2007 – Page 8 – Country Universe

Dwight Yoakam, “Close Up the Honky Tonks”

September 22, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

Shortly before his death, Johnny Cash was asked who he thought the best male vocalist in country music was. His response: Dwight Yoakam. Anyone wondering where Cash was coming from need only spin “Close Up

Sugarland covers Beyoncé

September 20, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

Jonathan from over at Slant gave me the heads up today about this video circulating on YouTube. Apparently Sugarland has been doing quite the unexpected cover song in concert lately: When I first heard “Irreplaceable”,

Faith Hill, “Red Umbrella”

September 15, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

If “Lost” revisited the smoky romance of “Breathe”, “Red Umbrella” is just as reminiscent of Hill’s whimsical pop-country confections “This Kiss” and “If My Heart Had Wings.” Her joy-filled performance and the candy-sweet production come

Sugarland, “Stay”

September 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 29

This their finest single to date. Jennifer Nettle turns in an achingly vulnerable vocal, with only an acoustic guitar backing her up for most of the song. “Stay” is the story of the other

Gretchen Wilson, “You Don’t Have to Go Home”

September 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Good enough. She sounds fully engaged, it’s up-tempo and rowdy without being in-your-face obnoxious, and every detail from this last call scene sounds authentic and believable. It’s certainly more realistic than “All Jacked Up.” I

Craig Morgan, “International Harvester”

September 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

Forgive me, but the awkward writing int he chorus keeps making me think that he’s married to his sister. Anyway, cute stuff. Any time I’ve been caught behind a tractor it’s been okay to pass

Dolly Parton, "Better Get to Livin'"

September 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 14

Today’s country music is heavy on stars but light on icons. Dolly Parton, my friends, is an icon. Her new single, “Better Get to Livin’”, is one of the best singles of the

Chuck Wicks, “Stealing Cinderella”

September 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 48

I realize that I’m supposed to be swept away by the charm of this story, a young man asking a father for his daughter’s hand. All I could think of listening to this,

Jypsi, “Love is a Drug”

September 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 15

All of the fiery fiddle and the production magic can’t create enough of a distraction from the problems with this record: the song is terrible and the vocals are even worse. That this is

Halfway to Hazard, “The Devil and the Cross”

September 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Similar in theme to the recent Big & Rich single “Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace”, but stronger in execution. The “prodigal son” theme has been done before, but by weaving in a believable storyline,