Tuesday, November 23, 2010

KENNY ROGERS RELEASES CHRISTMAS LIVE

Nashville, TN – It’s that time of year again…and that means Kenny Rogers is gearing up to celebrate the holidays, once again, on his Christmas & Hits Tour – now a holiday tradition – coming to a city near you soon…plus this holiday season brings the release of Kenny’s first-ever live Christmas recording, Christmas Live.

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Featuring such favorites as “Silent Night,” “Mary, Did You Know,” “My Favorite Things,” “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” “Away In A Manger / O Holy Night,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “We Three Kings/The Little Drummer Boy,” “‘Til The Season Comes Around Again, and “The Chosen One/Joy To The World,” the album truly captures the essence of his live holiday performances so that you and yours can enjoy these special musical moments wherever you happen to be and whenever you’d like.

Available for pre-order now via www.kennyrogers.com and at Kenny’s Christmas & Hits shows on the road beginning November 26th, Christmas Live makes the perfect gift or stocking stuffer.

Listen for "The Chosen One/Joy To The World" on a radio station near you!

2010 Christmas & Hits Tour
11/26 - Bossier City, LA
11/27 - Biloxi, MS
11/28 - Anderson, SC
12/2 - London, ON CAN
12/3 - Toronto, ON CAN
12/4 - Quebec, QC CAN
12/6 - Ottawa, ON CAN
12/7 - Greensburg, PA
12/8 - Verona, NY
12/9 - Morristown, NJ
12/10 - Glens Falls, NY
12/11 - Atlantic City, NJ
12/12 - Mashantucket, CT
12/14 - Binghamton, NY
12/16 - Detroit, MI
12/18 - Lynn, MA
12/19 - North Bethesda, MD
12/20 - Reading, PA
12/21 - Virginia Beach, VA
12/22 - Westbury, NY

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Signs with New Frontier Touring

Nashville, TN – New Frontier Touring is thrilled to announce the signing of multiple Grammy and CMA award-winning artist Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to their roster for exclusive worldwide representation!

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“Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and their music epitomizes what the New Frontier Touring roster is all about,” said agency prez Paul Lohr. “We are honored to be entrusted with their tour guidance, and continuing their decades of success. We look forward to working with the Dirt Band and riding with them “to Infinity and Beyond!”

Immortalized for their “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” recordings and iconic hits such as “Mr. Bojangles” and “Fishin’ In the Dark,” Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are country-rock pioneers, country-radio hit makers and modern-day standard bearers for the Americana scene. They continue to release new, vibrant and relevant music in their on-going, legendary career

Monday, November 22, 2010

Jennings To Be Honored With Tribute Collection

Late country music icon Waylon Jennings will be honored with a deluxe tribute compilation on February 8, as Scatter Records and the Big Machine Label Group team up to release The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings, Vol. 1. Distribution and promotion will be handled by The Valory Music Co.

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The star-studded tribute is part of a three volume project featuring some of country music’s best performing Jennings’ songs, including Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Patty Griffin, and Sunny Sweeney. The lead single from Vol. 1 is “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” which supergroup Alabama reunited to record. The single goes for adds Dec. 13.

The project was conceived in 2007 by Scatter Records founder Witt Stewart, who contacted Jennings’ widow Jessi Colter with the idea. Colter also appears on the tribute, dueting with Sunny Sweeney on “Good Hearted Woman.” Colter and Jennings’ son Shooter pays tribute as well, performing “Belle of the Ball” for Vol. 1. Every performance on the collection earned Jessi and Shooter’s blessing.

“There have been several tribute albums made in my father’s honor, all of which were great tributes to his legacy. But this one has been a true passion project for a lot of artists and friends who truly wanted to remember and give back to the wonderful man he was,” says Shooter. “In the years since my dad passed away, I’ve grown as an artist and I feel this is the first time I’ve been able to give back truly to the man who inspired, influenced and nurtured me and my musical passion.”

