New Music Video From Gary Allan - "Please Come Home For Christmas"

New Music Video From Gary Allan - "Waste of a Whiskey Drink"

That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsbytes: New Albums, New Record Deals, New Videos & More

With Country Radio Seminars in Nashville, news is coming out fast and furious about lots of your favorite artists.  Here's some headlines in bite-size form...

* Brandi Carlile has been named this year's Record Store Day Ambassador.  This years date of what will be a massive release of new releases on vinyl is April 18, 2020 and Carlile went on video to discuss what this means to her.

* Gary Allan has recently reassembled the band and producers behind his smash album Smoke Rings In The Dark, Tony Brown and Mark Wright, to record his first new music in years. Six 90's-country-inspired songs have already been tracked.

Several new music videos out including:

- Ashley McBryde - "First Thing I Reach For"
- RaeLynn - "Keep Up"
- Darrell Scott - "The Day After"
- Marc Broussard - "Baton Rouge"
- LeAnn Rimes - "Someone You Loved"

* Songwriter Gretchen Peters will pay homage to one of her songwriting heroes with the forthcoming album The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury out May 15th on Peters’ own Scarlet Letter Records. 

* Toby Keith, Chris Stapleton and more have contributed songs to Willie Nelson's next album. Nelson is releasing his 70th solo studio album, First Rose Of Spring, on Friday, April 24, which falls right before the legend’s 87th birthday on April 29. 

* Singer/songwriter Johnny Bulford (Lee Brice's "A Woman Like You" and Chris Young's "Flashlight") has released a fantastic new sentimental track dedicated to his grandfather called "Raised Me" that's definitely worth a listen. 

* On March 27th, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real will release Naked Garden, a companion album to 2019’s Turn Off the News (Build a Garden) featuring previously unreleased tracks and alternate versions of songs from the same sessions. 

* Lauren Alaina will release a six-track EP entitled Getting Good, which releases March 6.

* Reba McEntire has resigned with her original music label. Reba made an appearance during the UMG Nashville CRS luncheon to announce returning to her former label home.

* Not to be undone, Tim McGraw did the same thing, moving back to Big Machine Records. McGraw’s return to Big Machine follows his recent exit from Sony Music Nashville.

Write You a Song Podcast Episode VII - An Interview With Songwriter Liz Rose

This morning we share another new podcast from host Tom Mailey from Bonneville radio station New Country 105.1 KNCI in Sacramento. Tom is a country radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in Seattle and Sacramento and a key partner in our Golf & Guitars Children's Charity Music Festival, a little event in our twelfth year that has raised well north of a million bucks for kids and individuals with disabilities. It highlights the songwriters in our industry and is entitled Write You a Song.

It's his hope that this podcast will shine a little overdue spotlight on the talented men and women who, mostly behind the scenes, write the songs that become part of our lives. You know their words and music, but maybe not their names: Write You a Song will feature some of country music’s biggest songwriters--like Jeffrey Steele, Brett Warren, Ashley McBryde, Tim Nichols and more.

From helping a young Taylor Swift find her voice as a songwriter, to soaring success writing songs for Little Big Town, Gary Allan, and others, Liz Rose has one of the most unique songwriter stories you'll ever hear, not the least of which is--she doesn't play music.

Hear one of the more unlikely Nashville success stories from one of country music's most sought-after collaborators, this month, on this unique Write You a Song podcast.

Write You a Song Podcast Episode IV - An Interview With Songwriter Brice Long

This morning we share another new podcast from host Tom Mailey from Bonneville radio station New Country 105.1 KNCI in Sacramento. Tom is a country radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in Seattle and Sacramento and a key partner in our Golf & Guitars Children's Charity Music Festival, a little event in our twelfth year that has raised well north of a million bucks for kids and individuals with disabilities. It highlights the songwriters in our industry and is entitled Write You a Song.  It's his hope that this podcast will shine a little overdue spotlight on the talented men and women who, mostly behind the scenes, write the songs that become part of our lives. You know their words and music, but maybe not their names: Write You a Song will feature some of country music’s biggest songwriters--like Jeffrey Steele, Brett Warren, Tim Nichols and more.

With huge hits for artists like Jon Pardi, Randy Houser and Gary Allan, you might think a songwriter can sit back a little and enjoy their success. Not so, as Brice Long explains in this episode of Write You A Song. Growing up on a farm in Kentucky--plus years of grinding it out by writing album cuts for artists like George Strait and Randy Travis--gave Brice a work ethic he says is every bit as important as finding that creative spark and fanning it into a flame. 

