![]() David Nail’s latest album, I’m A Fire, contains eleven tracks, including his recent #1 “Whatever She’s Got,” as well as his latest single, “Kiss You Tonight.” He has said that the songs on the album would be more upbeat than his previous releases. That may be true, but if you’re looking for songs about trucks, tailgates and beer, you have come to the wrong place. The mostly mellow songs reflect on love, loss and heartbreak. David’s warm and soulful voice really does shine on every track. Highlights include “When They’re Gone,” on which Little Big Town assists with their always welcome harmonies, and “The Secret,” which is one song for which you must listen to the lyrics. The album concludes with a duet with Lee Ann Womack, a cover of Glen Campbell’s “Galveston.” I’m A Fire didn’t exactly ignite my speakers (or ears) at first listen, but became a record that I appreciated more every time I heard it. 4 Stars
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![]() Austin Webb’s newest release “Raise Em Up” is a breezy tune that at first listen will put you in a great mood. Melodically the song has a folky/pop/country feel....kind if Jason Mraz-esque; lyrically it covers country: skoal rings, bird dogs, outlaw bands, fishing and George Jones. It’s a little gem of a song that is infectious, fun and easy to sing along. “I live it up, have fun, I ain’t hurtin’ anyone And there ain’t nothin’ better when we all get together and everybody sings along Raise ‘em up, Raise ‘em up, Raise ‘em up high (3x) High high Whoa, whoa, whoa A little bit of fun never hurt nobody Somebody’s gotta be the life of the party” Crank this tune up and be the life of the party. 4 Stars ![]() Dierks Bentley’s first release in two years, Riser, is being called his “most real and personal album yet.” After experiencing significant life events within two years time, the passing of his father and the birth of his son, Dierks returned to the studio, and recorded on the road, an album full of reflective, emotional and (mostly) mature songs. If you are looking for a record full of songs like “5-1-5-0” and “How Am I Doin’” be prepared for something different. Dierks writes in the liner notes that he “started writing and recording in a place of real grief and ended in a place of true gratitude.” The album encompasses a variety of moods from solemn to sad, and inspirational to joyful. Throughout the record, one hears Dierks’s gravelly vocals, perhaps at the best they have been, pouring emotions into every song. Riser is ballad heavy, with even the lyrically “lighter” songs showcasing a mellow, scaled back sound. The album contains twelve songs, including his current autobiographical top ten single “I Hold On.” The album starts off with the dark, Kacey Musgraves assisted, “Bourbon in Kentucky” then moves onto the sensual, yet melancholy, “Say You Do.” In it, he pleads, begs even, for that one person to say yes for a night because he wants her back so badly. “Well, couldn’t you say you do/Say you might for tonight/Have a heart, bend the truth/Even if you don’t, couldn’t you.” In the same vein is “Hurt Somebody,” which closes out the album. In it, he knows that the woman with the “red lipstick like a smoking gun” is “gonna hurt somebody” but says “God, I hope it’s me.” Chris Stapleton provides backing vocals on the track. Prepare a box, or two, of tissues for “Here On Earth” which Dierks co-wrote about his father and the Sandy Hook shootings. Anyone who has experienced the pain and struggle of losing someone will be affected by this song. And even if you haven’t, there is no doubt this song will touch you. Then, keep the tissues handy for “Damn These Dreams.” The song juxtaposes the thrill of living out his musical dreams with the pain of having to leave behind his wife and children in order to do so. If “I Hold On” is the first chapter in an autobiography, then “Riser,” written by Travis Meadows and Steve Moalker, would be chapter two. It is an anthem for any one who has experienced a strain or hardship and managed to pull through. “Sounds of Summer” and “Pretty Girls” lyrically lighten the mood of the album, although the melodies are still “chill”. In the latter, Dierks sings about having nothing to do in town when the sun goes down except “watchin’ pretty girls drink tall boys/swingin’ their hips to a country song/silver cans up in the air.” The former, with its mandolin infused background, vividly paints images of that season we all look forward to with its tractors, kids playing, fishing and a cooler in the truck. “Five” takes a look at the urgency a first love brings and how reconnecting with that person after years is possible. “Drunk On A Plane” infuses humor into a song about trying to drown out the pain of a broken engagement while drinking one’s sorrow away in the clouds. A slightly reworked “Back Porch,” which was a song originally on the Country and Cold Cans EP, is also on the album. The only true uptempo song on the record, it brings a much needed twang and funk. The song has hit summer single written all over it. Riser is an unhurried record that will be undoubtedly be appreciated by anyone who likes lyric driven country music. It's perfect. 