Country Universe

Grammy Flashback: Best Country Vocal Performance, Male

January 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 9

While the Grammys have honored country music from the very first ceremony in 1959, they did not begin honoring by gender until 1965, when the country categories were expanded along with the other genre categories.

Eric Church, “Guys Like Me”

January 12, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 7

Eric Church, “Guys Like Me” Before listening, I was wondering if this was a cover of the Gary Allan album cut from a few years back. It’s not. It’s another tired retread of the “rich,

John Anderson, “A Woman Knows”

January 12, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 8

John Anderson, “A Woman Knows” After hearing a Bucky Covington record, listening to new music from John Anderson is a ritual cleansing – musical purification, if you will. This is a great song about what

Bucky Covington, "A Different World"

January 12, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 52

Bucky Covington, “A Different World” Okay, that’s enough. I’m sick of this crap. The song is terrible. He’s too damn young to legitimately have nostalgia for the days before video games, unleaded paint and remote

Carrie Underwood Joins the Five Million Club

January 11, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

The Five Million Club has a

Dixie Chicks, “The Long Way Around”

January 9, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 16

Dixie Chicks, “The Long Way Around” The Chicks pen and deliver their very own emancipation proclamation with this phenomenal single. Opening with an acoustic guitar hook that borrows heavily from “Go Your Own Way”, the

Grammy Flashback: Best Country Vocal Performance, Female

January 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 7

While the Grammys have honored country music from the very first ceremony in 1959, they did not begin honoring by gender until 1965, when the country categories were expanded along with the other genre categories.

Carrie Underwood, “Wasted”

January 4, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

Carrie Underwood, “Wasted” The fourth official country single from the mega-selling Some Hearts is also the album-opener, and it’s a strongly written declaration that life must have a purpose, or it will have been wasted.

Review: Heartland, “Built to Last”

January 3, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 8

Heartland, “Built to Last” A beautiful tribute inspired by a 50th Anniversary party, this is the kind of record that raises the collective dignity of country music. Not sappy, devoid of cliche – just honest,

Tim McGraw, “Last Dollar (Fly Away)”

January 3, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 89

Tim McGraw, “Last Dollar (Fly Away)” I love the song. It’s a wry twist on the “I’m poor, but rich because I have you” nonsense that often passes for a love song in country music.