As the editor of this site, I wanted to pass along to my readers my thanks for your continued support of the site if you're here reading this. Since March, we've had more regular video content and less editorial/written content not out of preference, but out of necessity as the Covid-19 outbreak has given me less time to dedicate to the site than I would normally have liked. The non-music world has pulled me away and demanded my attention. That being said, things on the day-to-day front seem to be (slowly) returning a bit back more to normal and it's my hope that we'll continue to invest in news, reviews and updates that you find of value- and most important, deliver what I hope to be new musical discoveries that you'll carry with you in your life. Thanks for the support.
~ Platinum-selling, singer-songwriter Jamie O'Neal announced that she will release her first new album since 2014 with the October 2 release of Sometimes via Orchard Records. The announcement coincides with the release of new single "Wreck Me," a "sultry country song showing the physical side of love that you can listen to HERE. The ACM Award winner shares, "‘Wreck Me’ really comes from that primal place of being in the moment one on one with someone you’re so attracted to that you’re willing to throw all caution to the wind. It’s like a fire that takes over and makes you let down your walls giving into love no matter the cost. That’s an incredibly powerful and passionate emotion to me.”
~ Warner Music Nashville recording artist Tucker Beathard is set to release the second installment of his debut double album, King, on August 21. Beathard’s new LP, driven by personal growth and unthinkable tragedy, rounds out the 20-plus song opus Beathard began with Nobody's Everything and signals that the bold breakout talent has found his voice. A tribute to the middle name of Beathard’s late brother, Clay, sees Beathard steering his own creative ship with co-producer, co-writer and lead guitar and drum credits throughout the 13-song set. “For me music has always been a way to escape,” explains Beathard. “There’s a lot of things people are dealing with internally that they don’t have voices for right now, and I’ve learned that if I write from the heart, if I sing from experience, I can be that voice. Some people can’t pinpoint what they’re feeling, but they can hear a song and be like ‘Damn, that’s it,’ and I hope I can help them get there with this record. These songs mean a lot to me and I feel really ready to share them with the world.”
~ Artists/songwriters Michael Logen and Jennifer Hanson have collaborated on and just released a new EP titled Here’s To Hoping. You can here their collaboration on the song "Travel On" HERE. “This EP was really a passion project for me and a labor of love,” Hanson said. “Everything from the writing to the production, I’m really proud of this body of work." Both Logen and Hanson are successful solo artists and songwriters and credit their songwriting as the inspiration to team up and record together. The first song they wrote together, “You’re Breaking Your Own Heart,” found its way quickly to Kelly Clarkson, who included it on her Grammy-winning album, Stronger. According to Hanson, she and Logen have always had an effortless writing chemistry and because they were also artists, they fell into a natural rhythm when writing, with Logen singing lead and Hanson creating the harmonies.“That sound and feel became a signature part of the songs we would write,” Hanson said. “Over time we had created a handful of songs that we all loved, and decided to release them as an EP. All the songs are written by either myself and Michael, or Michael, Nick Brophy and I, with Nick and I co-producing the project.”
~ Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Brent Cobb will release his new album, Keep ‘Em On They Toes, October 2 on his own label, Ol’ Buddy Records, via Thirty Tigers. Produced by Brad Cook (Waxahatchie, Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger), the album features ten new songs including the title track. The song’s official music video, which was directed by Christian Hansen, is available to view/share HERE. Keep ‘Em On They Toes was created after Cobb moved back to his home state of Georgia after several years between Nashville and Los Angeles—a decision that greatly influenced his songwriting. These ten songs find Cobb with a new reflective mindset, focusing on how he views the world and expressing his own opinions, thoughts and feelings. “To me, listening to this album feels like I’m sitting there with somebody, having a conversation,” Cobb comments. “I would hope that it feels like sitting with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while. There’s nothing like being alone and listening to an album that is quiet and conversational—like those old records by Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Miller, or Willie Nelson. I hope my music is that way to somebody now.”
