Single Review: Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars, “Safe & Sound”
Yeah, you’ve probably heard this track by now. But let’s just have a post where we talk about it anyway, y’know?
Because this kind of release begs some blog attention, simply for the fact of what it is: a meeting of highly buzzy but divergent artists, and the first soundtrack cut from a hotly anticipated movie (The Hunger Games, adapted from Book 1 of Suzanne Collins’s mega-popular young-adult series). On paper alone, it’s a reminder of why the award shows optimistically call the duet category “Vocal Event.”
100 Greatest Men: #71. Johnny Paycheck
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
For casual fans of country music, Johnny Paycheck was a one-hit wonder who spent a good chunk of his life in jail. For those who know better, he was the greatest of the Outlaw singers and the definitive honky-tonk voice of his time.
Single Review: James Wesley, “Walking Contradiction”
(No, it’s actually not a new Starburst jingle)
100 Greatest Men: #72. Vern Gosdin
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
Vern Gosdin took a long and winding road to Nashville, but once he got there, he became one of the most significant traditional voices of his generation.
100 Greatest Men: #73. Tennessee Ernie Ford
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
Bristol, Tennessee is often referred to as the birthplace of country music. It was also the birthplace of country music legend Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Single Review: Clay Walker, “Like We Never Said Goodbye”
As the title suggests, Clay Walker’s latest single plays out like the alternate ending to Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s fiery “Like We Never Loved At All.” Whereas the latter finds the woman agonizing over her ex moving on, “Like We Never Said Goodbye” tackles a smaller, more predictable range of emotions as its characters rekindle their relationship over wine. On paper, it’s the less interesting road taken.
Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Where the Green Grass Grows”
1998 | Peak: #1
Getting tired of the outstanding Tim McGraw reviews?
Then go read about Emotional Traffic. Fact is, Everywhere-era McGraw was as close to perfection as radio-friendly country music gets.
100 Greatest Men: #74. Sons of the Pioneers
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
Country artists are known for their longevity, but the Sons of the Pioneers make the rest look like flash-in-the-pan newbies.
First formed in 1933, Sons of the Pioneers are the longest-running active vocal group in country music today. The lineup, of course, has changed over the years, but the original group weren’t just sons of the pioneers. They were the pioneers of Western music, that post-ampersand genre that was once an essential half of mainstream country music.
100 Greatest Men: #75. Jim Ed Brown
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
It seems only appropriate that a man whose career was launched by a three act song would himself enjoy a career with three spectacular acts.
Jim Ed Brown, born in 1934, was raised in Arkansas. Like many aspiring country artists of his day, he first sang professionally with his family. Alongside sisters Maxine and Bonnie, they began performing in the early fifties in various combinations.