Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Easton Corbin – "A Little More Country Than That" Giveaway
Easton Corbin’s No. 1 hit “Roll With It” was named the song that best represents the state of mind of America’s mayors, according to a new survey of mayors commissioned by Reader’s Digest. Corbin seems to have his finger on the pulse of America following the release of his self-titled debut smash. Corbin is the first country male artist in 17 years to have his first two consecutive singles reach No. 1. Corbin’s No. 1 singles “Roll With It” and “A Little More Country Than That” lead Billboard to name Corbin as the Top New Country Artist of 2010 in “The Year in Music 2010.”
Following a string of honors, Easton Corbin received three nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards -- Top New Solo Vocalist as well as Single and Song of the Year for his debut No. 1 hit, “A Little More Country Than That.” This year fans get to decide who wins! Vote now: http://www.voteacm.com/.
To enter, just simply like us on Facebook. Click HERE and show us some love. We'll pick a winner at the end of the day on Monday, Feb 22.
New Music Video From Lane Brody- "Flame's Turned Blue"
GMV Nashville artist Lane Brody releases her environmentally-conscious music video for her newest single, “Flame’s Turned Blue.”
Written and produced by Brody, “Flame’s Turned Blue” is a humanitarian response to the environmental issues developing around the globe. Brody, who serves as Chairman of the Board for Middle Tennessee wildlife care organization Walden’s Puddle, is strongly connected to the issues confronted in the video.
Written and produced by Brody, “Flame’s Turned Blue” is a humanitarian response to the environmental issues developing around the globe. Brody, who serves as Chairman of the Board for Middle Tennessee wildlife care organization Walden’s Puddle, is strongly connected to the issues confronted in the video.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Uncle Kracker Returns To Studio For Next Album
In an interview with Billboard, he talks about the new project:
"I'm kind of excited -- actually, the most excited I've been in a long time. (The songs are) a little more Americana. I don't want to say rootsy, but I think it's more 'me' than the last record was. The overall goal this time was to go in and have fun."Uncle Kracker collaborated on the new songs with J.T. Harding and Shane McAnally, who co-wrote Kenny Chesney's latest country chart-topper, "Somewhere with You." Keith Stegall will be producing. And Uncle Kracker said the as-yet-untitled project is under the gun to record quickly, in order for him to hit the road supporting Chesney starting March 17 in West Palm Beach, FL.
"I've never really been in the process where I had a second single still at radio and I started writing to record," he explained. "It's pretty calculated, I guess, probably the most organized I've ever been. Me and organized in the same sentence -- that's weird."
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Legendary Songwriter Matraca Berg To Release New Album on May 17
"I knew when I was writing these songs, the ones that I was drawn to... that they deserved to be heard... They where a bit deeper and darker than a lot of what's happening, so I knew it was up to me," Berg said. "I'd done some shows with various girlfriends, and when you look at the women - and the men - in the audience, I realized these stories I'm writing are their stories too... So, making sure they get to them became important to me."
Berg, who scored her first number 1 at 18, has had songs recorded by Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Gretchen Wilson, John Berry, Linda Ronstadt and Dusty Springfield. She has 11 #1 hits to her credit and is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
"I was raised on 'Harvest' (Neil Young) and 'Blue,' (Joni Mitchell) 'Pieces of the Sky' (Emmylou Harris)," she says, " That's the sound of my childhood. When I started writing these songs, I pulled them out - and it struck me how bare they were and driven by feel. The songs floated on the arrangements, and the vocals were all the emotions the songs had come from. It's so far from what we hear now, but everything I wanted this record to be."
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Kenny Rogers & Cracker Barrel Unveil The Love of God For 3/7 Release
“The Love of God is the culmination of an idea I had been thinking about for years but never had the opportunity to bring to life,” said Rogers. “It’s been a musical awakening to me. To all of the wonderful musicians, vocalists, and songwriters who lent their amazing talents to this record, I want to thank you for making it so special. It seems I have a personal relationship with every song on it. For example, ‘In The Sweet By And By’ was my mom’s favorite song. When I was a kid, as I was leaving to go to school, I remember hearing her sing along with the radio. Music is by far the best ‘memory creator’ I know, and that memory is very special to me.”Tracks on The Love of God:
1. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
2. Peace
3. I’ll Fly Away featuring The Whites
4. The Rock Of Your Love
5. In The Sweet By and By featuring Winfield’s Locket
6. He Showed Me Love
7. Grace
8. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
9. Circle of Friends featuring Point of Grace
10. For The Love of God
11. Amazing Grace
12. Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
CD Album Reviews- Sarah Darling- Angels & Devils
There is a certain amount of irony that a woman who played the role of a mannequin (in Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy”) can sing so emotionally and passionately. But Sarah Darling proves that she’s no vocal stiff on Angels & Devils, her sophomore release following Every Monday Morning. At least that's the case for half of the album.
