The fall bumper crop of singles has plenty of keepers…
BERING STRAIT You Make Loving Fun (Universal South)
This sounds like something Janie Fricke or Barbara Mandrell would’ve had a hit with. That’s not a compliment.
BIG & RICH Comin’ To Your City (Warner Bros.)
The boys recount their recent tour, city by city. As should be expected, it’s incredibly entertaining, and a promising preview of their second album.
BRAD PAISLEY with DOLLY PARTON When I Get Where I’m Goin’ (Arista)
See, Patty Loveless and Wynonna have both recorded “When I Reach The Place I’m Goin'”, a much better song with the same basic premise, and obviously by better singers. Dolly helps this across the finish line, but I stand by my opinion that Paisley is essentially Bob Saget in a cowboy hat.
BROOKS & DUNN Believe (Arista)
Nice. I could imagine John Anderson knocking this one out of the park. Ronnie Dunn comes close.
CAROLINA RAIN Let’s Get It On (Equity)
Full disclosure: When I took a Music Business class in college, this act was signed by one of the groups, and I was pissed that their act was much better than the guy my group got stuck with. Anyway, they sound great with real production behind them. Thankfully, this is not a cover of the Marvin Gaye classic.
CLINT BLACK Code of the West (Equity)
He’s still in fine voice, but he really needs better material.
COLLIN RAYE I Know That’s Right (Aspirion)
His voice sounds shot. The song is mediocre.
DIXIE CHICKS I Hope (Columbia)
These ladies are without peer in contemporary country music. This is among the best things they’ve ever recorded,.
DOUG STONE Everything (Lofton Creek)
This sounds like it was recorded in a jail cell.
ERIKA JO I’m Not Lisa (Universal South)
I’ve always hated this song. She covers it competently, but it’s still a grating and whiny ballad.
GARTH BROOKS Good Ride Cowboy (Lyric Street)
You can tell it’s a Garth song before he even starts singing. A respectable tribute to the late Chris Ledoux.
GEORGE STRAIT She Let Herself Go (MCA)
Not one of his best.
GRETCHEN WILSON I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today (Epic)
A decent, sparse ballad.
HOT APPLE PIE We’re Making Up (DreamWorks)
What the hell is this?
MIRANDA LAMBERT Kerosene (Epic)
This is the first single she’s released that I actually like. Very catchy.
SUGARLAND Just Might (Make Me Believe) (Mercury)
It’s a pleasant mid-tempo song. It’s not the career record that “Down In Mississippi” or “Stand Back Up” could be, but it should keep their hot streak going.
VAN ZANT Nobody Gonna Tell Me What To Do (Columbia)
I like these guys. They’re a great Southern Rock addition to the genre.
WYNONNA Attitude (Asylum)
I’m all for anything that she can rip into.
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