Country Universe

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

Sugarland, “Everyday America”

May 24, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 6

Sugarland, “Everyday America” A charming slice of country pop Americana. Jennifer Nettles has such an infectious voice that she can sell just about anything, but she has some good material to work with here. I

ACM Sales Bounce? Not So Much.

May 22, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

So I’m checking out this week’s from Hits Daily Double, and expecting to see a sales bounce among country artists who performed on the ACM show early in the tracking week. Turns out, that didn’t

John Anderson,Easy Money

May 19, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

John Anderson Easy Money By Paul W. Dennis John Anderson and George Strait are about the only two with a high profile left from the generation of male singers that came to prominence in the

Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

May 19, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

Miranda Lambert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend The glimmers of promise flashed by Miranda Lambert on her debut album, Kerosene, have been delivered on and then some on her confident and fully formed sophomore set, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Over

Reba McEntire featuring Kelly Clarkson, “Because of You”

May 19, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 17

Reba McEntire featuring Kelly Clarkson, “Because of You” “Because of You” is one of my favorite pop songs of the past few years, a dark and powerful ballad of family dysfunction. I was nervous when

Daryle Singletary, Straight From the Heart

May 19, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 1

Daryle Singletary Straight From the Heart Album Review by Paul W. Dennis Daryle Singletary never managed to become a megastar, mostly because he has too much soul and integrity for today’s Nashville. Simply put, Daryl

Tim McGraw, “If You’re Reading This”

May 17, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 74

Tim McGraw. “If You’re Reading This.” As performed on the 2007 ACM Awards. Press Play. Then Play Again. Update: Now that it’s been released officially as a single, let me add a few words and

Faith Hill, "Lost"

May 17, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 13

Faith Hill, “Lost” Hill taps into her skills as a pop singer once again, wrapping her smoky vocals around a sultry decla ration of passion. The conceit of the lyric is novel, and she conveys