CD Review- Matt Stillwell- Shine

The Background

"I watched friends do showcases and hope someone would show up," Matt Stillwell says. "I watched them being promised record or publishing deals that might or might not happen. So I made the decision that what I needed to do was to eliminate the ‘no’s, and the way to do that was to go build a following." Now, with the release of his new CD, he showcases the qualities that have brought him to the threshold of national attention- the songwriter's knack for finding the truth in any situation, the vocal chops to do justice to the joy and passion in each song, and the ability to take an audience on a roller-coaster of emotion and leave them better for the ride.

The Review

You just have to watch his music video on GAC for "Shine" to know that Matt is best known as a performer with a rowdy sense of fun. An anthem to the joys of the Mason jar and the moonshine produced in places like Matt's beloved western North Carolina., it's a great career starter for this longtime honkytonk hound. It's upbeat, memorable and catchy all at the same time. There is also "Whiskey Well," about the process of turning heartache into a party, and "Dirt Road Dancing," celebrating the outlook that says the music should be loud, the drinks cold and the men and women single and rowdy. He's equally as good slowing it down, however. You'll find Matt's keen eye for the nuances of love and loss, and the twists and turns of a good story. There is "Somewhere Between Me And You," with its unblinking look at a relationship gone wrong, "Go Away," dealing with the aftermath of lost love, and "Moment Of Weakness," a deep look at temptation and the decisions that change everything. After keying on his own songwriting skills with five of the album's ten songs written by his hand, he demonstrates his ability to make a song his own, as he captures all the longing in Ryan Adams' "Oh My Sweet Carolina." This is a great sophomore indie effort.

Sounds Like:

Mark Wills

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):

Shine

Sweet Sun Angel

Dirt Road Dancing

Oh My Sweet Carolina

The Verdict:

Three And A Half Stars Out Of Five

Up And Coming New Nashville- Brent Amaker & The Rodeo

The intercontinental cowboys in Brent Amaker and the Rodeo are on a mission to spread their brand of country music to the world, and they're getting around. Dressed in black from hat to boots, the men of the Rodeo have been racking up the miles in 2007 and 2008, playing club and festival dates, and making radio appearances across the US and Canada, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Great Britain. In November 2008, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo released their new album, Howdy Do!, on GraveWax Records. To promote the new record, The Rodeo rode out on an American tour and be returning to Europe. Not content with conquering big chunks of the real world, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo have a powerful presence on the internet as well. Their mySpace account is a real destination with regularly refreshed material for your eyes and ears; music, tons of photos, stories from their adventures, and videos.Two videos, the effectively simple "You're No Good" and the over-the-top-production "Sissy New Age Cowboy", allow the spirit of the Rodeo to travel the globe without five cowboys ever stepping on a jet. Brent Amaker's voice will tell you everything you need to know about the Rodeo. The rhythm is kept on a two-piece drum kit and minimal electric lead guitar provides the only counterpoint to Amaker's deep, dark voice. The songs have a stark, bare, traditional sound that still fills the room. This band's music and lyrics walk a line between simplicity and depth, irony and honesty. Which is a fancy way of saying that these boys will have you crying in your beer and laughing out loud, pumping your fist and scratching your head. If you come looking for answers, you may be disappointed. But if you come looking for a good time, you're on the right trail.

Catch one of their videos here…

Zac Brown Band's Gorgeous New Video For "Whatever It Is"

Hubba hubba. Check out Zac Brown Band's new sensual music video for their new single "Whatever It Is." (Email subscribers click on headline to watch.)

Country Music Hall Of Fame Changes Selection Process

The Country Music Association announced category and voting procedural changes for the Country Music Hall of Fame today, effective with the 2010 ballots. These changes were approved by the CMA Board of Directors during the Feb. Board meeting in Orlando, Fla. earlier this week.

Three inductees will continue to be announced as new members of the Country Music Hall of Fame annually, each selected from a different category. Beginning in 2010, the categories will be renamed and defined as follows

Veterans Era - This category will be for professionals that have been in the industry longer than 25 years. It combines the former "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" (which was voted on annually) and "Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War II" (which was voted on every third year in rotation) categories into one.

Modern Era - This category will be for professionals that have been in the industry at least 20 years, but no more than 25 years, and takes the place of the former annual "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975-Present" slot.

Rotating Categories - The third slot will continue to be a rotating category, with each group in the spotlight every third year. The Recording and/or Touring Musician and Non Performer slots will remain, joined by a new Songwriter category.

"Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor anyone can receive in the Country Music industry," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "In the past, songwriters and industry executives shared the same category that rotated every three years. With these new changes, the songwriters and non-performers now have their own rotating categories. This allows these talented and influential men and women a more frequent opportunity to join this intimate fraternity."

Blackhawk Helps To Fund Vanderbilt Cancer Research

A great goodwill story from Tennessean.com:

Henry Paul, singer from country group Blackhawk, was to present Vanderbilt Cancer Research Center with a check for $15,000 on Tuesday in honor of band mate Van Stephenson, who died of skin cancer in 2001.

"This was all predicated on my partner in Blackhawk, Van Stephenson's dying wish for me to do all I could to help find a cure for cancer and to try and keep the band going," Henry says. "It was a humble effort on my part. We have a very supportive and faithful fan base, and this money is raised all year long, $1 or $5 at a time, until the end of the year. Every year the goal is $15,000, and I think we've come close to donating in the neighborhood of $100,000 so far."

Throughout the year, Henry says he holds silent celebrity auctions, celebrity dinners and even sells seats on the stage at Blackhawk concerts in an effort to meet his $15,000 goal. Getting there this year, he says, was harder than most.

"I think it's a sincere and homespun charity effort that has an incredible personality and a great deal of sincerity," Henry says. "That's why I really love it, and it helps perpetuate Van's memory and helps those people over at the lab that work every day. It's very small in its scope, but very large in its impact. People are charmed by our effort and gravitate toward the idea. I'm extremely proud of it. We just do it ourselves."

George Jones Possum Holler Bed & Breakfast To Break Ground

CMT Starts Camp Nashville

How cool would it be to hit the lottery and go to CMT Camp Nashville, described as a "one-of-a-kind country music opportunity for the country fan to experience first-hand the life of a country music superstar." The press conference took place at Gibson Showroom in downtown Nashville. The multi-artist country fantasy camp takes place May 21-25 and will include master classes with top-notch vocal and songwriting mentors, the opportunity to write and record original material in a professional studio and interaction with industry executives and artists. Campers will receive direct coaching from Darryl Worley, Rhett Akins, Bo Bice, BlackHawk's Henry Paul, Deana Carter, Andy Griggs, Jessica Harp (of the Wreckers) and others. John Rich and Ronnie Milsap will provide private concerts during the camp. Registrants will be eligible to perform during a concert at the Wildhorse Saloon to be headlined by Lady Antebellum and Phil Vassar. The registration fee is $8,500 for participants and $1,000 for spouses. The camp is sponsored by CMT, Country Weekly magazine, Gibson guitars, Shoney's Catering, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Wildhorse Saloon, the Nashville Palace and Nashville Cowboy.

Happy Birthday To The Man In Black

No one in country music has left a more indelible mark on the consciousness of America than the Man In Black- Johnny Cash. He embodied more charisma and swagger than nearly everyone before and since- yet still was the world's biggest romantic with his relationship with June Carter. An amazing contradiction.... Johnny Cash would have been 77 today.

Celebrate his big day with a watch of his music video Rusty Cage...

Johnny Cash - New Music - More Music Videos

Lady Antebellum Behind The Scenes Of New Video Shoot

Lady Antebellum does Webisode Wednesday's each week and this week's "show" is behind the scenes of their new music video shoot for "I Run To You." Catch it here...

Alabama's Jeff Cook Prepares New Album Release

After retiring from the road in 2004, country supergroup Alabama left millions of their fans salivating for more of the down-home country music they had been devouring for three decades. Now, five years later, Alabama lead guitarist, fiddle player and founding member Jeff Cook has cranked up his Allstar Goodtime Band (AGB) to bring fans that familiar Alabama sound as well as something new. Cook and the AGB will release Ashes Won't Burn and will be available for download on i-Tunes beginning March 17. The new album, releasing on Quest Records, isn't genre specific but rather ‘Country, Soul and Rock-n-Roll,' as Cook calls it.

"This new record will please Rock, Blues and Soul fans alike... we had a lot of fun making it... we call it ‘Funtry' music. Country music fans can expect to hear those familiar guitar and fiddle licks from the past," says Cook.

Ashes Won't Burn will showcase previously released re-recorded cuts from Cook's days with Alabama, new cuts co-written by Cook, as well as tried-and-true classics including "Brickhouse," Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and "All Right Now."

Cook's Allstar Goodtime Band is a nine-piece group (including Cook) complete with a three-piece horn section and percussion. Prior to forming the band, Cook methodically handpicked all eight band members based on stage chemistry... a difficult task when considering the large number of musicians he has collaborated with throughout the years.