Volumes 2 and 3 are due to be released later in 2011.

Vol. 1 tracklist:

1. This Time – Jamey Johnson
2. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way – Alabama
3. I’m A Ramblin’ Man – Randy Houser
4. Belle of the Ball – Shooter Jennings
5. Good Hearted Woman – Sunny Sweeney and Jessi Colter
6. Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out Of Hand – James Otto
7. Just To Satisfy You – John Hiatt w Waylon Jennings
8. Rose In Paradise – Kris Kristofferson and Patty Griffin
9. You Ask Me To – Trace Adkins
10. Go Down Rockin’ – Waylon Jennings

(Bonus Track)
The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don’t Want To Get Over You) – Chanel Campbell

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Brett Eldredge - Raymond

There are certain songs that tug at your heart strings and don't want to let go. Like Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss with "Whiskey Lullaby", Martina McBride's "Independence Day", or Alan Jackson & Patty Loveless singing together on "Monday Morning Church". "They make you teary-eyed, or get you to say "wow".

I heard Brett Eldredge's single, "Raymond", earlier today and felt the tug on the old heart strings. It may have to do with the fact that I can relate to the Alzheimer's Disease story in the lyrics. I had to watch my Grandmother waste away from that disease. This song reminds me how she wouldn't remember much of recent events, but if you went back 20 years or more and talked about those events, she was quite coherent.

Take a listen to "Raymond":


I work down at Ashberry Hills
Minimum wage, but it pays the bills
Cleaning floors and leading hymns on Sunday

Katherine Davis, room 303
Sweetest soul you ever could meet
I bring her morning coffee everyday

She calls me Raymond
She thinks I'm her son
Tells me get washed up for supper
before your daddy gets home
She goes on about the weather
how she can't believe it's already 1943
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me

She talks about clothes on the line in the summer air
Christmas morning and Thanksgiving prayer
Stories of a family that I never had
Sometimes I find myself wishing I'd been there

When she calls me Raymond
She thinks I'm her son
Tells me get washed up for supper
before your daddy gets home
She goes on about the weather
how she can't believe it's already 1943
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me

There's a small white cross in Arlington
Reads Raymond Davis '71
Until she can see his face again
I'm gonna fill in the best I can

When she calls me Raymond
She thinks I'm her son
Tells me get washed up for supper
before your daddy gets home
She goes on about the weather
how she can't believe it's already 1943
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me

Be sure to stop by Brett's website and check out his music, videos & more: BrettEldredge.com

Monday, November 1, 2010

Hank Williams

Today at the station, I received a sampler of Hank Williams: The Complete Mother's Best Recordings, a 16-disc collector's box set released by Time Life.
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Here are a few previews:

Where the Old Red River flows:


Nobody's lonesome for me:


Audrey Williams & The Drifting Cowboys: I like that kind


Check out the Time Life website to order the collection: Hank Williams The Complete Mother's Best

Monday, October 25, 2010

Don Williams

Country music legend, Don Williams, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday evening.
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"What's the score" is a song that was recorded for Don's last major label release on Capitol Records, Prime Cuts, in 1989. A greatest hits package was re-mastered in 2004 which contained two new not-previously-released recordings. They were "Old Coyote Town", and "What's The Score", which was co-written by Buddy Cannon. This song was intended to be a single release, but it never made it out as a radio single due to Don's departure from the record label and a changing of the guard at Capitol.

Take a listen to the Gentle Giant’s song, “what's the score”.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Warner Bros. Records releases songwriter demos

Warner Brothers Records is releasing the original songwriter demos to some of country music’s biggest hits. Some of Nashville’s best songwriters are represented in the two-volume series. And the CD/digital booklet for the Demos contains the stories behind each hit as told by the writers.

It is available online at www.originalsongwriterdemos.com as well as at all digital retailers.

