Song & Album Reviews

The lyrics to Blake Shelton‘s new single ‘Over’ have been twisted and turned many times throughout the past several years. Songwriters Paul Jenkins and David Elliott Johnson first spoke of the song’s concept at least a decade ago, but now the song is finally getting its chance in the spotlight.

It’s hard not to wonder if ‘More Life’ was chosen as a single from Randy Travis‘ ‘Anniversary Collection‘ album to allow the singer a chance to respond to his recent brush with infamy. The introspective ballad finds Travis asking for forgiveness from those he has hurt. Is this another case of art birthed from real life?

The lyrics to Lee Brice‘s new single and title track to his latest album, ‘Hard to Love,’ were penned by talented songwriters Ben Glover, Billy Montana and John Ozier. The three writers crafted the tune in Rosemary Beach, Fla., a place where, for some reason, their creative minds always seem to be in overdrive.

The power behind the punch of Lady Antebellum‘s sophomore album has withered away to little more than a slap to the cheek with the group’s fourth single ‘Wanted You More.’ The best songs from ‘Own the Night’ have already been issued as singles, and while hope remains for a late surge (‘Cold as Stone’ or ‘Friday Night’ perhaps), this new offering is more style than substance.

The inspiration behind the lyrics to Little Big Town‘s forthcoming single ‘Pontoon’ were a bit of a mix up, but for the band and the writers, a very, very good mix-up!  The song is the first single from the band’s highly-anticipated fifth studio album, and it is already being called “the single of the summer” by many media outlets. ‘Pontoon’ was crafted by the amazing minds of Luke Laird, Natalie

The title track to Lee Brice‘s ‘Hard 2 Love’ album is of the same mood as the chart-topping lead single ‘Woman Like You.’ ‘Hard to Love’ protects none of the vulnerabilities and insecurities a man has in showing his lover how he feels.

As expected, the cover of Carrie Underwood‘s ‘Blown Away’ album foreshadows the mood of the project’s 14 songs (eight co-written by Underwood). It stops short of tempestuous, but she spends more time looking back at the darkness than she does forward to sunny days.

Don’t look now, but eight of Blake Shelton‘s last nine singles have topped the country music singles charts. ‘Over’ could very well become his seventh straight, but that’s more a testament to the artist than the song.

It’s a little early to call any album the best anything of 2012, but it’s no stretch to say Kip Moore‘s debut is the best by a new country artist this year, so far. ‘Up All Night’ introduces the gypsy from south Georgia as an inspiring storyteller, a talented lyricist and a gritty, well-traveled vocalist.

When you’ve been around for over 30 years and put almost 60 songs on top of the Billboard charts, it’s probably difficult to surprise people, right? Actually, if you’ve made it that far it’s because you’ve turned surprises into a career. George Strait‘s new song ‘Drinkin’ Man’ is a gut-punch one dials up again and again.

The second single from Neal McCoy‘s ‘XII’ album is a breezy little country swinger called ‘Shotgun Rider.’ The song fits under one’s arm sweetly, much like the girl the singer is trying to romance.

Much like Johnny Cash on ‘Hurt,’ Willie Nelson makes fans aware of his fragile mortality with an evocative cover of Pearl Jam‘s ‘Just Breathe.’ The famous country singer is joined by his son Lukas on this first listen of music from the upcoming ‘Heroes’ album. Together, they silence the room. Only a stone will keep from fighting tears after a few listens.