"I put this group together to target the casino, fairs and festival demographics," notes Cook on his versatile band. "We love playing the diversified music types!"

CD Review- Aaron Tippin- In Overdrive

The Background
The album of country classics is dedicated to trucking professionals and features Aaron's versions of "East Bound and Down," "Six Days on the Road," "Drivin' My Life Away" and many others. Also included as a bonus track is "Drill Here, Drill Now," which gained national attention this past year. "I've had my heart set on doing this album for a long time," Aaron says. "Now, with the current economic state, I'm reminded of the unsung heroes of the road, that legion of devoted Americans, some four million strong, whomake their living in the trucking industry.”

The Review
Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s as I was riding around in on the pleather seat of my mom’s baby blue Lincoln Continental, the sound coming from her two speaker AM radio was classic country STORY songs the likes of Coward of the County and The Gambler from Kenny Rogers. They were chapters of real life set to a 3-minute soundtrack. Here, Aaron Tippin has taken a chapter of his own life- he was a truck driver prior to being a smash country music singer- and built a great themed album on life on the highway. Tippin's muse for this record is the late Jerry Reed, who brought truckin' music into the pop charts for the first time in the 1970s, and continued to write it for the rest of his life. This set could have been recorded 30 or 40 years ago save for the modern production sounds. Tippin's hard Southern dialect and his feel for this collection of classic tunes that translate time and space. It’s great fun listening.

Sounds Like:
A Modern Day Jerry Reed & Don Williams

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
East Bound And Down
The Ballad of Danger Dave and Double Trouble
White Knight

The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five

Gloriana "Wild At Heart" Video Premiere‏

Watch it here...

Gloriana

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

CD Review- Kim McLean- Rapunzel’s Escape

The Background
Long considered one of music’s most gifted songwriters and producers for other artists like Tim McGraw, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood, but Rapunzel’s Escape allows Kim’s own remarkable gifts as an songwriter to to be highlighted. Kim McLean’s original musical delivery is unique, self-described as “Appalachi-groove.” Her heritage combines Irish, Cherokee, and Appalachian strains- each of which magically appear in her songs.

The Review
The album validates the term singer-songwriter. Kim has written or co-written every single song on this album. Two of the songs have found their way to the charts previously- with 2002’s Beautiful Goodbye’s by Jennifer Hanson (whom Kim wrote the song with) and 2001’s Elisabeth by Billy Gilman. There’s a writer’s ownership over both songs- each one feels personal and emotional. Kim is a storyline-singer and it’s when she’s sharing life’s experiences with us is when she’s at her best. The instrumentation is very rich with rocking guitar uptempos like “Ain’t No Glory On The Ground” yet she can bring home a great waltz like “China”

Sounds Like:
A Cross Between Deanna Carter & John Mellencamp

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Beautiful Goodbye
Elisabeth

The Verdict:
Three & Half Stars Out Of Five

Rissi Palmer Starts New Music Travel Show This Saturday

Rissi Palmer, one of country music's brightest new stars, will explore the smokin' hot Chicago Blues scene on the Travel Channel's new show, "Rissi Palmer's Country," debuting Saturday, February 28 at 10pm EST.

Every town has its own sound, and in Chicago, it's the Blues. But what happens when you take a beautiful, young country music star and put her in the gritty streets of the Chicago Blues scene? While in the Windy City to perform for the Chicago Country Music Festival, Rissi visits smaller clubs like Rosa's Lounge and hallowed haunts like Buddy Guy's Legends and discovers that, in Chicago, even country girls get the blues.

Since releasing her self-titled CD in 2007, Palmer has been on a whirlwind rise to stardom, receiving widespread media attention including The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Country Weekly, People, New York Post, VIBE, CBS Saturday Early Show, FOX & Friends, Extra, CNN and much more.For further information about the show, visit www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/RissiPalmer or http://www.travelchannel.com/.

PBS Hosts Songwriters Show Called "Legends & Lyrics"

Darryl Worley, Dwight Yoakam, Guy Clark and Mac Davis are among a long list of talents slated to tape the PBS show "Legends & Lyrics" in Nashville running from February 20 through 24.

The program focuses on singer-songwriters with performances and interview segments. The shows mix it up a bit, too, balancing established legends with newcomers. The first round, taped last summer, airs in April with such names as Kris Kristofferson, Randy Owen, Patty Griffin, Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, Phil Vassar, Pam Tillis, Charlie Daniels and Michael Martin Murphey.