Track listing for the Original Songwriter Demos:
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Volume 1
1. The Dance – Garth Brooks (Tony Arata)
2. Strawberry Wine – Deana Carter (Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison)
3. Something Like That – Tim McGraw (Rick Ferrell, Keith Follese)
4. Independence Day – Martina McBride (Gretchen Peters)
5. Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts (Jeff Hanna, Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd)
6. It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson (Jim Brown, Donald Rollins)
7. She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy – Kenny Chesney (Jim Collins, Paul Overstreet)
8. I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack (Mark Sanders, Tia Sillers)
9. Amazed – Lonestar (Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo)
10. The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert (Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin)

Volume 2
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1. Check Yes Or No – George Strait (Dana Hunt, Danny Wells)
2. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Garth Brooks (Kent Blazy, Garth Brooks)
3. It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Stephony Smith)
4. If You’re Going Through Hell – Rodney Adkins (Dave Berg, Annie Tate, Sam Tate)
5. I Swear – John Michael Montgomery (Gary Baker, Frank Myers)
6. How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes (Diane Warren)
7. Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You – Brooks & Dunn (Rivers Rutherford, Tom Shapiro)
8. Every Day – Rascal Flatts (Alissa Moreno, Jeffrey Steele)
9. How Forever Feels – Kenny Chesney (Wendell Mobley, Tony Mullins)
10. Jesus Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood (Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Brett James)

Beth Hart - My California

The new Beth Hart album, My California, has been released.

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On first listen, I found this album to be much better than her previous release. On second listen, I realized this was a very good compilation of songs. It's a bit different than her previous releases as the music is not as raw, gritty or loud, but yet her voice is still very powerful. It's a wonderful change.

"Sister Heroine" was written for Beth's sister, Sharon, who died at the age of 32. "Heroine" (with the 'e' on the end) refers to being a female hero and not the drug, heroin. It's a wonderful song with great melody and interesting lyrics. The song has become my favorite so far this year.

Check out a few of the songs from this album:

My California:


Bad love is good enough:


Sister Heroine:

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Coal Miner's Daughter - the tribute version

What began as a ho-hum day turned bright very quickly when I arrived at the radio station and saw that a bunch of new singles had arrived. One of them caught my eye very quickly. It's a new version of Loretta Lynn's classic, Coal Miner's Daughter, which features Loretta along with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow.

Now I know, some of you are saying "how does Sheryl fit into that group?" Well, Sheryl is a bit of a Southern girl herself, growing up in the bootheel of Missouri. It's interesting to hear how much her southern "twang" emerges when singing with the likes of Loretta & Miranda on this one.

Take a listen:


"Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn" will be released on November 9th. It includes Loretta songs done by Gretchen Wilson, LeeAnn Womack, The White Stripes, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson & Martina McBride (I really want to hear THAT one!), Faith Hill, Steve Earle & Allison Moorer, Reba McEntire, Kid Rock and more. See it here at Amazon


By the way: If you haven't heard Sheryl do some 'twang' previously, take a listen to her remake of the Carter Family classic, No Depression in Heaven:

Monday, September 27, 2010

New releases

I received a couple new-ish albums at the station today.

Jadi Norris' "Make Hay" was released a few months ago.
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This is Jadi Norris' debut album. It features the patriotic song, "Hail the American Soldier". Jadi's style is a bit contemporary and a bit rockabilly. The album does well in mixing the rockin' & rowdy with the sweet & tender.

Take a listen to a few of the highlights -

Workin Man's Saturday Night:


Not Coming Back:


Hail the American Soldier:


She Needs Me:




Mickey Utley's "Til Our Hats Float" has been out for about a week:

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Mickey may be known for his delta-blues heritage - which does come through a bit in this album - but he also brings some contemporary sound mixed with a little bit of twang. We get to hear a smidgen of fiddle, pedal steel, and even *gasp* a cowbell?! It was nice to see some familiar names in the credits of this album, including Eddie Bayers, John Jarvis, & Brent Mason.

