Year-End Rodeo 2015: The Master Lists

17 Comments

1. Smoke Break for the win!!!

   Reply

2. Actually I think Little Toy Guns was the better underwood single this year.

   Reply

3. Do I take it correctly from these lists that Canadian artists are not considered? Beside Cass County, the album my wife and I have played the most frequently this year has been “Now Playing” by the Western Swing Authority. I read somewhere that the first single was “Sweet Harriet” but maybe it was only released on Canadian radio. Country Perspective reviewed the album back in February. It was released on 2/3/15.

   Reply

4. I think it’s a bit ridiculous that you all can manage to produce multiple comprehensive year-end lists, but can’t review the latest release from one of the top women in the genre. It’s been nearly two months; you may as well not at this point. Incredibly disappointed in this blog.

   Reply

5. Massikur, I assume you’re referencing Carrie Underwood again. Several of us are Underwood supporters, most notably Kevin, and we’ve thoroughly covered her in the past (including during the lead-up to her album release; see below). We do our best to stay on top of new major releases, but it isn’t always possible to do so in a timely manner. We’re an independent blog. We write out of passion and interest, and we all have day jobs.

   Kevin’s review of Storyteller is forthcoming, and his perspective will be valid regardless of the time lapse.

   https://www.countryuniverse.net/2015/10/25/favorite-songs-by-favorite-artists-carrie-underwood/

   https://www.countryuniverse.net/2015/10/21/carrie-underwood-through-the-years-20-acoustic-performances/

   Reply

6. Massikur,
   Tara addressed your comment perfectly. I’ll just add that I think most Carrie fans would prefer that we review the album when we can than not at all. As Tara said, we all have day jobs and other obligations. We are not professional music journalists. So, we do what we can and, frankly, what we want to do, which means that we do not base our coverage on who is most popular.

   To go along with Tara’s other links:
   https://www.countryuniverse.net/2015/08/21/single-review-carrie-underwood-smoke-break/

   Reply

7. I think if there’s any artist we’ve covered thoroughly, it’s Carrie Underwood. And an album review is forthcoming. I wanted it to post at the same time as the “Heartbeat” review, but I simply did not have enough time to write it, so next weekend is the optimistic target.

   I happen to like the album a lot and it will get a positive review, so hopefully you’ll come back around to read it.

   Reply

8. Stepping Away from the Carrie Underwood train of thought for a minute…I’m kind of surprised to see how many good singles were actually released in 2015…you just would never know it by listening to the radio. I look forward to seeing what you guys chose.

   And I can’t be the only who noticed “Honey I’m God-Awful”.

   Reply

9. I can handle anything at #1 except Girl Crush. That song is so overrated.

   Reply

10. I’ve seen Massikur act ridiculous on other boards. No need to cater to him. The rest of us appreciate that you all have other things going on.

    Reply

11. PSU Guy,
    Yes! There were a lot of great singles this year! I maintain that country music doesn’t need saving, just country radio does. Luckily, with modern technology, we don’t need radio anymore.

    Jess,
    Thank you for understanding.

    Reply

12. Jason Isbell’s “Something More Than Free”, Jason Boland & The Stragglers’ “Squelch”, Kacey Musgraves’ “Pageant Material”, Ashley Monroe’s “The Blade” and Jamie Lin Wilson’s “Holidays & Wedding Rings” are my favorite albums of the year.

    Reply

13. I’ve been one of the ones asking about the review. and I completely understand the wait. I just started to think there was going to be no review at all. That scared me lol

    Reply

14. 24 Frames and Traveller are pretty clearly the class of the field as singles go, although I could see an argument for Dime Store Cowgirl.

    For albums, it’s Traveller, Something More than Free (which doesn’t touch Southeastern), Pageant Material or Turnpike Troubadours (love Absent Fathers, Start Here and Mr. Misunderstood, but they’re not quite on the same level).

    Reply

15. It didn’t become a single but my favorite song this year was Ashley Monroe’s Blade. Man that was a powerful track. That, and Chris Stapleton’s When the Stars Come Out were my most listened to tracks on my Itunes this year.

    Reply

16. I like that Lindi Ortega gets a nod for Faded Gloryville. For me, it was one of the best albums released in 2015, country or otherwise. It was really quite the refreshing change of pace from all the bro-country brainwashing, given Lindi’s retro approach.

    Reply

17. Now that your top 40 singles for 2015 have been revealed, I can reveal the single songs you missed. Just kidding.
    I would have included:
    Striking Matches – Hanging on a Lie
    Eric Paslay – She Don’t Love You
    Don Henley – Words Can Break Your Heart
    I admit to being a bit baffled that Striking Matches has received zero coverage at CU. But I guess there are a lot of other deserving country artists who have not been considered.
    I wonder why my favorite Mo Pitney song, Clean Up on Aisle Five, was not chosen for release as a single.

    Reply