5 Stars ![]() Earlier this month, we heard Lee Brice perform his new single "I Don't Dance" on Luke Bryan's That's My Kind of Night Tour at Madison Square Garden in NYC. He told the crowd that it was going to be his new single and that it was one he wrote for, and is dedicated to, his wife. "I Don't Dance" was written by Lee Brice and Rob Hatch. The song is an emotional ballad, with minimal production, that highlights Lee's vocals. The song showcases a softness and warmth in Lee's voice which conveys the lyrics with sincerity and believability. "I Don't Dance" is a song many guys will relate to. It is about finding that special someone who has such a hold on their heart that they find themselves doing things they ordinarily wouldn't. "I don't dance but here I am spinning you round and round in circles It ain't my style but I don't care I'd do anything with you anywhere Yes you got me in the palm of your hand girl 'Cause I don't dance" Key Lyrics "Love’s never come my way / I’ve never been this far / ‘Cause you took these two left feet / And waltzed away with my heart” 4.5 Stars The single is available for download For more information visit www.leebrice.com ![]() I wasn’t sure it was possible, but he did it. Eric Church topped his CMA and ACM Album of The Year Chief with the stellar The Outsiders. Everything you expect from Eric is here; the quality songwriting full of relatable stories, the unique take on tried and true topics, and a wide range of sounds all taken to the next level and made unique and fresh. The twelve creative tracks include “The Outsiders” as well as his current single “Give Me Back My Hometown.” The songs run the gamut from metal infused head bangers to country ballads to fist thumping anthems, showing that Eric can not only be a rebellious bad ass, but emotional and sweet as well. “Cold One” isn’t about having a beer on a tailgate, but rather a tongue in check song about a woman who left him “hanging high and dry in that hell hot summer sun.” The groove is a funky one which slides into an all out bluegrass pickin’ fest before is slinks back into a soulful horn filled finale. If you think “The Joint” is another song about marijuana, listen again. The trombone filled, atmospheric song has a woman setting ablaze the joint where her husband spends a good amount of time. The story told is so clear, you can see it as you hear it. “Roller Coaster Ride,” a song about the ups and down of breakups, has an 80’s feel. The pairing of the boom of the piano with the thumping beat has you feeling like you’re flying off the track with him. Eric takes you on a trip down memory lane in “Talladega,” which is about remembering what it was like for a group of guys when they were young and carefree. The rollicking “Broke Record” is about being unable to quit loving a girl, even though the obsession isn’t a healthy one. “You’re a song I gotta sing….when it gets to the end I gotta play it again and again.” “Like A Wrecking Ball” is an organ driven ballad that is so downright sexy, it makes me uncomfortable to listen. He paints an incredibly vivid picture of a guy who misses his wife...a lot. “That old house is gonna be shakin’, I hope those bricks and boards can take it/But I wont be surprised if the whole damn place just falls/I wanna rock you baby like a wrecking ball.” “A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young” is a sparsely arranged song where you focus on Eric’s voice and the story he tells, which is an ode to the love of his wife. In the smokey, atmospheric “Dark Side,” we learn that there are things that he has done that he doesn’t want his wife and son to know. However, that side would reappear if anyone ever did anything against his son. He rocks out on both “Devil, Devil” and the rowdy, yet soulful “That’s Damn Rock and Roll”. In the latter, over thumping drum beats and hand claps, he lets