Jason Isbell – Page 8 – Country Universe

Daily Top Five: Palate Cleansers

July 5, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 18

It’s gotten to the point that I can’t listen to more than two country singles in a row without wanting to hurt somebody. So here’s the daily top five. What are some songs that are

Daily Top Five: Most Wanted, 2015

June 23, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 12

As we near the end of the first half of 2015, what are the albums coming later in the year that you’re looking forward to the most? Here’s my list: Jason Isbell, Something More Than

Daily Top Five: Twitter Country

June 1, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 4

We’ve been beefing up our activity on Twitter of late– for those of you not following us yet, you’ll never in a million years believe that our name is @CountryUniverse— and have been enjoying the

Daily Top Five: Strengthen Country Radio

April 22, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 19

Actively writing single reviews again has me also looking at the radio charts again. What a bleak landscape of interchangeable singers and songs! I can’t remember things ever being this generic and bland. We flirted

Daily Top Five: Most Recent Purchases

April 14, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 29

Today’s a fairly big release day for long time country music fans, as two legends release sets today: Reba McEntire, who returns after five years with Love Somebody, and Dwight Yoakam, who is back with

Album Review: Gretchen Peters, Blackbirds

March 23, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 2

Gretchen Peters Blackbirds More so than her artfully-turned phrases and her novel, evocative imagery, perhaps Gretchen Peters’ greatest gift as a songwriter is her mastery of perspective. Peters’ ability to shift her narrative voice to

Single Review: Brantley Gilbert, “One Hell of an Amen”

February 25, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 12

“One Hell of an Amen” Brantley Gilbert Written by Brian Davis, Mike Dekle, and Brantley Gilbert I actually feel kind of bad for Brantley Gilbert. His heart is totally in the right place. But the

Starter Kit: Jason Isbell

February 17, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 9

In early February, Zac Brown Band kicked off a brief cycle of Twitter Outrage when they performed a cover of Jason Isbell’s “Dress Blues,” which they are rumored to have cut for their upcoming album,

Song Talk: Songs About Songs

July 17, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 17

Songs have such a big impact on our life experience that they sometimes inspire songs of their own. It’s a cool theme that I wish more singers and songwriters would explore. Here are some of

Single Review: Blake Shelton, “Doin’ What She Likes”

January 20, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 10

There’s a point early on where you hear Blake Shelton end a line with the word “fajitas,” and you just know the next line will end with “margaritas.”