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Album Review: Tim McGraw, Emotional Traffic

January 31, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 17

Tim McGraw
Emotional Traffic

If you had a friend who was a tightrope walker, and you were walking down a sidewalk, and he fell, that would be completely unacceptable. – Mitch Hedberg

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Emotional Traffic is a collection of poor choices.

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Single Review: Eric Church, “Springsteen”

January 29, 2012 Guest Contributor 11

You already know that feeling.

One Sunday afternoon you go about rummaging through your attic, looking for items to donate to a local rescue mission…..and suddenly you find yourself re-acquainted with a bedroom poster depicting your favorite artist growing up, lightly caked in dust. At that very moment you let out a bittersweet sigh, and fondly stare into space as you reminisce of an early flame that came and went in your life, while that artist contributes the soundtrack to your saudade.

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Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Just to See You Smile”

January 2, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 3

1997 | Peak: #1

Smarter and more incisive than nearly everything else in heavy rotation back in the day.

McGraw plays his cards to close to his chest that upon first listen, you may only pick up on his unconditional love and selflessness toward the girl who’s been stringing him along for all these years.

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Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Everywhere”

January 1, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 3

1997 | Peak: #1

The moment where Tim McGraw discovers subtlety and finds it suits him quite well.

“Everywhere” is the title track from the album that established McGraw as a credible artist, and its release was demanded by radio, which gave it considerably heavy airplay as an album cut.

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Single Review: Tim McGraw, "Better Than I Used to Be"

December 23, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 10

Flipping through an old country magazine, I read a review of Tim McGraw’s then-new album, Everywhere.

The journalist noted his surprise at the title track, which demonstrated more subtlety and gravitas than he’d previously thought McGraw was capable of.

That was so many years ago that it’s hard to remember that McGraw was something of a novelty singer back in the day, a step or two above Billy Ray Cyrus but not quite up there with Joe Diffie.

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Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Maybe We Should Just Sleep On It”

November 30, 2011 Dan Milliken 2

1996 | Peak: #4

A sound sentiment stuffed in a sound-impaired package.

The generic “moody” 90’s production does some of the damage, as does a patchwork melody that can’t seem to connect its phrases. But you can also  hear McGraw still ironing out his vocal technique, as his likably nervous tremor in the verses meets a series of clumsy trills and some pitchy “baby”s and “maybe”s.

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