May 2007 – Page 2 – Country Universe

Reba McEntire featuring Kelly Clarkson, “Because of You”

May 19, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 17

Reba McEntire featuring Kelly Clarkson, “Because of You” “Because of You” is one of my favorite pop songs of the past few years, a dark and powerful ballad of family dysfunction. I was nervous when

Daryle Singletary, Straight From the Heart

May 19, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Daryle Singletary Straight From the Heart Album Review by Paul W. Dennis Daryle Singletary never managed to become a megastar, mostly because he has too much soul and integrity for today’s Nashville. Simply put, Daryl

Tim McGraw, “If You’re Reading This”

May 17, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 74

Tim McGraw. “If You’re Reading This.” As performed on the 2007 ACM Awards. Press Play. Then Play Again. Update: Now that it’s been released officially as a single, let me add a few words and

Faith Hill, "Lost"

May 17, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 13

Faith Hill, “Lost” Hill taps into her skills as a pop singer once again, wrapping her smoky vocals around a sultry decla ration of passion. The conceit of the lyric is novel, and she conveys

Dierks Bentley, “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)

May 17, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

Dierks Bentley, “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” Bentley continues with his string of compelling road songs. While previous single “Long Trip Alone” was laced with melancholy, even as it asked for a

Collin Raye, “A Soldier’s Prayer”

May 17, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 24

Collin Raye, “A Soldier’s Prayer” Wow, talk about bad timing. Tim McGraw debuts “If You’re Reading This”, the most powerful soldier song I’ve ever heard, on the ACM’s and brings down the house. Then poor

ACM Burning Questions, Answered

May 16, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

Before I started the live blog of last night’s ACM Awards, I listed a few burning questions. Here are the answers: Will Carrie Underwood pull a Dixie Chicks and go five for five tonight? I

ACM Awards: 2007 Live Blog

May 15, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 12

ACM Winner Miranda Lambert (above) ACM LIVE BLOG 10:59: Just FYI: Carrie won Video, so she went 3/5. “Building Bridges” by B&D, Vince and Sheryl Crow won Collaboration. 10:57 Entertainer: Kenny Chesney, three in

ACM Awards 2007: Picks & Predictions

May 12, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 10

There are three major country awards given by the music industry, and each particular show reflects the preferences of a different section of it. The CMA Awards, given every fall, are the Music Row awards,

LeAnn Rimes, "Nothin' Better to Do"

May 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

LeAnn Rimes, “Nothin’ Better to Do” She hasn’t done anything quite like this before, a muddy water twang-fest that has her sounding like a mature woman who has seen some hard times, but still has