Country Universe

Jamie Slocum, “Say Hello to Heaven”

May 5, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

Jamie Slocum, “Say Hello to Heaven” This is beautiful, a man speaking to his wife who died in a car accident because of a reckless drunk driver. He’s asking for strength to raise the daughter

Gretchen Wilson, “One of the Boys”

May 5, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 3

Gretchen Wilson, “One of the Boys” “Woo hoo hoo.” That’s a catchy little hook there. Wilson sounds more fully engaged in the material here, much more so than anything that was released off of the

Rick Rubin among the 2007 Time 100 List

May 3, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

One year after the Dixie Chicks popped up on the Time 1oo, the magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people, their producer Rick Rubin has been included in the 2007 list. It’s only

Carrie Underwood, Dixie Chicks Claim Top Digital Country Crowns

May 2, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 17

As album sales tank, the one silver lining in the industry has been the increase in digital sales. Country music consumers have been slow to adapt to the format, but as time has gone on,

Carrie Underwood, “I’ll Stand By You”

April 29, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 65

The original version of “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders is a love anthem that is part tenderness, part defiance. In covering this standard from the early nineties, Carrie Underwood transforms it into a

Worth Reading: April 27, 2007

April 27, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 5

Here’s what’s been catching my attention today: Album Reviews City Girl, Country Girl has high praise for the new John Prine & Mac Wiseman release Standard Songs For Average People: The sound of the album

Joe Nichols, “Another Side of You”

April 27, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 11

Joe Nichols, “Another Side of You” Nichols is the perfect singer for material like this. The song manages to sing of loving a woman’s weaknesses without condescension and of her daily challenges with quite a

Carmen Rasmusen, “Nothin’ Like Summer”

April 27, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 0

Carmen Rasmusen, “Nothin’ Like Summer” Sweet and nostalgic, the debut single from season two American Idol finalist Carmen Rassmusen bounces along pleasantly. Her vocal is actually stronger when she isn’t squeezing in the high note

Worth Reading: April 23, 2007

April 23, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 2

Too much good stuff out there to wait. Here’s what’s caught my eye around the net today: Slant Praise for Dale Watson, Twang Nation Joins CMT Awards Backlash One week after awarding four stars to

Martina McBride, “How I Feel”

April 23, 2007 Kevin John Coyne 4

Martina McBride, “How I Feel” This is the most generic love song I’ve heard in a long, long time. She sings it beautifully, and with more restraint that she’s been known for recently.