Signed to Columbia Records in 2005, Long charted one single on the Billboard country chart that year: "Anywhere but Here", which was also released by Chris Cagle a year later. In addition, Long co-wrote Gary Allan's 2004 Number One single "Nothing On but the Radio", Jon Pardi's Number One single "Heartache On The Dance Floor" and Randy Houser's singles "Anything Goes" and "Like a Cowboy".

Hear It Here - New Music From Sarah Buxton - "Only The Truth"

"It's time to let go. I have no plan. I have no help. I'm just releasing a song and clearing space for whatever wants to happens next." ~ Sarah Buxton on the new release of her new song "Only the Truth."

For Sarah Buxton, the last fifteen years have been a roller-coaster ride. The singer/songwriter has realized huge successes and at the same time has questioned at times where music would take her. Today, that journey aims to all points north with the release of a brand new independent song, "Only The Truth."

Buxton moved to Nashville following high school graduation both to attend Belmont University and follow her musical dreams and ambitions. The early 2000’s found her the lead singer of a southern rock band called Stoik Oak. But after that group called it quits- it was John Rich and others that encouraged her to find her country music voice and after singing back-up vocals from everyone from Kenny Rogers to Cowboy Troy, she landed her own record deal with Lyric Street Records back in 2006. Keith Urban recorded the Buxton co-write "Stupid Boy" on his album Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing- which he took to #3 on the country charts in 2007. Buxton got her own self-titled album released in 2010 and chart four singles.

But with the exception of a side project titled Skyline Motel and a slew of hits written for other artists such as Gary Allan, The Band Perry, Chris Lane, Trisha Yearwood, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line and more, we hadn't heard any new music from Sarah herself.

Until today...

Sarah Buxton Back In The Studio Recording New Music

Chalk this up to the "way overdue" category, but we're excited as can be that Sarah Buxton announced that she's back in the studio creating new music for herself for a yet-to-be-named and yet-to-be-announced project.

Long a favorite singer and songwriter from her fellow Nashville artists, Buxton is probably most famous from both her writing of the smash hit single "Stupid Boy" made-famous by Keith Urban and her debut Lyric Street Records self-titled album released back in 2010. On that critically-acclaimed record, she has singles "Innocence," "That Kind of Day," Space," and "Outside My Window" all make dents on the Billboard Hot Country charts. When Lyric Street closed in mid-2010, Buxton found herself without a label.

Since that time, she has been involved in other projects such as the duo Buxton-Hughes and a band called Skyline Motel.  She's continued to actively be a sought-after songwriter in Nashville, Urban recorded another one of Buxton's songs, "Put You in a Song", for the 2010 album Get Closer. Buxton also wrote Big & Rich's 2012 single "That's Why I Pray", Gary Allan's 2013 single "Pieces" from his album Set You Free and The Band Perry's 2013 single "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" from their album Pioneer. In 2014, she co-wrote "PrizeFighter" by Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson, "Sun Daze" by Florida Georgia Line and "Fix" and "For Her" by Chris Lane. Her distinctive vocal styling has had her sing harmony and back-up on many a project including ones for Keith Urban and David Nail. And on the personal front, she's gotten married and had a couple of children since making her debut.

This site found enormous promise in her debut project and her resume is as powerful as any songwriter in Nashville. After Lyric Street closed, I've found her voice really is missed in the country music landscape and it's exciting to see that we'll be enjoying new Sarah Buxton music in the coming year or so.

 

Deep gratitude is what I feel. After 8 years of waiting, I am finally starting to record for myself again. Thank you @tronian @thekonradsnyder and #tombukovac for a magical and inspiring day. Konrad found 4 lucky clovers in the back yard, so that has to be a good omen. And now there is a thunderstorm and I love thunderstorms. Wow, it’s a good day. 🍀🍀🍀🍀

A post shared by Sarah Buxton (@sarahbuxton) on Apr 3, 2018 at 7:41pm PDT

Acclaimed Songwriter Kendell Marvell Follows Charts Debut Album

Artist: Kendell Marvell
Album: Lowdown and Lonesome
Label: Big Daddy Records
Release date: October 13, 2017

Already an award-winning songwriter- he co-wrote Stapleton's "Either Way" , “Yee Haw,” “Startin' With Me” and “Don't Think I Can't Love You" for Jake Owen, "That Lonesome Song" for Jamey Johnson & "Right Where I Need To Be" for Gary Allan- Kendell Marvel makes his solo debut with Lowdown & Lonesome, a concept album that blends his musical down home country and rock & roll roots.

Having written 9 out of 10 tracks on the album, Marvel flexes his writing chops and invites listeners on the familiar journey of heartbreak, vices and all points in between. “Gypsy Woman” paints the picture of a love that’s not chasing back while on the title track "Lowdown & Lonesome” Marvel sings about hitting rock bottom and drinking about it. “I wrote the song “Lowdown & Lonesome” with Keith Gattis and Randy Houser a few years back and we based the whole album around that track. The songs are real, they’re gritty- a combination of hurt-like-hell heartache and rowdy rebellion.”

