Archive for February, 2008
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
Dolly Parton is a pro. Not only is her voice as strong as ever, at the age of 62, she can still expertly keep up with the modern sound of country music. While “Better Get To Livin’”, the lead single from her upcoming album Backwoods Barbie, was very good, this one is even better.
While this song was not written by her, it might as well have been. In this song, Dolly acknowledges that something more than “dumb luck” is responsible for her success. She sings, “Every time I get too high up on my horse, I fall.” She admits that there are times when she acts as though her success is all her own doing, but then something reminds her that it’s Jesus who “lifts her up” and Gravity that “holds her down.”
In less capable hands, this song could be trite, however, Dolly’s strength and humility penetrate quite sincerely and she delivers a powerful performance that is worthy of a church revival. In addition, Dolly, once again, proves that she can hold her own as the front woman of a gospel choir.
Written by Betsy Ulmer & Craig Wiseman
Grade: A
Listen: Jesus & Gravity
Buy: Jesus & Gravity
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
In CMT’s recent Nashville Skyline column, Chet Flippo said it best when he wrote: “In some ways, Jackson has become the Ernest Hemingway of country music. In writing, that is. Not necessarily in lifestyle. At Hemingway’s best, he told stories very simply, getting directly to the point. He knew his subject inside out, whether it was bullfighting or deep-sea fishing and could brilliantly tell a vivid story about it in as few words as needed. Similarly, Jackson, has staked out his turf and can write and sing about it in a simple and direct style.”
In great anticipation of Alan Jackson’s forthcoming album called Good Time”, set for a March 4 release, I will be counting down 25 of my favorite Jackson songs. With this list, I am sure that we will discover Flippo’s Hemingway analogy to be quite accurate. Hopefully, his new album will leave me wishing that I could update this list.
#25
“I’ll Go On Loving You”
High Mileage (1998)
Whew! Many times, talking songs don’t quite work for me, but this one certainly does. It’s raw and hot! Jackson is able to use his deep speaking voice to make us forget that he hardly sings.
#24
“It’s All About Him”
It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life (2007) – Denise Jackson book
This is one of two songs recorded for his wife’s book, “It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life.” The title was kind of clever because it made the average tabloid reader think it was referring directly to Alan. In reality, the title refers to a Greater Power. Inspired by the book’s title and premise, this is not another love song for his wife, but a song that focuses on God, the One who is credited for saving their once faltering relationship.
#23
“Let It Be Christmas”
Let It Be Christmas (2002)
This is the first of two Christmas songs on this countdown. It’s simple, but captures the spirit of Christmas. In all actuality, the words may be somewhat cheesy, but it sounds like a classic coming from Jackson. It’s one of the few times that a children’s choir works.
#22
“Rainy Day In June”
What I Do (2004)
This song captures the essence of loneliness very well. It uses the gloominess of a rainy day in June to paint the picture of the singer’s feeling of loneliness since his significant other has left him. “The sky is grey and {he} is blue and Jackson’s performance compliments this sad proclamation.
#21
“It Must Be Love”
Under the Influence (1999)
Alan Jackson proves his ability to interpret a song. This already good Don Williams song is expertly covered by Jackson on this album of cover songs. While he doesn’t necessarily reinvent the sound, he updates it so that it would reemerge as a hit with his own signature sound.
(more…)
Thursday, February 21st, 2008
I guess MCA realizes this song is so good, they need to send it to radio, even if they don’t have the green light from BMG to push the Kenny Chesney duet that’s on the actual album. You can listen to the new version with Skip Ewing below, but the purchase link will be for the Kenny Chesney version. And let’s be honest. That’s the version radio’s going to play anyway.
The song drips with vulnerability and hurt, as the two dueling inner monologues of divorced parents each confess they’d be happier if they were together again. Songs with that emotional element are Reba’s sweet spot. Hearing her performance is a reminder that more than thirty years into her career, she’s still one of the best damn singers around. Ewing pales in comparison, but Chesney steps up his game in the original version. This is the first great single from Duets, even if it’s been altered for radio.
Grade: A (Reba McEntire & Kenny Chesney); B (Reba McEntire & Skip Ewing)
Listen: Every Other Weekend (Reba McEntire & Skip Ewing)
Buy: Every Other Weekend (Reba McEntire & Kenny Chesney)
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008
With her long overdue induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame finally coming to pass, it seems the perfect time to take a look at my favorite Emmylou Harris songs.I’ll admit, I wasn’t an instant fan. Her voice is an acquired taste, but once I was hooked, it proved infectious. It doesn’t hurt that she has an exceptional gift for selecting good material, and in recent years, she’s proven herself capable of writing some great songs herself.
When choosing the songs for this list, I had to whittle down the 356 songs of hers on my iPod to a mere 25. I don’t make the claim that these are Emmylou’s best songs by any objective standard. I’m not sure such a standard even exists. But these are my favorite songs, and since she’s one of my favorite artists, I’d call it a good fit for this feature, don’t you think?
