Country Universe

Gary Allan, Living Hard

October 26, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 3

Gary Allan Living Hard Country music is long on love song singers but short on philosophers. Too many albums released feature interchangeable romances and ruminations, tales of love gone wrong, love gone right and everything

Brooks & Dunn, “God Must Be Busy”

October 25, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 23

Way back when I was a freshman in college, my theology professor made an observation that still resonates with me today: “If you’ve never had doubt, you don’t really have faith.” This is a song

Say What? – Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer

October 19, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 14

On the scheduled performance of Rascal Flatts with Jamie Foxx next month at the CMA awards: “This is destined to be the sort of one-of-a-kind performance the CMA Awards are known for,” said Tammy Genovese,

Carrie Speaks Out

October 18, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 8

Sorry for the delay in posts lately, but here’s something for you to read. Entertainment Weekly scored an in-depth interview with Carrie Underwood on the eve of her sophomore album release. Carnival Ride, according to

Brad Paisley, “Letter to Me”

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 14

Putting aside the fact that Alanis Morissette did the same thing with a lot more flair nine years ago on “Unsent”, Brad Paisley’s put out one of the better singles of his career, a welcome

Rascal Flatts, “Winner at a Losing Game”

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 17

When the music first started, I seriously thought this was the Pointer Sisters kicking off “Slow Hand”, steel guitar be damned. Tailor-made for a “Hot AC remix”, this is pure late seventies/early eighties pop. They

Rodney Atkins, “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 7

Ha! After listening to the tepid suburban fairytale “Stealing Cinderella”, I can’t help but love this alternative scenario play out when a young man comes a-courtin’. Atkins continues to be one of the finest young

Van Zant, “Goes Down Easy”

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Well, I’ll be damned. I was digging this barroom anthem from the beginning, a honky-tonk drinking celebration that captures the carefree nature of those island drinking songs without brining the calypso instrumentation along for the

Lori McKenna, “Unglamorous”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

Simply put, one of the best songs of the year. A glorious rundown of the mundane – wine in jelly glasses, threadbare rugs, bathtub rings – which elevates the no-frills existence of a family with

Lee Brice, “Happy Endings”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

Lee Brice’s second single is leaps better than his first. “Happy Endings” finds a man in Myrtle Beach watching his woman walk out on him. She’s hopping in the car and driving to California. He’s