Born and raised in Southern Illinois, Marvel began playing his first gigs at 10 years old. "My dad would take me out to bars, and I'd play old country covers," he remembers. "Dad would get free beer, and I'd get free pickled eggs or beef jerky. I was hooked."

The gigs continued as Marvel grew older. In 1998, he left his home in Illinois, moved to Nashville and began writing songs. During his first day in Music City, Marvel penned Gary Allan's first Top 5 hit, "Right Where I Need To Be.” Other hits followed, but Marvel never lost sight of the solo career he'd kicked off back in the Midwest. As his reputation as a songwriter grew, he continued hitting the highway on a yearly basis, crisscrossing the country —Alaska to Florida to the Virgin Islands — on his own solo tours.

Produced by Keith Gattis, Lowdown & Lonesome finds Marvel heading up an all-star band of sidemen and session players, including guitarist Audley Freed, drummer Fred Eltringham and harmonica icon Mickey Raphael. While the album is filled with musical heavyweights, the true stars are the songs themselves.  "I'm done chasing down what everybody else is doing," he says. "I did that for years, and this, this is something different.”

Hear it Here - New Music From Gary Allan - "Mess Me Up"

That Nashville Sound Thursday Newsbytes

Sunny Sweeney posted this in-studio photo to her Instagram page

With summer just around the corner, there's lots happening in and around country music at the moment.

- Craig Morgan just unveiled his new music video for "I'll Be Home Soon." You can watch it HERE.

- Gary Allan released his brand new single entitled "Do You Wish It Was Me?" and  you can listen to it HERE.

- Austin City Limits released a couple of performance videos from the late Guy Clark. "Desperadoes Waiting For A Train" and "Dublin Blues" are definitely worth watching if simply for their sentimental value.

- Congratulations to Texas troubadour Drew Kennedy and his wife on the early birth of their new son, Oliver Dennis Kennedy. Send good healthy thoughts to the family that their little guy's early arrival just means he's going to have good healthy singing lungs soon.

- Wade Hayes is back in the studio recording new music.

- Sunny Sweeney also announced that she's in studio working on a new project as well.

- Legendary songwriter John Prine has released a new project that can be downloaded with your choice of donation through NoiseTrade called Live in Asheville, '86.

- The band Alabama will be getting a new exhibit in The Country Music Hall of Fame.

- David Nail's new album Fighter will land on July 15.
 

New Music Video From Gary Allan- "Hangover Tonight"

Will Hoge To Release Small Town Dreams On 4/7

Will Hoge is gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated 10th studio album, Small Town Dreams, to be released April 7 on Cumberland Recordings/Thirty Tigers. A proven gifted storyteller, Hoge candidly shares his story of growing up in a small town in Tennessee building on the authentic heartland anthem and lead single “Middle Of America.”

"I think it is the most representative of not only who I am as an artist but where I’m from. I think every song from the record is deeply inspired by growing up in Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee, and watching this area grow and change and become something that it wasn’t 25 years ago,” shares Hoge. “And, I feel like as an artist, kinda I’ve gone through that same transformation. So I feel like it’s literally in my blood and it all came out on this record and I’m super excited for people to be able to to take that journey with us musically.”

For Small Town Dreams, the GRAMMY-nominated artist teamed up with producer Marshall Altman (Marc Broussard, Eric Paslay, Frankie Ballard) for the first time. Producing his last three albums himself, Hoge was inspired to pass the reins to Altman after years of friendship and admiration. A writer on each of the 11 tracks on the project, Hoge collaborated with hit-makers Jessi Alexander, Chris Stapleton, Gary Allan, Hillary Lindsey and more.

The driving lead single “Middle Of America” - now climbing the Country radio charts - was released to rave reviews from music critics, radio, and fans alike. Rolling Stone Country lauded the tune recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, “with echoes of Mellencamp, both sonically and in its ‘Jack & Diane’ depiction of small town life, ‘Middle Of America’ is both relatable and reassuring.”

TRACK LISTING
1. Growing Up Around Here (Brett Beavers/Will Hoge/Tommy Lee James) 
2. They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To (Will Hoge/Sean McConnell)
3. Better Than You (Gordie Sampson/Hillary Lindsey/Will Hoge)
4. Little Bitty Dreams (Will Hoge)
5. Guitar Or A Gun (Will Hoge/Dylan Altman/Gary Allan)
6. Middle Of America (Will Hoge/Tommy Lee James/Jessi Alexander)
7. All I Want Is Us Tonight (Will Hoge/Dylan Altman/Eric Paslay)
8. Just Up The Road (Dylan Altman/Tommy Lee James/Will Hoge)
9. Desperate Times (Will Hoge/Adam Hood)
10. The Last Thing I Needed (Will Hoge/Chris Stapleton)
11. 'Til I Do It Again (Will Hoge/Dylan Altman/Gary Allan)

New Music Video From Gary Allan- "It Ain't the Whiskey"

Music video by Gary Allan performing It Ain't The Whiskey. 
2013 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

That Nashville Sound's Top Albums of 2013 (So Far...)

