Single Reviews – Page 29 – Country Universe

Single Review: Dierks Bentley with Elle King, “Different For Girls”

September 26, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 2

“Different For Girls” is based on the gender stereotypes of yore. Guys push down their feelings and get drunk. Girls can’t do that because they’re too sensitive. They just sit home and cry instead.

Single Review: Luke Bryan, “Move”

September 25, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

A song so colossally stupid that it can’t even achieve the offensiveness that it is entitled to.

Single Review: Artists of Then, Now & Forever, “Forever Country”

September 24, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 11

What should be little more than an exercise in nostalgia is the most unexpectedly moving country recording in recent memory.

Single Review: Kenny Chesney featuring P!nk, “Setting the World On Fire”

September 8, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 10

Odd how a song about “Setting the World On Fire” is completely lacking in spark.

Single Review: Aaron Lewis, “That Ain’t Country”

August 20, 2016 Leeann Ward 3

Rocker Aaron Lewis effectively schools current mainstream country radio on country music. By declaring that what’s being accepted as country music isn’t actually country, he demonstrates what country music is.

Single Review: Miranda Lambert, “Vice”

July 28, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

“When it hurts this good, you’ve got to play it twice.”

Single Review: Eric Church, “Record Year”

July 11, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

“Record Year” is cleverly written, intertwining turns of phrase with musical references that will satisfy everyone from the casual country fan (Red Headed Stranger) to the scholarly one (New Grass Revival.)

Single Review: Jason Aldean, “Lights Come On”

July 11, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 5

Perhaps this is a song best heard in its proper context.

Single Review: Keith Urban, “Wasted Time”

June 10, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 5

To his credit, you can tell a Keith Urban record is a Keith Urban record as soon as it starts.

Single Review: Luke Bryan, “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day”

June 10, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 8

Any singer or songwriter attempting to write the definitive country pride anthem needs to take one long look at this title and walk away.