Country Universe

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

Sugarland, “It Happens”

February 13, 2009 Guest Contributor 17

Jennifer Nettles sums up the latest Sugarland single better than I ever could. “Ain’t no rhyme or reason, no complicated meaning. Ain’t no need to over-think it,” she says, echoing my impression of “It Happens,”

Favorite Songs by Favorite Artists: Linda Ronstadt

February 13, 2009 Guest Contributor 33

The following is a guest contribution from Country Universe reader Erik North. Sometimes you first find out about your favorite artists not necessarily from your peers but, strangely enough, from either your parents or your

Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift among Music’s Biggest Moneymakers

February 12, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 10

Only three country acts are among the past year’s top moneymakers in music: If anyone had any doubt that touring is where the money is in the music business, a quick look at the top

ACM Album of the Year Criteria Amended

February 12, 2009 Guest Contributor 9

A Peter Cooper article in today’s edition of the Tennessean: The album of the year nominees are … as yet unannounced. That’s because the Academy re-thought its prerequisite that album contenders sell at least 300,000