Take a listen to a few of the tracks -
What I've learned about women:


Feels like freedom:


Let's talk about us:

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Happy Patsy Cline Day!

The incomparable Patsy Cline was born on this day in 1931.

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She was born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester, Virginia. Patsy only recorded four albums before the plane crash that claimed her life in 1963, but her music legacy has spanned many generations.

Take a listen to some of her songs:

Yes, I understand:


A church, a courtroom and then goodbye:


Crazy Dreams:


I Fall to Pieces:


Three cigarettes in an ashtray:


Sweet Dreams:


I don't wanna:

Monday, September 6, 2010

The Spotlight is on... Patty Loveless

Patty Loveless is the epitome of a music artist who has the respect of her peers and other industry professionals, gets raves from music critics, yet isn’t a superstar. Patty was part of a new wave of female country singers, including Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, & Wynonna, who enjoyed success in the late 80s & early 90s.

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Patty Loveless emerged on the Country Music scene in the mid-80s with her first album, a self-titled project for MCA Records. The first single released was "Lonely Days, Lonely Nights", reaching #46 on the Billboard country charts. “I did”, “Wicked Ways” and “After All” were also released as singles, but none charted very well. “After All” was my first introduction to Patty and her wonderful voice.

“After All”


Patty’s second album, “If my heart had windows”, was released in January of 1988, and included two songs that charted in the Top 10 – the title track and “a little bit in love”.

Another album, “Honky Tonk Angels” was released in October of the same year. This album garnered Patty more success, with five singles reaching the Top 10, including two in the top spot – “Chains” and “Timber, I’m falling in love”. “Don’t toss us away” reached the #5 position on the charts and featured Rodney Crowell on background vocals. “The lonely side of love” peaked at #6. “Don’t toss us away” was one of my favorites. There was also a video for it.

“Don’t toss us away”


In 1990, “On down the line” brought Patty success with “I’m that kind of girl”, “blue side of love”, and the title track. A year later came the album, “Up against my heart”, and included the hits “Jealous bone” and “hurt me bad (in a real good way)”.

By the end of 1992, Patty had left MCA Records and signed with Epic. At this point, she was also suffering through throat problems and eventually had surgery. She was back in the studio in 1993 and released “Only what I feel” in April of that year. “Blame it on your heart” brought her immediate success with a climb to the top spot on the singles chart. “How can I help you say goodbye” also brought success, including CMA nominations for single & video of the year. The song & video is also another of my favorites.

“How can I help you say goodbye”


The follow-up to “Only what I feel” was “When fallen angels fly”, released in August of 1994, and brought Patty top honors as CMA’s Album of the Year. The album also produced four Top 10 singles – “I try to think about Elvis”, “Here I am”, “You don’t even know who I am” and “halfway down”.

“Here I Am”


“You don’t even know who I am”


“The trouble with the truth” was Patty’s third release for Epic Records. This time there were five notable singles – “you can feel bad”, “a thousand times a day”, “lonely too long”, “she drew a broken heart”, and the title track. Her increasing music success and popularity brought her Female Vocalist honors from both the CMA and ACM.

“A thousand times a day”


However, it seemed that her popularity and chart success could not keep pace with the barrage of country artists that kept emerging in the genre and seemed more flashy.

September of 1997 saw the release of Patty’s “Long stretch of lonesome”. It managed to reach #9 on the album chart, however none of the singles, including “you don’t seem to miss me” (which featured a duet with George Jones) and “to have you back again”, made it to the Top 10. “Strong Heart” was her first album in the new decade, released in August of 2000, but the results were much the same as the previous album. Singles like “that’s the kind of mood I’m in” and “the last thing on my mind” garnered little success, however, the album did reach #13 on the charts.

