2009 – Page 36 – Country Universe

Blake Shelton, “I’ll Just Hold On”

February 20, 2009 Guest Contributor 23

Blake Shelton has the kind of natural talent and charisma that most performers in Nashville can only dream of. His voice is smooth and strong, sexy yet comforting. It is neither too feminine nor too

Discussion: Greatest Country Songs

February 19, 2009 Guest Contributor 30

Boys like me and Nick Hornby love lists. (I mean, Nick Hornby and I. Whatever.) Hornby, the author of A Long Way Down, How to Be Good and, most famously, High Fidelity, is known for

Little Big Town, “Good Lord Willing”

February 19, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 1

The new Little Big Town single is a hook-laden treat that combines a rustic acoustic sound with the loudest country-rock guitars this side of Jason Aldean. It’s the kind of performance that you’d expect from

Six Pack: K.T. Oslin, Part Two

February 19, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 5

The following is a continuation of a guest contribution from Country Universe reader Cory DeStein, who wrote Part One. You can read that entry here. There have only been a handful of exceptionally literate female

Flavorless Producers

February 18, 2009 Leeann Ward 16

While on the surface, music revolves around artists and the songs they sing, it’s the music producers who are ultimately essential to the finished product that we all hear and critique. Most producers have a

Pat Green, “Country Star”

February 16, 2009 Leeann Ward 11

What can I say? Pat Green’s “Country Star” is gimmicky, bland and altogether misses the mark. It shamelessly namechecks artists such as Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Vince

Bargain Hunter: Gillian Welch (Today Only!)

February 16, 2009 Dan Milliken 4

Gillian Welch, Revival – $1.99 Folks, don’t even think twice about this one. If you are a country fan and don’t own Gillian Welch’s wonderful, rootsy debut album, you have no excuse for not clicking

Bomshel, “Fight Like A Girl”

February 16, 2009 Leeann Ward 26

BomShel’s latest attempt to hit the radio airwaves is a three-act song that takes us through the hardships of a woman who is picked on as a girl, continuously hits the glass ceiling no matter

Six Pack: K.T. Oslin, Part One

February 15, 2009 Guest Contributor 14

The following is a guest contribution from Country Universe reader Cory DeStein. An additional Six Pack written by Kevin J. Coyne will follow later this week. K.T. Oslin appears to most often enter a conversation

Themed Albums

February 13, 2009 Guest Contributor 7

Kathy Mattea’s brilliant album released last year, Coal, reminded me of how much I love themed albums. There is something unique and special about an album that addresses a single topic from varied angles or