Kevin John Coyne

Album Review: Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, The Complete Trio Collection

September 29, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

The Complete Trio Collection is an interesting historical document, but in its attempt to be complete, it manages to be less than the sum of its collective parts.

Single Review: Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens, “Kill a Word”

September 28, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 3

An artist reaches their peak performance when their artistic ambition and creative talent are in perfect harmony.

Single Review: Dierks Bentley with Elle King, “Different For Girls”

September 26, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 2

“Different For Girls” is based on the gender stereotypes of yore. Guys push down their feelings and get drunk. Girls can’t do that because they’re too sensitive. They just sit home and cry instead.

Single Review: Luke Bryan, “Move”

September 25, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

A song so colossally stupid that it can’t even achieve the offensiveness that it is entitled to.

Single Review: Artists of Then, Now & Forever, “Forever Country”

September 24, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 11

What should be little more than an exercise in nostalgia is the most unexpectedly moving country recording in recent memory.

Single Review: Kenny Chesney featuring P!nk, “Setting the World On Fire”

September 8, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 10

Odd how a song about “Setting the World On Fire” is completely lacking in spark.

2016 CMA Nominations

August 31, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 13

This year’s CMA Nominations have been announced, and there are some major changes afoot, including some surprising inclusions (Maren Morris!) and even more surprising omissions (Blake Shelton!) Here’s who will compete this fall at the

Single Review: Miranda Lambert, “Vice”

July 28, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

“When it hurts this good, you’ve got to play it twice.”

Album Review: Brandy Clark, Big Day in a Small Town

July 18, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 3

One of the rare concept albums that lives up to its conceit while each song still able to stand on its own, Big Day in a Small Town demonstrates as well that Brandy Clark’s debut album wasn’t a fluke. She really is this good.

Single Review: Eric Church, “Record Year”

July 11, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

“Record Year” is cleverly written, intertwining turns of phrase with musical references that will satisfy everyone from the casual country fan (Red Headed Stranger) to the scholarly one (New Grass Revival.)