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Sep 26, 2010
Sep 24, 2010
YouTube Gems: The Jayhawks
It's fall, according to the calendar, and it may even actually feel like it where you are (not here, we hit 95 today). Alt-country greats The Jayhawks always remind me of this time of year for some reason. Anyway, here's the divinely harmonic "Blue." (How "90's" is this video??)
Sep 23, 2010
Sep 21, 2010
Next post is...
...Country Day September featuring parody covers of the Casey Donahew Band, Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Steel Magnolia and many more!
Sep 20, 2010
Sep 19, 2010
Top 10 Changes the Success of Jamey Johnson's "The Guitar Song" Will Bring Upon Nashville
10. Jason Aldean will attempt to grow a beard, unsuccessfully
09. Demo of "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" sung by JJ will be leaked in hopes of damaging his cred
08. Curb Records to sign homeless man named James E. Johnson
07. Country as a whole embraces honesty, eschews pop influences, stops valuing image over substance, returns to roots. (Also, bacon rains from sky and Los Angeles Lakers win Super Bowl)
06. Taylor Swift asked by management to consider a temporary drug habit
05. Title-track duet partner Bill Anderson refuses Brad Paisley's next round of silly between-song skits because he's now a "serious" artist
04. Rascal Flatts' next release will be a double album. Side 1: The "CR" Album; Side 2: The "AP" Album
03. Fame-weary Jamey will disappear into the Appalachians, smoking a pipe, never to be heard from again except in mountain lore
02. Martina McBride will attempt to grow a beard, successfully
01. Eh, pretty much business as usual, cute blondes, fake cowboys, committee written songs, mindless filler between ads
Sep 18, 2010
Sep 17, 2010
YouTube Gems: Jamey Johnson
From The Guitar Song, here's Jamey Johnson with my current favorite from that 25-song collection of awesomeness, "Can't Cash My Checks."
Sep 16, 2010
Sep 15, 2010
Little Known Facts IV
Emily West wants you to stop stalking her on Twitter.
Taylor Swift's main concern in her career is seeking the adulation and respect of bloggers.
Billy Joe Shaver can play ping-pong with one arm tied behind his back and the other holding a beer.
90s counry star Michael Peterson wonders if you'd like to try BK's new Steakhouse Burger today.
The name Lady Antebellum, loosely translated in latin, means "pretentiously random."
Tim McGraw was born in Delhi.
At least 29 different Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee residents listed "Zac Brown Band" as their employer on last year's tax returns.
Chuck Wicks once looked out over a long autograph line and remarked to his bassist "Do you think we'll get to meet Josh Turner by 3?"
Garth Brooks is frequently brought to tears when critics say he is the cause of country music straying from its roots. He is also brought to tears by carpet burns, Hallmark commercials and very special episodes of The Cosby Show.
Big Kenny is nice.
Faith Hill is a very hands-on mother, says Felicia Ortega, one of the McGraws' Monday nannies.
Sep 14, 2010
Cover of new Jamey Johnson album
For those of you who didn't purchase it today (shame on you!), here's the cover of the new Jamey Johnson album. Now go buy it!
Sep 13, 2010
Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song: A Warning List
Jamey Johnson's massive 25-song double-album The Guitar Song comes out today/Tuesday and there are some important things you should know about it before you hit that "download" button or slide the CD across the Walmart self checkout.
1. Adult Language!
1. Adult Language!
By adult language, I don't mean there's cursing (though there is some). I mean this is country for grown-@ss men and women. There's no diary page stream of consciousness. No cutesy turns of phrase just for the sake of cleverness. No Hallmark card lyric love songs. What you will hear in these words is unadulterated pain, unfiltered loneliness, pure heartache and true love along with a genuine reverence for real country music.
2. Some Assembly Required
Most of these songs don't spoon feed the listener. They don't follow the expected delivery format of Nashville country songs. Everything isn't spelled out for you. For instance, "Poor Man's Blues" never says any felony was committed, you just know. The Guitar Song's lyrics are reminiscent of the best rock and most outlaw country in that they aren't entirely linear. You gotta put some stuff together for yourself. There are a lot more shades of gray than black &/or white (despite the thematically split albums "Black" and "White").
3. Exposed Influences
Some artists might shy away from covering so many well-known country classics, but Johnson says to hell with it and gives us a Kristofferson cover, a Mel Tillis/Waylon cover, a Vern Gosdin cover and a song the late Keith Whitley wrote, the wonderful opener, "Lonely at the Top." There's an appearance from Whispering Bill Anderson on the title track. You'll also hear a lot of Willie, Bocephus, Merle and more throughout this sprawling epic.
4. Radio-Unfriendly/Non-PC Themes
The Guitar Song covers cheating, drinking, drugging, killing, growing marijuana (in the breathtaking "Can't Cash My Checks"), debt, spanking children, co-dependency, lust, depression, divorce and more. If your normal listening habits include several hours a day of Clearchannel radio, this album may come as a shock to your system.
5. "Imperfections" Abound
Johnson's voice has been the subject of many a negative review of his work. Personally, I love his semi-nasal Waylon meets Merle voice, but I guess I understand how someone could not... no, actually I don't, but still. The recording of the songs, like on That Lonesome Song, make you feel like you're in the studio. There are pops, clicks, voices, hisses and buzzes in the background between and sometimes during songs. All this adds to the warm, organic feel of the album, but if you prefer sterile perfection, avoid this album.
6. Commitment Required
Obviously, with 25 songs on the record, this thing takes some time to digest. If you're not ready to invest several hours a week, you need not apply. It takes time to let the growers grow. It takes repeated listens to hear every nuance. And heck, some of the songs are 6 and 7 minutes long. If 3 minutes is all you wanna give a country song, skip The Guitar Song.
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Well, I think that about covers it. I hope you'll heed these cautionary guides so that you can either enjoy this album responsibly or bypass it altogether. Take care.
(Mini review: The Guitar Song is a near-masterpiece, containing only a couple of weak(er) songs, that barely diminish the overall presentation. Jamey Johnson is on another level from the rest of Nashville. Standout tracks include "How I Don't Love You," "Can't Cash My Checks" and "I Remember You." Absolutely fantastic album. I'll give it 4.75 beards out of 5)
Sep 12, 2010
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