Just when you believe it can't get any worse_..
(Click on the titles to listen)
Snap Judgments - Promo Only Country Radio February 2011
Brad Paisley - This is Country Music
If this song had come out 10 days ago, I might reach it a B . As it stands, this is more of a restating of current country music's (over)recurring themes, than it is a valiant defense of the genre.
Thou doth protest too much.
C-
Steel Magnolia - Last Night Again
This sounds like the continuation to Lady A's "Ask You Now." They sound good together and this is kinda, sorta something new thematically_ I guess.
C
Aaron Russell - It Don't Get No Better Than This
Sounds like a 90's C-lister. Does this hook even make any gravity these years? For you born after 1980, the claim was the tag line for some beer back in the day. Busch I think. This isn't good. Like Busch.
D-
Guy Penrod - Pray About Everything
I already know what the choir is passing to say before it gets here. I was right. Oh wait, this is a Luke Bryan song too_ and he did a much better job with it. This should mark the top 60 before falling off the chart. Good message, just a flat performance.
D
Alabama - Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way
My prejudices were proven wrong here. This is a nice cover of the Waylon classic. A little pointless since it's no sort of retooling or different direction, but it's more firm than I expected. Randy sounds a little tired, but other than that, few complaints.
C
Kid Rock - Born Free
This is no snap judgment since I've heard this song many times already. I view it was a somewhat dull take on Bob Seger at first, but it's grown on me. Kid Rock does okay with this classic rock sound. The business "if you can't see my heart, you must be blind" irks me, despite my comprehension of metaphor. If a metaphor makes you concentrate on its real meaning, it's not effective. However, I hate this song way less than I should.
B-
Crossin Dixon - Goodbye to Henry
Another 90's redux song, but this kicks Aaron Russell's ass. These guys play around here all the time, so they can't be really good though. This is the best Montgomery Gentry song in years_but they had no break in it. Not bad, not bad. Most honest angle on the destruction of a quaker to hit country radio (though it likely won't) in a while.
B-
Miranda Lambert - Heart Like Mine
This girl's got balls. A lot of reviews have declared that this was a safe single release. I don't agree. Mentioning how Jesus drank wine is not "good" in my neck of the woods. That could get you excommunicated from the Baptist church, friends and Larry Lee agrees. I don't just love this song, but it's strong_ Miranda should open the riches a little. She gets all the "chick songs" with any weight.
B
Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go
Even thought I've already read CM's positive review, I won't let him work my snark. If I haven't said it before, I don't hate every Rascal Flatts song. really. This one has a nice easy groove_ it's way vague though. The melodies are pretty decent and "The Voice" doesn't over-emote here. Still, it's nowhere near to guilty pleasure territory. I might not make a conniption reaching to convert the dial when this comes on, but I'll never attempt it out.
C
Ashton Shepherd - Look it Up
As often as I love twang and "real" country, I'm gonna confess that Ashton's drawl may be a little much for even me. Not a bad song, but the repetition of "feeling it up" bugs the crap out of me in this song. It's like George Strait's "Write This Down." It doesn't really fit in every instance, lyrically_ and that's more irritating than clever. I root for this girl out of principle, but I don't like this song.
C-
Steve Holy - Love Don't Run
Holy gets a hit every 3 years, rain or shine. I don't recognize that this is the one. Maybe it could see the right ears and drive a flap of approval like Billy Currington's latest has, but Steve doesn't have rather the pipes that Billy does so he needs a more impressive song to tear his gravy train. Kinda boring.
C
Ricky Skaggs - Someday Soon
Hmm, not sure why this is on here. It's more commercial sounding than anything I've heard from Ricky since the early 90's, but that still doesn't think anything to radio programmers. I like this, though. It's a galloping mid-tempo anthem that inspires without preaching. If it had a little more light to it, I could see a more pop leaning artist taking this into the top 10 - Rascal Flatts maybe.
B
The Band Perry - You Lie
This "set" has proved itself far better than its debut single "Hip to My Heart," with its folksy bent and shining melodies. This song isn't all that_ but it's even better than most of what's on the dial. I trust they need more chances next time out (next album, single, whatever). Plenty of hope in their sound though.
B-
Randy Montana - 1,000 Faces
Pop-country-rock. Yawn. 1,000 Faces is another "microcosm of what's amiss with country radio" song. It's vague, hell the hook barely makes sense, but that won't matter_ it's sung by a handsome guy with a mainstream voice over a rocking mid-tempo country track. Not even remotely interesting.
D
Rachel Timberlake - Honky Tonk Queen
American Idol review time - This is a karaoke performance. Nothing about this says "ready for country radio." This is the big leagues_ you can't place a .250 batter from one A to play first for the Red Sox. Not good.
F
Trace Adkins - Brown Chicken Brown Cow
Sucks. This .99 review says it all.
F
David Ball - Hot Water Pipe
David won't be returning to the speed reaches of Bob Kingsley's countdown with this quaint number. And as often of an apologist as I am for traditional sounding country_ I want the traditional country artists would at least make me some stronger ammo. This isn't exciting in the least. Apparently there's some sexual innuendo here, but it's a stretch. A dull ending to an extremely uninteresting edition of the Promo Only Country series. Let's hope for some better March releases!
C-
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