~ Capitol Nashville’s Caylee Hammack is offering fans a look into her recently-announced upcoming debut record If It Wasn't For You (August 14 release), releasing her scorching new song “Redhead” that is featuring superstar Reba McEntire available to listen HERE. Co-written by Hammack with Natalie Hemby and Trent Dabbs, the song details the clothes line, tightrope and dare devil high hopes childhood of the brazen “Redhead” with an assist from fellow flame-haired vocalist Reba McEntire. “This song was inspired by an older cousin of mine with fiery red hair,” shared Hammack. “You don’t hear about redheads very much in songs, so I simply wanted to write one for her and all the redheads in my family. Then, Reba came in the studio and transformed this song. She helped me create an anthem for all redheads. Whether you get it naturally or find it in a bottle, this is for the firecrackers!”
~ Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Cassadee Pope, has released the first two tracks; "Let Me Go" and "Built This House," from her upcoming acoustic album, Rise and Shine. You can listen to "Let Me Go" HERE. "It’s a very emotional song for me because it reminds me of a time in my life where I felt like I wasn’t accepted for who I am. I have a few songs on the album that are more reflective of where I’ve been rather than where I am in my life today, and this is definitely one of them. ”Rise and Shine, releasing on August 7th, is considered to be one of Pope's most personal to date. The eight-song collection marks the first time she has had a hand in writing all of the songs and marks the first time she has served as co-producer, as well. Rise and Shine showcases her evolution both personally and as an artist.
~ Austin’s The Band of Heathens return with Stranger, their most inventive release to date, on September 25. The follow up to 2017’s critically acclaimed Duende, the band recorded this new effort in Portland OR with producer Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Modest Mouse). New track “Today is Our Last Tomorrow” is a sardonic take on the divisive nature of media. “I heard it on the news, a version of the truth, was it fact packed or fiction and fable?” begins the song, and the creative video parodies the sentiment with caricatures of world leaders, politicians and media figures. LISTEN/WATCH HERE. “This song is about our obsession, both as a culture, and within the media, with doom and gloom,” says co-founding member Ed Jurdi. “If you're watching the network news channels, it seems like the world is literally going to end once or twice a week. They're constantly fanning the flames of our divisions and shortcomings, with hardly a mention of the daily triumphs and victories.” The album title references the famed existential Albert Camus novel and Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi classic Stranger in a Strange Land, but it also touches on the “strangers” who make up the band’s loyal fan base and who continue to support the band during this period with all touring canceled. In lieu of live shows, the band has been spending four nights a week live-streaming personal private concerts to fans, and one night a week publicly live-streaming with the whole band “Zooming” in from their respective homes in California, Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee. Co-founder Gordy Quist notes, “At first it seemed very strange until these walls started coming down and we realized how connected we are by the fabric of music.”
_____________________________________________________________________
~ Singer/songwriter Joel Crouse has released a timely new track, “Survivin,’” that you can listen to HERE. Released independently by Crouse’s Hum Records, the song offers fans an early look at what to expect from his forthcoming EP, wasteLAnd, available Friday, August 7. Written and produced by Crouse along with Todd Clark almost two years ago to the day, the song carries even more weight with challenges facing society today as the brooding vocals implore: “We’re just survivin’, we’re just survivin’ / All we’re gonna do is take it day by day / Survivin’.” “When Todd and I wrote this song back in 2018, I had no idea we’d be releasing it during a global pandemic and a global civil rights movement,” shares Crouse. “The world feels especially heavy right now, but I hope these songs help people feel less alone. Every morning I remind myself, ‘all we gotta do is take it day by day.’”
~ That Nashville Sound-favorite Erin Enderlin debuted a brand new music video for her Nitty Gritty Dirt Band cover of "Fishin' in the Dark." “It’s always brought a smile to my face, always been one of my go to feel-good songs. I think we could all use a little more of that right now,” says Enderlin, an Arkansas native who now lives in Nashville. “It’s even more special to me because Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played guitar on the track.”
