roots scene like it did back in the program’s heyday. But the first portion of Season 47 sure does. Set to premier on Saturday, October 2nd.
Apparently, Carly Pearce did not get the memo. The script says that if you’re a mainstream country starlet that shows early promise in maintaining a little bit of country roots in your sound, as soon as you see some initial success, you’re supposed careen straight into full blown pop.
Carll’s coming out and saying with his upcoming record called You Get It All to be released October 29th on Dualtone that his country roots rise to the surface. ““A lot of musical styles found their way onto this record, but my first and most formative influences came from country.”
Even in this confounding day and age in country music, it all still starts with a song. Not a beat, not a riff, but a song. Words, music, and melody. Story and inspiration. It’s what separates country music from certain other musical art forms, no matter how much it may get boiled down.
The majority of the high-profile bellyaching about the Grammys is coming from self-absorbed millionaire entertainers whose livelihoods and legacies are secured. It’s selfish and shortsighted of them to criticize an organization that gives the majority of its awards to deserving artists.
Low octave lead singer T.J. Osborne of the mainstream country rock brother duo Brothers Osborne has revealed that he is gay. T.J. is arguably the most high-profile personality in mainstream country, and one of the first males to come out during what might be considered the peak of his career.
We’ve run down the Album of the Year Nominees for 2020, as well as the Song of the Year nominees, and an Essential Albums list is also coming together. But since the mainstream of country isn’t always well-represented on these lists, let’s look back on some of those best albums.