Country Universe

Discussion: Greatest Hits Going the Way of the Dodo?

November 2, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 17

There’s a big article in Billboard this week about how Rascal Flatts are hoping to dodge the downward trend that recent hits collections have been experiencing. Their attempt to do so was to add a

Open Thread

November 1, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 35

You have the floor. Chat away.

Review: Martina McBride, “Ride”

November 1, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 18

Martina McBride previews her forthcoming album with “Ride”, a high-energy single that surrounds one of her typical positive messages with atypically aggressive production. This is worth hearing for the guitar work alone, but stick around

Dean Dillon

November 1, 2008 Guest Contributor 6

Although he started his career in front of a microphone, Dean Dillon soon transitioned into one of the finest songwriters in Nashville, notably enhancing the careers of one of its legends and illustrating an uncommon

Discussion: Recommend a Track

October 31, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 18

Earlier this week, I’d planned on talking about an Iris Dement track for this weekly discussion thread. Then some poking around on iTunes led me to discover something else entirely. I love iTunes because it

Adam Gregory, “What It Takes”

October 31, 2008 Guest Contributor 14

At just twenty-three years old, Adam Gregory has built a following in Nashville based on a soulful vocal style and a strong dose of melody. His first single, “Crazy Days,” dinted the charts, and now he’s

Hank Williams III, “Six Pack of Beer”

October 31, 2008 Dan Milliken 6

A breakneck, banjo-riffic hoedown with a commanding vocal, seamless chorus, brilliantly minimalistic lyric, and friggin’ sweet instrumental break. That’s the closest I can come to explaining this wonder of a record, which marries the art

Old Crow Medicine Show, "Mary's Kitchen"

October 30, 2008 Dan Milliken 5

Meh. Old Crow have become a cult favorites by way of raucous roots revivals that often bulldoze the boundaries of proper content and delivery, but you probably wouldn’t get that just from this record. Sure,

Jeremy McComb, “Cold”

October 30, 2008 Dan Milliken 7

Ah, developing niches. Newbie McComb had an solid debut playing the passively frustrated lonely guy in “This Town Needs a Bar,” and now he reprises the role in this buzzed-about follow-up. Fair enough. The song

Discussion: Artist of the Decade?

October 30, 2008 Guest Contributor 34

Earlier today, the Academy of Country Music announced that George Strait would be its Artist of the Decade. Only four other acts have been honored as artist of the decade: Marty Robbins in 1969, Loretta