Feb 9, 2011
Feb 8, 2011
Feb 7, 2011
The Scourge of Bleeding Cowboys
Bleeding Cowboys is a free grunge font offered at Dafont.com. When it first came out years ago, I'll admit I thought it was pretty cool. I started noticing it on blogs, t-shirts, logos and album covers. Didn't mind it so much. Then the calendar flipped over to 2008 and I was pretty tired of it. That didn't stop work-at-home graphic designers (and apparently, designers at major firms - see the Taylor Swift liner art and Daughtry cover) from slapping it on everything that needed attitude for years to come. The below is a large, but far from thorough collection of album covers and music-related art that uses the horribly overused Bleeding Cowboys. Designers: Stop being so cheap and lazy! (that's my job)
Feb 6, 2011
You Suck as a Music Fan Vol. 2
•If you don't read Farce the Music. - Jen Campbell :)
•If you iTunes goes Taylor Swift to Taylor Swift with nothing before, after or in-between. - Justin Tate
•You hate any genre based on preconceptions alone
•You download illegally. - Christina Maccini
•There are 3 or less genres listed on your iTunes
•You won't buy a song or album that doesn't have the "Parental Advisory" label
•You think Sugarland is awesome. - @xMusicSnob99x
•You've never listened to a complete album start to finish
•You only like Metallica's music from The Black Album on
•You try to convince Farce the Music that your favorite band is good after he bashes them. - @TheOtherBrit
•You never bother to check your favorite artists out live! - @RealityofLynn
•You read Farce the Music. - @Rockstar_Aimz
•…you suck as a music fan. - Richard Grantham
•You don't know who Guy Clark is. - Butch Baker
•You don't know who Roy Clark is. - Jen Campbell
•You tolerate the existence of Nickelback. - Chris Neal
•You feel the need to predicate the word "country" with a descriptor…"NEW country"…"ALT country"…yadayadayada!!! - Christine Vaillancourt (uh oh! that's me!)
•You don't know who Jimi Hendrix is. - Michael Quinn
•Alison Bonaguro is your "go-to" source. - Karen Em K
Feb 5, 2011
Feel Bad For You mixtape February
This month's edition includes Ponderosa, Kitty Wells, Reckless Kelly, The Civil Wars and more. Check it out!
Stream it here:
Download it here:
Feb 4, 2011
YouTube Gems: Ponderosa
Here's a great 3 for 1 YouTube clip - 3 great tunes from southern rockers, Ponderosa. Their album Moonlight Revival is one of my early favorites of 2011.
Feb 3, 2011
Feb 2, 2011
Feb 1, 2011
Snap Judgments: Promo Only Country Radio February 2011
Just when you think it can't get any worse…..
(Click on the titles to listen)
Snap Judgments - Promo Only Country Radio February 2011
Brad Paisley - This is Country Music
If this song had come out 10 years ago, I might give it a B+. As it stands, this is more of a restating of current country music's (over)recurring themes, than it is a valiant defense of the genre. Thou doth protest too much.
C-
Steel Magnolia - Last Night Again
This sounds like the sequel to Lady A's "Need You Now." They sound good together and this is kinda, sorta something new thematically… I guess.
C+
Aaron Russell - It Don't Get No Better Than This
Sounds like a 90's C-lister. Does this hook even have any gravity these days? For you born after 1980, the title was the tag line for some beer back in the day. Busch I think. This isn't good. Like Busch.
D-
Guy Penrod - Pray About Everything
I already know what the chorus is going to say before it gets here. I was right. Oh wait, this is a Luke Bryan song too… and he did a much better job with it. This should scrape the top 60 before dropping off the chart. Good message, just a flat performance.
D
Alabama - Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way
My prejudices were proved wrong here. This is a decent cover of the Waylon classic. A little pointless since it's no kind of retooling or different direction, but it's more solid than I expected. Randy sounds a little tired, but other than that, few complaints.
C+
Kid Rock - Born Free
This is no snap judgment since I've heard this song many times already. I thought it was a pretty dull take on Bob Seger at first, but it's grown on me. Kid Rock does okay with this classic rock sound. The line "if you can't see my heart, you must be blind" irks me, despite my comprehension of metaphor. If a metaphor makes you focus on its literal meaning, it's not effective. However, I hate this song way less than I should.
B-
Crossin Dixon - Goodbye to Henry
Another 90's redux song, but this kicks Aaron Russell's ass. These guys play around here all the time, so they can't be very good though. This is the best Montgomery Gentry song in years…but they had no part in it. Not bad, not bad. Most honest angle on the death of a friend to hit country radio (though it probably won't) in a while.
B-
Miranda Lambert - Heart Like Mine
This girl's got balls. A lot of reviews have stated that this was a safe single release. I don't agree. Mentioning how Jesus drank wine is not "safe" in my neck of the woods. That could get you excommunicated from the Baptist church, friends and Larry Lee agrees. I don't just love this song, but it's strong… Miranda should spread the wealth a little. She gets all the "chick songs" with any weight.