There lies the paradox on Darling’s Angels & Devils. Physically, the release is made up of two CD’s- two short EP-length discs. Half of the release is acoustic-based and she truly sings heavenly like the angels. The other half of the album is done in modern country production. And while that might make it the more radio friendly side, the competition with the multiple instrumentation layers make it difficult to always hear Sarah at her finest. She’s forced to sing with more power- more oomph per se- and the result is that she is not allowed to be nearly as passionate and intimate with her vocals. That intimacy is what makes the recording on that half of the release so special.
Her beautiful voice should be the centerpiece of each of the songs. And on the acoustic side, it is. Her voice floats and flutters like the wind on a breeze. It can be quiet like a whisper and then fly up into falsetto- drowning in emotion along the way. She does powerhouse performances of a couple of covers of Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” as well as U2’s “With Or Without You” (which while placed on the modern country disc, has production that would fit more on the acoustic side.) It’s singer/songwriter performing at some of its finest.
The one huge exception to the more modern of the discs is the track “Bad Habit.” Backed by Vince Gill singing harmony, Darling does her best Lee Ann Womack impression on this modern sounding classic comparison of wanting a relationship that is similar to an addiction. It’s got great guitar work and makes one of our favorite tracks thus far into 2011. (As a side note, Darling will be making her Grand Ole Opry debut on the 26th of February and will have Gill at her side on this performance.)
Like Darling’s first album, Angels & Devils is a great example of a very strong talent and underrated vocalist finding her own sound and musical journey in recordings. This isn’t quite it, but I foresee a home run in her future.
The Stand-Out Tracks-
Bad Habit (with Vince Gill)
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
With Or Without You
I Found In You
The Verdict-
Three And A Half Stars Out Of Five
Eric Church Releases New Single- Album Release Planned in 2011
Eric Church has released a new single, "Homeboy," to country radio- written with veteran songwriter Casey Beathard.
"I love songs that challenge me as a writer and also challenge the listener," Church says. "This song is a journey, both musically and lyrically, about a man and his search for his wayfaring brother."
Church is expected to release a new album on EMI Records Nashville later this year. You can hear the new song below.
"I love songs that challenge me as a writer and also challenge the listener," Church says. "This song is a journey, both musically and lyrically, about a man and his search for his wayfaring brother."
Church is expected to release a new album on EMI Records Nashville later this year. You can hear the new song below.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Lady Antebellum Cleans Up At The 2011 Grammy Awards
There was also a surprise at last night's ceremony in Los Angeles. Jazz singer Esperanza Spalding picked up the coveted best new artist Grammy, disappointing Justin Bieber fans.
Record of the Year
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
Best Country Album
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
"The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
"Til Summer Comes Around"- Keith Urban
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
"Need You Now"- Lady Antebellum
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
"As She's Walking Away"- Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
Best Country Instrumental Performance
Hummingbyrd- Marty Stuart
Best Country Song
"Need You Now"- Lady Antebellum
Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott
Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album
"The Reason"- Diamond Rio
Best Traditional Gospel Album
"Downtown Church"- Patty Griffin
Best Bluegrass Album
"Mountain Soul II"- Patty Loveless
Best Traditional Folk Album
"Genuine Negro Jig"- Carolina Chocolate Drops
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
Crazy Heart
Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
The Weary Kind (From Crazy Heart)- Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett
Lady A's Performance:
Eli Young Band Preps Single, EP and Album For 2011 Releases
The Eli Young Band is shipping the sweet ballad “Crazy Girl,” the lead-off single from their forthcoming album, to radio Monday. The group — Mike Eli, guitarist James Young, drummer Chris Thompson and bassist Jon Jones — will release the as-yet-untitled new album in the summer. But they plan to tease it by dropping an April EP featuring a few new songs.
In a conversation with The Oklahoman, the band talked about the new single and new upcoming projects:
In a conversation with The Oklahoman, the band talked about the new single and new upcoming projects:
“We’ve been touring on the last record, Jet Black & Jealous, for the last few years, so it’s kind of nice to get to the point where we’re releasing this next record. We’ve been working on it for awhile so there’s been a lot of buildup,” said singer/guitarist Mike Eli, 29, in a phone interview earlier this week from the road in Charleston, S.C.An acoustic performance of the new single "Crazy Girl" is below.
“We’re pretty positive, and our music is pretty positive. But I think this album really has even more depth than we’ve had in the past. I think it’s going to be really cool to hear and see everybody’s reaction to kind of some of the new things we’re trying. We don’t ever want to stop trying new things.”
“Everything is baby steps really. I mean, we’ve been a band for 10 years, and with Jet Black & Jealous, that was kind of the evolution between being the independent band to being able to branch out and play all over the U.S. And so this next record is hopefully the next step of continuing to build everywhere. You know, there’s still a lot of people out there who don’t know who we are and don’t know our music,” Eli said.
“So we just tried to make sure that we put the best songs on the record and made sure that it was honest and spoke of what we’re going through in our lives. We try to make records that they’re not just a bunch of songs that we just clump together. We want them to have a story and we want them to be real.”
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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