Jonathan Keefe

2015 CMA Nominations

September 9, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 21

Throughout 2015, there have been rumblings of a backlash against the prevailing trends at country radio, and that backlash is certainly reflected in the year’s crop of CMA nominees.

Single Review: Danielle Bradbery, “Friend Zone”

August 31, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 27

It’s rare that something comes along that manages to be both so inept in its execution and so appalling in its context and implications that it’s hard to know where even to begin to dissect its failings.

Single Review: Michael Ray, “Real Men Love Jesus”

August 31, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 33

Its title is lifted from a bumper sticker, and the song itself offers just as much depth.

Album Review: Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free

August 17, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 7

In an ideal world, Jason Isbell would somehow be able to switch the titles of his two most recent albums. While his previous effort, Southeastern, chronicled his struggle toward sobriety and found liberation in the powers of redemption and self-worth, Isbell’s latest, Something More Than Free digs deep into the foundations of the contemporary South. In terms of tone and theme for each of these exceptional records, the titles would be more fitting were they swapped, and it’s simply remarkable that slight misnomers are as close as Isbell comes on either album to striking a false note.

Single Review: Kacey Musgraves, “Dime Store Cowgirl”

August 10, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 10

“Dime Store Cowgirl” Kacey Musgraves Written by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves Despite a slew of industry awards and sales figures that dwarf those of male artists who receive ten times the airplay,

Daily Top Five: Twitter Country

June 1, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 4

We’ve been beefing up our activity on Twitter of late– for those of you not following us yet, you’ll never in a million years believe that our name is @CountryUniverse— and have been enjoying the

Single Review: Sunny Sweeney with Will Hoge, “My Bed”

March 30, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 7

“My Bed” Sunny Sweeney with Will Hoge Written By Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, and Sunny Sweeney Both Sunny Sweeney and Will Hoge have flirted briefly with mainstream success: Sweeney cracked the top 10 at radio

Single Review: Robert Earl Keen, “Hot Corn, Cold Corn”

March 30, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 6

“Hot Corn, Cold Corn” Robert Earl Keen Written By Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Robert Earl Keen has spent the past three decades as one of the most venerated singer-songwriters in country music, particularly within

Single Review: David Fanning, “Doin’ Country Right”

March 30, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 15

“Doin’ Country Right” David Fanning Written by Heather Morgan, Josh Osborne, and Jimmy Robbins Seems safe to bet that the irony of this single’s title is lost on everyone involved in inflicting it upon a

Album Review: Aaron Watson, The Underdog

March 24, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 11

Aaron Watson The Underdog The narrative surrounding Aaron Watson’s The Underdog makes it an album that is easy to root for: Buoyed by more than a decade of goodwill and fan support and a deft