B+
Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go
Even thought I've already read CM's positive review, I won't let him influence my snark. If I haven't said it before, I don't hate every Rascal Flatts song... really. This one has a nice easy groove… it's way vague though. The melodies are pretty nice and "The Voice" doesn't over-emote here. Still, it's nowhere close to guilty pleasure territory. I might not have a conniption reaching to change the dial when this comes on, but I'll never seek it out.
C
Ashton Shepherd - Look it Up
As much as I love twang and "real" country, I'm gonna confess that Ashton's drawl may be a little much for even me. Not a bad song, but the repeating of "look it up" bugs the shit out of me in this song. It's like George Strait's "Write This Down." It doesn't really fit in every instance, lyrically… and that's more annoying than clever. I root for this girl out of principle, but I don't like this song.
C-
Steve Holy - Love Don't Run
Holy gets a hit every 3 years, rain or shine. I don't know that this is the one. Maybe it could catch the right ears and ride a wave of approval like Billy Currington's latest has, but Steve doesn't have quite the pipes that Billy does so he needs a more impressive song to pull his gravy train. Kinda boring.
C+
Ricky Skaggs - Someday Soon
Hmm, not sure why this is on here. It's more commercial sounding than anything I've heard from Ricky since the early 90's, but that still doesn't mean anything to radio programmers. I like this, though. It's a galloping mid-tempo anthem that inspires without preaching. If it had a little more spark to it, I could see a more pop leaning artist taking this into the top 10 - Rascal Flatts maybe.
B+
The Band Perry - You Lie
This "band" has proven itself far better than its debut single "Hip to My Heart," with its folksy bent and shining melodies. This song isn't all that… but it's still better than most of what's on the dial. I hope they take more chances next time out (next album, single, whatever). Plenty of promise in their sound though.
B-
Randy Montana - 1,000 Faces
Pop-country-rock. Yawn. 1,000 Faces is another "microcosm of what's wrong with country radio" song. It's vague, hell the hook barely makes sense, but that won't matter… it's sung by a handsome guy with a mainstream voice over a rocking mid-tempo country track. Not even remotely interesting.
D+
Rachel Timberlake - Honky Tonk Queen
American Idol review time - This is a karaoke performance. Nothing about this says "ready for country radio." This is the big leagues… you can't send a .250 batter from single A to play first for the Red Sox. Not good.
F
Trace Adkins - Brown Chicken Brown Cow
Sucks. This .99 review says it all.
F+
David Ball - Hot Water Pipe
David won't be returning to the upper reaches of Bob Kingsley's countdown with this quaint number. And as much of an apologist as I am for traditional sounding country… I wish the traditional country artists would at least give me some stronger ammo. This isn't exciting in the least. Apparently there's some sexual innuendo here, but it's a stretch. A dull ending to an extremely uninteresting edition of the Promo Only Country series. Let's hope for some better March releases!
C-
Jan 31, 2011
Jan 30, 2011
Country Cred-o-meter: Carpetbagger Edition
Disclaimer: The placement of the artists on this "meter" in no way indicate their relevance to said establishment... it's all relative.
Click for a closer view.
Jan 29, 2011
Free Music: RCPM
I'm a big fan of Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (and their former related incarnation The Refreshments). For the uninitiated, RCPM are pretty much a straight forward rock band with heavy Southwestern influence, rootsy appeal and boozy, poetic lyrics. I was scouting around their website a short time ago and found this introductory set of music the band and fans put together for people who haven't heard the band. If you enjoy the likes of Lucero, Gin Blossoms, Jimmy Buffett, Steve Earle and Reckless Kelly, you should definitely check this band out! Here's a link to the free set of songs!
Jan 28, 2011
Jan 27, 2011
Larry Lee the Primitive Baptist on Kenny Chesney's "Somewhere with You"
Kenny Chesney - Somewhere With You
Mr. Chesney's newest smash hit country song sounds suspiciously like what we used to call "pop music" back when my pals and I used to cruise the Sonic after Bible drills, bobbing our heads. It seems at the very least insincere, and more to the point, dishonest to release this song to the country music radio stations. As if the sin of false presentation were not enough, Kenneth's song is a veritable snake nest of immoral behaviors. The first two lines reveal the main character's jealousy and envy over his ex-girlfriend (we assume it's a girl, but one cannot be too certain in this morally loose era) courting a new love interest. These two sins of course lead to yet another, consumption of old Scratch's mind altering beverages. Next, he goes on to look back on his time with this ex and he has the gall to reveal to us, fair reader, that he went on a date to the amusement park without an adult present to make sure this couple didn't cavort around in the haunted house or touch uncovered skin together at any point of their ride on the Tilt-a-whirl. Next line, next sin - he let a (presumable) female drive him around. The man is to be at the helm in any facet of any relationship, thus saith my Lord. And now saith my Lord, this couple committed sexual sin, because Kenneth Chesney got them a hotel room and you just know what happened on those bodily fluid encrusted sheets. My chest is tightening up, I don't mind telling you …and so is my bbb… never mind.
I'll just summarize the rest of this vile song: Mr. Chesney is sleeping around with all manner of whores in an attempt to fill up an empty space in his soul. Does he not know that this longing is for the King of Kings… not the queen of his four poster? My angina is really acting up right now… but please, unless the real damnation of your eternal soul is something you desire, don't give this song a second listen.
F-
Jan 26, 2011
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