Archive for February, 2007
Saturday, February 17th, 2007
Kenny Rogers with Don Henley, “Calling Me”
This Grammy-nominated collaboration sounds like the very best Adult Top 40 of the mid-eighties, the type of song that Bruce Hornsby, Steve Winwood or Henley himself would’ve dominated the soft rock stations with. Beautifully nostalgic, these two legends find religion in their archived memories. If country radio wants to keep adopting rock legends, they might as well take a country one along for the ride. Good stuff.
Grade: A-
Listen Now: Calling Me
Buy Now: Calling Me
Saturday, February 17th, 2007
Little Big Town, “A Little More You”
Their last pair of singles have been weighed down by a muddy production, but “A Little More You” sounds much cleaner, and the harmonies are given a chance to really shine.
The song itself is conventional radio filler, but there’s no shame in that. It sounds good when you play it loud.
Grade: B
Listen Now: A Little More You
Buy Now: A Little More You
Saturday, February 17th, 2007
Pat Green, “Dixie Lullaby”
Memories of childhood are specific to each individual person, yet somehow the more specific they’re described in song, the more universal they feel when listening to them.
Green’s romanticizing of his own childhood culminates in a eulogy for his father that is all the more heartbreaking because of his rough delivery. I loved every second of it.
Grade: A
Listen Now: Dixie Lullaby
Buy Now: Dixie Lullaby
Saturday, February 17th, 2007
Little Texas, “Missing Years”
Starts off promising, until the chorus hits and it becomes a painfully obvious retread of Tim McGraw’s “Everywhere.” Young guy leaves small town, then we get a geographical tour of where he goes from there. You know, places that all end in “a” so the rhyming scheme is easy.
I assume there are some core members of the band from their heyday, but I don’t recognize the lead singer and quite frankly, the harmonies don’t even sound like the Little Texas sound I remember. Then again, it wasn’t that memorable a sound in the first place, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Grade: C-
Listen Now: The Missing Years
Buy Now: The Missing Years
Thursday, February 15th, 2007
How people reacted to me being a Dixie Chicks fan before March 2003:
“You listen to them? What kind of a backwoods, redneck, hillbilly, sleep with your sister, right-wing nutjob are you?”
From March 2003-present:
“You listen to them? What kind of a left-wing, tree-hugging, America-hating, liberal commie nutjob are you?”
Life has to be easier for fans of soft rock.
Anyway, the journalist who has followed them for the past year has written a fascinating recount of their Grammy night: The Chicks Have Arrived. Hilarious at some points, poignant at others, it’s wonderful to see the humanity of these three talented Texas gals, particularly Ms. Natalie Maines, who lost it backstage after winning their fifth and final Grammy.
when Natalie finally walks into the dressing room to our thunderous applause, a very dark weight evaporates from her shoulders.
Natalie is crying. Bawling, really. The kind of outpouring built up for years but that has been forever blocked by an internal wall. After giving us grateful hugs, she takes a call from her mother who further reduces her to tears. She clearly absorbs the reality of this all as each minute goes by. When asked how she feels, she shares, in the most honest manner possible, that she is “emotional, sentimental, and really happy.”
Despite months of observing her, I have never heard Natalie Maines declare that she is “really happy” until this moment. I have waited for this ever since I first met the Chicks a year ago. Her family has been waiting for it. Martie and Emily have been waiting for it. Since 2003, Natalie has undoubtedly internalized and been haunted by all the drama of the last few years. She’s needed this cry, the kind of catharsis that finally allows a human being to truly move on.
I still remember my furious anger at the backlash the Chicks received, and how unjust it was that Home, my favorite album so far this decade, got lost in the shuffle of the madness that followed. Four years later, with their Grammy wins behind them, I think it was all worth it in the end. The awards don’t mend the rift – one co-worker of mine said it was a disgrace that those Bush-bashers won anything – but it does provide a reasonable bit of closure, as close to a happy ending as I could’ve hoped for.
Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
Pam Tillis has relaunched her website, in preparation for her upcoming album, RhineStoned, which is due in stores on April 17.
From the official press release of the album:
Rhinestoned marks the first album to be released on Stellar Cat, Pam’s own imprint. With total creative control, she let her heart lead the way toward material that she could perform honestly and emotionally. “This is an A&R-free zone,” she says, smiling. “It’s a bookend to the Dad album, except it has all new songs. It’s like a bridge between the present and the past.”
How past is this particular past? “If you look at my record collection circa 1974,” Pam answers, “you’d see Emmylou, Graham Parsons, Waylon Jennings, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt, and Neil Young. Flying Burrito Brothers – hippie country I call it – that was some of the best music that ever came out of this town. Maybe it wasn’t happening on country radio at the time but it sold record and built careers. It was the vibrant scene on the fringes of country, which was very cool – just as it is today.”
You can listen to samples from the entire album here. “Someone Somewhere Tonight” is particularly haunting, and “The Hard Way” must be her most autobiographical song since “Melancholy Child”, as she directly sings about her near-fatal car accident at 17.
The whole album sounds pretty damn good so far.
Monday, February 12th, 2007
How appropriate that the Grammys did a tribute to L.A. country band The Eagles at the 49th Annual Ceremony, since country took over the ceremony at the Kodak Theatre.
For the first time in Grammy history, all four of the general categories were won by country artists, led by Dixie Chicks, who won Record, Song and Album of the Year. Carrie Underwood, who sang the Chicks hit “Sin Wagon” during country week during her Idol run, won Best New Artist.
Underwood was also a winner for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”, which was named Best Country Song. The Chicks won Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo/Group for the fifth time, and Best Country Album for the fourth time. Vince Gill picked up his astonishing ninth Best Male Country Vocal Performance trophy for “The Reason Why.”
Here’s the full list of country winners at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards:
Album of the Year: Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way
Record of the Year: Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice”
Song of the Year: “Not Ready to Make Nice” – Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson
Best New Artist: Carrie Underwood
Best Country Album: Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way
Best Female Country Vocal Performance: Carrie Underwood, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”
Best Male Country Vocal Performance: Vince Gill, “The Reason Why”
(more…)
Sunday, February 11th, 2007
11:26 They did it. Dixie Chicks, Album of the Year. I’m so damn happy!
11:24 Don Henley is here, and gave a shout out to the Chicks, hope he says their name again!
11:23 3 out of 8 for Mary J. Isn’t that exactly what happened to Mariah last year?
11:20 Is there gonna be a cool surprise presenter for Album of the Year? Was it announced and I missed it?
11:18 While I’m on the subject, Chicks had help from Chili Peppers and John Mayer on their album. They’ve got a ton of Grammys between them tonight. Think they’re gonna party together? Will Reba be invited?
11:15 Anybody totaling up how many wins Rick Rubin has so far? Gotta be at least four. He’s the new Babyface!
11: 15 Best Rock Album: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium. Will they win Album of the Year? Did they thank Kathy Mattea for giving them a video to rip off from? (C’mon, “Dani California” and “I’m On Your Side” follow the same basic concept, just different budgets.)
11:14 Holy crap, it’s Al Gore! Chicks, Madonna, Vince, Al Gore. Were these Grammys designed with me in mind or something?
11:05 Chicks are the first country act to win both Record and Song of the Year in one year. This is the first year ever that country music claims three of the big four. Can they get all four?
11:00 Record of the Year: Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice.” I just can’t believe it. 14/21.
10:56 I feel like I’ve heard all the Justin Timberlake I need to for the rest of ’07.
10:40 Tonight, the role of Valerie Cherish will be played by Mary J. Blige.
10:34 Good representation of country music in the memoriam reel.
10:07 These live blogs always seem to lead to site milestones. Country Universe just hit 50,000 total views since switching to WordPress last summer. I’m amazed!
10:02 Best New Artist: Carrie Underwood. Darn right. Kevin’s Picks: 13/20. It all comes down to the Chicks for my final two.
