George Strait – Page 16 – Country Universe

Single Review: Alan Jackson, “You Go Your Way”

August 15, 2012 Ben Foster 5

You know the country music market is in sore straits when a career-best effort from Alan Jackson dies outside the Top 20 on the charts. It’s easy to wonder if, after more than two decades of populating country airwaves with quality material well-sung and tastefully produced, the hits may finally be drying up for Alan Jackson. That would be a huge shame, because finely polished country tunes like current single “You Go Your Way” are becoming increasingly rare on country radio, with Jackson having been one of the last nineties veterans standing who was still able to sneak such efforts into the playlists.

iPod Check: Most Played Song by Twenty Country Artists

August 12, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 24

Since bringing back Recommend a Track proved so popular, I’m resurrecting another CU oldie but goodie: the iPod check.

I’ve only recently discovered the Most Played feature on iTunes, since it never had any relevance until iPods were large enough in memory to sync all of my music. So going back to early 2011, I have a lengthy list of the songs I’ve played the most.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')"

August 2, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 7

1988 | Peak: #1

Strait’s fifteenth #1 single, and eighth in a row, was a cover of a #2 Faron Young hit from 1954.

100 Greatest Men: #41. Ronnie Milsap

August 1, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 10

100 Greatest Men: The Complete List

A first class musician with R&B roots, Ronnie Milsap brought contemporary pop sophistication to the country music of his time, and it made him a superstar.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, "Baby Blue"

July 21, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 1

1988 | Peak: #1

Another one of Strait’s smoothest pop performances, with just enough country touches in the production to keep his traditionalist credentials intact.

Single Review: Brantley Gilbert, "Kick It In the Sticks"

July 15, 2012 Ben Foster 21

Brantley Gilbert originally released “Kick It In the Sticks” in 2010, and it failed to chart. But that was before the one-two punch of number-one hits “Country Must Be Country Wide” and “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” reversed his fortunes at radio. In light of Gilbert’s newly heightened commercial profile, the single is being re-released for another go-round at radio.

Much has not changed. It was a terrible song in 2010, and it’s still a terrible song now.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, &quot;Famous Last Words of a Fool&quot;

July 4, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 1

1988 | Peak: #1

Strait previewed his eighth studio album, If You Ain’t Lovin’ You Ain’t Livin’, with a cover of a minor hit by Dean Dillon from 1983.

Album Review: Alan Jackson, <i>Thirty Miles West</i>

July 2, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 3

Alan Jackson
Thirty Miles West

Jackson does so many basic things right on his new album that it’s tempting to award him five stars right off the bat.

The production is clean, his singing get in the way of the song, and those songs have complete ideas and actual structure. It’s the first mainstream country album in a long time that isn’t overrun with production tricks, or kicking up the loudness to eleven, or playing an exaggerated personality type that’s condescending to its audience.

Single Review: Chris Cagle, "Let There Be Cowgirls"

June 25, 2012 Ben Foster 25

“Let There Be Cowgirls” = “Got My Country On,” Part 2

Retro Single Review: George Strait, "Am I Blue"

June 10, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 3

1987 | Peak: #1

Another hit from Strait that revels in his Western Swing roots.