All Entries in the "Reviews" Category

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/1/10)

[Subscriber-only] You say you want some tempo tunes? Well, step right up. This week’s stack of platters contains a bevy of boppers. Marty Stuart, The McClymonts, Blaine Larsen, Mason Douglas and Eric Heatherly are all tapping their toes. Margaret Durante and Jewel are both breezy, too.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/25/10)

[Subscriber-only] The stars are blindingly bright this week. Here for your listening enjoyment are top-tier new sounds from Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Jamey Johnson. That’s what I call an embarrassment of riches. Up-and-comers like Jaron & The Long Road to Love and Crossin’ Dixon have fresh offerings, too.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/18/10)

[Subscriber-only] These may be the Dog Days of summer, but some of the puppies in this stack of new tunes are as cute as the dickens. Ashley Gearing, Taylor Swift, The Roys and Amber Hayes are all bopping brightly. Joey + Rory have teamed with The Zac Brown Band to record an excellent ode to country’s core fans. Jesse Lee wins the DisCovery Award. She not only has a richly evocative country vocal style, but also the listening session’s best written song.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/11/10)

It’s Independents’ Day. As regular readers know, I occasionally like to stray off the major-label path and devote a column entirely to indies. Just to survey the scene and see what’s going on.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/4/10)

[Subscriber-only] Can I get a witness for Lloyd Maines? The steel-guitar wonder is behind two of the finest country performances in this stack of platters. And in the case of James Hand, I mean Country with a capital “C.”

DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/28/10)

[Subscriber-only] Among the new super sounds are efforts by Mark Chesnutt, Train, Kenny Chesney and Matt Kennon. Newcomers Kathe Knight, Manning-Dickson and The Ketucky Linemen are also welcome additions to our audio environment.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/21/10)

[Subscriber-only] With temperatures on Music Row soaring into the upper 90s this week, I’m taking every opportunity to stay here at my desk. Including penning today’s roundup of new country sounds.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/14/10)

[Subscriber-only] It’s Duo Day! All three of our top contenders this week are teams of two. If your taste runs to authentic, nostalgic country music I urge you to seek out Keeping Up Appearances by Texas-based label-mates Amber Digby and Justin Trevino. It does my heart good to hear that somebody is still making music this pure and fine.

DISClaimer Reviews (7/7/10)

[Subscriber-only] Rockie Lynne, Cory Walker and Jadi Norris all want you to stop whatever you’re doing and salute our armed services. Alas, only Rockie’s song is a fitting and listenable soldier tribute.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/30/10)

[Subscriber-only] I don’t really have a Song of the Day category, but maybe I should. Dave Gibson’s “King Me,” Donna Beasley’s “Under the Rushes” and Flynnville Train’s “Preachin’ to the Choir” are all excellent examples of song craftsmanship.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/24/10)

[Subscriber-only] I just love discovering new music, don’t you? For me, it’s a very, very good week when there are four solid contenders for a DisCovery Award.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/16/10)

[Subscriber-only] Lady Antebellum, Chris Young and Miranda Lambert are all coming off of chart-topping singles. And all three have their follow-ups ready to go this week. All three hit home runs.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/9/10)

[Subscriber-only] At first, I was certain that Eric Church was going to coast off with yet another Disc of the Day award. Then I heard Danny Gokey hit that climactic tenor note at the finale of his stunning ballad and decided that, no, THIS was the performance du jour. Next, the Randy Rogers Band came galloping in with an uptempo tune and snatched the prize away from Danny. Then, at the very end of the listening session, Steel Magnolia came up to the plate.

DISClaimer Reviews (6/02/10)

[Subscriber-only] There is some solid stuff in this stack of platters. Richie Fields, Sunny Sweeney and Kim Parent are all back, singing as superbly as ever. Newcomers Dianna Paul and Sherry Lynn prove that they are ready to run with the big dogs. From the folkier side of things are delightful discs by Ellis Paul and TV star Robert David Hall.

DISClaimer Reviews (5/26/10)

[Subscriber-only] There is plenty of activity on the Row this week. Legal Aid reached out to the music community with a get-to-know-us breakfast at Sunset Grill yesterday. It was a real who’s-who gathering.

Bentley Wows Reverent Ryman Crowd

Dierks Bentley’s Up On The Ridge tour closed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on May 22 after visiting 24 cities in 30 days to build demand for the album’s release on June 8. The final show featured Bentley’s backing band the Travelin’ McCourys and the Punch Brothers with Chris Thile (Nickel Creek) on mandolin [...]