“You don’t seem to miss me”


It was at this point that Patty decided to follow her heart and not worry about commercial success. She went back to her roots and emerged with the bluegrass album, “Mountain Soul”, which was released in 2001. The album garnered much critical success and decent sales despite the lack of radio support. This album is amongst my all-time favorites.

“Boys are back in town”


“pretty little miss”


“You’ll never leave Harlan alive”


A bluegrass Christmas album, “Bluegrass and White Snow: A Mountain Christmas” followed in 2002.

Patty returned to a more commercial country sound in 2004 with “on your way home” – another album that came with much critical acclaim, but only reaching #29 on the album chart. The album featured singles like “lovin’ all night” (a Rodney Crowell tune), “I wanna believe” and the title track.

Almost two years later came “dreaming my dreams”, again reaching #29 on the album chart, but no singles charted. This ended up being the last album Patty would record for Epic Records as the label closed its Nashville division and Patty was released from her contract.

She returned to the studio in 2008, having signed a contract with Saguaro Road Records. The first project was a tribute album, “Sleepless Nights”, that featured Patty remaking some old country classics. She was rewarded with a Grammy nomination in the Best Country Album category.

“There stands the glass”


Patty’s second project on the Saguaro Road label was “Mountain Soul II”, released in late September 2009. It’s a follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2001 project. Some of the highlights included a remake of John Conlee's "Busted", as well as "Fool's thin air" and "when the last curtain falls".

Another great part of Patty's career has been her ability to provide wonderful harmony vocals, most notably with Alan Jackson on "Monday Morning Church", Vince Gill on "Pocket full of gold", and a wonderful rendition of "Go rest high on that mountain" featuring Patty with Vince Gill & Ricky Skaggs.

On April 7, 2011, Patty will be honored with induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Heart - Red Velvet Car

The Wilson sisters are rockin' & rollin' again - this time in their Red Velvet Car!

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Ann & Nancy Wilson, along with the rest of the aura that encompasses Heart, are back with a new album titled "Red Velvet Car". With this new release, there's a little rocking, a little lamenting, and a whole lot of great harmony. It's nothing less than one would expect from a project that includes Ann & Nancy. Oh, and did I mention the sounds of the mandolin? It warms my heart every time I hear it.

Nancy takes lead vocals on "Hey you" and "Sunflower". The album concludes with one of my favorite songs ever done by the Wilson sisters - "Sand".

Check out a few of the album highlights:

Red Velvet Car:


Hey You:


Safronias Mark:


Sand:


Be sure to put this album on your list of ones to listen to. And don't forget to check out their website: Heart-Music.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Shannon Whitworth - Water Bound

Here's a new one that's out this week from an artist I hadn't heard of previously, but enjoy the music immensely.

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Shannon Whitworth's music is of the Americana/Roots variety. It's refreshing to hear the great sounds of the banjo, dobro, pedal steel, mandolin and fiddle... and the voice is pretty good too!

Check out a few of the songs:

Spring is here:


Don't Lie:


Put Me Back:


Be sure to check out Shannon's website too.
The cd is also available at Amazon.com

Georgette Jones - a slightly used woman

This album has been out for a few months (released in late April), but I finally got a chance to take a listen to it.

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Being the daughter of country legends Tammy Wynette & George Jones, Georgette has a huge music legacy to overcome. With this album, she doesn't shy away from that task - covering four songs from her mother's repertoire ("Slightly Used Woman", "Send Me No Roses", "I Don't Want to Play House" and "I Still Believe in Fairy Tales") and one from her dad's ("the race is on"). A highlight is a duet with her father, "you and me and time".

At times, Georgette sounds eerily like her mother, with a little less of the 'weathered hurt' that made Tammy's voice so recognizable. Georgette, however, is still able to make this album her own and not just an extension of her parents.

Take a listen to some tracks:

Leaving Yesterday:


You Don't Hear:


You and Me & Time:


I Don't Want To Play House:

Thursday, August 5, 2010

We've Got Something Goin' On

I got a bunch of new singles at the radio station today. One of them intrigued me greatly, not so much for the song itself, but by the people singing.

