Country Universe

Toby Keith, “Love Me If You Can”

June 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 22

Toby Keith, “Love Me If You Can” Toby makes a surprisingly earnest attempt to soften his image, wishing we could all just agree to disagree before our debates turn to angry words, and praying for

Kenny Chesney, “Never Wanted Nothing More”

June 2, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 34

Kenny Chesney, “Never Wanted Nothing More” Chesney previews his upcoming studio album with a surprisingly twangy single, all plucky banjos and the like. At first it seems it’s going to be another one of his

Sara Evans, “As If”

June 1, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 19

Sara Evans, “As If” I don’t think I can name another female country singer who has produced more consistently entertaining and interesting singles in the last decade than Sara Evans. “As If” is the

Brooks & Dunn, “Proud of the House We Built”

June 1, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 12

Brooks & Dunn, “Proud of the House We Built” It’s a decently good lyric that celebrates a love that started with nothing and still is fairly modest, but worthy of pride nonetheless. I have trouble

Bruce Robison, It Came From San Antonio

May 28, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

Bruce Robison It Came From San Antonio Bruce Robison has always been a fantastic singer-songwriter, but he usually takes his time between projects. After last year’s superb Eleven Stories, it’s a wonderful surprise to hear

Pam Tillis, Greatest Hits

May 28, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 2

Greatest Hits June 3, 1997 Ah, the nineties. What seemed so perfect back then, time has taken the shine away from. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about the quality of

Gretchen Wilson, One of the Boys

May 28, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

Gretchen Wilson One of the Boys Gretchen Wilson continues her baffling descent from the promise of her debut album, Here For the Party. Its follow-up, All Jacked Up, suffered from overconfidence, a cocky attitude of

Pam Tillis, All of This Love

May 27, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

All of This Love November 7, 1995 You can learn much about an artist’s commitment to their craft by how they capitalize on their success. Pam Tillis had credibility and commercial clout to burn after

Daryle Singletary, “Jesus and Bartenders”

May 27, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

Daryle Singletary, “Jesus and Bartenders” Singletary covers an Rebecca Lynn Howard album track from a few years back. It’s a classic country honky-tonk number, and while Howard’s original version has its charms, Singletary’s a

Pam Tillis, Sweetheart’s Dance

May 27, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 2

Sweetheart’s Dance April 26, 1994 After two successful albums with producers Paul Worley & Ed Seay, Pam Tillis needed a change. She approached her label with a request to co-produce her third country album, and