In an effort to help Country Universe readers build solid music libraries without denting their wallets too badly, we’ll periodically post run-downs of country-related bargains we spot at Amazon’s MP3 store. As with our single reviews, Each summary will be followed by a black widget with which you can listen to clips of the tracks or click through (via the “Buy MP3” button) to that item’s page at Amazon, where you can purchase it with just a few simple clicks. (Also note that you can have the mp3s go directly into your iTunes library if you install the Amazon MP3 Downloader – good stuff!).
Also, please feel free to let us know in the comments if you find any internet bargains of your own (at Amazon or elsewhere). Without further ado:
TONIGHT ONLY – Dierks Bentley, Feel That Fire– $3.99
I’d be lying if I told you the critics were lovin’ all over this one, but most have noted the presence of at least a few good tracks, and you can’t beat this price on a new release. Act quick, though, because the discount will only be active tonight (in the future, we’ll try to let you know about these one-day deals sooner). Read Blake Boldt’s review of the album here.
Dixie Chicks, Fly – $5.99
‘Round these parts, it’s regarded as the first all-around great Chicks album. Here are the facts: it landed a Grammy nod for overall Album of the Year, has sold upwards of 10 million copies, and charted an astonishing seven singles, with hits ranging from the well-liked (“Ready to Run,” “Without You”) to the downright-iconic (“Cowboy Take Me Away,” “Goodbye Earl”). It was also ranked #39 on Kevin’s 2006 rundown of the greatest country albums released since 1989. Read his write-up of it here.
No, I’m not trying to argue that CCR were a country group, because they weren’t. But John Fogerty has some significant ties to the genre as a solo artist, and you can certainly trace swamp-rock classics like “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” and “Lodi” back to the same primordial soup that spewed out country music, so…y’know, whatever. This collection compiles everything a casual fan will ever need, and at a value of $0.25 a song, who’s going to gripe?
Regarding CCR–there are, unavoidably, some country elements to their material (“Lookin’ Out My Back Door”, for instance), because they’re defined as a swamp-rock band–but a lot of what they do was back then, and in my opinion would still be today, considered far too rock-oriented (and politically to the Left) for country radio.
And for those who aren’t aware, the band is from Oakland, California–just in case you thought they were really from the Mississippi Delta.
Regarding CCR–there are, unavoidably, some country elements to their material (“Lookin’ Out My Back Door”, for instance), because they’re defined as a swamp-rock band–but a lot of what they do was back then, and in my opinion would still be today, considered far too rock-oriented (and politically to the Left) for country radio.
And for those who aren’t aware, the band is from Oakland, California–just in case you thought they were really from the Mississippi Delta.