August 2011 – Page 4 – Country Universe

Single Review: Miranda Lambert, “Baggage Claim”

August 2, 2011 Dan Milliken 29

A swing and a miss.

Give Lambert her usual credit for adventurousness: the production on this kiss-off is rustic and snappy, like some lost 70’s folk-rock nugget. And “Baggage Claim” is an artist’s work, not an assembly-line knock-off; we certainly haven’t heard this central metaphor before.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, “Amarillo By Morning”

August 2, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 2

1983 | Peak: #4

Arguably his signature song, “Amarillo By Morning” officially announced Strait as a distinctive artist of substance and merit.

Listening to it 28 years after its original release, it’s amazing how much this sounds like George Strait, like he’s finally found his niche as a performer.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Down on the Farm”

August 1, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 9

1994 | Peak: #2

How refreshing as it is to hear a country pride anthem that actually has country instrumentation and twangy singing.

Retro Single Review: Dolly Parton, “Daddy”

August 1, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 1

1969| Peak: #40

“Daddy” is the first in a string of provocative Parton singles that absolutely bewildered country radio.

Here, a daughter addresses her cheating father, who is leaving her mother behind for a woman who is younger than 23, the age of our unhappy narrator here.