you know what rock n’ roll isn’t “long hair, tattoos, or playing too loud” and what it is “about doing for nothing cause it lives in your soul.” In the former, which is eight minutes long, he speaks about making it in Nashville, but if you can hang in until the 3:35 mark the song really kicks into gear. The Outsiders takes you on a musically adventurous ride from first note to last. It is the first great record of 2014; one that is sure to earn Eric another award or two by year’s end. 5 Stars The album will be released February 11th. It is available for pre-order wherever you purchase music. ![]() It has been eight months since the release of her previous single. Now, Miranda Lambert is back with “Automatic,” the debut single from her fifth album which will be released sometime later this year. “Automatic’ is a song about the good life,” said Miranda of the single “It’s about slowing down, taking a breath and remembering what it’s like to live life a little more simply. It’s not about going back, but reminiscing about what it was like to hang laundry on the line and wait for it to dry and my dad teaching me how to drive my ’55 Chevy that I still have but don’t drive nearly enough,” “Automatic,” which was written by Miranda, along with Nicolle Galyon and Natalie Hemby, is a thoughtful, lyric driven song. It starts off with an acoustic introduction then builds to a mid tempo melody with an easy to sing along to chorus. In the autobiographical track, she reflects on the days of cassettes, watching sun tea brew, and driving to Dallas to buy an Easter dress. Many listeners of a certain age will be able to relate to lyrics that will have you fondly recalling times when you wrote letters, used a camera where you had to shake the picture to see it and rolled the “windows with the cranks” down. When she sings about hanging the laundry out to dry, I could see my grandmother's yard, the clothes poles, as we called them and smell the clothes on the line. A good song is supposed to connect to the listener, right? Going a bit deeper, the song also points out the value of working for and at something, (“staying married was the only way to work your problems out,”) and taking satisfaction in the process instead of simply having instant gratification. “Hey whatever happened to waiting your turn Doing it all by hand ‘Cause when everything is handed to you it’s only worth as much as the time put in It all just seems so good the way we had it Back before everything became automatic” One thing you should make "Automatic" is getting and playing this song. 5 Stars ![]() SaraBeth is releasing a new single from her debut album Anything Is Possible called "That's The Sound, “ which offers a unique take on the typical breakup song. It’s a country rocker in which she sings of the emotional freedom she finds by leaving a relationship. “That’s The Sound” references the sounds of freedom one might hear when they are leaving a relationship, from the revving engine of a car to three inch heels on a hardwood floor. I like the song, my only complaint is the delivery is too sweet. SaraBeth can sing sassy and that's what is needed here. “Keys jingling in my hand Three inch heels on a hardwood floor Ring fallin’ on your nightstand Windows rattle from a slammin’ door That’s the sound of a heart letting go That’s the sound of leavin’ Baby that’s the sweet, sweet sound of freedom” You can catch Sara on tour with Lonestar kicking off February 6th in Scottsdale, AZ. “That’s The Sound” will impact radio on February 6th and is available for purchase here. 3.5 stars ![]() Let's just cut to the chase, three time CCMA nominee Codie Prevost's fourth album is a keeper; one that has been added to my coveted "no skips" collection. What does that mean? It means this is one record you will listen to straight through because there is not a bad song on it. All Kinds of Crazy is the follow up to Codie's critically acclaimed and award winning album Get Loud. It was recorded at the Armoury Studios & Studio Downe Under in Vancouver with producer Tom McKillip (Lisa Brokop, Ian Tyson) and was mixed by Scott Cooke (FGL, Jake Owen). All Kinds of Crazy features some of country music's most sought after studio musicians including guitarist Darren Savard (Chase Rice) and bassist Dennis Marcenko (k.d. Lang). The song “I'll Be Your Whiskey,” which features acclaimed guitarist & vocalist Hayley Mclean, opens the album. The song is about a woman who keeps coming to him (and whiskey) when she gets hurt by another. He wants her to substitute