Country Universe – A Country Music Blog

Paul McCartney

Saturday, June 30th, 2007

I can’t think of another living musician with a greater entitlement to arrogance than Paul McCartney, and he is still remarkably humble.     This should be a lesson to all musicians in all genres.

Awesome Album Art: Loretta Lynn

Saturday, June 30th, 2007

Loretta Lynn, Your Squaw is on the Warpath (1969)

Josh Turner, “Firecracker”

Saturday, June 30th, 2007

Josh Turner, “Firecracker”

This is one of those songs that could easily be dismissed as a ditty, a simple little love song that stretches its titular metaphor until it almost breaks.    What elevates it far above mediocrity is the infectious, flawless vocal performance from Josh Turner, who is emerging as the best pure country vocalist of his generation.   I’d go as far as to call him a male Patty Loveless because of his ability to create a performance that is traditional without sounding derivative or dated.

His confidence as a singer is growing; check out the deep growl that prefaces the first verse.    How wonderful that a man who seemed like a one-hit wonder at first is turning into his generation’s standard-bearer for traditional country music.

Grade:  A-

Listen: Firecracker

Awesome Album Art: Johnny Cash

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Johnny Cash, Johnny 99 (1983)

Brad Paisley, “Online”

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

Brad Paisley, “Online”

Why did so many of us in school look the other way when the cool kids were picking on the outcasts? Why did so many of us laugh along with them? For most of those who went along with it, and feel bad thinking about it today, the answer is simple: You laughed so you would fit in, and more importantly, so that they wouldn’t start laughing at you.

But what to make of the leader who does the bullying, the teasing, the mocking? What happens to him when he leaves the schoolyard days behind? Maybe he goes to college, where he’s praised for his musical talents and easily signs a record deal after graduation. His first album goes platinum, and the awards start rolling in. He’s called the great new traditionalist, he’s a hit songwriter, starts selling out shows. He marries a beautiful woman – a Hollywood actress, no less! Every blessing, every beautiful gift God has given to him. And now, he wants to use those gifts to make us laugh.

So what’s funny to him, the big star who has it all? Apparently, a guy his age who doesn’t. Someone who didn’t have his talents encouraged and praised. Maybe he isn’t talented at all. He works in a pizza parlor. He lives at home with his parents. He’s short. Fat. So hopelessly unattractive that he hasn’t gotten to second base. He likes science fiction instead of bass fishing. He has asthma. His only friends are online, and even they wouldn’t like him if they knew what he was really like.

Are you laughing yet? Does the cool kid have you pointing your finger at the loser who’s way too different to be anything but a source of derision?

A singer can be just as cruel with his lyrics as a football jock can be with his fists. For the young Brad Paisley fan that fits the description in this song, his hero’s laughter is going to hurt a hell of a lot. But we don’t have to laugh along with him, because what Brad is doing here isn’t comedy.

It’s sport.

Grade: F

Listen: Online

Buy: Online

Different Perspectives: Toby Keith and Conway Twitty

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

Toby Keith:

But he still feels that he hasn’t been given the respect he deserves on Music Row, especially by Country Music Association awards voters. He’s been nominated 27 times but has taken home only two awards: top male vocalist in 2001 and top music video in 2005.

“The very same two years I swept through the ACMs and had entertainer of the year twice, I was sitting on the front of the CMAs getting zero,” he said.

He said he doesn’t know why. “You tell me,” he said. Is it because he’s not liked? “I don’t care; it never mattered.

“The hardest people to answer to was your fans,” he said. “It just makes you question the integrity of a system where the person who has the biggest year and is most nominated and has outperformed and been the No. 1 ticket seller, which I was in that time, to walk out 0 for 16.”

Because of these experiences, Keith said, he won’t attend any future CMA awards shows.

(H/T: The 9513 )

Conway Twitty:

And though his pairing with Loretta Lynn was one of the most celebrated duets in history, he never complained that the Country Music Association never recognized him with an award for his accomplishments as a solo artist. “Each one of my fans is enough of an award for me,” he’d say.

Toby Keith:

AP: You do a lot of shows for the troops overseas. Have you ever had any close calls?

Keith: I set the standard for other artists to go there. I want the troops coming home and talking about where they saw me and they can’t believe I was there. Maybe other acts will be inspired to do it, but I don’t want to scare them off either.

Conway Twitty:

In the early rock days when he was barely clearing enough money to cover expenses, Twitty was approached at a truck stop by a man asking for $20 so he and his pregnant wife could buy enough gas to return home. Twitty gave the man $200. Years later, Twitty and his children were dining at a restaurant in Oklahoma City when a man asked to speak to the star. Twitty’s children watched their father talking quietly with the man, and saw him grow misty eyed as the man handed their father an envelope.

Despite Twitty’s insistence that the money was a gift, the man from the truck stop was determined to repay him. Charitable endeavors were something rarely discussed. “If you have to talk about it, it’s not from the heart,” Twitty would say.

Bon Jovi, Lost Highway

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

Bon Jovi
Lost Highway

Bon Jovi has made a country album. Sort of. They’ve been backpedaling the notion that this is actually a country record in recent press, after teasing that they’d switched genres for more than a year. They even went so far as to speak at this year’s Country Radio Seminar. They’re doing the right thing by backpedaling, though. Not only does very little of this album resemble even the most pop/rock-flavored country, the overwhelming mediocrity of the material violates the most important cardinal rule of country music: it’s the song, not the singer, that matters.

(more…)

Entertainment Weekly Loves Porter Wagoner, Hillary Lindsey

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

Entertainment Weekly has posted the music segment of their annual EW 100 Must List, showcasing the artists and entertainers that they are digging the most this year.   Two country-related artists made the cut: songwriting powerhouse Hillary Lindsey and Hall of Fame member Porter Wagoner.

Here’s why they picked Hillary…

WHY HER She’s one of Nashville’s hottest behind-the-scenes commodities, co-writing Carrie Underwood’s monster hits ”Jesus Take the Wheel” and ”Wasted,” plus some of the better recent album cuts from Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, and Bon Jovi.

…and why they picked Porter.

WHY HIM Dolly Parton’s original mentor and duet partner just celebrated his 50th year as a Grand Ole Opry regular. And thanks to his latest CD, Wagonmaster, he’s found a new fan base: indie rockers.

Hillary Lindsey may be best known for the Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride hits, but I have a special affection for some of her lesser-known cuts:  “Three Mississippi” (Terri Clark), “Backseat of a Greyhound Bus” (Sara Evans) and “Where I Belong” (Rachel Proctor).

As for Porter, my notoriously slow pace of reviewing albums has delayed an official write-up, but I’m a huge fan of Wagonmaster, another great example of a country music legend getting their groove back by returning to what made them great, rather than trying to fit in with the current scene.   Now if somebody would just get Jeannie C. Riley back in the studio, I’d be a happy man.

Awesome Album Art: Nicolette Larson

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

Nicolette Larson, All Dressed Up and No Place to Go (1982)

Porter Wagoner, “Committed to Parkview”

Monday, June 25th, 2007

Porter Wagoner, “Committed to Parkview”

While Amy Winehouse sings about not going to rehab, country legend Porter Wagoner does a sympathetic roll call inside the walls of the Parkview mental hospital.  Recorded by the Highwaymen back in the mid-80′s, Wagoner’s take is now the definitive version.  Sparsely produced and haggardly sung, Wagoner’s inside take on daily life among the committed is haunting because of his unaffected performance.   It’s unlike anything else you’re likely to hear this century, and is essential listening.

Grade: A

Listen: Committed to Parkview

Buy: Committed to Parkview