The curtain on the first half of 2013 is coming to close and over six months, there has been a slew of outstanding releases, particularly from female artists. While country music radio seems to be still focusing on the young male artists singing about how they're more country than you, dirt roads and pick-up trucks, there have been some thoughtful and introspective albums that are truly groundbreaking.

And certainly, the second half of 2013 has some incredible music being released that could add to this list. Julie Roberts, Jason Eady, Bryan White, Travis Tritt, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Deana Carter, Dierks Bentley, David Nail, The Court Yard Hounds, Jack Ingram, Don Henley, Keith Urban, Joe Nichols, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis, Angaleena Presley and Alabama are just a few of the artists that have albums scheduled or tentatively scheduled the second-half of the year.

Thus far, 15 albums have rose above all the rest and become beacons of light for what is all good and right about great quality songwriting and terrific production that lets each instrument breathe on its own. These albums are not placed in order from top to bottom (yet), that will happen later in the year. A couple of them haven't been released quite yet, but will be unveiled to the public very shortly.

We'd love to hear what you think. What is missing from this list? What do you agree with or disagree with?

Ashley Monroe- Like a Rose- Country music insiders have known about Ashley Monroe's beautiful voice and incredible songwriting skills for years. But it wasn't until the spotlight from Pistol Annies that she was able to put together this Vince Gill-produced album that was truly something special. The semi-autobiographical title track, one of the best songs of the year was co-written with the legendary songwriter himself, Guy Clark. While much of the male country world is posing with their rock and roll infused country, Monroe followed her own muse, unwrapped her outer proverbial onion layer, and let us in to here that honest inner voice discover life through traditional country music sound.

Brandy Clark- TBD- If you hear a little Kacey Musgraves (more on her album later) in this upcoming phenomenal album from Brandy Clark, there's a good reason. They're songwriting partners and friends who penned Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart" together. She writes realistic snapshots from the underbelly of real life in this fantastic collection of tales of cheating, smoking, jail-time- all with a wit that bites the listener and won't let go.  She's aware of the flaws of both herself and her community and celebrates them both in a way that gives both a depth rarely heard from an artist- especially one relatively new to country music. One of our favorite tracks of the year is "Stripes," a tale where a cheating boyfriend's only saving grace from being shot by his jealous girlfriend is that her fashionista sense won't let her wear those stripes in jail.

Chris Wall- El Western Motel- With Lloyd Maines at the producer's helm, Wall released an album full of songs that are sharply written, and, while they are plainly written and sung, the lyrics hide great subtlety and feeling. This is his first album in over a decade and each song is a new take on the oldest country themes in the business including love lost, failures and heartache. Most importantly, however, Wall writes how he deals with those with an emotional fragility that belies his rough exterior. The title track stands out as the albums best work. And if you don't believe me, trust Ray Wylie Hubbard who says, “In this lawless terminal age where music is made for the sole purpose of creating revenue for corporations, Chris Wall is a cowboy savior/hero/poet who with his words and music gives us redemption from the atrocities of this illusion that is presently known as country music.” Truer words have never been spoken.

Dailey and Vincent- Brothers of the Highway- Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent's beautiful harmonic vocal blend has garnered them 13 IBMA awards over the last six years. On this outstanding new bluegrass album, the duo takes a compelling step forward with self-penned original songs, as well as tunes by The Louvin Brothers, George Strait, Vince Gill, and the father of Bluegrass himself, Bill Monroe. "The Hills of Caroline" is a jaw-dropping combination of instrumentation, harmony and songwriting- check it out HERE.

Dale Watson- El Rancho Azul- No one else is quite carrying the flag for traditional country music quite like Dale Watson. El Rancho Azul marks his 20th album release and like many of the albums before, this is a collection of great traditional, time-honored country music with just the right mix of attitude mixed in. It's all pure Honky Tonk record filled primarily with drinking songs. Ironically, the two love songs standout above the rest except for perhaps the terrific “Where Do You Want It?” which chronicles the night that country music legend Billy Joe Shaver allegedly shot a man outside a Waco, Texas bar.

