October 15, 2012 Last night was a long time coming. Not only because we were waiting for season 3 to start, but we were waiting for season 3 to be good. Everyone talks about how pacing became and issue in season 2, so I was a little worried that we wouldn't see the group get into the prison until mid season. What a refresher that they are already inside by the end of the episode.
Vulnerability is not Montgomery Gentry's specialty. Country music's toughest duo aim to be the good guy in 'I'll Keep the Kids,' but in the context of their personal lives, the divorce ballad tastes like sour grapes.
Blake Shelton sets a high bar for 2012 holiday albums with 'Cheers, It's Christmas,' his new collection of originals and classics. The singer with the sharpest tongue in Nashville doesn't seem like a natural fit to reminisce of yuletide fun, but he's supported by a strong stable of backup singers and collaborative partners on this offering.
Call it hokey if you want, but try not to smile while listening to Josh Turner's new song 'Find Me a Baby.' The second single from 'Punching Bag' is more fun than anything of his since 'Why Don't We Just Dance' from 2009. Turner exemplifies everything one hopes marriage will be.
There are few joys in country music quite like listening to Dwight Yoakam sing. The legend's voice is strong enough to build a town around, yet he shows vulnerability in the smallest -- but most important -- ways. It's the little upticks at the end of his phrases, or the uncomfortable grit in dire ballads that invite fans to happily drown in his sorrow. '3 Pears' is an album long overdue. Yoakam proves that he would really have to try to make a bad album.
October 3, 2012 Recently I purchased the game app Bad Piggies for my iPhone. I've owned every game of angry birds and always found them fun to play. That being said, they are no where near as fun as Bad Piggies. It is truly an addicting and fun game to play.
An album cover has never represented the music it protects better than Jerrod Niemann's 'Free the Music' artwork. The 'Shinin' on Me' singer's sophomore project is a busy collection of instruments and themes that take some effort to sort through and enjoy.
Chris Young darkens his stamp as country music's most reliable romancer with his new single 'I Can Take It From There.' The uptempo lover is reminiscent of 'Gettin' You Home,' but not quite that sexy.
The very nature of the EP lends itself more to an artist's most faithful supporters than middling fans looking for an entry point into a new style or sound. Jake Owen's 'Endless Summer' EP allows his warm weather party with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw to last a little longer, but like summer love, the four songs will be little more than memories by the first yellow leaves of fall.
Fans of Clay Walker know him as a lot of great things, but 'outlaw' is not one of them. It's a fair question for people to ask if his new single, 'Jesse James,' is sung with tongue loosely planted in cheek. One leans towards yes after checking out the cover art. The hat is a little big, the pants a little too pressed. He's a cowboy if cowboys shopped at Banana Republic.
September 25, 2012 I've seen the ads on TV for a while now, and finally decided to try it. A taco shell made out of Doritos? What could go wrong? So my co-host Cathy and I decided to go for a little drive over to Taco Bell to give it a try.
