Album Review: LeAnn Rimes – ‘This Woman’

Around the same time as Faith Hill released “Mississippi Girl”, her big return to country, LeAnn Rimes released her first single from This Woman called “Nothin’ ‘Bout Love Makes Sense”. It too, was supposed to be Rimes’ big return to country music after the pop records I Need You and Twisted Angel. It succeeded in [...]

Album Review: Tanya Tucker – ‘Soon’

Continuing with our Tanya Tucker coverage, this review was written by a guest contributor, Michael, who is also a frequent commenter here at My Kind of Country.
When I was a boy, my mom and I scored front row seats to a Tanya Tucker concert but she cancelled the show.  My mother never forgave her, and [...]

Album Review: Julie Roberts – ‘Men & Mascara’

After the semi-success that was her self-titled debut, Julie returned to the fans in 2006 with Men & Mascara. This time around she hired Byron Gallimore; the man responsible for producing Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, both of whom have turned out to be two of the biggest hit makers in the genre.  Any sane person [...]

Signature songs from superb singers

This past year, Taylor Swift had a massive hit in “Love Story.” I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It went to #1 on 3 charts worldwide, including the American and Canadian County charts as well as Australia’s all-genre chart. Beyond that, “Love Story” went into the top 5 on U.S. Billboard’s Hot 100, Pop 100 [...]

Country’s greatest duos

 
Few things satisfy a country music fan more than when two of one’s favorite solo performers announce plans to go into the studio and record together.  Country music has a long and rich history of producing collaborations with such great chemistry that they threatened to overshadow the solo work of the same artists. Perhaps that’s [...]

Cryin’ time

I’ve been feeling quite down for these last few weeks, finding it difficult to both concentrate and write anything for the blog. What’s interesting about these “down times” is that I fall into a predictable pattern when it comes to my music. I always go for certain songs, or rather, certain types of songs. These [...]

You’re Still Here…

Sad country songs are not a rarity. Most all country songs were sad or at least depressing back in the day. That provides a stark contrast to the happy-go-lucky songs of today’s country radio environment, but even Jessica Simpson and Rascal Flatts listeners hear sad songs, no matter how sappy they might be.
Now, almost all [...]

J.R.’s End of 2008 List: Top 10 Albums

10. Ashton Shepherd – Sounds So Good
Stone country. Shepherd wrote or co-wrote every track on this superb debut album. She’s singing about the things in everybody’s life – universal themes delivered with a thick Alabama accent. And, man, am I a sucker for an Alabama drawl.
9. Patty Loveless – Sleepless Nights
One of the finest singers [...]

40 and Fabulous

Fox News recently published its 40 Hottest Over-40 Hotties. The list contains 2 of country music’s most beautiful women – 3 if you count Sheryl Crow as country, but I don’t. But I think they missed a few. Where is Dolly Parton? Martina McBride? Sara Evans? Lee Ann Womack? Shania Twain?
Here [...]