Country Universe

Kellie Pickler, “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind”

August 16, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 12

You know what? I enjoyed listening to this a lot. I smiled, I laughed a few times. It reminded me of Pickler when she was at her most endearing on Idol. Her personality shines through

Andy Griggs, “What If It’s Me”

August 16, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

The song is solid, as his material often is. He sings it with conviction, nuance and enough shades of emotion to convey the conflict in the lyric. The anemic production comes close to derailing an

Essential Viewing: Women of Country Special

August 15, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 11

CBS has a tendency to pull clips from this show down as soon as they’re up, so I highly recommend watching it now: the 1993 Women of Country documentary. It traces the history of women

Fifty vs. Kanye vs. Kenny

August 15, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 16

Entertainment Weekly has an interesting take on the brewing feud between hip-hop mega-stars 50 Cent and Kanye West: Whose new CD will sell more when they both drop on Sept. 11, 50 Cent or Kanye

Trisha vs. Trisha

August 13, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 12

Two Trisha Yearwood albums are on the way this year. The first is Greatest Hits, a compilation of fifteen of her bigger MCA hits along with two previously unreleased tracks, on Sept. 11. The second

Yesterday's Songs: August 12, 1995

August 12, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

This list was an interesting trip down memory lane. This particular top twenty has my personal favorites from Brooks & Dunn, George Strait and Pam Tillis, alongside singles I’d completely forgotten about from Vince Gill,

George Strait, “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls”

August 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 17

George Strait has a knack for finding interesting songs that take surprising twists. His delivery is so casual and unassuming that the lyrics sneak up on you. I was ready to write this off

Jennifer Hanson, “Joyride”

August 10, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 3

This may be the best Sheryl Crow record that Sheryl Crow never made, a nice little cross between “Every Day is a Winding Road” and “Steve McQueen.” Given that I was half-dreading, half-hoping that this

Little Big Town, “I’m With the Band”

August 8, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

This is mid-seventies country-rock done really, really well. If I didn’t already own the Almost Famous soundtrack, I’d swear this was on it. They’re letting their roots show, and it’s a flattering sound for them.

Mel Tillis, Vince Gill & Ralph Emery newest Hall of Famers

August 7, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

Singer-songwriter legends Mel Tillis & Vince Gill will join country media icon Ralph Emery in the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year. Tillis enters the Hall of Fame in the performer category for