Country Universe

The First Annual Country Universe Readers’ Choice Awards

January 24, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 27

Carrie Underwood is the top winner of the inaugural Country Universe Reader’s Choice Awards, earning first place in all four of the races in which she was eligible. In addition to being named Artist of

Review: Lady Antebellum, “I Run to You”

January 24, 2009 Dan Milliken 4

Like fellow teenyboppin’ trio Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum craft the sort of country-pop that is “country” only insomuch as the singing accents sound kinda Southern and the lyrics employ such staples as “Mama,” “Daddy,” “cryin’,”

Review: Eric Church, “Love Your Love the Most”

January 24, 2009 Dan Milliken 14

The second single from Eric Church’s forthcoming sophomore set, Carolina, picks up exactly where previous releases “How ‘Bout You” and “Guys Like Me” left off, with Church once again taking some time to show us

Review: Rascal Flatts, “Here Comes Goodbye”

January 24, 2009 Guest Contributor 14

Rascal Flatts begins the new year with another overwrought, regret-filled ballad that sounds like a Casey Kasem countdown dedication, a wimpy attempt at meaningfulness that will tug at the hearts of young women well into

Say What? – Michelle Branch

January 24, 2009 Kevin John Coyne 5

Michelle Branch on her upcoming album, from last week’s issue of Billboard: It’s more singer/songwriter than, I would say, country, but I think the term ‘country’ is all relative now. There’s really no room for

Discussion: Stepping Out…To The Cinema

January 23, 2009 Guest Contributor 13

This week, given the wide variety of views and superb taste of our readership – and yesterday’s Oscar nominations – I thought it would be fun to step away from country music for a minute

Review: Zac Brown Band, “Whatever It Is”

January 23, 2009 Dan Milliken 16

Figures. Just as I was thinking I might forgive Zac Brown Band for making my least favorite track on The Foundation their first single, they go and release what might be my second-least favorite as

Discussion: Are Country Stars Born or Made?

January 22, 2009 Guest Contributor 16

In a 1996 issue of Tennis Magazine, one of the publication’s chief editors wrote an article titled, “Are Champions Born or Made?.” He separates tennis stars from past and present eras in terms of their

Delurking Day

January 21, 2009 Leeann Ward 26

I’ve randomly read on various blogs (not having to do with country music) that it’s National Delurking Month. While I’m uncertain that such a thing is anything official, I thought this would be a cool

Review: Cherryholmes, “This Is My Son”

January 19, 2009 Dan Milliken 8

On the surface, family bluegrass act Cherryholmes’ new single might seem to paint by a lot of standard Nashville numbers, but don’t let the use of over-exploited motifs (God, soldiers, solders’ families) distract you from