Comments on: Discussion: Five-Star Albums

By: Vicki

Vicki — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:35:02 +0000

Jamey Johnsons “That Lonesome Song”, Darius Ruckers is good: 4.50. I like John Michael Montgomery’s too 4.5. Ok..and I loved Carrie Underwoods..but more like a 4.75

By: CF

CF — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:48:37 +0000

Like many others, definitely Sleepless Nights. Well, maybe that one is 4.5 for me lol. Womack's Call Me Crazy is 4.75 for me. Ashton Shepherd's album was about a 4.25 for me. So, no real 5.0s. I'm picky!

By: Steve from Boston

Steve from Boston — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:43:11 +0000

Blake,

My cousin asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I told her “Coal”…I couldn’t resist, lol…but I didn’t wait for her to take the bait..(and she didn’t ask me if I had been bad..) I was merciful and explained fairly quickly that “Coal” was a great album by Kathy Mattea.

Now, I’m not sure I can wait till Christmas to hear it, lol.

And you’re right about Kevin’s review..it was excellent!

By: jim

jim — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:08:31 +0000

Chris Knight, heart of stone. hands down.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:11:59 +0000

I’ve heard exactly 70 full albums that fall somewhere under a big tent view of “country” this year, and another 30 – 40 partial albums. That’s certainly a good long ways off from having heard everything that I should’ve heard or wanted to hear, but it makes for a pretty respectable sample of what’s been going on in and around the genre this year.

But I haven’t given a 5-star rating to any of those 70-plus country albums this year. Loveless’ Sleepless Nights and Mattea’s Coal are at the top of the heap with 4.5 stars, followed by a whole slew of 4-star efforts (including that terrific Chambers & Nicholson record) that promise to make it difficult to compile a final Top 10 list for the year. If there hasn’t been a ton of truly great or timeless country music this year, I’d still say that there’s been no shortage of very good music that’s worth seeking out and that really enriches the genre. Put another way: If there hasn’t been a country record that just made my jaw drop and that truly redefined the way I viewed a particular artist or challenged my perceptions of what artists can do within the country genre, there have probably been more country albums this year that I simply like a whole lot than in the past couple of years.

All that said: I hate star ratings and would love to do away with them altogether, but my editor disagrees.

By: Carson

Carson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:40:56 +0000

I think albums that I LOVE every song on, therefore think are good albums are:

Sugarland- Love on the Inside
Lady Antebellum – Lady Antebellum

~~~
However being a HUGE HUGE HUGE Swiftler fan, my faves are “Fearless” and “Kellie Pickler”, but I’m of course biased.

By: Chris D.

Chris D. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:55:53 +0000

Is that Patty on there? No wonder that track sounds amazing! That’s like when I found out that Brad Paisley was playing the guitar on Sugarland’s “Mean Girls”.

By: Blake Boldt

Blake Boldt — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:34:13 +0000

Patty can be heard on Coal’s “Blue Diamond Mines.”

Jamey Johnson recalls the traditional country sound of the ’70s while also utilizing the clarity that modern studio technology allows. Plenty of humor and heartache, drinking and depression, and ultimately perseverance.

By: Steve from Boston

Steve from Boston — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:23:03 +0000

Blake, I agree, I love Mountain Soul a little more than Sleepless Nights as well, and would also give that my ***** masterpiece rating! I see the two albums as two sides of the same classic coin.

I’ll check out Kevin’s review of Coal, I hear that Patty contributes some harmony vocals to that album as well.

And do I understand correctly that Jamey Johnson’s music has a Traditional flavor?

Thanks to all for the great leads!

-Steve

By: Trailer

Trailer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:05:25 +0000

Even though 2008 has been a great music year for me, I can’t say any release has been worthy of 5 stars. I’d give Jamey Johnson and the Kasey/Shane records 4 stars each. 5, to me, is a classic… a desert island disc. There have been a ton of 3+ and 4+ releases this year, so I consider it a winning year for my ears, no classics though. (but I have yet to hear Chinese Democracy ;))