2009 – Page 33 – Country Universe

The Illumination of Film

March 8, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 15

I discovered most of my favorite country artists through music videos. Throughout the nineties, CMT played videos around the clock, giving equal weight to mainstream, veteran and Americana artists. Music videos feel like a quietly

A Conversation with Kathy Mattea

March 7, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 10

Kathy Mattea has long been a favorite for both the writers and readers of Country Universe. Earlier today, we had a chance to speak with Mattea about her current album, Coal, and covered many other

Iconic Songs of the Last Decade

March 6, 2009 Guest Contributor 33

I was listening to The Band’s album Music From Big Pink earlier this week, and something struck me about the song “The Weight.” Trust me, you know the song. It goes a little like this:

Country Songs by Non-Country Artists

March 5, 2009 Leeann Ward 64

Neil Young is a rock icon, but he is also known for a lot of folk influenced music. However, while recently listening to his 1992 folky album, Harvest Moon, I was amused to hear a

Dierks Bentley, “Sideways”

March 5, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 12

I’m about to write a sentence that I never thought I would: I wish this song had been recorded by Montgomery Gentry instead. Dierks Bentley is a solid songwriter and vocalist, but this is so

ACM Announces Album of the Year Nominees

March 5, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 28

This year’s nominees for ACM Album of the Year have been announced. The nominees are: Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song Montgomery Gentry, Back When I Knew it All George Strait, Troubadour Taylor Swift, Fearless Carrie

Say What? – Merle Haggard

March 5, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 9

Today’s Say What? comes courtesy of country music legend Merle Haggard, who recalled a salty conversation with a label executive in the 1980s. The memory was prompted by Emmylou Harris performing “Kern River”, a Haggard

Play Something Country

March 4, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 15

Later this month, I’ll be seeing Kathy Mattea in concert. I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen her live more often than anybody else – at least six times, going back to the Summer of 1994.

Random Question about Kellie Pickler

March 3, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 27

Entertainment Weekly included a song from Kellie Pickler among its selections for the Ultimate American Idol playlist. The title of the song – “Rocks Instead of Rice” – caught my attention. Take a listen: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5habfvPIwcQ

Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun: The Dailey & Vincent Interview

March 2, 2009 Guest Contributor 2

If anything, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent are double trouble. In a good way, of course. The pair recently swept the SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards, a near-replica of their performance at last fall’s International Bluegrass