his love for the alcohol because whiskey "it's just a temporary fix that leaves you feeling worse than before, but my love doesn't work that way, it might age, but it wont fade." "All Kinds of Crazy" is a good time country rocker that will have everybody rockin' and the whole place shakin'. "Down The Line" is a highly relatable song with touching lyrics about being in a relationship that just isn't working at present, but perhaps might be right down the line. Key lyrics: "maybe we'll just have to let go to know if this will ever be right......we just gotta live different lives together, I hope that the roads that we take collide down the line." "Say My Name" just screams "huge hit." An extremely infectious uptempo melody with a sing along ready, "whoa" filled chorus. It's a song about how a girl holds his heart in her hands making him go weak even when she does something as simple as say his name. Loving the lyrics: "when you kiss me on the lips baby that's good as it gets, keeps me coming back for more, like the ocean to the shore." His voice really shines on the romantic ballad "Melting Into You" and the inspirational "Someday." The former is a lovely song about what happens when you truly give your heart to someone and want to become one with them. The latter, which is also his current single, is about finding hope, faith and love through difficult times. "Stay Up Late" and "Last Night All Day" are two of my favorites on the record. The former has an easy to slip into enjoyable groove with lyrics that give a little wink as to just what stay up late means.The latter, about being unable to think straight because all that's on your mind is the previous night, closes out the album. It is a song with nice harmonies that will put a smile on your face. You might just want to stay up late and listen to this record a few times. All Kinds of Crazy is set for release on March 1st 2014. For more information visit www.codieprevost.com You can listen to "Someday" below. 4.5 Stars ![]() No secret that I love Parmalee's debut album Feels Like Carolina. When I heard that "Close Your Eyes" was going to be the next single, I kinda jumped for joy because even though the album is chock full of hits, "Close Your Eyes" is a personal favorite. The song was written by Trent Tomlinson, Shane Minor and Adam Craig (who fronts a band you need to check out: Adam Craig Band). "Close Your Eyes" a mid-tempo love song that hooks you from the six note drum beat introduction. The lyrics paint the picture of a perfect summer moonlight-and anticipation-filled night when you are with someone special. The melody and Matt's vocals are simply spot on perfect: romantic and yearning, in a sweet, non-salacious way. "Hey baby 'fore the night gets any older Lean your pretty self over here a little closer I need to hold ya, I want to show ya What you don't wanna miss, nooo It's all gettin' to what we've been waitin' on I'm gonna go and turn you and the night on Comin' on strong I'm gonna lay it on your lips Might wanna close your eyes for this" And then there are these flawless lines: "Just when you thought you've really seen it all/Well it turns out you don't have to see it all." Can you say swoon? Feels like....another #1. The single is available at digital retailers. For more information visit www.parmalee.com 5 Stars ![]() “Dust” is the second single from Eli Young Band’s upcoming release 10,000 Towns. It is the follow up to their #1 hit “Drunk Last Night” and is the type of song that could definitely make it two in a row for the band. “Dust” was written by EYB members Jon Jones and James Young along with Kyle Jacobs and Josh Osborne. The single is an up tempo guitar driven country rocker that stays true to the Eli Yound Band’s sound. “Dust” tells the story of a female who wants to escape the life she lives for a brighter future, leaving behind nothing “but dust.” “She’s fighting back tears She’s fighting back years of the only life she’s ever known There’s a future that’s bright in the dead of this night And all she’s gotta do is go And turn the radio up (turn the radio up) Roll the windows down She got an open road (she got an open road) Ain’t no stopping her now” We heard EYB play "Dust" live in NYC a few months back. It got a wonderful reception from the crowd, and we fully expect it to get the same from country radio. “Dust” impacts country radio on February 3rd. It is available for purchase here. 10,000 Towns will be released on March 4th. 4 Stars |
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