Suds In The Bucket: Kid Rock To Start New Beer Line

Kid Rock has been on quite a roll lately with the success of Rock 'N Roll Jesus, and soon he might be the king of beer too. The Michigan Brewing Company is currently collaborating with the Kid on a new line of beer, which should be in stores sometime in the spring. The beer's name, style and pricing have yet to be determined, and Kid Rock is working closely with the company to make those decisions, says Detroit's WXYZ Action News. Moreover, the production of the beer will help with the struggling economy, as the company plans to invest $7 million in the project, which is expected to create about 400 jobs in the state.

Work Ethic According To Charlie Daniels

Legendary Opry member and country-rock legend Charlie Daniels is a frequent blogger on his website- writing extensively about the things he believes in (most notably strong conservative ideals.) But his most recent blog was more about the work ethic ideals he's picked up as an employee and as an employer over his 72 years of living. Pretty good advice from a hard working legend...

Due to the outright greed of some of America's business people, and the outright incompetence of some of our politicians; America is going through a rough patch and I know that some of you folks could well be concerned about whether you're going to have a job.Well, first of all let me address the situation. America is not going to just stop, every business is not going to shut down and every industry is not going to lock their doors and walk away into the night, so no matter how bad the media tries to make it sound, just remember that our great nation has survived much worse than this.There will be jobs, maybe not as many as we'd like, but the biggest percentage of the work force will still be employed, and competition for the jobs, especially the good ones, could well be stiff.I would like to pass along a little information I have gleaned over the past fifty plus years of my life. I have been an employee and an employer and have a pretty good idea about what makes a good employee.There is no yellow brick road to success but there are a few basic absolutes that can make an employer value you and could help you get or keep a job.

1) Always be on time. When you show up even a few minutes late for an interview or an appointment or just to start the workday it leaves an impression of sloth and seems as though you don't value the other person's time.

2) Stay as long as it takes to get a project done. Nothing is more frustrating to an employer than people who drop everything just because it's quitting time and there's something that needs to be done before the day is over and a few minutes or even hours of your time could mean a lot and make you a much more valued employee.

3) Get along with everybody. There are certain people who can't stand it if they can't be sniping at somebody all the time, this kind of person causes dissention and loose talk always gets around, avoid these people like the plague.

4) Put yourself into your work and be as productive as possible, no matter how humble your job may be, do it better and more of it than anybody else.

5) Attitude is everything. The attitude you have toward your job, your fellow workers and your boss is going to have more to do with your employment situation than any other single factor.Are you dependable? Can you be counted on to give a day's work for a day's pay? Are you the one who takes the bull by the horns and acts with a certain amount of autonomy to get the job done, or you one of these who will sit down and waste valuable time until a superior comes along and shows you how to do something you already knew how to do in the first place?It all comes down to personal responsibility. You can't depend on a union or a government program to provide you with a job for the rest of your working life.Your attitude and your willingness to go the extra mile makes you much more valuable to an employer. If you're one of the guys who makes sure the job is done on time and done right, it makes you much more valuable to an employer. If you're always on time and avoid the gossip mill and always do an honest day's work, that makes you much more valuable to an employer.When push comes to shove and people have to be laid off, who do you think is going to go and who do you think is going to stay around.

What do you think?

Pray for our troops

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

February 20, 2009

Lots Of New Records For Young Taylor Swift

Big Machine recording artist Taylor Swift, who this week spends her 9th week at the top of Billboard’s all-genre Top 200 Albums sales chart, has now reached #1 at pop radio. “Love Story” is the first country crossover to land at #1 on CHR/Top 40 in the 16-year history of Billboard’s Nielsen BDS chart. “Love Story,” which Taylor wrote by herself, is the lead single from Taylor’s already-triple platinum sophomore release Fearless, and this week hit #1 on the Nielsen BDS CHR/Top 40 chart, which appears in trade publications Radio & Records and Billboard, as well as #1 on the Mediabase Top 40 Chart, which appears in USA Today.

Additionally, “Love Story” is now the country song with the most paid downloads in history. “Love Story” spent two weeks at #1 on the Country singles charts in November, and “White Horse,” the second single released from Fearless, is currently Top 10 and climbing the country radio charts.

Catch Brad Paisley In The Studio Making His New Album

Thanks goes out to Shannon over at Nashville Gab in pointing out this great video of Brad in the studio working on his new album due Fall of 2009- watch it here...

A Special Day For Johnny & June

On this date back in 1968, 18 years after they had first met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, Johnny Cash successfully proposed to June Carter, an established country singer, during a live performance in London, Ontario, marrying on March 1, 1968. He had proposed numerous times, but she had always refused. Thus began the most treasured Nashville relationship & marriage in history… Catch an Opry performance of them just after getting married singing Jackson here: