Jan 10, 2012
OMG Reviews: Alan Jackson - So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore
by Brittany Fant, 14-year-old music fan and aspiring reviewer
CLICK HERE to listen to the song.
CLICK HERE to listen to the song.
Uhhh, this is so slow. OMG Alan Jackson is old. He's saying a bunch of sad stuff :( :(. This makes me miss my ex-boyfriend a little bit but not that much because it's soooooo country sounding! Why do they even play him anymore? He's like old enough to be my grandfather and that's just nasty to hear him talking about love!!! Probly if Hunter Hayes sang this, I would like it. He's so hot!!!!!!!!! And he doesn't sound like a red neck LOL! If I wanted to be depressed I would listen to OneRepublic! At least they aren't old!! "So you don't have to love me anymore" why would anybody say that?? If I still loved my old boyfriend, he so better love me too! We almost went to second base so he better still love me a little bit anyway even if he is with Lindsay Quineres now. That whore!!!!! IDK why I'm reviewing country songs anyway cuz Hunter Hayes is the only country music I like now. Taylor Swift is so 9 months ago. And Alan Jackson is so 19 years ago LOL!! MARRY ME HUNTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
This song only gets 1/2 out of 5 possible heart hands!
Jan 9, 2012
Rascal Flatts Wants You to Squeal Like a Pig!
Rascal Flatts' new single is entitled "Banjo" and the promo ad sent out for it is quite disturbing. (This is real - not Photocrapped)
Brings to mind this:
So who's got a 'purtier' mouth? Ned Beatty or Gary Levox?
Brings to mind this:
So who's got a 'purtier' mouth? Ned Beatty or Gary Levox?
Is Dierks Bentley a Song Thief?
Surely by now, you've heard about the Twitter dust-up between Jason Isbell and Dierks Bentley over the weekend. If not, go read this article and get up-to-date.
Perhaps we should have noticed something was up a bit earlier.... when the single cover for "Home" was released.
Perhaps we should have noticed something was up a bit earlier.... when the single cover for "Home" was released.
Jan 8, 2012
Jan 6, 2012
Colt Ford Walks Da Line
With news of the forthcoming 2nd "The Music Inside" Waylon Jennings Tribute album, FTM got exclusive rights to print the lyrics for Colt Ford's take on the classic "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line." Here you go!
Only Mackdaddy gon' Walk Da Line
(Colt Ford remake of Waylon Jennings' "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line")
Errbody know you been steppin' on my toes
And I'm perty sick n tired a' it
Creepin', steppin' out of line
You been trippin' wit my mind
Little ho' you know you best quit
Bridge:
'Cause ever since you was a little sexy country dime
You been reppin' me the only g that's worth your time
Now you better check yoself and then you'll find
You got the only mackdaddy who gon' walk da line
I'm makin' paper every day while you sittin' on your donk
An' you poppin' champagne all night
I'm gettin' sideways
From your gold diggin' plays
Now you best believe that ain't right
bridge
riff (2x)
solo
riff (2x)
You keep on tossing out my chones nearly errbody know
That you're still so damn shady, tho'
But when I get to bailin'
Gonna hear you start to yellin'
Aksin' me back up in this home
bridge
You got the only mackdaddy who gon' walk dat line
|
YouTube Gems: Gary Clark, Jr.
Like The Black Keys, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Derek Trucks Band? If you said yes to any of those, you'll probably dig Gary Clark, Jr. Here he is with the title cut from his fantastic 2011 EP, Bright Lights.
Jan 5, 2012
And now for some good music... Feel Bad For You Best of 11
The Feel Bad For You Mixtape's theme this month is "Best of 2011." Check it out to hear some great tunes from Kelsey Waldon, Robyn Ludwick, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Zoe Muth and more! Yours truly provided the hideous cover art. You can read track information and comment on the mixtape here.
The Final Straw
"…one of the most real country songs I've ever had the pleasure of listening to." - Country Standard Time
"A masterpiece that is as timely as it is well written and sung." - That Nashville Sound
""Cost of Livin'" is a remarkable artistic triumph that any artist would have just cause to be proud of." - 1 to 10 Country Review
"…the most frighteningly real song of 2011. – Dan Milliken (Country Universe)
"This track is a masterpiece, which I can’t praise enough…" - My Kind of Country
"…the song and Ronnie’s performance are a potent reminder of music’s gift and potential for reflecting life as it is — and for offering messages that truly matter." - Country Music Rocks
"If it doesn't reach the top 5, I'm done with country radio, other than making fun of it. This is a signature song of our times." - Farce the Music
"Shame on the program directors and station owners who don’t have the testicular fortitude to play “Cost Of Living…" - The Music Junkyard
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
So, here we are. 2 months have passed since Ronnie Dunn's "Cost of Livin'" peaked at #17 on the Bob Kingsley Countdown (and at similar rankings - mostly lower - on other charts) and I, true to my word, have not listened to top 40 country by my own decision in some time. To be fair, I rarely listened to it anyway, other than morning shows to hear traffic and weather reports, but still. This unforgivable snubbing of a masterful and universally praised song is the end. Screw you, country radio.
I'm not going to put this on the listeners for a change. Sure, 20-30% of listeners probably hated this song because it was too slow, too sad, too country, too real - but the rest either loved, liked or tolerated it. Surely that's about the same numbers for any given hit single on the radio. So why did "Cost of Livin'" get frozen out (of the top 20 in many cases)?
Could this theory be correct? I think it's very possible. I won't say it's a government conspiracy - more likely a business conspiracy. Big business would like to put forward the idea that the economy is improving - there's the axiom "as you think so shall you be" - no matter how slowly this may be so. And just maybe, they'd be so brash as to nudge Clearchannel into putting the kibosh on this song. Ronnie Dunn didn't, and for that, I applaud him.
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got.” - Mark Twain
This was originally going to be one of my "sackpunch" articles, but country radio programmers have no balls. I doubt anybody was going to lose a job over playing Dunn's song, so why'd they stop playing it? If I knew the inner workings of single promotion and demotion, I'd have a stronger case here, but there's undoubtably enough blame to go around. I'm guessing programmers do as they always do - follow. Follow the lead of higher ups. Crank the happy stuff, the revolving-door redneck stuff, the mild 'she-left-me' songs with hopeful endings, the drivel that sells ads. Eyes on the bottom line.
In a way, eyes on the bottom line got us here… to this economy. Buying the cheapest crap, hiring the cheapest labor, resting on the cheapest of excuses. Get it now! Live for today! While that may be a good plan for the individual on some levels, it's not conducive to society's long-term success. I'll get off my lame attempt at making sense of America's financial situation, because I have no idea what I'm talking about.
I just know what I like to listen to. I just know I want something aimed at the heart, not the wallet.
How dare anyone in power determine for the listener what he or she wants to hear? Yet, this is country radio's business model. The 'failure' of Ronnie Dunn's "Cost of Livin'" is a microcosm of what's wrong with commercial radio and I'm done.
I know traditional country won't be played on mainstream country radio anytime soon. I've come to accept that. What I can't accept is that they won't even play something that makes the listener feel any feeling other than happy or blissfully ignorant.
For that, I feel that they can kiss my ass goodbye.
Brantley Gilbert's T-Shirt: A Closer Look
Looks like ol' BG is wearing his trademark Affliction or Ed Hardy-style t-shirt.
But a closer look reveals... what he ate for breakfast with his Old Milwaukee's Best. That's disgusting.
But a closer look reveals... what he ate for breakfast with his Old Milwaukee's Best. That's disgusting.
Jan 4, 2012
.99 Reviews: Brantley Gilbert - You Don't Know Her Like I Do
(click to listen)
The People's Take:
(album reviews)
. (5 Stars)
by tyler831
Brantley is what's gonna save country music
Best ever (5 Stars)
by Walt1991
BG is the realist country singer out there! Keep it up man
Refreshing (4 Stars)
by David Whitehorn
Nice to see an up and coming country band incorporate their own unique style. Let's hope their style isn't tainted by Nashville.
(Editor's note - Snicker, snicker....)
My Take:
First of all, this isn't a country song… so let's get that out of the way.
From the opening notes, I know this is a power ballad. It has some bluesy tones going on, so there's that positive note anyway. If it wasn't for the mumbly semi-drawled delivery and the lack of over-the-top guitar, this could be a Cinderella song. Look 'em up.
There's another positive note to mention - this is a sad song. What's that? A sad song released to country radio post-2000?? Yep. However, it's a sad song from the male's point of view that in no way puts out the possibility that the female the male is sad about did anything wrong. That's very important - women = never wrong…especially on country radio.
I had to look up the lyrics because, to put it mildly, Brantley's articulation is not crisp. He's the depressed, buzzed (southern) college guy at the bar who's starting to slur his words as he misquotes George Strait lyrics to let you know how sad he is about his girlfriend leaving him last weekend. And he's got a sinus infection.
His enunciation is such that the first line of the chorus sounds like "you don't know like I do"…you can't even hear the 'her.' Despite his lazy diction, the vocals are slightly above the tolerable range, even showing a hint of soulfulness that belies Gilbert's usual posturing and redneck braggadocio.
Said chorus is fairly catchy. The lyrics aren't anything to make cute little Tumblr graphics about though. "That girl's my best friend" makes certain no man will ever feel comfortable singing along with this in male company.
The second verse takes the lyrical quality even lower.
"And I can't cope, it's like a death inside the family
It's like she stole my way to breathe"
Could those two lines be much more awkward? Is a 'death inside the family' one that occurs when the family is gathered in a locked-arms circle, kicking an intruder who's lying in the middle? "My way to breathe"…she stole your lungs? Holy shit! That sounds painful.
One more positive - there's no happy ending to this song. We're left with him hopelessly pining for the girl as his friend tries to provide support on the phone. In my book, reality is nearly always better than the slight ray of hope that's usually thrown into Nashville 'sad' songs in the form of a more upbeat bridge.
As much as I can't stand Brantley Gilbert and everything he stands for, he's shown to be fairly adept at balladry so I'll give him a higher grade than you might expect. He still sucks, though.
Total Value:
.60/.99
Bucky Covington Tries Kickstarter
In the past couple of years, many bands and singers have begun to use Kickstarter to fund their albums and other music-related projects. Now, even country 'hitmaker' Bucky Covington has gotten into the act. Read below to see what he's got in mind!
Jan 2, 2012
Jan 1, 2012
FTM Best Albums of 2011: Kelcy's Ten
by Kelcy Salisbury
Well, it's that time of year. Time to look back at what happened, what we wish had happened, what didn't happen and most importantly, who released the best music. So here, just in time for your Christmas shopping, are the best albums that I heard amongst the many that were released this year. Keep in mind, that these will lean toward my favorite types of music (although my taste is fairly eclectic) and as a "real" person with a full time job and a life that doesn't involve occupying things, I didn't get to listen to every new album that came out, let alone all the ones I wanted to hear. So if your favorite new album isn't on here it doesn't mean I hate it (although I probably do, especially if you're a Deer Tick fan), I may just have been busy trying to keep my lights on.
Without further ado: The list, first the honorable mentions, followed by my personal top ten.
Honorable Mention:
This album will top many lists, and while I liked it and found it compelling in places it just didn't grab my attention and hold it throughout the way some of his earlier work (Sirens Of The Ditch) did. Still a worthy effort. Don't miss these tracks: Codeine, Passing Through, Alabama Pines and Go It Alone.
Could have easily made the top ten, but something had to get cut, and unfortunately for Mike, this album was one of the cuts. It's a solid country album with some incredibly clever songwriting. Don't miss Oldsmobile, Fools of Us All, Walking Into Walls and Nothing Left To Lose.
Much like Isbell's offering, I loved parts of this album but it didn't grab me as a body of work the way some of his earlier albums did. Can't miss songs are I Gotta Go, The Road Goes On and On, and Play A Train Song.
