Album Review – Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit’s “Weathervanes”
178 CommentsDon’t call it a comeback. Jason Isbell has been the King of Americana ever since he released his album Southeastern 10 years ago this week. But nothing will ever be good enough when it’s measured against perfection.
Report: iTunes Is Buying Big Machine Records
45 CommentsAccording to sources, a deal is in process for iTunes to purchase the Big Machine Label Group for $250 million. Big Machine’s current distribution deal with UMG is up, and Taylor Swift has one more album left on the label before her contract expires, leading to speculation Big Machine wants to sell before they risk losing their superstar.
Jim Ed Brown is “In Style Again” with New Solo Record
13 CommentsHear ye hear ye all you old farts, all of you jackasses, all of you oldies who fall under Blake Shelton’s ire for only wanting to listen to grandpa’s music. Jim Ed Brown, the country music legend and Grand Ole Opry icon, known fondly for much of his career as a member of the family band The Browns, has released his first solo record in over 40 years, and he beat lung Cancer to do it.
DON’T BUY Hank III’s “Take As Needed For Pain”
62 CommentsAs first reported by Saving Country music in November of 2014, Curb Records is back at it, regurgitating previously-released material from Hank Williams III and trying to pass it off to consumers as new music. As many labels are announcing many of the titles from their spring catalogs, Curb this week has released the cover art and track list for “Take As Needed For Pain.”
“Bro-Country” Defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as a New Word
66 Comments“Bro-Country”—the much-maligned sub-genre of country music that is defined most purely by acts such as Florida Georgia Line, Chase Rice, Cole Swindell, and a host of others, was recently featured on the Cambridge Dictionary’s “New Words” blog as a neologism, or newly-coined word. And it couldn’t come at a better time since many of Bro-Country’s perpetrators profess ignorance at the word’s meaning.
Matt Woods Debuts New Video for “Ain’t No Living”
9 CommentsFans have waited since October of 2013 from a new Matt Woods video he’s been teasing for a while, and today he premiers the visual accompaniment to “Ain’t No Living”—the opening track from his critically-acclaimed album With Love From Brushy Mountain released in 2014. It’s being released in conjunction with Woods embarking with Southern rock band Fifth on the Floor as the opener on their farewell tour…
Ray Wylie Hubbard’s New Album “The Ruffian’s Misfortune”
14 CommentsThe Forgotten Outlaw, and the man at the forefront of keeping American roots filled with the rockin’, gritty heart of the 60’s music revolution, has just announced a new album, and has released a new song in conjunction. Ray Wylie Hubbard will release his newest record “The Ruffian’s Misfortune” through his own label Bordello Records.
Album Review – American Aquarium’s ‘Wolves”
17 Comments2015 just might be the year of American Aquarium, or that’s at least the popular sentiment being kicked around in certain circles. Written and recorded after a long hiatus between releases, American Aquarium took their time with this one, letting the songs maturate, and allowing a stylistic shift in their sound to emerge, something that would hopefully get them over that hump.
Dwight Yoakam Announces New Album “Second Hand Heart”
29 CommentsRockin’ West Coast country music legend Dwight Yoakam has a fresh new set of tracks ready to be offered to the listening public under the collective title of “Second Hand Heart.” The new album is said to hearken back to Yoakam’s early cowpunk days, when the caramel-voiced singer was coming up in the ranks touring with punk and rock bands as a throwback country music artist.
Why Does Marty Stuart Wear So Many Scarves?
77 CommentsYou would think there would be much more important business to attend to in the lives of country music fans than to worry about what clothing accessories Marty Stuart chooses to adorn his wardrobe with, but you may not find a another topic of more intrigue or discussion amongst some country listeners than why Marty decides to indulge in neck finery as part of his public fashion.
“Blasphemy” Claims Overshadow Great Robbie Fulks Performance
51 CommentsFulks is revered for his songwriting and playing that veers from bluegrass and traditional country stylings into folk music sentiments and themes. Robbie puts on a show these days that is something the whole family can enjoy. But when Fulks uttered “goddamn” incidentally in the lyrics of one of his songs, it stimulated a quite a row in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Song Review – Carrie Underwood’s “Little Toy Guns”
26 CommentsTold from the perspective of a young girl facing the emotional toll rendered from listening to mommy and daddy fighting, “Little Toy Guns” puts the listener in a place most any human from an American family has found themselves in, yet we seem to be unable to extricate ourselves from replicating this same foolish and unfortunate behavior with our own families as adults.
“One Asshole at a Time.” Sturgill Simpson Stops Concert Fight
33 CommentsThis week Sturgill Simpson embarked on a much-anticipated sold out American tour, and the third night of the tour saw him in his home state of Kentucky playing at the Madison Theater in Covington, just over the river from Cincinnati. The venue was filled to capacity, with little room for elbows or egos, and during Sturgill’s song “Sometimes Wine” a scuffle started in the crowd.