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"Something Going On" is a duet with Wayne Warner & Bonnie Tyler. While I've never really heard of Wayne Warner, I've definitely heard of Bonnie Tyler (and my brain immediately starts humming "Total eclipse of the heart"). However, after the first listen of the song, I came to the realization that it's a nice little ditty of a song.

Check it out:

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

She's almost home

Sheryl Crow's new album, 100 Miles From Memphis, is being released next week.

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As has been the case for all of Sheryl's albums, this one has a little different sound than her previous releases.

For those that know of Sheryl's roots, the title of the album should be self-explanatory. Sheryl grew up in Kennett, Missouri, located in the bootheel of the state, and - oddly enough - only 100 miles from the music mecca of Memphis, Tennessee. So, of course, the music that was made there had a profound effect on her life and her music. This new album pays homage to the Memphis sound that she grew up with.

Take a listen to a few of the songs:

Eye To Eye:


Long Road Home:


Say What You Want:

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Clay Walker

Clay Walker is back with his tenth offering.

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It's good to have him back. Clay seems to always get pushed to the sidelines by country radio in favor the barrage of today's current popp-y mainstreamers. That's quite a shame, because not only is his voice always a pleasure to listen to, but his music always seems to have a nice depth to it as well.

With this album, Keith Stegall is on board to produce most of the project, and bringing a bit of honky tonk sound back to the forefront.

A few of the songs draw on our cultural icons, like "Double Shot of John Wayne" - a nice country waltz that talks of the need to be people of integrity. Another name dropper is "Jesse James", which gives the inclination of wanting to be free.

I encourage the pop-y mainstream country fans to take a listen to this album to remember what a countrified album can be without excessive twang.

Check out some of the songs:

Where do I go from you:


Jesse James:


Double shot of John Wayne:


Seven Sundays:


All American:

Catherine Britt

Catherine Britt offers a self-titled project

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The Australian Country artist returns with a new album in which she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs. Catherine has gone back to her roots with this new release (both literally & figuratively), as she returned to Australia after six years in Nashville - an experience which she shares in the lyrics of "Call you back town". -- "In this counterfeit city, they don't look if you ain't pretty. And it's such a damn pity in this counterfeit city. 'Cuz they push you up just to pull you down. They pour on lies to watch you drown in this call you back town."

The greatest part of Catherine's music is her lyrical songwriting.


Here are a few songs to take a listen to:

I want you back:


I can't change a thing:


Sleepy town:


Call you back town:


Since you slipped away:

Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley has released his new album, Up On The Ridge.

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The new album brings a wonderful change of sound to the all-acoustic bluegrass and roots side of the spectrum. The change is very welcome and quite refreshing.

If the change of sound wasn't enough to get you jumping for joy (like it did for me), then maybe the nice collection of guest artists here will. Dierks rounds up assistance from The Punch Brothers, Del McCoury, and Chris Thile; featured vocals of Kris Kristofferson, as well as Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson teaming up on "Bad Angel".

The one track on this album that quite surprised me was the cover of the U2 song, "Pride (in the name of love)". I'm normally skeptical about covers of well-known songs, but with this one, the bluegrass style brings a nice change.

Take a listen to a few of the highlights from this album:

Up On The Ridge:


Senor (tales of Yankee power) with the Punch Brothers & Chris Thile:


Bad Angel (with Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson):


You're dead to me:


Pride (in the name of love):

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Jewel - Sweet & Wild

With Jewel’s latest release comes a bit more of a pop-y flavor, with a touch of country – including a hint of fiddle & mandolin.

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While some of the melodies may be standard mainstream fare, the lyrics are all pure Jewel (even one not written by her). Thankfully, she’s able to intersperse the more pop-y flavored songs with the countrified ones to make a very nice, cohesive compilation - some being a bit sweet, some a bit on the wild side.

