Album Review – John Fullbright’s “The Liar”
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At the beginning of his career, John Fullbright was considered one of the fastest-rising names in the Americana scene, validated by a Grammy nomination. Now an album released eight years later into a musical world where there are dozens of rising names, the threat is that it gets overlooked.
A Letter to the Saving Country Music Reader
96 CommentsFirst off I want to apologize to everyone about all the drama that has been happening in some of the comments sections of recent articles. When I started this website, I did so with a strict philosophy that everybody should have a place to voice their opinion, and that discussion and disagreement when done with respect can contribute to a healthy community. I have always encouraged criticism and dissenting viewpoints. I have also always had a strict distaste for censorship in any and all forms. So if I or anyone else posted something on the site, it was there for eternity…
New Albums: Little Lisa Dixie & Honky Tonk Hustlas
A couple of spanking new albums have just dropped that you should be abreast of. The first is the long-awaited album from songstress Little Lisa Dixie. It seems like Little Lisa has been around forever, but this is her first serious, full-length, self-titled release on Another Mile Records. It comes up in discussion often how many underground country bands are from the upper Midwest, and how many are NOT from the deep South. The Honky Tonk Hustlas are an exception…
Saving Country Music Radio on The Real Deal
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I am excited to announce that Saving Country Music now has a home on the radio every Saturday night! It’s called “Saving Country Music Radio”, and it is making its debut run TONIGHT (4-2-11) on The Real Deal, KOOK 93.5 FM 1230 AM, in the heart of the Texas Hill country. But of course, since most of you don’t live in the Texas Hill Country, you can access the live stream of the station right here…
Saving Country Music Theme Song Contestants!
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A while back I solicited the dirty public for a Saving Country Music “Theme Song” as part of a cryptic, undisclosed endeavor, and you responded with some GREAT candidates. Now it is time to march these submission out in front of the jury, and have YOU give your thoughts on which one is best.
The Closing of Willie’s Place & Carl’s Corner
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Willie’s Place was built about three years ago. Though it wasn’t very old, it was the last of a dying breed of unique places that America can boast, where commerce happens, but not at the expense of regional taste and local appeal. What it didn’t have was a well-recognized company logo out front, like 98% of the gas stations and truck stops in America do. It had a hand-painted sign.
Album Review – Caitlin Rose “Own Side Now”
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Own Side Now is the freshman offering from Nashville songstress Caitlin Rose. It is a breath of fresh air in the non-mainstream music scene that seems at times to be polarized between hipster and hardcore. Own Side Now strives for originality, not acceptance; yearning for it’s own niche while not being pretentious. The songs are masterfully-produced and patient. The main influence is country, but there’s some late 60’s hard pop to almost heroine sheik influence…
Nashville To “Go Country”
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In response to the recent trend of many high-profile celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Gaga “Going Country”, a whole city has decided to jump on the trend, and one you may have not expected: Nashville. That’s right, Nashville is “Going Country” according to Butros Butros Frankenfurter, a representative for the recently-formed “Nashville Goes Country Inc.”
Album Review – Slim Cessna’s Auto Club’s “Unentitled”
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At first I didn’t know what to make of this album. In places, this is the most accessible, most non-dark music they have ever done. There are many bands that if they had put out an album like this, grumbles of “going mainstream” or “selling out” would be heard. But The Auto Club is so weird, so fey to begin with, being more normal actually makes them even more weird than they were before, adding to the mystique and mythos behind the band.
This Lady Gaga “Gone Country” Thing
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Ah ha. So everyone wants to tell you that pop megastar Lada Gaga has “gone country”. And everyone wants to know what I think about it. Well to be honest with you, I think it is a brilliant stroke of mad genius. The song is horrendous of course, but that goes without saying. It’s not even meant to be good, so smattering it with criticism is irrelevant. What does matter is that you are talking about it…
Hellbound Glory and Lone Wolf LIVE!
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Just announced, this Sunday night (3-27), Hellbound Glory will be broadcasting their performance at Will’s Pub in Orlando, FL on SCM LIVE! Tune in at 9 PM Eastern, 8 Central for opening act Lone Wolf OMB, who just released his debut album a few weeks ago. I just had the fortune of seeing Hellbound Glory less than a week ago at South by Southwest. It’s a rarity to get such a great mix of top notch songwriting, with an energetic…
Songwriters Salute Hank Williams at Hall of Fame
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The Country Music Hall of Fame has just announced that on April 16th, 2011, they will honor Hank Williams in a special presentation called “I Saw The Light, Songwriters Salute Hank.” I Saw the Light, which is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy…will feature Rodney Crowell, Ashley Monroe, the Secret Sisters and Steve Young. During the program, which will be hosted…
Kiss My Country Ass Blake Shelton! (A Rant)
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I thought we had moved on from the “new Outlaw” era, to pop country stars trying to be the next Taylor Swift. Well apparently not. Now Miranda Lambert’s hubby Blake Shelton wants in on the fun, releasing a song called “Kiss My Country Ass”, an unapologetic, unveiled attempt at the Music Row “Laundry List” songwriting formula, that takes it to another level by rehashing David Allan Coe’s “If That Ain’t Country” and introducing “Outlaw” Blake to the spoon-fed masses.