~ Grammy-nominated songstress Cam has officially announced the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album The Otherside, out October 30 via Triple Tigers/RCA Records. The album was written over the last three years in LA, Nashville, and NYC with collaborators Tyler Johnson (Harry Styles, Sam Smith) and Grammy winner Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Bruno Mars), who she calls her fellow “tinkerers.” The album announcement also ties into the news that she is releasing a new single titled “Classic,” which you can listen to HERE. The new single was co-written and produced with Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent, The Chicks). “Jack and I caught something in the air that day and ran with it,” Cam says. “The track is so much fun. Jangling guitars, claps, it feels like when a group of familiar people get back together over the holidays, clanking around after dinner with too much wine, and amidst the chatter and laughter and closeness they are really telling each other, deep down, just how much they love each other.”
~ 'Whisperin' Bill Anderson, the sole songwriter in history to write and chart country songs in seven consecutive decades, whose storied career includes membership into country music's most prestigious institutions, will release his 73rd album, The Hits Re-Imagined, July 24. The album includes 10 of the Country Music Hall of Famer's most iconic songs he's written and recorded himself, as well as songs of his made famous by George Strait, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney and more. For The Hits Re-Imagined, Anderson explains he wanted "to go to both ends of the spectrum," including on the project some of his earliest hits like "City Lights" and "Po' Folks" as well as his more contemporary cuts such as "Whiskey Lullaby." The project was co-produced by Anderson with Thomm Jutz. You can here his take on his song that Strait took to "Song of the Year" with "Give it Away" HERE.
~ Parrotheads far and wide will be excited to know Jimmy Buffett has just released the new music video for "Down At The Lah De Dah" from his latest album release: Life On The Flip Side. Recorded in January at Buffett's Shrimp Boat Studio in Key West, Florida, the album was produced by long-time Coral Reefers Michael Utley and Mac McAnally. Buffett assembled his Coral Reefer Band with frequent collaborator Will Kimbrough, Irish singer Paul Brady, along with guest performers Lukas Nelson and Enrique Muricano. The album contains a 64-page insert, which reads like a journal with the looks of a photo album and contains a message from Buffett about releasing an album during a pandemic, “Hopefully, the songs we wrote and recorded will also help folks deal with the fallout… There will be a time and a place when we emerge from these troubled waters and things will change for the better.” The new music video for "Down At The Lah De Dah" features Buffett and the rest of the Coral Reefer Band performing their parts to the song at their homes while in quarantine along with shots of Buffett surfing and spending time at his beach home in Key West and you can watch it HERE.
~ Superstar vocal group Rascal Flatts will be releasing new music, with their forthcoming How They Remember You EP dropping July 31 via Big Machine Records. A seven-track project, Rascal Flatts’ EP will include six unreleased tracks as well as their recently-released heartfelt rendition of Kenny Rogers’ “Through The Years.” The trio co-produced the tracks throughout the collection. The EP also boasts a notable calibre of songwriters with tracks co-written by Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Josh Osborne, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley and more. “We are so excited about our new EP and single, ‘How They Remember You,’” shared Gary LeVox. “It’s a song about what kind of impact and legacy you want to leave in life. It’s a fantastic song to celebrate 20 years of making music together. It’s an incredible message with a melody to match and we hope the fans love it, and that whatever legacy we all leave behind, it’s beautifully impactful.”
~ Acclaimed singer, songwriter, musician and Sirius/XM DJ Elizabeth Cook will release her anticipated new album, Aftermath, September 11 on Agent Love Records/Thirty Tigers. In advance of the release, the album’s lead single, “Perfect Girls of Pop,” is debuting today. Watch/share the official music video—directed by Curtis Wayne Milliard—HERE. Produced by Butch Walker (Green Day, Weezer, Taylor Swift), Aftermath is an album about survival and resilience. The twelve songs – all written by Cook – address life’s most fundamental and difficult subjects including heartbreak, addiction, death and resurrection. Created following a period of significant loss and pain, Aftermath chronicles Cook’s journey through a personal hell and how she made her way back. Of the album, Cook reflects, “This is the first time that I’ve been completely unchained, really. I wasn’t in an oppressive relationship, I wasn’t trying to meet some sort of label’s expectation, I wasn’t trying to meet some sort of market expectations. And that’s the way I wanna do it, or not at all.
