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

Play It Again-Luke Bryan (Capitol)

One of the two or three hottest guys in the biz now, he’s ridin’ that “can’t do no wrong” wave that’ll carry him into the Top 10 on sheer momentum alone. Even with a dippy, bland paint-by-numbers song like this one.

I Don’t Dance-Lee Brice (Curb)

Sounds like a hit record to me from the first spin. It opens with a gentle, hypnotic beat with some unique sonic business goin’ on, kind of electronic but not too weird. Brice comes in and at first he’s not so much singing as confessing. He doesn’t dance. He’s got two left feet. Ain’t his … Read more

Bottoms Up-Brantley Gilbert (Valory)

The record is beginning to seduce me. It’s like a total, exotic surprise on first listen; nothing comes to mind that I can compare it to. There’s a rather surreal quality to it, like maybe it’s a Country song conjured through a haze of mind altering chemicals. Yet it’s not so far out there as … Read more