Country Universe

Patty Griffin, “No Bad News”

September 29, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

So who the hell is Patty Griffin, anyway? If you’re asking that question, I highly recommend clicking through and hearing one of Americana’s most consistently interesting and incisive songwriters. Here, she emphatically rejects fear and

Trisha Yearwood, Greatest Hits

September 23, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

Trisha Yearwood Greatest Hits Just a little more than ten years ago, Trisha Yearwood released her first hits collection. Entitled Songbook, it was a massive hit, selling more than four million copies to date.

Steve Earle, “City of Immigrants”

September 22, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

“Living in a city of immigrants, I don’t need to go traveling.” Steve Earle has apparently become a New Yorker, and has taken it upon himself to celebrate everything that makes this city great. Celebrations

Dwight Yoakam, “Close Up the Honky Tonks”

September 22, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

Shortly before his death, Johnny Cash was asked who he thought the best male vocalist in country music was. His response: Dwight Yoakam. Anyone wondering where Cash was coming from need only spin “Close Up

Sugarland covers Beyoncé

September 20, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

Jonathan from over at Slant gave me the heads up today about this video circulating on YouTube. Apparently Sugarland has been doing quite the unexpected cover song in concert lately: When I first heard “Irreplaceable”,

Faith Hill, “Red Umbrella”

September 15, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

If “Lost” revisited the smoky romance of “Breathe”, “Red Umbrella” is just as reminiscent of Hill’s whimsical pop-country confections “This Kiss” and “If My Heart Had Wings.” Her joy-filled performance and the candy-sweet production come

Sugarland, “Stay”

September 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 29

This their finest single to date. Jennifer Nettle turns in an achingly vulnerable vocal, with only an acoustic guitar backing her up for most of the song. “Stay” is the story of the other

Gretchen Wilson, “You Don’t Have to Go Home”

September 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Good enough. She sounds fully engaged, it’s up-tempo and rowdy without being in-your-face obnoxious, and every detail from this last call scene sounds authentic and believable. It’s certainly more realistic than “All Jacked Up.” I

Craig Morgan, “International Harvester”

September 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

Forgive me, but the awkward writing int he chorus keeps making me think that he’s married to his sister. Anyway, cute stuff. Any time I’ve been caught behind a tractor it’s been okay to pass

Dolly Parton, "Better Get to Livin'"

September 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 14

Today’s country music is heavy on stars but light on icons. Dolly Parton, my friends, is an icon. Her new single, “Better Get to Livin’”, is one of the best singles of the