Sunday Selections: July 24, 2016
If you need us, we’ll be where our reputations don’t precede us.
John Prine
Sunday Selections: May 15, 2016
Rhiannon Giddens goes Broadway, Kris Kristofferson gets boxed, and Beyoncé survives being Dixie Chicked, all in this week’s Sunday Selections!
Album Review: Buddy Miller & Friends, Cayamo Sessions at Sea
With a steady job as executive music producer for ABC-TV’s Nashville, as well as a hectic schedule in his own studio, Buddy Miller does not often release a new album. When he finally does, it’s bound to be excellent. Buddy Miller & Friends: Cayamo Sessions at Sea features Miller supporting some of Americana’s top artists. It demonstrates not only his sublime artistry, but his talent of nudging great singers into even greater performances.
Sunday Selections: January 17, 2016
It’s a super-sized Sunday Selections for this week!
Daily Top Five: Favorite Quirky Love Songs
A tender love ballad is always nice, but it’s sometimes those weird love songs that make you laugh or even creep you out a little […]
Favorite Songs by Favorite Artists: Miranda Lambert
It would be futile of us to ignore the recent sad news of Miranda Lambert’s and Blake Shelton’s divorce announcement, since it is a reality. […]
Daily Top Five: Kentucky Country
This week in 1792, Kentucky became the fifteenth state to join the union. It’s also the state that two Country Universe writers – Jonathan Keefe and […]
Song Talk: Papa Don’t Preach!
It’s fun to think of our favorite endearing songs about dads. We’ve even done it here at Country Universe a time or two. But let’s […]
Country Universe’s Best Singles of 2013, Part Two: #20-#1
If this year’s singles list leaves you with a familiar feeling, it’s not your imagination. For the first time in Country Universe history, an artist has topped the year end list for two years in a row, and there are plenty of repeat appearances from CU favorites. But there are some fresh faces too, including some promising new singer-songwriters and inspired collaborations from artists we already liked an awful lot by themselves.
As always, share your thoughts and personal favorites in the comments!
#20
“Hangin’ Up My Heart”
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Individual rankings: #3 – Leeann; #20 – Kevin
What a way for Emmylou and Rodney to kick off their much anticipated duet project! The bouncy tune shows the power duo in fine form both in voice and spunk and signals what will turn out to be one of the finest albums of the year. – Leeann Ward
Six Pack: Iris DeMent
Even long-time readers of Country Universe could be forgiven for getting to #2 on our Top Country Albums of 2012 list and wondering, “Who on earth is Iris DeMent?”
Iris DeMent came out of nowhere in 1992 with a stunning debut album, Infamous Angel, that received rapturous critical acclaim. The general consensus was that it heralded the arrival of a new singer-songwriter for the ages.
Two years later, My Life only strengthened that sentiment, and DeMent was widely seen as a critical voice in what would eventually become known as the Americana music genre.