I respect Kid Rock, though he’s easy to dismiss like I did (mostly jokingly) in the review. I have no idea how “authentic” his body of work really is, since it seems as though he’s rewritten his style allegiances and even his own personal history quite a bit over the course of his career. But I can tell he has raw knowledge of country music, even if he doesn’t employ it in his bids at country radio (aside from “Picture”). Check out his Crossroads with Hank Jr. if you get a chance.

I like some of what Country Music has to offer these days (Jamey Johnson, Zac Brown, The Band Perry), but I really don’t like all these “Pop” artists coming to sing Country songs which aren’t country. It almost seems like Country music is becoming the last best hope for those who had failed careers, or careers that got shot straight to hell. Case in point, Uncle Kracker. They started playing that Follow Me song on the radio and I switch the station. Not that I don’t like the song (it’s alright, kind of forgettable), but it’s the whole “Why the hell is this song on a country music station.” Same thing with Darius Rucker, who does have a country sounding voice, but is utilizing it on bad songs and single choices. Also, and I don’t know if you guys will ever get around to reviewing it, but Aaron Lewis (lead singer of the rock band Staind, The group that did Outside) has a country song out now that doesn’t even remotely sound country. I’m getting My radio listening has gone way down because of this but it’s a trend that is probably going to continue this year.

So yeah, Natalie was probably right. Everyone got pissed at her, but like the comment, it seemed like she saw things years before everyone else. I hope country radio continues to not play the Dixie Chicks, as they are “country” and what the radio is passing off now isn’t.

My first line from my 8:54 post seems odd. The third sentence should read, “I mean it’s not terrible but only in the fact that it isn’t offensively bad.”

I think a “D,” is about the right grade but I wouldn’t have quibbled with a “C” if someone wanted to go there. At best it’s average- but that has become what permeates music right now. It’s not just a country problem. Much of the musical world is just trying to create catchy tunes that drive digital sales. Plus I think the timing of the release of this song hurts.

It hit pop/rock radio in May of last year and landed somewhere on the charts for a little while. But it worked there because it stood as a laid back summer anthem that you could listen to while on vacation with a beer in your hand. Right now, it just feels odd.

I’m not against releasing it to country radio but I’m against it being released to country radio almost 8 months after it was released to the other genres. Country music is the one genre that is still doing well sales wise and the programmers treat it like sloppy seconds. Stupid.

I blame this song on Kenny Chesney.