July 2007 – Country Universe

Alan Jackson, “It’s All About Him”

July 31, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

A spiritual ballad that absolutely soars. Borrowing the title from his wife Denise’s new book about their marriage, and co-written with her to boot, this is a classic country gospel song that you rarely hear

Carrie Underwood, “So Small”

July 31, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 12

She’s a little older, and a little wiser, this Carrie Underwood. Surfacing as a co-writer on the lead single from her mega-anticipated sophomore set, she’s singing about the importance of loving one another, and not

Rascal Flatts, “Revolution”

July 31, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 15

The most unintentionally funny record of the year. Indeed, perhaps of the decade. If I thought they actually understood the meaning of the song, I’d accuse them of hubris. But they seem about as aware

Trace Adkins, “I Got My Game On”

July 31, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 24

So, here it is. The single that Adkins couldn’t wait to get out, so much that he gave up on the stellar “I Wanna Feel Something.” Was it worth it? Well, given that radio probably

Review: Mark Chesnutt, “Rollin’ With the Flow”

July 31, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 7

He remains one of the genre’s finest male vocalists, a true honky-tonk legend in his own time. Don’t let those strings scare ya. Waylon and George never feared a string section either, and it didn’t

Say What? – Trace Adkins

July 29, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 8

The 9513 flagged this quote last week from Trace Adkins, which was originally reported at Billboard’s website: “I’m kind of talking out of school here, but we’re going to try to get the album out

Montgomery Gentry, “What Do Ya Think About That”

July 28, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 8

They tried this tack before with “You Do Your Thing”, and the same dilemma surfaces. It’s hard to believe that you don’t care what other people think about you if you’re taking the time to

Review: Carolina Rain, “Dealin'”

July 28, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

It’s hard to dislike any record that open with a mandolin. It’s damn near impossible to not enjoy a sincere and credible exploration of working-class frustration. A vocal group needs great songs to distinguish them

Pam Tillis, “The Hard Way”

July 28, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

This is Pam’s first single in eleven years that she’s had a hand in writing, and it’s easily the most personal song she’s ever released. She had referred on record before to the car crash

Review: Heartland, “Once a Woman Gets a Hold of Your Heart”

July 28, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 10

This is the kind of faceless vocal group radio fodder that has been present ever since Alabama spent the early eighties as the big dogs, the equivalent of the faceless hat act radio fodder that’s