If I'd found this album a little earlier in the year it probably would have made the top ten. I find something more to like on every listen. The thing that makes this album stand out from the rest of the "honorable mentions" is that I felt like it needed and deserved to be heard as a whole. Perfectly laid out and beautifully arranged.
And now the top ten. The order of these (especially the top 5) could change depending on the day and my mood but each and every one of these albums can stand on it's own merits and would be a worthy addition to any collection.
This one may come as a surprise to some, but as I said before, my taste is fairly eclectic. I never expected to like this album and didn't even give it a thought until it was suggested to me by a friend whose taste I trust (you know who you are, I hope you're not upset it didn't get a higher position). James brings a ton of vocal ability to the table, pair that with solid songwriting and great instrumental work and you have one fine album.
I already reviewed this album in an earlier piece and I won't rehash that. I'll simply say that this album does a great job of combining working class concerns and social consciousness with hip hop beats with blues and country elements.
8. Adele: 21
Anyone that has the kind of pipes this girl possesses stands a decent chance of making a good song or two. This young lady has made an entire album of great songs. Her vocals are clearly the highlight, but the instrumentation is solid throughout. The only reason this offering didn't land higher on my list is that the songs are (thematically anyway) somewhat interchangable. As someone (I don't recall who) stated on Twitter, Adele's ex-boyfriend deserves a Grammy for inspiring this album.
The album that Cody had always wanted to make finally got made, and what an all star cast of musicians made it! Every song is a cover of a song by an Oklahoma born or based songwriter but The Departed make these songs their own. If I hadn't known better I'd have been easily convinced that these songs were originals. From the opening snippet of a voicemail from the legendary Randy Crouch to the rollicking take on Stand Up, this album is a pure slice of heavenly heartland rock n roll.
The lesser known half of the Braun Brothers have been steadily working towards this album and it's been well worth the work and the wait. The whole thing hangs together thematically from the heartbreaking story of the title track to the rocking Saint Lucy's Eyes. There is a story here and it takes all 11 tracks to tell.
Adams finally returns with an album worthy of his prodigous talent and reputation. Sobriety and a stable personal life have been good to the former Whiskeytown frontman and it shows. His songwriting is better than ever. His vocals are a perfect fit for the music and the music is pretty excellent. I had pretty well written off Adams as a waste of talent over the past few years but he proved me wrong in a big way and I'm glad for it.
The "Red Dirt Chinese Democracy" is here and it was worth the long wait. Stoney's sound has evolved over the years. Layers of lush instrumentation wash over his pitch-perfect vocals. Much credit is due to the influence of Mando Saenz who co-wrote the majority of the album but at the end of the day it is Stoney's name on the finished product and what a finished product it is.
Perhaps best known as Jason Isbell's girlfriend, Ms Shires deserves to be known as one of the finest musicians and songwriters on the planet. Elements of folk and bluegrass permeate this outstanding album. One listen to When You Need A Train It Never Comes and you'll be hooked.
The only criticism I heard of this album was that it was traditional country that didn't break new ground. In today's world, truly traditional country music is ground breaking in itself, so I don't see the problem. What I heard was the best country songwriter on the planet today providing socially conscious, thought provoking lyrics over the best traditional country sounding band you're ever likely to hear. Roger Ray's steel guitar work has only improved over the years, Brad Rice adds a new dimension to his drumming with heavy use of brushes instead of sticks, while Noah Jefferies and Jeremy Watkins provide outstanding fiddle work and Grant Tracy keeps the whole thing moving along with his bass work. This is simply the best offering yet from a band that never fails to deliver great country music for people who like country music.
It comes as no surprise to anyone who's read my prior writings that this album tops the list. There isn't much I can say about it I haven't already, so I'll just say that even after taking the time to seriously think about it and listen to tons of new music there was nothing I heard all year that grabbed and held my attention any more than this album. If you already own it, congratulations, and if you don't, do yourself a favor and buy it for yourself for a Christmas present.
Well, that's all for this year folks. I hope you enjoy the article and most of all I hope you enjoy the music.
Dec 31, 2011
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