Shane McAnally – Page 8 – Country Universe

Single Review: Toby Keith, “Drunk Americans”

October 22, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 7

“Drunk Americans” Toby Keith Written by Brandy Clark, Bob DiPiero and Shane McAnally The most successful records Toby Keith has had lately have been about drinking or about being American. It’s easy to see the

2014 CMA Nominations

September 6, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 49

This year’s CMA nominees are the best in years, with multiple nominations for Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and Brandy Clark. Country radio may still be shunning women, but their embrace by CMA voters suggests that

Single Review: Sam Hunt, “Leave the Night On”

June 30, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 14

“Leave the Night On” Sam Hunt Written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne I feel like I’ve heard this song so many times before that the artist has to work extra hard just

Single Review: Kenny Chesney, “American Kids”

June 25, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 11

If you’re going to keep revisiting the same themes, you might as well take some risks with your delivery. Kenny Chesney’s new single sounds fresher and more engaging than anything he’s done in a very

Single Review: Kacey Musgraves, “The Trailer Song”

June 24, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 6

A new Kacey Musgraves track with co-writes from Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally is not a bad way to start your day. “The Trailer Song” has been a live staple for Musgraves, and it sounds

Single Review: Thompson Square, “Testing the Water”

May 15, 2014 Ben Foster 5

There are at least three things we can always count on: death, taxes, and the inevitable swamp of summer songs that overwhelm country radio annually beginning around this time of the year.

Single Review: Kacey Musgraves, “Keep it to Yourself”

April 10, 2014 Ben Foster 10

The conflict of whether or not to reconnect with an ex-lover can be the perfect fodder for a great country song. Just ask Lee Ann Womack.

Single Review: The Band Perry, “Chainsaw”

February 27, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 3

A cool sounding record that is ultimately undermined by a juvenile delivery.

2014 Grammy Winners

January 26, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 13

This year’s Grammy winners will be posted here as they are announced.

Here are the awards, in the order of presentation:

Pre-Telecast Winners:

American Roots Song: Edie Brickell & Steve Martin, “Love Has Come For You”

Americana Album: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Old Yellow Moon

Bluegrass Album: The Del McCoury Band, The Streets of Baltimore

Folk Album: Guy Clark, My Favorite Picture of You

Country Solo Performance: Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”

Country Duo/Group Performance: The Civil Wars, “From This Valley”

Country Song: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, and Josh Osborne, “Merry Go ‘Round”

2014 Grammy Awards: Staff Picks & Predictions

January 23, 2014 Tara Seetharam 3

The Country Universe staff has picked and predicted the 2014 Grammy Awards below, strange bunch that they are. Chime in with your thoughts, and catch the show on Sunday at 7 p.m. CST.

Album of the Year

Should Win:

Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories – Kevin
Kendrick Lamar, good kid m.A.A.d. city – Jonathan
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist
Taylor Swift, Red

Will Win:

Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories – Kevin, Jonathan
Kendrick Lamar, good kid m.A.A.d. city
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist
Taylor Swift, Red

Kevin: With electronic music so mainstream now, it would be wise and timely for NARAS to acknowledge the excellent comeback of one of its pioneers, especially as the year’s best country albums (Brandy Clark, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe, etc.) and the year’s best rap album (Kanye West) didn’t score nominations in the top category.

Jonathan: Lamar and Daft Punk would both be worthy winners of an award that rarely seems to go to one. Hip-hop and R&B have notoriously struggled in the general field in recent years, so Daft Punk’s cachet with the rock contingent should give them the edge over Swift, who didn’t score the across-the-board support many were expecting from her this year. If the voters are feeling especially timid, though, watch out for “Brave” yelper Bareilles as a spoiler.