Country Universe

Brad Paisley, “Letter to Me”

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 14

Putting aside the fact that Alanis Morissette did the same thing with a lot more flair nine years ago on “Unsent”, Brad Paisley’s put out one of the better singles of his career, a welcome

Rascal Flatts, “Winner at a Losing Game”

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 17

When the music first started, I seriously thought this was the Pointer Sisters kicking off “Slow Hand”, steel guitar be damned. Tailor-made for a “Hot AC remix”, this is pure late seventies/early eighties pop. They

Rodney Atkins, “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 7

Ha! After listening to the tepid suburban fairytale “Stealing Cinderella”, I can’t help but love this alternative scenario play out when a young man comes a-courtin’. Atkins continues to be one of the finest young

Van Zant, “Goes Down Easy”

October 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Well, I’ll be damned. I was digging this barroom anthem from the beginning, a honky-tonk drinking celebration that captures the carefree nature of those island drinking songs without brining the calypso instrumentation along for the

Lori McKenna, “Unglamorous”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

Simply put, one of the best songs of the year. A glorious rundown of the mundane – wine in jelly glasses, threadbare rugs, bathtub rings – which elevates the no-frills existence of a family with

Lee Brice, “Happy Endings”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

Lee Brice’s second single is leaps better than his first. “Happy Endings” finds a man in Myrtle Beach watching his woman walk out on him. She’s hopping in the car and driving to California. He’s

Luke Bryan, “We Rode in Trucks”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

I guess that when you’re still young and want to write a nostalgic song, you have to do it about your childhood. The problem is, unless you’re wise before your time, there isn’t much to

Cowboy Crush, “Miss Difficult”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

Enough already. I am so tired of “attitude songs” always being coupled with loud, obnoxious production. The drumbeat is too in-your-face and the poor singers have to scream to be heard over it. What stinks

Cole Deggs & The Lonesome, “Girl Next Door”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 3

Long story short: the girl next door that he falls for is really a hell-raiser. Cookie-cutter faux-Southern Rock, competently performed. There has to be more to this band than what we’ve heard so far, but

Billy Joe Shaver featuring Marty Stuart, “Winning Again”

October 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Ever wonder what the Benny Hill music might sound like if it was twanged up from here to hog heaven? I do believe it would resemble the relentlessly addictive hillbilly jam that backs “Winning Again,”