Country Universe

Discussion: Five-Star Albums

November 20, 2008 Leeann Ward 35

Let’s face it, 2008 has not been a particularly strong year for country music albums. Sales are down both due to the struggling economy and as a result of big name artists not exactly releasing

Review: Rodney Atkins, “It’s America”

November 20, 2008 Guest Contributor 10

That patriotism is such a powerful fixture in modern-day country music can largely be attributed to the events of 9-11. In the early stages of the decade, the format issued jingoistic missives (“Courtesy of the

Discussion: Creative Song Titles

November 19, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 20

I was listening in the car today to a track from the Caitlin Cary and Thad Cockrell album Begonias. It’s a winding, bittersweet epic that clocks in at over seven minutes. The title? “Conversations About

Review: Jason Aldean, “She’s Country”

November 19, 2008 Guest Contributor 16

Jason Aldean’s latest release is a limited assessment, depicting a young woman who’s a product of the countrier-than-thou generation. No artist in recent memory has bludgeoned the audience with so many country-to-the-core songs. Ironically, the

Discussion: Country Universe Giveaway/Darius Rucker, Learn to Live

November 18, 2008 Guest Contributor 38

While a number of artists from different musical genres entered into the country rodeo this past year, no Nashville newcomer was more successful than Hootie & the Blowfish frontman, Darius Rucker. His debut country disc,

News: Jewel to Sell <em>Perfectly Clear</em> Cheap to Benefit Hall of Fame

November 18, 2008 Dan Milliken 6

Via : Jewel will be selling copies of her first country album, Perfectly Clear, for a minimum $1 donation to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. The 24-hour sale will be

Blake Shelton, Startin’ Fires

November 18, 2008 Guest Contributor 2

Blake Shelton Startin’ Fires Blake Shelton’s fifth album, Startin’ Fires, finds the Oklahoma native discovering his niche as a smooth operator with the slightest hint of a wild side. He’s polished his musical personality without

Review: Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”

November 18, 2008 Dan Milliken 8

What a difference a voice makes. Mere weeks after its initial release, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” has been re-released to incorporate Reba McEntire, who reprises her CMA show cameo with an added bonus of audibility (nice!).

Discussion: Faith on Christmas

November 17, 2008 Guest Contributor 36

Soundcheck is an original live music series that features top artists in a variety of artists, and their recent feature revolved around Faith Hill. From a Soundcheck news release, Deck the halls. Soundcheck celebrates the

Interview: Randy Houser

November 17, 2008 Guest Contributor 7

Tomorrow marks the release of Randy Houser’s debut disc, Anything Goes, a contemporary country album in a traditional vein. Houser has gained fame through his performance on The Late Show with David Letterman and his