2005 – Page 3 – Country Universe

400 Best Contemporary Country Singles: #375-#351

September 25, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 2

The 400 Best Contemporary Country Singles Part 2: #375-#351 #375 “Take It Back” Reba McEntire 1992 Peak: #5 For a singer defined by weepy ballads, McEntire is remarkably brass on this jazz-tinged kiss-off number. She

400 Best Contemporary Country Singles: #400-#376

September 18, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

Sixteen years ago, country music entered its modern era. The Class of 1989 – Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson among them – ushered in new levels of sales, media exposure and even production

Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley Get 6 CMA Nods Each

September 7, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

The 2005 CMA Award nominations have been announced, and there’s a long overdue changing of the guard. The full list is here, and my comments follow each of the major categories below. On the whole,

Single Reviews: August 29, 2005

August 29, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

BILLY DEAN “Race You To The Bottom” (Curb) This is an indictment of the “greed is good” mentality that corrupts, from the perspective of one of those that is corrupted. He overdoes it a bit,

Single Reviews: August 22, 2005

August 22, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

ALAN JACKSON “USA Today” (Arista) Not exactly Alan at his best, but entertaining enough. AMBER DOTSON “I Ain’t Your Mama” (Capitol) A funny little post-honeymoon reflection. BLAKE SHELTON “Nobody But Me” (Warner Bros.) Uh-oh. I’m

Single Reviews: August 4, 2005

August 4, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

Terri Clark has the best single this time around. BUDDY JEWELL “So Gone” (Columbia) Competent. CATHERINE BRITT & ELTON JOHN “Where We Say Goodbye” (RCA) A satisfying pairing between a pop legend and a country

Top Twelve Songs about America

July 4, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 2

We’ve been a bit overwhelmed in country music with patriotic songs since 9/11, and many of them have the stench of expolitation, poor taste, or just plain bad songwriting. In my opinion, the best songs

Single Reviews: June 18, 2005

June 18, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

The new Rodney Crowell single is by far the best of the bunch this week. It might be the best single of the year so far. AARON LINES “It Takes A Man” (BNA) Once again,

Single Reviews: June 4, 2005

June 4, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

This week, the clear leader of the pack is Sawyer Brown, with their best single in a good decade. CLINT BLACK “Rainbow In The Rain” (Equity) Back in his prime, his name could’ve carried a

Dwight Yoakam, Blame the Vain

June 4, 2005 Kevin John Coyne 0

Dwight Yoakam Blame The Vain When Dwight Yoakam releases a new album, one thing is certain: you’re going to hear a lot of different variations on the singular theme of heartbreak. In just about every