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver- Roads Well Travelled- If Dailey and Vincent are the face of new bluegrass, Doyle Lawson certainly can be the face of classic bluegrass on this list. That being said, Lawson and the boys flirt towards a traditional country sound on a couple of tracks including the phenomenal and heartbreaking, "How Do You Say Goodbye to 60 Years?". "When Love Is All You Want (It's All You Need)" is another bluegrass/country blend that showcases the band's outstanding vocal harmonies and stunning musicianship.

Gary Allan- Set You Free- For nearly two decades now, Allan has blended his unique gravelly voice, his Bakersfield roots, career-defining ballads and a rock and roll mentality to put together a discography that can match up against any other modern-day country artist. Set You Free continues that legacy well. If it feels independent in spirit, there's a good reason. Says Allan, "I recorded the album during the transition of label heads and no one realized what I was doing until I turned it in...When you have one producer, you sometimes allow a song to get in there as an album cut. But with different producers, each one is competing to have the best songs and hopefully songs that are good enough to be released as singles, so I think the overall album and the quality of songs were better because of it. I forced myself to stretch on this one, because I had time, and I think you need to do something new to keep reinventing yourself."

Holly Williams- The Highway- Legacy. It's a word that can be a burden or it can be a word that can act as a generational compass to follow and continue on a tradition started by our forefathers. For Williams, it's the latter. In her case, the shadows of her grandfather, Hank Williams, Sr., and her father, Hank Williams, Jr., simply provided a charted course of songwriting and storytelling. Following their lead and doing in distinctively her own way, she has quietly delivered her third highly emotive album of incredible stories that puts her in the high echelon of Nashville songwriters. Co-produced by Williams and Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars), The Highway boasts guest appearances from Jackson Browne, Jakob Dylan, Dierks Bentley, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The standout track on the album is the fragile "Drinkin" in which Williams describes: "This may not be my story at this time in my life (thankfully) but it’s the story of many people around me. Growing up in the south and seeing so many small town tales was really the catalyst for this song. It’s the sad story of a spinning wheel that won’t cease.”

Jason Isbell- Southeastern- The former lead singer of The Drive-By Truckers contemplates love and sobriety on this introspective songwriters dream of an album. It's where he contemplates life and death on "Elephant" is where he shines the brightest, however. It tells the tale of a friend, perhaps a past lover, who is facing the end of their battle with cancer. "I buried her a thousand times/  Giving up my place in line/ But I don't give a damn about that now/ There's one thing that's real clear to me/
No one dies with dignity/ We just try to ignore the elephant somehow." It's revealing, heart-wrenching, personal and a tribute to a fallen friend all wrapped up in one amazing song.

Kacey Musgraves- Same Trailer, Different Park- This album and our favorite track of the year, "Follow Your Arrow," just could be the most important album of the year, if not just our favorite. Country music hasn't been the most open-minded of genres over the years. While there has been many exceptions like Dolly Parton, social and racial evolution has been slow moving with country fans and artists alike. That's what makes Musgraves album and "Arrow" so refreshing. "Follow your arrow, wherever it points," she croons. It doesn't matter to whom, love who you love. It doesn't matter your passion, do what you do. The debate to whether the track could be a radio hit amongst the country music industry is a VERY healthy one. And despite the fact that it might not ever see a release to those same radio executives, the fact that it's being discussed is important as hell. Kudos to Sirus/XM for seeing the light and spinning the track consistently through the 2nd quarter of 2013.

Kelly Willis and Bruce Robinson- Cheater's Game- She is carrying the torch for female honkytonk singers. He is the singer/songwriter with #1 records cut by the Dixie Chicks, George Strait, and Tim McGraw. Married and singing together, they have put together an incredible album that truly belongs in the echelon of Tammy and George. Together they are the first couple of Texas music, and, they have finally recorded together. Each song is a polaroid of life, none more stripped down and revealing than "Leavin." That song is a snapshot of the album, showing the ups and downs of married life can be truth and inspiration in songwriting.

Lori McKenna- Massachusetts- My friend and incredible music writer Juli Thanki described McKenna the best, "Lori McKenna doesn’t write so much as lay open a vein with each new lyric." It's so true. As a mother and a wife, no one can detail out the trials and tribulations of the ups and downs of everyday life like McKenna. "How Romantic Is That" stands out as the perfect example. Those that have had the beautiful opportunity to fall in love and spend years, if not decades, with the one they love recognize that the expression of love isn't always done with passion and rose petals. That's where McKenna is at her best- highlighting the minute details that couples find special enough to maintain that spark. She speaks equally well from the light and the dark side of that equation and delivers another stunning collection of songwriting on this album.

Pistol Annies- Annie Up- While perhaps not as strong as their debut album, the sophomore album by Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley is still a fantastic group of spirited and feisty women anthems that stands on it's own right. With southern sass, the ladies lower their outlaw image for a slightly more mature of life as country women. It's less woman empowerment and reverse sexism, and a little more about family and loving. Considering that the ladies are settling down, that all makes sense as they're writing what their experiencing. Here's hoping it's not all wine and roses down the road in their songwriting, making hay and hell is what they do best.