9:52 God, Rascal Flatts just suck. I want to say something more articulate, but they just suck suck suck suck suck.
9:50 Carrie Underwood could teach Beyonce and Blige a thing or two about emoting without overdoing it.
9:41 Best Country Album: Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way….Natalie just quoted “The Simpsons”, the Chicks are 3 for 3 and Kevin’s Picks: 12/19. For those keeping track, this matches the three Grammys the Chicks got for Home.
9:25 Best Rap Album: Ludacris, Release Therapy
9:20 Gnarls Barkley are so frickin’ cool. Oh and Kevin’s Picks: 11/18.
9:15 For those who missed it, Song of the Year: “Not Ready to Make Nice”.
9:10 Song of the Year: HOLY COW!
9:07 I like the way Shakira hides behind her hair so people can’t tell she’s lip-synching.
(more…)
Sunday, February 11th, 2007
Being a guy who writes for a music blog, I don’t get to vote for the Grammys. Even if I did, the rules would limit me to voting in only 8 categories, so the list that follows can only exist in my dreams. Even a real Grammy voter couldn’t select this many preferences, but they could certainly root for this many winners. Here are my picks in the 22 categories I care about this year:
General Categories
Record of the Year
- Mary J. Blige, “Be Without You”
- James Blunt, “You’re Beautiful”
- Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice”
- Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy”
- Corinne Bailey Rae, “Put Your Records On”
It’s my favorite single of 2006, so you shouldn’t be surprised that I’m pulling for “Not Ready to Make Nice.”
Album of the Year
- Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way
- Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere
- John Mayer, Continuum
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium
- Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds
Again, the Chicks album was my favorite of 2006, and I’d love to see them win the award that most pundits seem to think they will. I’m not so confident, but if another act gets it, it should be Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Song of the Year
- “Be Without You” – Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry
- “Jesus, Take the Wheel” – Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Gordie Sampson
- “Not Ready to Make Nice” – Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson
- “Put Your Records On” – John Beck, Steven Chrisanthou & Corinne Bailey Rae
- “You’re Beautiful” – James Blunt, Amanda Ghost & Sacha Skarbek
I enjoy all five of these songs, but the Chicks song still gives me chills almost a year after first hearing it.
Best New Artist
- James Blunt
- Chris Brown
- Imogen Heap
- Corinne Bailey Rae
- Carrie Underwood
Underwood deserves to cap off her amazing string of awards with a pair of Grammys, including Best New Artist.
Country Categories
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
- Miranda Lambert, “Kerosene”
- Martina McBride, “I Still Miss Someone”
- LeAnn Rimes, “Something’s Gotta Give”
- Carrie Underwood, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”
- Gretchen Wilson, “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today”
It’s a great song to begin with, but “Jesus, Take the Wheel” soars because of Underwood’s brilliant performance.
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
- Dierks Bentley, “Every Mile a Memory”
- Vince Gill, “The Reason Why”
- George Strait, “The Seashores of Old Mexico”
- Josh Turner, “Would You Go With Me”
- Keith Urban, “Once In A Lifetime”
Five great talents who are all worthy of Grammy love, but even though he’s won eight times before in this category, Gill should win for his stunning ballad.
(more…)
Thursday, February 8th, 2007
Toby Keith, “High Maintenance Woman”
Sure, the plotline is ripped off from the cheesy Aaron Tippin video “That’s as Close as I’ll Get to Loving You”, and it features a jaw-droppingly tacky double entendre about having all the right tools, but screw it, this is a fantastic single. Keith is producing himself for the first time, and he sounds less like a product and more like a hungry artist than he has in years.
The song is well-written and his performance is top-notch. He’s always best when he mixes confidence with a bit of humility, and he never comes close to the arrogant Toby that was such an overbearing part of his persona a few years back. More like this, please.
Grade: A-
Listen Now: High Maintenance Woman
Buy Now: High Maintenance Woman
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