Jul 26, 2009
Jul 24, 2009
Jul 23, 2009
Jul 22, 2009
Oh yeah....
Friday is Alt-Country Day 2. Brand new honest album covers featuring Wilco, Old 97's, Holly Williams and more! Return for a visit please!
Jul 21, 2009
Jul 20, 2009
Take out your aggressions on JR
Since John says lots of people, including him, need a good punch every now and then... let's oblige him. Cut this out along the dashed line and tape it to the punching bag at your local gym or a balloon or bouncy ball... and wail away!
Jul 19, 2009
.99 Review - Gary Allan "Today"
.99 Review - Gary Allan "Today"
The People's Take
Today (5 Stars) – Its about time we get some new Gary Allan. Its a great new songs.
-The Mexican elvis
Perfect (5 Stars) – For any true country fan Gary's new song does not disappoint--it is awesome, hopefully it gets some radio play between all the Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban continuity.
-arm626
My Take
Everything about this song, on paper, screams that it deserves a subpar if not embarrassingly low rating on my value scale. It's more cliché than the average Rascal Flatts song, more pop than a Chuck Wicks ballad and more soppy than a Jimmy Wayne emo song. Nothing, nothing, nothing new is brought to the table. Did I say nothing? It makes Brad Paisley's "Then" look like the most breathtakingly original country song ever written. I should hate this song. It could easily fit into many "real country" fans' lists of examples of all that's wrong with modern country. Here's the summary, Gary's ex is getting married today and he's sad about it. "Looks like she's really gone now" he sings.... nice observation, CSI Nashville.
All that said, I like it. For two reasons. 1) Gary could sing anything and I'd like it (aside from the vomit-inducing career misstep "Tough Little Boys"). I just freaking love the man's voice. 2) It's a sad song. There aren't enough of those around these days. It fills a void.
That's it. I like it. I don't love it. It won't stick with me for long, but I'll be singing it in my head for the next few weeks, at least until I can hear his new album in full. In the hands (or vocal cords, rather) of anyone else, I'd likely hate and deride the song. Gary gets a pass.
Hypocrite much?
Total value: .75/.99
The Checklist
Church/GodMama
Boots
Name Dropping
Dying Person
County Fair
Lost LoveLoveHometown Pride
Kindly Advice
Truck
Whiskey
Beer
Life Affirmation
USA
Soldiers
Pop Sheen
Star Power
(The single cover is just Gary in a doorway... doesn't exactly lend itself to being "Photocrapped")
Jul 17, 2009
Farce the Music Sells Out #2
I don't really know how to properly describe Amber Dust's sound or tell you what genre they're in. They're kinda folk-pop with some Americana and country-ish undertones and their songs have a nice warm glow about them. Most of them are fairly laid back in tempo and smooth as waxed butter. Something like that.... all I know is I really like 'em and they're extremely talented. I even know one of the dudes in the band and he's alright when he's off the Jack Daniels and mini-thins. Did I mention they're also generous? You can get both their debut album and their follow up EP for free at their website 24/7. Maybe if enough people jet over and grab their tunes, the boys will get off their posteriors and release the already-recorded next full Amber Dust album. Give 'em a try!
Free full-length album and EP available here:
Jul 16, 2009
Jul 15, 2009
31 Country Music Themes: 4-6
This is the second edition of a new Farce the Music series entitled "An Illustrated Guide to the 31 Most Commonly Used Thematical Elements in Contemporary Country Music Songs" (or "31 Country Music Themes" for short). This is by no means an all-inclusive documentation of all the themes used in modern commercial country music... only 99.85% of it. I will post themes two to four at a time, usually once a week, until the list is complete. I hope you enjoy, and I hope your future listening enjoyment is ruined because you try to think of the exact corresponding theme and illustration every time you hear a song on country radio!
Jul 14, 2009
John Rich's Songwriting Tips #11
Save your "Bluebird songs" for ... hell, don't write 'em. If it ain't broad enough to land a 757 on that sumbitch, it ain't worth the effort. Don't mess with cutesy stories, multi-syllabic rhymes... or multi-syllabic words for that matter. And complicated concepts never sold a record in Nashvegas baby. Let Gaydiohead tackle that crap. The only message I wanna convey is the one Lulu in Bessemer, Alabama wants to hear droning in the background of her puke green 1999 Nissan Quest while she's running to the Little Caesar's to pick up a nutritious supper for her three fat younguns. Always remember: KISS - Keep it simple sh*thead.*Not actually written by John Rich.
Jul 13, 2009
Jul 12, 2009
Consolation Prizes
For those who didn't win the contest, here are a couple of consolation prizes. Feel free to use these wonderful and expressive banners in your signature on your favorite message board or forum!
Click for a closer view.
Congrats!
The FTM 1st Annifarcery contest is over and the winners are (1st)Kelly and (2nd)CJ!!! Thanks to them and everyone else for entering and thanks for visiting the blog! This last week was the biggest in FTM history!
Jul 11, 2009
Free Music!
You can still enter to win free music from me if you click here. The contest ends tomorrow night at 7PM and I'll pick then alert winners after that. In the meantime, a couple of artists in my genre wheelhouse are offering free tunes for a short time. See below!
And from Owen Temple's website:
We are happy to announce that Owen's new project, Dollars and Dimes, is currently the #1 Americana record on the Euro Americana chart!
Thanks to the DJs and journalists whose votes made Dollars and Dimes the top Americana album in Europe for the month of July-
To celebrate, we are offering FREE downloads of the entire album for a week! Get a copy at http://music.owentemple.com - and click "Download Album"
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