The Statesboro Revue- Ramble On Privilege Creek- Led by the strong and unique lead vocals of  Stewart Mann, The Statesboro Revue have delivered a terrific surprise collection of tracks that rank amongst this year's very best. While leaning a little more on the Americana side of things, the band reminds of some of Zac Brown Band's best work. At times, the guys deliver an intimate acoustic feel, but turn right around and crank it up Southern Rock style with electric licks, organ, harmonica and steel guitar. The songwriting is impeccable, diving into great depths of relationships and love lost. If you haven't heard of this band before, do yourself a great favor and get them (quickly) on your radar. It's great work by an indie.

The Steeldrivers- Hammer Down- Murder and mayhem might sound like the recipe for a nice long stay at Folsom Prison, but for the bluegrass band, the Steeldrivers, it is a foundation for a fantastic third album that builds on the critical success of their first two. "When You Don't Come Home" exemplifies the dark genius of the album as a wife confronts her cheating husband with a .45. The musicianship on the album, lead by the great fiddle work by Tammy Rogers, is without compare. This marks the first album sung by new lead singer Gary Nichols. He has stepped in flawlessly for Chris Stapleton and retained that passion and delivery that made their first two releases so fascinating. This is one terrific album.

New Music Video From Gary Allan- "Pieces"

Just Six Weeks In, 2013 Country Music Highlights Are Many

The great Greek philosopher Diogenes said, "We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less."  For the music critic, that's a paradox. Two ears are a blessing as they enable the power to listen to and be moved by music. But by nature, we strive to share what we've personally discovered and deconstruct that which moves us so that we can go find more. So in lieu of using my tongue and telling you verbally, be grateful for ten fingers that can share with you a truly remarkable list of country- some country(ish)- releases that have kicked off 2013. In my experience, I have not encountered such a plethora of quality releases so early in the season. It's truly remarkable. Just six weeks in and the country music highlights are many. Several albums are certain to appear on year-end lists and there have been some moving and powerful singles. They're not in order of priority or counted down in any order. They'll be identified simply in the same order that I heard them first.

Rich Mahan has soulful swagger to spare on the morning-after a one-night-stand song, "Favorite Shirt." The protagonist has (conveniently) left his favorite shirt at the house and is invited back over for breakfast. The object of his desire shows up wearing nothing but his favorite shirt. Great shows of affection ensue. The track comes off of the St. Louis native and Nashville transplant's Blame Bobby Bare album and is a terrific sexy track. Listen HERE.

Speaking of soulfulness, no other band in bluegrass shows as much delta blues passion as The Steeldrivers. This last week, they've just released their third album Hammer Down and it's wildly terrific. I had the opportunity to interview singer/fiddler Tammy Rogers for Engine 145 this past August and she said it best when she said, "We’re still murdering people regularly. We’ve still got a high body count. That’s all good." The lyrics are dark and foreboding and lead singer Gary Nichols has taken over for Chris Stapleton and amazingly hasn't missed a beat. The album highlights are "Lonesome Goodbye" and the spurned-lover-who-meets-her-cheater-with-a-.45 "When You Don't Come Home." Listen HERE.

Born in Portland, Oregon and raised in the music hotbed of Austin, Texas, Reed Turner finished off his music training four years at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he majored in songwriting. On his latest Ghost In The Attic album, I was blown away by the haunting fiddle and electric-guitar laden track "The Fire." I asked Turner to explain the deep and symbolic track and he said, "That song was inspired by the housing crisis/economic collapse. I was stunned and angered by the amount of greed and stupidity displayed by a group of people who were seemingly willing to help bring down their own country." Powerful stuff. Listen HERE.

Will Hoge and Wade Bowen are songwriting legends, especially around the Lone Star State of Texas. They've just recently collaborated on a new track called "Another Song Nobody Will Hear" that is Hoge's most recent release on the Texas radio scene. For anyone that's found themselves at the mercy of having to create a piece of art that's not a vehicle for wealth development, but a personal validation, it's the perfect message. Listen HERE.

Country music radio's seemingly closed door to female artists not named Carrie, Taylor or Miranda belies the fact that there is a whole slew of quality music being put out by the fairer sex right now. There's not a better example than one Katie Armiger. She's released four quality albums since 2007 and doesn't have a top forty hit to show for it. Her January release, Fall Into Me, has some bright spots on it, but none better than the slow burning "Okay Alone" that shows off her big voice and wide range. Listen HERE.