The combination of the ‘Sweet’ and the “Wild” here makes me think of the latest release from Laura Bell Bundy, “Achin’ and Shakin’” , where half of the album was a “heartbreak” tone and the other half was upbeat, “dancin’” tone – and it turned into a bit of a bi-polar album that seemed out of place. With “Sweet & Wild”, Jewel takes that same type of concept, but intersperses the songs to make a much more cohesive unit.

Take a listen to some of the songs:

Fading:


Bad as it gets:


Stay here forever:


Ten:


"Sweet & Wild" will be released on June 8th. Be sure to pick this one up

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Teea Goans

Got a new album at the station this week from an artist I hadn't heard of previously.


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Her name is Teea Goans (TEE-uh GO-uhnz), and her sound is all Country music - not what the occasional listener thinks "Country" is these days. There's no "mainstream" about it. If you like fiddles, steel guitars, and a twang - this will bring a smile to your face.

The album brings back some classics, like Ernest Tubb's "Walking The Floor Over You", along with Willie Nelson's "I m Still Not Over You", Merle Haggard's "I Didn t Mean To Love You", Bill Anderson's "Walk Out Backwards", and more. But there's one song that you definitely need to take a listen to. It's the album finale - "Letter From God". Also, "Made for loving you" is a duet with Dan Tyminski.

Take a listen to some songs:

Lying in my arms:


Walk out backwards:


Same Ol Song & Dance:


Letter from God:

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Chely Wright - Lifted off the ground

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It always makes me smile when I hear new music from mainstream country artists who are able to keep a hint of the "country" in their music.

Thus is the case with Chely Wright and her new release, Lifted Off The Ground. It's been five years since Chely has put out a new album, but it seems that she hasn't changed what got her to where she is today. With this album, you get a touch of the mainstream mixed with a touch of the country, and definitely ALL Chely - including writing all of the songs on the album, with one of them co-written by Rodney Crowell.

It's not much of a surprise to hear the country sounds when you see that the album was produced by Rodney Crowell. In fact, Rodney even makes an appearance on the second track, "heavenly days".

The album, as a whole, is a great compilation of melodies, lyrics, and production.
Take a listen to some of the standout tracks:

Heavenly Days:


Notes to the coroner:


That Train:


Damn Liar:


Shadows of a doubt:



This album should be a 'must' for your albums to get this year. It's on my Top 5 of 2010 list so far.

Monday, May 3, 2010

McKinley & Beggs

Got another new one at the station today. It's the duo of McKinley & Beggs with their album, "By the fire".

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It's a nice, more countrified sound.
Take a listen to a few songs:

New Friends:


Too Many Horses:


Drink Goodbye Dry:




To find out more, you can check out their MySpace page

Court Yard Hounds

Martie Maguire and Emily Robison – the sisters that make up the new duo known as the Court Yard Hounds – aren’t newcomers to the music industry. In fact, they’re quite well-known. Country fans will know them as 2/3 of the Dixie Chicks.

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Yes, there are going to be all kinds of comparisons to the Dixie Chicks, but that wouldn’t do justice to the purity of this album. Yes, the music is similar to the Dixie Chicks’ style, but it’s still quite different without Natalie’s distinct lead vocals. The Court Yard Hounds have a mellower sound, with a little more highlight on the instrumentation.

Emily takes the lead singer duties and was the songwriter on every song except for "Gracefully," which Martie wrote and also sings. There’s also a pleasant surprise with the addition of Jakob Dylan’s guest vocals on “See you in the spring”. The voices blend quite well.

Take a listen to some of the songs:
The Coast:


Delight (Something new under the sun):


See You In The Spring (ft Jakob Dylan):


Gracefully:


It didn’t make a sound:


This is a great ‘debut’ for two ladies who have been in this business for a long time.
Be sure to check it out.