Kevin Fowler - How Country Are Ya?

 

"It's COUNTRY that's rockin'. The kinda music makes you wanna crack a cold one...and put a good dip in." Those words are spoken on the "Intro" for How Country Are Ya?, the sixth album from Kevin Fowler, the Texas singer who made a specialty out of rocking hardcore country hard. His amplifiers are cranked and he drops references to Mötley Crüe, but Fowler is a dyed-in-the-wool Texas honky tonker, cranking out drinking songs and slower ones suited for inevitable hangovers. Fowler has two great gifts: first, he sounds like the guy you'd meet in your local bar, the kind who would coax a round or two out of your wallet; second, he has a gift for turning clichés into full-fledged songs. These two talents are intertwined, helping him feel like your favorite local singer, but Fowler always dodges the pedestrian thanks to his humor, eye for detail, and casual sense of adventure. He pretty much sticks to the straight and narrow here, blasting out an ode to "Guitars and Guns" and pleading that somebody "Beer Me," but he also effectively conjures mariachi on "Borracho Grande" and does a bit of a back-porch blues shuffle on "Chicken Wing," not to mention throwing in a rampaging instrumental worthy of Brad Paisley on "Mousturdonus." Fowler makes it seem easy, which, combined with his decidedly regional appeal, may be why he's underrated: he's not flashy and he stays within his wheelhouse, but he knocks out records as satisfying as How Country Are Ya? on a regular basis, and that's worth something. It could be argued it's worth a lot.

David Nail - I'm A Fire (2014)

 

This third album from sports-loving, Missouri-born country music star David Nail follows his 2011-released The Sound of a Million Dreams. Just as on that record, Texan Frank Liddell contributed to the production of I'm a Fire, and here he is assisted by Mark Knopfler collaborators Chuck Ainlay and Glenn Worf. The number one Billboard Country Airplay single "Whatever She's Got" opens the proceedings, while a duet with Lee Ann Womack on the classic Jimmy Webb-penned "Galveston" closes the album.

Jenna Torres - A Womans Touch (2014

Hailing from the Big Apple, you might not exactly have Jenna Torres that high atop a list of potential Country Music singers, but that’s the magic that sometimes comes from a place that you’re not expecting. Torres definitely delivers on her latest release, serving notice to the musical world that she is a force to be reckoned with.
Whether it be a power ballad or a up-tempo rocker, Torres succeeds quite often on A Woman’s Touch, with each cut showcasing a different layer or aspect to her vocal talents. Among the former, some of the strongest performances come on the evocative and passionate “That’s The Kind Of Love,” which describes in beautiful detail the kind of relationship we’d all like to have. She turns breathy and seductive on “One Good Outlaw,” and knocks one out of the ballpark on the appealing “Man In A Cage.”
But, Torres can also turn up the tempo, as well. She does this to nice effect on the exciting title cut, as well as recent single “22.” Al in all, she has assembled quite a collection on this album – one that we hope will garner some well-deserved attention. Write down the name, folks. You’re going to be hearing it a lot!

new cd:Greg Bain"This Land Of The Free"

 

It is with great pride that I present my third album "This Land Of The Free". Once again this album was produced at LBS in Tamworth by the master himself Lindsay Butler.
Lindsay has again done a great job capturing the Greg Bain style. This is a very personal album. I am very passionate about the roll our military people play in protecting this great country, words could not convey the gratitude I have for these magnificent Australians. The title track is a true story about four generations of the one family who have protected this country and our way of life through military service.
As with my previous albums, the time spent selecting the song and working with such fine musicians has been very rewarding and I am extremely pleased with the result. (It is with great pride that I present my third album "This Land Of The Free". Once again this album was produced at LBS in Tamworth by the master himself Lindsay Butler.
Lindsay has again done a great job capturing the Greg Bain style. This is a very personal album. I am very passionate about the roll our military people play in protecting this great country? words could not convey the gratitude I have for these magnificent Australians. The title track is a true story about four generations of the one family who have protected this country and our way of life through military service.
As with my previous albums? the time spent selecting the song and working with such fine musicians has been very rewarding and I am extremely pleased with the result.(Greg Bain)

New cd : Cole Swindell

 

Cole Swindell's first hit single, "Chillin' It," sounds a bit like Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" as performed by Luke Bryan, and there's a reason for that: prior to taking a stab at a recording career, Swindell was a songwriter, penning songs for Bryan, FGL, and Scotty McCreery. He's a behind-the-scenes bro, responsible for crafting the sound and feel of contemporary country, and his eponymous 2014 album demonstrates the attributes of his craft. Swindell knows his way with a hook, whether it's coming up with a clever title ("Ain't Worth the Whiskey," "Brought to You by Beer," "Dozen Roses & a Six-Pack") and worthy hooks along with melodies that escalate nicely, and the production by Michael Carter and Jody Stevens is crisp and clean, designed to fit within the contours of modern radio. The one problem with the record is that Swindell sounds like a songwriter, not a singer. He has a guy-next-door voice that's ingratiating. Nevertheless, the album winds up pleasant enough: it's constructed by pros who know how to get tunes on the radio, so it goes down easy.

New album Marshall Dane "One of These Days"

 

Playing his first solo gig at the age of fifteen for thirty-five dollars and a plate of cheesecake, Marshall Dane is now quickly becoming a household name and one of the most in-demand live performers in the Canadian Country Music scene through his infectious blend of country and rock and his engaging and entertaining presence on stage.