On  Holly Williams' phenomenal 2009 release, Here With Me, I wrote, "It’s almost impossible to disconnect the Williams legacy from this new young artist. What she brings to the table is much of her grandfather’s touch with a song. Her voice, while beautiful, has a unique ability to convey the nuances of feeling including sadness, genuine hurt, joy and disappointment. It’s a very emotional sound- most notable through her slower and quieter songs. This emotive songstress channels the very best of her musical legacy on nearly every song- drawing the listener in with some of the best melancholy textured ballads released this year." Fast-forward four years and Williams' new album The Highway is equally personal with all the same emotional nuances. It couldn't be less commercial or country music radio friendly if it tried. But it has more heart and soul than an hour of any country radio broadcast in one song. Listen HERE.

Ray Scott's humorous "Those Jeans" wasn't officially released in 2013, but it just has gotten a bit of traction on XM/Sirius Radio this last month and just might see the light of day on terrestrial radio if country music radio has any sense. Scott proves out that honky-tonk humor is alive and well with this song about a cowboy getting the snot beat out of him by hitting on the wrong bar babe. Listen HERE.

Age hasn't slowed down Gary Allan one bit. His Set You Free album released this past month sets his unique voice to a tapestry of an album that's reminiscent of passing days and reflective of bright spots in years to come. It's the fact that it's not as polished vocally as much of what is being released now that makes it so real, so believable. He brings his normal passionate delivery and while it doesn't chart any new territory for a song standpoint, it's a great reminder of how Allan is one of this generation's finest and most underrated artists. Listen HERE.

John Corbett surprises. His self-titled debut album, released in 2006, climbed to No. 42 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, surprising even the guy who rose to fame as Cicely, Alaska’s resident radio deejay on the Northern Exposure TV series (and made women swoon in Sex and the City and My Big Fat Greek Wedding). His new independent album, Leaving Nothing Behind, has several good moments on it, but the Western-themed "El Paso" steals the album. With only a nod to the famous Marty Robbins track, this new story of love gone wrong in the Wild West, is terrific storytelling. Listen HERE.

Dale Watson is a Texas honky-tonk hero. If you don't believe me, check out the best honky-tonk album released in recent memory called El Rancho Azul. Drinking. Loving. Drinking. Dancing. Drinking. Bars. And Drinking. The one exception is the song that I imagine as a first-dance song with my daughter on her wedding day, appropriately called "Daughter's Wedding Song." Listen HERE.

Matthew Mayfield's "Track You Down" opens with this funky little guitar riff that's more bluesy than country and his vocal delivery reminds quickly of Dave Matthews. The fascinating production and urgency of the vocal delivery, matching lyrics and frantic fiddle make this track truly memorable. Listen HERE.

Randy Houser's new How Country Feels album can be uneven in places, particularly when he ramps the rocking tempo up on a handful of tracks. But when he slows things down, few artists in country music currently do it better. Three tracks on the album stand out in "The Power of a Song," the Katie Lee Cook duet "Wherever Love Goes" and the album stand-out, "The Singer." The last track is a highly personal and melancholy look at the high costs of following your musical dreams. Listen HERE.

Sure, he's done the beach themed thing before. Sure, he's not carving out new territory with the island-bound music video. But damn. I have to admit that Kenny Chesney's new David Lee Murphy-penned "Pirate Flag" is really cool ear candy. I dare any guy not to think of a "long legged model" and "island girl" on a beach while it's playing. Listen HERE.

Kris Kristofferson is Feeling Mortal these days and as the legends of his era are passing away around him, his songwriting has turned to themes like mortality and nostalgia. His voice is ravaged from time and use, but no one pens a song quite like the Country Music Hall of Famer. On "Castaway," the album's stand-out track, he uses the open water as an analogy to his personal journey: "Cause like a ship without a rudder/ I’m just drifting with the tide/And each day I’m drawing closer to the brink/ Just a speck upon the waters/ Of an ocean deep and wide/ I won’t even make a ripple when I sink." Listen HERE.

A year in Aspen back in 2005 is the only connection that Louise Day has to the American music scene. Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, this piano songstress drew on her U.S. musical influences and South African inspirations on her terrific international release of "Nothingville." Listen below:

Upcoming January and February Country & Bluegrass Album Releases

There's lots of new music being released over the course of the next two months by a lot of quality artists. From mainstream crossovers like Darius Rucker to critical darlings The Steeldrivers, there's really something for everyone. Anything you're looking forward to?

January 15

Katie Armiger – Fall Into Me

Lulu Roman – At Last

January 22/23

Gary Allan – Set You Free

Darius Rucker – True Believers

Buck Owens – Honky Tonk Man

Don Rich – Sings George Jones

Randy Houser – How Country Feels

Henry Wagons – Expecting Company?

