Kevin John Coyne

Single Review: Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan, “I Know What You Did Last Night”

June 11, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 10

Great singers. Great title. Great song.

Would you expect anything less from a collaboration between Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan, especially one that has them officially being billed as Grits & Glamour?

100 Greatest Men: #27. Bill Anderson

June 9, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 2

100 Greatest Men: The Complete List

An impressive run of hit singles and his visible Opry stardom gave him tremendous success as a singer, but it’s been Bill Anderson’s songwriting that’s kept him topping the country charts for decades longer than even his most successful contemporaries.

100 Greatest Men: #28. Hank Williams, Jr.

June 9, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 3

100 Greatest Men: The Complete List

The ultimate icon of Southern country rock, Hank Williams Jr. emerged from the long, influential shadow of his father to become one of the genre’s most distinctive personalities.

Single Review: Jana Kramer, “I Hope it Rains”

May 26, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 6

The coolest thing “I Hope it Rains” has going for it is a piano melody that is mildly reminiscent of Bonnie Tyler’s cover of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.”

Single Review: Hunter Hayes, "I Want Crazy"

May 11, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 7

Hunter Hayes just scored a decently big pop hit with “Wanted”, which was initially his first big country hit. Perhaps that’s why he’s taking a cue from the pop market, and re-releasing his first album in an expanded edition called (Encore) this summer.

Single Review: Chris Young, "Aw Naw"

May 11, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 8

It’s hard not to root for Chris Young. He can really sing and his music would sound identifiably country if it was released twenty years ago, making it sound like Hank Williams in comparison to what’s passing for it these days.

In Memoriam: George Jones (1931-2013)

April 26, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 14

Rest in Peace, Possum.

An extensive tribute piece to follow. In the meantime, enjoy the voice that will remain immortal and share your memories and favorite songs in the comments.

100 Greatest Men: #29. Alabama

April 20, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 9

100 Greatest Men: The Complete List

In the early eighties, a new kind of country band surfaced, structured like the rock bands that came before them, but deeply grounded in country instrumentation. Alabama were the pioneers of the field, and they reached a level of superstardom beyond most bands of any genre during their peak.

100 Greatest Men: #30. Jim Reeves

April 20, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 4

100 Greatest Men: The Complete List

Gentleman Jim Reeves started off as a hardcore country singer, but his smooth crossover stylings would become synonymous with the Nashville Sound, combining with tragedy to grant him country music immortality only a dozen years into his career.

Single Review: Lori McKenna, "Salt"

April 18, 2013 Kevin John Coyne 7

“Hearts don’t fly, but they can run like hell when they have to.”

Lori McKenna’s greatest gift as a writer is her ability to weave brilliantly constructed metaphors together with remarkably specific and quite often mundane details of small town, working class life.