Country Universe

Little Big Town, “Fine Line”

July 2, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 4

There’s a big difference between homaging Fleetwood Mac and imitating them. Little Big Town is at its best when it does the former, but on “Fine Line”, they’re definitely doing the latter. It’s not a

Wednesday Open Thread

July 2, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 12

Usually I link to a news article or feature to get the discussion going, but I’m going to use today’s open thread to thank all of the readers here, old and new, who took such

Kristy Lee Cook, the sixth-place finalist from this year’s American Idol, has signed with Arista Nashville: July 1, 2008 — The fastest way to get a recording contract in Nashville these days is to compete

100 Greatest Women, #1: Dolly Parton

July 1, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 60

100 Greatest Women #1 Dolly Parton She emerged from poverty in the Smoky Mountains, the first of her family to graduate high school. She dreamed of being a country music singer, but it was her

Discussion: The Trouble with John Rich

June 30, 2008 Leeann Ward 14

We all know of John Rich. He’s the guy from Big & Richwith a silky smooth voice who has a personality that doesn’t match. He has made more than one controversial statement and has an

Monday Open Thread

June 30, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 41

Back to work. Meh. Good day to focus on the negative. Entertainment Weekly has a feature up now called 22 Rock Heroes You Just Don’t Get. Readers submitted the names of rock legends that they

Jewel, “I Do”

June 30, 2008 Leeann Ward 4

It’s interesting that Jewel’s official second country effort, “I Do”, sounds less country than some of her songs on previous albums that were not specifically marketed as country music. While sounds of steel guitar can

Review: The Road Hammers, “Girl on the Billboard”

June 30, 2008 Leeann Ward 8

With their song, “Girl on the Billboard”, The Road Hammers manage to create a sound that contains a bit of Garth Brooks and a little Dwight Yoakam to create an overall feeling of the good

Randy Owen, “Like I Never Broke Her Heart”

June 30, 2008 Leeann Ward 12

Randy Owen, former lead singer of Alabama, is trying to make his way back onto country radio as a solo artist. Unfortunately, “Like I Never Broke Her Heart” lacks distinction both in lyrics and production.

100 Greatest Women, #2: Loretta Lynn

June 29, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 21

100 Greatest Women #2 Loretta Lynn She came from the humblest of beginnings, the daughter of a Kentucky coal miner who married when she was only thirteen years old. Before she turned eighteen, she was