August 2008 – Page 6 – Country Universe

Tuesday Discussion: CMA New Artist, 2008

August 19, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 26

Where to begin with this category? The CMA has been working double-time to strip itself of all things distinctive. After moving the Musician award to pre-telecast and bumping the Hall of Fame inductions completely, they

George Jones, Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets

August 19, 2008 Leeann Ward 6

George Jones Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets As the title states, Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets is a compilation of duets that have not been released until now. The tracks span

Sound Off: Alex Woodard featuring Sara Watkins, “Reno”

August 19, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 5

Today we’re featuring Alex Woodard, as this is the release date of his new album, Alex Woodard. The song for download, “Reno”, features Sara Watkins, who is most known for her work in Nickel Creek.

Monday Open Thread: Better Than the Original

August 18, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 58

At lunch today, a friend of mine mentioned that she doesn’t care for Fleetwood Mac, but loves the way the Dixie Chicks do “Landslide.” “Better than the original,” she said. To which I thought, “Yes!

Say What? – Rosanne Cash and John Rich

August 18, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 35

Rosanne Cash has issued a statement regarding recent use of her father’s name for political purposes: It is appalling to me that people still want to invoke my father’s name, five years after his death,

Sunday Open Thread: I’m Getting Older, Too.

August 17, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 14

The invaluable ggcolumn pointed me to a fascinating interview with Wynonna that ran in The Capitol Times, a newspaper out of Madison, Wisconsin. She’s one of those rare icons who is compelling whether they’re speaking

John Rich, “Raisin’ McCain”

August 17, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 13

With “Raisin’ McCain”, John Rich has managed to do the seemingly impossible: make the life of Senator John McCain seem terribly uninteresting. Rich’s relentless repetition of a poorly crafted hook and the interference of guitars

Jake Owen, “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You”

August 17, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 5

Jake Owen has a powerful voice, and he can pull off a traditional country wail better than most of his fellow newcomers. On his new single, that ability takes a backseat, as he opts for

Chris Cagle, “Never Ever Gone”

August 17, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 1

This is one of those records that adds up to less than the sum of its parts. Cagle’s vocal is fully engaged, there are some cool guitar licks, and the hook is pretty strong. However,

Saturday Discussion Thread: Favorite Songwriters

August 16, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 36

Earlier today, a new feature was introduced at Country Universe. Songwriter Series will take an in-depth look at the tunesmiths that craft so much of the music that we love to listen to. While some