.99 Review: Mark McKinney

Mark McKinney - Middle America

The People's Take

Oh Yeah! (5 Stars) – Awesome song! Great lyrics, tight players, love the drum fills (you don't hear those kinds of licks on a country record), and I will be excited to hear the rest of the new album! The bridge adds a lot of energy to carry the song home- my favorite part.
by eye ballers

Middle America (5 Stars) – Modern day classic!
by cabo robo

My Take

Somewhere between Mellencamp's small town laments and The Warren Brothers' occasional faux-losiphizing lies Mark McKinney's "Middle America." It's a fairly catchy ode to life in southwestern central Gambia, I mean ...middle America. This song falls somewhere between a modern day classic and a big steaming pile of poop. It all sounds pretty good to these ears, and Mark does a pretty good job of summing up what middle-Americans are going through these days. My main issue is with the hook. Is there such thing as middle pride? Is he referring to those of us between coasts or just the landlocked among us? He mentions that middle is

between left and right (whew! thanks for clearing that up!) but is that a political statement or a geographic one? Who is supposed to sing along? And are we supposed to feel okay about putting the American dream on a high interest plan? Isn't that what got us in this mess to begin with? Towards the end of the song, Mark pulls an Eric Church and starts listing the finer points of residing in the places in America that aren't tops, bottoms or edges. I'm thinking people on the lower right side can experience rock music too Mark. Now that I've started thinking too hard about this song, I realize you're not supposed to do that. Just roll down the windows and proclaim your middle-Americanness!! Hooray debt!

Total value: .45/.99

The Checklist

Church/God
Mama
Boots
Name Dropping
Dying Person
County Fair
Lost Love
Love
Hometown Pride (Middle pride, anyway)
Kindly Advice
Truck
Whiskey
Beer
Life Affirmation
USA
Soldiers
Pop Sheen
Star Power

Band Mashup

Flatts & Scruggs

YouTube Gems: Cledus Returns

I know "gem" might be a strong term for a Cledus T. Judd video, but FTM obviously owes a lot to this guy and his sense of humor. Here's his latest, the very funny (once or twice anyway) "Garth Must Be Busy."

Best of 2009 So Far: Through May

As always, feel free to chime in with your own favorites of the year thus far, or give me some suggestions for music I should check out! Any of these that aren't yet released... um, I've listened to the streaming previews...yeah, that's the ticket.

1. Son Volt - American Central Dust

2. Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light in the West

3. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies

4. Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away

5. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

6. Phosphorescent - To Willie

7. Steve Earle - Townes

8. The Devil Makes Three - Do Wrong Right

8. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Tell 'em What Your Name Is

9. The Gourds - Haymaker!

10. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels

11. Roman Candle - Oh Tall Tree in the Ear

12. John Moreland & The Black Gold Band - Endless Oklahoma Sky

13. Mastodon - Crack the Skye

14. Doug Paisley - s/t

15. Wayne Hancock - Viper of Melody

16. Scott Miller - For Crying Out Loud

17. Eric Church - Carolina

18. Dale Watson - The Truckin' Sessions (v.2)

19. Strand of Oaks - Leave Ruin

20. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - s/t

21. The Last Vegas - Whatever Gets You Off

22. The Felice Brothers - Yonder is the Clock

23. Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel - Willie and the Wheel

24. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

25. Diana Jones - Better Times Will Come

I had no idea...

...Country California had t-shirts... and that Kenny was a fan. Congrats to CC for a major milestone!