Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
CD Album Review- Kellie Pickler- 100 Proof
American Idol, with rare exception, has a habit of sending artists that can't find a place in other genres to country music. Phil Stacey, Danny Gokey, Ayla Brown and Michael Sarver all come to mind. Kellie Pickler has bled southern Dixie country through and through from the beginning, however. Unapologetically so. (I suspect this has been the cause for her to be more embraced by country radio than most of the artists mentioned previously.) And while her first works have veered more towards the pop-country side of things- and with good success with tracks like "Red High Heels" and "Best Days Of Your Life"- 100 Proof proves to be her coming home party. She delivers a genuine and believable throwback in style and theme that proves that she doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve. She keeps it rooted in classic country.
The album gets right to this point with the opener, "Where's Tammy Wynette?" Steel guitar serenades the love-lorn girl who longs to trade aprons and skillets for short skirts and heels. Pickler's big voice is complimented by her southern twang and sassy attitude. The namedrop of one of country's iconic classic country icons sets the stage for what's to come.
She shouts "don't tell me country's gone" on the fun and groovy "Unlock the Honkytonk." "Stop Cheatin' on Me" is classic steel-driven 70's country theme and instrumentation- albeit with a modern production. The track could easily be in Wynette's own song collection.
The girl has pipes and uses them well. On a soft ballad like "As Long As I Never See You Again," she can belt out a chorus as big and bold as a Carrie Underwood, but can dial back on verses to reveal a fragile tenderness in her vocals.
The steel guitar takes a prominence on the album and acts as the backbone. On the romantic and innocent little number, "Turn On The Radio," it does as much of the work on the chorus as do any Pickler vocals. Even when the drums and guitars come up on "Little House on the Highway," the steel guitar ties the track well to all of the others.
The album's standout tracks are the bittersweet dedication to both parents. The first is to mom's with "Mother's Day." Pickler's protagonist has lost her own mother and she explores the rewards of her blessings of time spent and the love/life experiences never known. It is emotionally fraught and Pickler delivers it appropriately in an almost whisper and restrained delivery. Early into 2012, it's one of the best tracks of the year. The last track is a short and sweet dedication to a father whose alcohol abuse kept him from truly connecting with a daughter. Now sober, the song is a promise to make up for lost time. Soft and tender, it is raw and as open-hearted as you can deliver a song.
Ironically, the song that doesn't necessarily fit with the others is the first radio single, "Tough." It does have the spitfire Pickler has on the other tracks, but the production is more rock-and-roll than the others. It leaves it out of place.
Since her last album, Pickler married fellow singer/songwriter Kyle Jacobs. Perhaps, now more content and secure in her own personal life, Pickler has found the strength to stick to her guns and choose tracks and production she felt more represented her as an artist. Settling down doesn't mean settling as an artist. By staying true to her country roots, she's delivered a personal and authentic album that will hopefully be a career-cementer for Pickler. The genre needs more mainstream artists like LeeAnn Womack preaching the classic country gospel. In 100 Proof, Kellie Pickler delivers one hell of a sermon.
The verdict-
Four stars out of five
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Hear It Here- Phil Vassar- "Don't Miss Your Life"
Phil Vassar has topped the country charts on numerous occasions both as a writer and artist and seems to be on the verge of doing it again with this brand new single. "Don't Miss Your Life," is causing a bit of a buzz at country
radio even before it has been officially released.
"I wrote
this song on a plane recently, when I was really missing my family and
especially my two daughters," said Phil. "The response we're receiving from
country radio and from fans has been absolutely incredible. I am always amazed
when a song touches people like this."
Listen to the new track HERE.
Monday, January 23, 2012
John Berry Releases New Inspirational Album RealMan.RealLife.RealGod.
But it was his stunning performance of the title track of the 1995 CD O Holy Night that led to his most enduring legacy. John Berry began doing a Christmas tour in 1996 and this last year marked his 15th consecutive Christmas concert series. As John has grown in his walk with Christ, his calling has been to share God's love with his audience. Moving into a new phase in his career, John's tenor voice remains an instrument that is able to touch all our hearts.
"I am so excited to be starting on my 25th album/cd and 1st Christian project RealMan.RealLife.RealGod. God has blessed me with some great songs and I can't wait to share them with you," says Berry.
The new album began shipping on Berry's website this past Friday and will be released to digital outlets in the coming weeks.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Previously Unreleased John Denver Song Sees The Light Of Day
"The Wandering Soul (Love Is the Answer)," written in the early 1990's by Denver, was performed once live but never tracked in a studio. It is understood to be the final song written by the musician. John Denver fan and Oregon author-filmmaker-musician James Twyman has recently recorded the song and has made it into a new music video you can watch below.
"I was immediately moved," Twyman wrote in an e-mail to fans, "not just because it was significant that he never had the chance to share the song [through a studio recording], but because it was one of the best, most spiritual songs he ever wrote."
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