TNS Video History- Holly Williams- "Sometimes"

New Music Video From Lauren Alaina- "Georgia Peaches"

Hear It Here- The Pistol Annies & The Chieftains- "Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies"

Ireland's Chieftains have popularized their country's traditional music for nearly five decades now and have collaborated with many other bands. On their new Voice of Ages album that comes out mid-February, the band teams with acts from the Americana and indie-rock worlds.

That's where the Pistol Annies come in. The beautiful trio consisting of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley have a cut on the album of the old Appalachian ballad "Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies." You can hear it below:

Sherrie Austin Shows Off Her New Favorite Christmas Gift

While some girls might like diamonds, singer/songwriter Sherrie Austin prefers a different kind of holiday gift- one that will definitely bring a smile to your face.

CD Album Review- Emily West- I Hate You, I Love You

The review-

Just four days into 2012, I’m at already at a huge quandary for my very first album review I’m tackling this year- an EP for former Capitol Records artist Emily West. West had two singles released two(ish) years back before her strong freshman album was shelved permanently by the label before it was released to the public. One of those singles, a song assisted by Keith Urban called “Blue Sky,” was a hugely underrated release during her appearance on The Apprentice.  The challenge? How is That Nashville Sound possibly going to justify including this (just) six-song mini-album on a list of the best projects of the year when 2012 ends?

I Hate You, I Love You is a renaissance throwback of a project that is genre-bending with its classic vocal and country blend.  It couldn’t be more different from what Nashville is pushing out these days. West’s gorgeous vocals are showcased across each track and each note is concentrated and given an importance. She reaches the ceiling with belted singing and reduces it down to a whisper on a whim- blowing the listener away at each end of the spectrum.

The songwriting is as biting as it is brilliant. “Boys in the Morning” reflects the fragility and emotional pleas found in being a good girl versus a bad girl- and what happens when you finally fall in love. It covers love lost, love given away for free and a little lust mixed in for good measure. “Dangers of Love” covers the same ground with a delivery and lyric that is delicate, raw and transparent.

“I Hate You, I Love You Again” is genius in its projection of angst of not being over the one you once loved. It perfectly captures the love/hate relationship and the lies you tell yourself to try and heal a broken heart. “Supergirl” is another break-up healing torch ballad, this one mixed with a beautiful orchestrated musical background. It contrasts the fragileness of dating and believing in the “mystical magic” of a world that’s “beautiful and tragic.” The super-heroine tries to “save the world” when she can hardly save herself. “My Story” is just that. It’s her life story and allows the listener to hear her virtual diary told in sound.

In just six songs, Emily West has delivered one of the most passionate and intimate albums in recent memory. It’s a throwback in style and sound when artists poured their hearts out through their lyrics and wore it on their sleeve. The vocals are incredible and it approaches perfection. That it’s an independently produced release is as understandable as it is remarkable. I’m not sure any major label would take a leap of faith with something so intimate. Smart. Elegant. As it is, I Hate You, I Love You is only the second album ever graced by TNS with a perfect five out of five rating.

Sounds like-

Adele’s voice with the lyrical sense of Lee Ann Womack

Stand-out tracks-

Every. Single. One.

The Verdict-

Five stars out of five

That Nashville Soundbites- Katya Chorover- Big Big Love

That Nashville Sound receives many different CD releases throughout the year from indie, small majors, bluegrass and artists just off the mainstream radar- or smaller projects like EPs- that we’re doing short mini CD reviews on. We call them That Nashville SoundBites- it’s a feature that will allow us to give some props to some albums and artists that deserve a spotlight on their work.

The Review:
There are albums that can lull you to sleep with repetitiveness and boredom. And there's others that act like one big lullaby, soft and sweet like a comfy down pillow. This album by Chorover is the latter. She pulls in some of the natural beauty of her surrounding Northwest mountains on titles like "Little Bird" and "Brother Flower." Each track has an comforting rhythm and draws on a little bluegrass influence. She even draws in a trumpet into the inspiring track "Cavalries of Love." Graceful. Poetic. Delicate. And all draped in acoustic roots. It's a great independent effort.

Stand-out tracks- "Little Bird" and "Possession"

Three stars out of five

Tim McGraw Releases Details About Emotional Traffic

The first big release of the new year is just around the corner with the upcoming January 24 release of Tim McGraw’s latest album, Emotional Traffic—a studio project the iconic performer named ‘Artist of the Decade’ by Nielsen BDS proclaims as a ‘best ever’ creative effort in his more than three decades of hit music.

Creatively collaborating on the production with Bryon Gallimore his longtime producer whose fingerprints are consistently found throughout the remarkable McGraw dynasty of 32 #1 singles and 44 million units of music sold, Emotional Traffic leaves little doubt of the foundation material McGraw’s now legendary career has been built-in.

The new 12 track set fast lanes with McGraw’s latest #1 single, Felt Good On My Lips, certified digital gold. His current single, Better Than I Used To Be, is now climbing the charts and is also included here. Of the sessions that produced the new music, McGraw noted in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer on August 9: “…one of the best song I’ve ever recorded and certainly one of the best records we’ve ever made.”

A surprise guest artist collaboration from R&B pop wizard Ne-Yo on one of the tracks (Only Human) brings producer Darran Smith into the mix and adds further creditability to McGraw’s visionary artistic reach.  Additional stand-out tracks include the catchy and inspiring Touchdown Jesus (written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, and I Will Not Fall Down (penned by McGraw, Martina McBride and The Warren Brothers—Brett & Brad).

The track listing for Emotional Traffic is as follows:

1.       Halo
2.       Right Back Actha Babe
3.       One Part, Two Part
4.       I Will Not Fall Down
5.       The One
6.       Better Than I Used To Be
7.       Touchdown Jesus
8.       The One That Got Away
9.       Felt Good On My Lips
10.     Hey Now
11.     Only Human
12.     Die By My Own Hand

TNS Video History- Lauren Alaina & Dierks Bentley- "Always On My Mind"