Country Universe

Review: Sammy Kershaw, “Real People”

January 12, 2009 Leeann Ward 4

The song that Sammy Kershaw is hoping will be his comeback hit is written so that it will appeal to just about everyone. It gives shout-outs to workers across America: postal workers, teachers, vending machine

Review: Mark Chesnutt, “Things To Do In Wichita”

January 12, 2009 Leeann Ward 5

Mark Chesnutt croons his way through “Things To Do In Wichita” with his usual ease and decisive country swagger. The theme of love gone wrong is timeless in country songs and this one is executed

Review: The Lost Trailers, “How ‘Bout You Don’t”

January 12, 2009 Leeann Ward 2

“How about you don’t”, as in “how about you don’t leave me” seems like an arrogantly feeble argument to try to get someone to stay, don’t you think? Well, that’s the point of The Lost

Review: Darryl Worley, “Sounds Like Life to Me”

January 11, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 18

Listening to the Darryl Worley single, my mind kept drifting to one of my favorite Simpsons episodes. Apu, proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart, has recently become the father of octuplets. He hasn’t slept in weeks, and

Recommend a Track: Deana Carter, “Sunny Day”

January 11, 2009 Guest Contributor 7

On the drive home from a particularly trying workday last week, I was twisting the radio dial in search of one last song before I arrived at my house. It was a dark and stormy

Reviews: Barry Manilow & Reba McEntire, “Islands in the Stream” and Dolly Parton, “Drives Me Crazy”

January 11, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 8

“Islands in the Stream” is a ridiculous song. The arrangement is tacky. The lyrics make absolutely no sense. It’s basically a big ol’ hunk of cheese, aged since 1983. So why did it work so

Vote for The 9513 as Best Music Blog

January 10, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 5

The 9513 has been nominated as Best Music Blog at the 2008 Weblog Awards Go vote now and represent for country music blogging!

Discussion: Countryfied?

January 9, 2009 Guest Contributor 29

Although the question and ensuing discussion regarding whether a certain artist “is country enough” has generally gotten old, discussing “what is country music” has not…nor should it ever. In order for the genre to thrive,

Review: Chuck Wicks, “Man of the House”

January 9, 2009 Dan Milliken 23

You could write one heck of a great song by exploring the complex perspective of a boy who feels obligated to fill the void left in his family by his father’s engagement away from home.

Review: Craig Morgan, “God Must Really Love Me”

January 8, 2009 Leeann Ward 7

In the past, one could credibly argue that while Craig Morgan’s music hasn’t been especially memorable or intriguing, his music had a sort of authentic charm that helped set him apart from some other mid-level