#25
“Luxury Liner”
Luxury Liner (1977)
Emmylou’s not exactly known for her up-tempo romps, but the title track from her fourth album is a raucous one. “You think I’m lonesome?” she growls. “So do I, so do I.” She sings the hell out of it, but the song’s main reason for existence is letting the band cut loose, resulting in one of the best instrumental showcases of her catalog.
#24
“Do I Ever Cross Your Mind”
Trio II (1999)
Fans of Dolly Parton have often viewed “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” as one of her biggest lost opportunities, a classic country song weighed down by a horribly tacky early eighties pop production. The brilliance of the song is still there, buried under the surface, but it finally gets to shine brightly with Emmylou singing the lead vocal on the second Trio project. Dolly provides a sweet harmony vocal that elevates the final third of the song.
(more…)
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
Rascal Flatts releases their fourth mid tempo song in a row, which would normally result in the death of a radio career. Not so for this seemingly unstoppable trio who gets country radio airplay, no matter what easy listening fluff they release.
Their latest single, “Every Day”, continues to do nothing to justify their meteoric success. Lyrics such as “Sometimes the place I go is so deep and dark and desperate”, “You save my life” and “I’m alright for one more night” is an indication of a man who seems to be hanging onto his life by a thread. It sounds like this poor woman really should have “bowed out gracefully” when she had a chance.
Not only are the lyrics overwrought with contrived intensity that simply forces the listener to viscerally cringe, the song as a whole has its own issues. Gary Levox’s voice is piercingly pitchy, the melody is bland and the production sounds like an eighties monster ballad complete with an absolutely atrocious electric guitar solo.
The only way this song could be any worse is if we had to endure a live recording of it!
Written by Jeffrey Steele & Alissa Moreno
Grade: D
Listen: Every Day
Buy: Every Day
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
With the follow up single to his thought provoking “Letter To Me”, Brad Paisley returns to the jocularity of another novelty song that has become his signature vantage point. It perpetuates the sentiment that while a woman can work to polish a man, deep down, he’s still a shallow guy who lacks any sense of culture. While it is meant in the spirit of fun, it typecasts men as hopeless rednecks. I predict that many men will object to such a narrow stamp being placed upon them. Then again, I am sure that many other men (and women) can relate to the playfulness of the song. I’m also amused that he would sing this song, since I suspect that Brad may be a bit too preppy to actually do half of the things that he claims is the natural makeup of “a guy.”
Being a fan of Brad Paisley, I am admittedly surprised that this is the song that was chosen to be his next radio release. While “I’m Still A Guy” would be a perfect song to create energy in a live show, it lacks the strength to be a viable radio single. Instead, it sounds more like a ditty rather than a substantive song.
Written by Brad Paisley, Kelley Lovelace & Lee Thomas Miller
Grade: B-
Listen: I’m Still a Guy
Buy: I’m Still a Guy
Monday, February 18th, 2008
Newcomer Michael Dean Church may have a hit on his hands. “Why Can’t You Forgive Me” is an up-tempo song that is full of pop culture references that will surely draw in its listeners on account of nostalgic recollections of past controversial news making events. While this song lacks in lyrical depth and Church’s vocal hype is not exactly realized here, the song is refreshingly fun.
In an attempt to convince his significant other to forgive him for an unknown transgression, the singer trots out a list of people in pop culture history who have supposedly been forgiven by society over time to plead his case for the same forgiveness. The song even references some country music events. Hopefully, he hasn’t done anything too serious to warrant this lack of forgiveness. Otherwise, his argument could be perceived as being dismissive of the fact that he had done something wrong in the first place.
Written by Jeb Stuart Anderson & Steve Dukes
Grade: B
Listen: Why Can’t You Forgive Me
Monday, February 18th, 2008
LeAnn Rimes, the youngest veteran in recent country music history, takes a stab at writing herself a girl power anthem and acquits herself nicely. Rimes is simply a better singer now that she’s singing her own material, and she sounds fully confident and in control, hitting some good notes without showboating. I could do without the girl group doo-wopping in the background, but other than that, good stuff.
Written by Darrell Brown, Blair Daly & LeAnn Rimes
Grade: B+
Listen: Good Friend and a Glass of Wine
Buy: Good Friend and a Glass of Wine
Monday, February 18th, 2008
As Hanson reminisces about her childhood while looking through pictures, she stops to wonder how her life would have been different if her parents hadn’t gotten divorced, and had stayed in love instead. The song doesn’t really take a position whether things would’ve been better or worse, though the sweet reference to her baby half-brother indicates that she might things worked out the way they were supposed to, even as she wonders what might have been.
Written by Jennifer Hanson, Michael Heeney & A.J. Masters
Grade: B
Listen: 73
Buy: 73
Monday, February 18th, 2008
Dripping with bitterness and resignation, Jo Dee Messina’s new single “I’m Done” captures the anger and frustration that comes with being the back-up girl. Messina is the modern queen of the kiss-off song, and she’s wrote herself a beauty here. Righteous indignation never sounded so good.
Written by Jerry Flowers, Jo Dee Messina & Monty Powell
Grade: A-
Listen: I’m Done
Buy: I’m Done
on 
on 
on 
on 
on