Willie Nelson – Page 13 – Country Universe

The Best Albums of 2015, Part One: #20-#11

December 27, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 4

The lower half of our Best Albums of 2015 list includes the welcome return of an eighties lady, a return to country from a legendary Eagle, and no less than five Country Music Hall of Famers.

Sunday Selections: November 29, 2015

November 29, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 3

Despite the fact that it’s the year’s biggest shopping weekend, this week offers a fairly paltry slate of new releases to get excited about. Fortunately, there are still plenty of newsworthy items to discuss

CMA Awards 2015 – Staff Picks & Predictions

November 1, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 14

The 49th Annual Country Music Association Awards will be handed out on Wednesday, November 4. Once again, the ceremony is hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

Here are the personal picks and predictions from the Country Universe staff.

Album Review: Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard, Django and Jimmie

September 28, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 3

Django and Jimmie derives its title from the names of two of the biggest influences of Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard – Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers.

2015 CMA Nominations

September 9, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 21

Throughout 2015, there have been rumblings of a backlash against the prevailing trends at country radio, and that backlash is certainly reflected in the year’s crop of CMA nominees.

Single Review: Kacey Musgraves, “Dime Store Cowgirl”

August 10, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 10

“Dime Store Cowgirl” Kacey Musgraves Written by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves Despite a slew of industry awards and sales figures that dwarf those of male artists who receive ten times the airplay,

Daily Top Five: Country Reissue Wish List

July 15, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 15

There are so many new concepts going on in country music reissues. Two disc deluxe editions of classic albums. Box sets of an entire artist’s catalog, with the CD’s in miniature LP replica sleeves. Digital

Daily Double Top Five: Most Played Tracks

July 7, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 14

Back in the day, we used to do iPod checks. Seemed so current at the time! Now, we’re gonna ask you to go to Spotify or your phone or whatever, and just let us know

Daily Top Five: Gender Swap

June 30, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 19

Some of the most interesting country covers are ones where the artist doing the cover is of a different gender than the artist that recorded the original. What are your five favorite “gender swap” covers?

Single Review: Alan Jackson, “Jim and Jack and Hank”

June 26, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 17

“Jim and Jack and Hank” Alan Jackson Written by Alan Jackson It’s country. It’s clever. It’s funny. It’s classic Alan Jackson, with his signature attention to details and refusal to do cutesy rhymes at the