Marshall’s momentum has continued to build year after year, and 2013 has been the biggest and most exciting yet. His second album, One of These Days, was released in May and the title track quickly moved up the charts with radio stations across the Country. Marshall was also nominated for awards in several categories with the Country Music Association of Ontario, including Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. An invitation from the Calgary Stampede to return as this year’s multi-night closing act at the event's main stage, Nashville North, capped off a summer festival season full of performances.

The Desert Rose Band - Best Of 2014

A contemporary vehicle for country-rock pioneer Chris Hillman (ex-Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers), the Desert Rose Band formed in 1985 with primary songwriter Hillman on lead vocals, guitar, and mandolin. Other members, culled mainly from southern California session players, included banjoist/guitarist Herb Pedersen, guitarist John Jorgenson, steel guitarist Jay Dee Maness, bassist Bill Bryson, and drummer Steve Duncan. Their first single was a 1986 cover of Johnnie & Jack's "Ashes of Love," which climbed into the country Top 30. Their self-titled debut album followed in 1987 and spawned a number one hit in "He's Back and I'm Blue," plus two more Top Tens in "Love Reunited" and "One Step Forward." 1988's Running produced the number one smash "I Still Believe in You," the number two "Summer Wind," and the number three "She Don't Love Nobody." 1990's Pages of Life brought their final Top Ten hits in "Story of Love" and "Start All Over Again." Major personnel turnover followed; Maness was replaced by steel guitarist Tom Brumley, Jorgenson by guitarist Jeff Ross, and Duncan by drummer Tim Grogan. This lineup recorded three albums — 1991's True Love and two in 1993, Traditional and Life Goes On — but failed to duplicate the success of the band's first incarnation. After the Desert Rose Band broke up, Hillman and Herb Pedersen continued to work together on a sporadic basis.

New album Eileen Rose – Be Many Gone (2014)

 

The hard-edged streets of North Boston were a tough proving ground for a young Eileen Rose. With eight older siblings, Rose paid plenty of dues growing up. Trotting from New England to Old England with her plentiful Irish-Italian American family gave her much fodder for later use in songs. Being the front person for bands such as Daisy Chain, Medici Slot Machine, and Fledgling got her foot in the music industry door and allowed her to hone her craft while learning the ropes. (Vocally, look to her influences for some sort of metaphoric description. For somewhere between Kate Bush, Janis Joplin, and Stevie Nicks you might find Eileen Rose.) Living in England for most of the '90s colored the songwriting and musicianship on Rose's solo debut, Shine Like It Does. Recorded in South Wales, it was produced by Jerry Boys who started his by working with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and released in early 2001 on Compass Records. A year later, Rose hooked up with pedal steel player Iain Harvey and guitarist Kris Dollimore to produce her second album, Long Shot Novena. Come the Storm arrived in 2005.

new cd North 40 Title Of Album:" Sing Your Own Song"

 

Rhymetown Entertaintment’s country duo, North 40, made up of Paige Logan and Heather Looney, do a grand job with their debut album, “Sing Your Own Song.”
Writing or co-writing all 13 songs on their album, there is a great balance between slower ballads and upbeat feel good songs. Their second single off the album “Tell Me Something Good” was the #1 most streamed and #1 most downloaded track on PLAYmpe this past weekend.
“Tell Me Something Good” was written by Paige and Heather after a day of having to deal with bad news regarding a family member’s health. Paige explains “Heather and I were writing that day and after I finally put my phone down, I turned to her and pleaded, ‘Will you just tell me something good?!’ She looked me square in the eyes, took my hand in hers and said, ‘I’m gonna tell you something good, we’re gonna write that.’” Despite the sad inspiration, the song has a great energy, a fun beat, and excellent lyrics. Its no surprise why it’s their second single.
“Hey Girl Hey,” their first single off the album, is an energetic song that will bring women together dancing and singing along. Paige explained to DigitalJournal.com, It was “written as a celebration for girl friendships. It’s a girl’s anthem.”
This album has a song for any mood you could be in. 

Singer-Songwriter Suzy Bogguss releases her thirteenth studio album later this month. Entitled "Lucky"

 

Singer-Songwriter Suzy Bogguss releases her thirteenth studio album later this month. Entitled "Lucky" it's a collection of songs written by the legendary Merle Haggard. Many people will immediately think it's a tribute album, but Suzy Boggus disagrees and said “I don’t want it to be viewed that way. I had been wanting to make a record based in country and blues and I just kept thinking of great Haggard songs, so it just made sense to quit denying that what I really wanted was to sing an entire album of his songs! I have always looked to great singer/songwriters for material outside of my own. These songs are perfect for me at this time in my life. I didn’t try to imitate Merle, this is my interpretation of his songs,” she continues. “Besides, Merle is still doing his own thing. He’s hard at work, and people are still lining up around the block to see him.”
To provide backing vocals Suzy Bogguss has brought in Jessi Alexander, Matraca Berg, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Gretchen Peters and Jon Randall Stewart - a pretty impressive group.
Obviously the quality of the songwriting is superb - these are great songs from merle Haggard. Rather than doing straight copies Suzy Bogguss has done things her way and I have to say she's done a great job. When you compare the original version of a song to Suzy's version it's clearly the same song, but with subtle changes and a simple arrangement to give a fresh new sound to the song. It certainly helps that she has a beautiful voice that is perfectly suited to these songs.
The songs are mainlyplayed on acoustic guitar but with some lovely electric guitar parts that really add a lot to the songs. It really is a great album to listen to and is definitely one to check out.