Tim McGraw- Tim McGraw and Friends

Rich Mahan – Blame Bobby Bare

Ted Russell Kamp – Night Owl

January 29

Kris Kristofferson – Feeling Mortal

Sarah Darling- Home to Me EP

Jacob Jones – Good Timin’ in Waynetown

Blue Sky Riders – Finally Home

Dale Watson – El Rancho Azul

February 5

Jewel – Greatest Hits

Tim McGraw – Two Lanes of Freedom

The Steeldrivers – Hammer Down

Holly Williams – Highway

Chris Stamey – Lovesick Blues

Townes Van Zandt – Sunshine Boy: The Unheard Studio Sessions & Demos 1971-1972

John Corbett – Leaving Nothin’ Behind

February 7

Mary Gauthier – Live at Blue Rock

February 12

Dustin Welch – Tijuana Bible

Merle Haggard – The Complete ’60s Capitol Singles

George Jones – The Complete United Artists Solo Singles

Wanda Jackson – The Best of the Classic Capitol Singles

Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis – Cheater’s Game

February 26

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell – Old Yellow Moon

The Mavericks – In Time

Wayne Hancock – Ride

February 28

Ryan Cook – Wrestling With Demons

New Music Video From Gary Allan- "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)"

Hear It Here- Gary Allan's "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)"

My friend Rita Ballou over at Rawhide and Velvet shared this brand new single from Gary Allan that has just been shipped to radio off of his yet-to-be-named upcoming album. What do you think?

Country Music News Round-Up- Free Music From People Magazine & Six More New Music Videos

* People Magazine is doing their annual summer country music edition and accompanying this month's issue is a complimentary download of their People.com Country Playlist. Just visit Peoplecmg.com/countryplaylist for the download code and enjoy free music! Here's the playlist- the last track by Sarah Darling (with Vince Gill) is spectacular if you don't have it already.

Reba McEntire - When Love Gets a Hold of You
Little Big Town - Shut Up Train
Ashton Shepherd - Where Country Grows
Frankie Ballard - A Buncha Girls
Carter's Chord - A Little Less Comfortable
Sarah Darling - Bad Habit

* That Nashville Sound has already provided links or blog posts of a whopping 15 videos already this week. And that's just since Monday. But the hits just keep coming. If CMT put all these videos into their rotation, they'd never play a new video until December. Click the song title after the artist's name to watch these six new videos listed.

* Matt Natheson (with Sugarland and Little Big Town)- "Room At The End Of The World"
* Justin Townes Earle- " Slippin' and Slidin'"
* James Wesley- " Didn't I"
* JaneDear Girls- "Shotgun Girl"
* Brother Trouble- "Summer's Little Angel"
* Margaret Durante- "Maybe Tonight"

* Multiple artists including Gary Allan and Little Big Town are in Nashville this week at the 2nd Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp, a week-long residential program open to campers nationwide with developmental disabilities. The camp has a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities and providing music enrichment through performance and education. With the camper's help, Allan wrote a song called "Harmony" along with songwriters Brett James and Odie Blackmon. He'll be performing the song with Darius Rucker this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry. Catch a cool little video of Allan at the camp and a snippet of the song in the video embedded down a little bit on this article HERE.

* Frequent Zac Brown collaborator will be releasing his first solo album on Brown's Southern Ground Artists record label. I Confess I Was A Fool will be available on all digital platforms on July 26, 2011. From the press release:

Levi Lowrey breaks out as a singer/songwriter with the release of his debut album, I Confess I Was A Fool on Southern Ground Artists, Inc. It may be tough to label, but it's bound to resonate with anyone who loves top-notch songwriting and keen musicianship. The album includes a memorable, story-telling nod to Charlie Daniels ("All American"), an upbeat country rocker ("The Problem With Freedom") and plenty of more laid-back, introspective moments, redolent of Lowrey's heroes Kris Kristofferson and Darrell Scott ("Freight Hopper" "Another Sunday Morning Hangover.") The lyrics ride the typically Southern Saturday night/Sunday morning dichotomy, with debauchery, foolishness, regret and confession in equal measure.

* In celebration of Independence Day and all the men and women who serve or have served in the military, Gloriana will release “Soldier Song,” from their forthcoming album as a free download for one week exclusively through Facebook. Today through Thursday, July 7th, fans can download “Soldier Song” by going to http://facebook.com/gloriana. The song, written by Tom and Mike Gossin and multi Grammy Award winning producer Matt Serletic, was inspired by the band’s experience during their trip overseas to perform for the troops stationed in the Middle East and Europe in November.

* Blake Shelton performed two songs on The Voice this week. Not only did he sing "Don't Drink The Water" with Brad Paisley, but he covered Tom Petty with Dia Frampton on "I Won't Back Down." You can watch that video below: