Country Universe

Album Review: Martina McBride, Hits and More

January 17, 2012 Ben Foster 5

Martina McBride
Hits and More

The smooth powerful voice of Martina McBride has been a welcome radio presence for two decades now. After eighteen years of hit singles, top-selling albums, and industry awards, November 2010 brought the news that McBride was exiting the RCA Nashville label roster. In the wake of her departure from her longtime label home, her hitmaking days on RCA are summarized on the career retrospective Hits and More, featuring seventeen of McBride’s best-known hits arranged chronologically, plus three new recordings. All of her RCA albums are represented except for her 1992 debut The Time Has Come (which produced no significant hits) and her 2005 covers album Timeless (which produced only one minor Top 20 hit with McBride’s rendition of Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden”).

Single Review: Kenny Chesney, “Reality”

January 17, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 10

The song is about how we use vacations and spirits and such to escape the mundane lives we’ve settled into.

Single Review: Alison Krauss & Union Station, “My Love Follows You Where You Go”

January 16, 2012 Ben Foster 2

Whenever we get new music from Alison Krauss & Union Station, there are two things we can generally count on: stellar musicianship, and pure, naturally beautiful vocals. Still, one variable is whether or not the music builds on the group’s tried-and-true musical formula of modern-bluegrass-meets-adult-pop, and moves it forward such that the approach does come across as merely business-as-usual. Last year’s set Paper Airplane contained the usual goods, but suffered to some extent from what one might call the plodding midsection syndrome – a cluster of competent but not particularly memorable tracks bookended by moments of brilliance.

Single Review: Eli Young Band, “Even if It Breaks Your Heart”

January 15, 2012 Jonathan Keefe 8

While I would prefer that contemporary country artists stop looking to the pop-rock music of the mid-1980s for their primary influences, I can at least credit Eli Young Band’s relative good taste.

Single Review: Blake Shelton, “Drink On It”

January 11, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 6

I was going to articulate the serious issues I have with this song, but I’ll let Julia Sugarbaker do it instead:

Retro Single Review: George Strait, “You’re Something Special to Me”

January 11, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 2

1985 | Peak: #4

Deceptively simple.

“You’re Something Special to Me” is so laid back that it’s easy to miss the craftsmanship. As Strait channels a young Merle Haggard, a slow western swing arrangement surrounds him with warmth.

Retro Single Review: Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, “Lost Forever in Your Kiss”

January 11, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 2

1972 | Peak: #9

This is one of their most beautiful duets, largely because Parton is at her peak as a singer and a songwriter.

Album Review: The Little Willies, For the Good Times

January 10, 2012 Ben Foster 5

The Little Willies
For the Good Times

After having first formed in 2003, The Little Willies released their self-titled debut album in 2006, four years after pianist and vocalist Norah Jones had found success with her jazz and pop flavored solo album Come Away With Me.

Six years later, a second Little Willies album finally comes to light, following in the tradition of the first by featuring covers of country classics. For the Good Times finds The Little Willies covering classics songs by some of country music’s most revered (and most covered) artists, including nods to Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton, among others.

Single Review: Josh Turner, “Time is Love”

January 9, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 8

Remember the first time that you heard Josh Turner?

You must have been in awe of that baritone. Here’s a guy who can sing deeper than the rest without sacrificing tone and nuance.

Getting to Know You

January 6, 2012 Tara Seetharam 13

Nearly three years ago, writing-starved and delirious at 1 in the morning, I sent Kevin a rambling e-mail asking if he’d consider having me write a few guest posts here at Country Universe. He graciously took me in as a staff writer, and I’ve since had the privilege of sharing my passion for country music –wacky and irrational though it may be– with all of you.

But this blog hasn’t just scratched my writing itch and strengthened my relationship with the genre; it’s introduced me to a family of writers who I can’t quite imagine my life without. Dan once wrote that blogs aren’t about regular people posing as high-and-mighty critics, but about word-of-mouth. They’re the internet equivalent of a trusted friend.