The Way I’m Livin’-Lee Ann Womack (Sugar Hill)

Far and away the greatest Country record released in the month of May. And it’s by one of the finest, most honest and pure Country voices in this world. The construction of this record is a thing of joy. At the beginning, it’s clearly influenced by Blue Ridge Mountain folk, a respectful nod to heritage. … Read more

Donkey-Jerrod Niemann (Arista)

I’m really trying hard not to like this silly-ass thing (pun intended), but can’t help myself. It’s so freakin’ infectious! The hook in this is so big it could catch that great white in Jaws.

Come Back To Me-Keith Urban (Capitol) Album Cut Add

This cut off his album is the song that has been my personal favorite since the first listen. The song is absolutely gorgeous. It’s about loving someone so much he’ll even let her go. He wishes her all the best as he urges her to follow her muse, to seek her joy. And if it … Read more

Bartender-Lady Antebellum (Capitol)

Other than the fact that we don’t need yet another drinkin’ song, I like just about everything about it. Cute little banjo pickin’ at the open and weaving it’s way thru to the end. The hum-able hook. The smooth groove dance beat. Intricate, but not overdone arrangement. Understated guitar lick in the final quarter. And … Read more

Cold One-Eric Church (Capitol)

One of the things that bores me to the point of irritation is the corporate arrangements we hear on so many records. The instruments are all a mish-mash. There’s an abbreviated arena-style guitar solo somewhere in the middle. Watch it on the VU and the meter remains pegged between 95 and 100% start to finish. … Read more

Drunk on a Plane-Dierks Bentley (Capitol)

I’ve spent another two weeks with it and am over the hump. It’s not burning on me, not getting tired of it, that thing that happens with ‘novelty’ records. Point is, at first that’s what I was feeling about it, that it was maybe just a little novelty bon-bon that would start to bore after … Read more

My Eyes-Blake Shelton (Warner Brothers)

His roll continues comfortably with this smooth, sexy, romantic ballad. Killer hook: Come a little closer three times. We’ll all be singing along with that by this time next week

Firebird-Josh Thompson (album track add) (Show Dog)

Along with is super-duper new single, he’s got three other solid Radio songs on his album. This three minute gem is my favorite. An ode to the open road, freedom and the classic Pontiac muscle-car The Bandit drove and that still makes it’s appearance in action movies all the time. It feels like a Spring … Read more

Keep On Fallin’-Eric Paslay (EMI)

Album Cut recommended for airplay: Few weeks back, I saw a biz-blurb about one of the big time Classic Rock consultants telling his clients “Country is out to steal your audience. All of them.” Songs like this are a rifle-shot at that target. If this had been mixed differently, I wouldn’t feel quite so strongly … Read more