real country music

Great Interview with Dierks Bentley

2006-11-02T22:48:00.000-05:00

Here's the link

"he's no dancer, but he's quite a pacer"

Photo - Dierks Bentley

2006-10-31T15:10:00.000-05:00

One of the many great shots (cc) I got at the Salem, VA show a couple weeks ago. More later...

Dierks Bentley on Stripped

2006-10-31T14:58:00.000-05:00

You have to go to Stripped Music.

Check out what Dierks and his Terminally Lonesome Band do with "Every Mile a Memory", "Free and Easy", "Long Trip Alone", and "Settle for a Slowdown." They're all very well crafted. Long Trip Alone gets better with each different performance I see (Live at Salem, VA, then acoustic from his website on all-access). As the second single from the new album, it should be a huge success.

The cover of Waylon's Rodney Crowell penned "Ain't Livin' Long" is fantastic as well, especially Rod's guitar fills. Dierks' guitar playing has improved (or has been more showcased) since I first saw him at Starr Hill Music Hall in Charlottesville, VA, back in early 2004.

The success that Dierks' third album is exactly what he and his guys deserve...

Cut by Cut - Long Trip Alone

2006-09-30T11:23:00.000-05:00

Dierks and Brett Beavers describing each song's background...good stuff.

Nashville Rebel - Waylon Jennings

2006-09-27T15:31:00.000-05:00

"WAYLON f%#$!*g Jennings."

The new box set, which may be worth getting simply because of the genius packaging which imitates his telecaster cover hit stores the 25th. Great article here.

"He wanted to go back to the kind of artistic freedom that Hank Williams had, that Bob Wills had, that Lefty Frizzell and all these other singers he looked up to had." The records he made with that freedom effectively ushered in the golden age of Waylon Jennings -- and not just artistically, either."
-Rich Kienzle

92 songs for 50 bucks. Not bad.

Billboard on Long Trip Alone

2006-09-27T15:14:00.000-05:00

Jonathan Cohen's article on Dierks's new album.

Dierks: "I think sonically it falls somewhere between Waylon [Jennings] and U2, maybe. There are definitely some bigger songs on there that take love and expound on that subject. And there's some good Waylon groove stuff on there as well. I call them 'guy songs.' Songs that guys like myself want to drink beer to and hang out and listen to country music."

Kenny Chesney's end-of-tour gift for Dierks Bentley.

2006-09-22T07:03:00.000-05:00

The night (Sept 2) Kenny Chesney ended his tour in Noblesville, Indiana, he left opener Dierks Bentley with a parting gift. Country's $27.4 million man presented Bentley with a boat, a 22ft. Sea Ray. Nice.

Randy Rogers Band, Dwight Yoakam's Bakersfield Biscuit Brand, and more...

2006-09-19T23:49:00.000-05:00

Good article on RRB...

Dwight's frozen dinners?

Josh Turner is real country. "...unlike some of his peers, Turner carries a professed appreciation and pride for country music's forefathers and mothers."

Long Trip Alone

2006-09-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

Cover Art for the new Dierks Bentley album, "Long Trip Alone"...

Dierks played three of the tracks on this record at LCB III, and if they're any indication, this will be the point (along with recent Bud Light sponsorship) in Dierks' career at which he becomes a megastar.

Here's the tracklist:

1. Every Mile A Memory
2. Can't Live It Down
3. Long Trip Alone
4. That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me
5. Soon As You Can
6. Trying To Stop Your Leaving
7. Hope For Me Yet
8. The Heaven I'm Headed To
9. Free And Easy Down The Road I Go
10. Band Of Brothers
11. Prodigal Son's Prayer (featuring The Grascals)

We're starting to see previews of the album...

Amazon

From Amazon.com
In the wake of 2005's Modern Day Drifter, Dierks Bentley has maintained fierce career momentum, earning awards, packing concerts, and joining the Grand Ole Opry in the space of just over a year. As before, he continues to flawlessly integrate straight-ahead, unforced vocals into a riproaring sound, underpinned this time by the solid, appealing mainstream acoustic bluegrass of touring partners the Grascals. The opening track, "Every Mile a Memory," defines the album's direction, buttressed by the witty "That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me." He projects clarity and desperation on "Trying to Stop Your Leaving," enhanced by an understated, yet appropriately tense arrangement. "Band of Brothers" celebrates the quintessential travails of musicians playing the low end of the honky-tonk circuit, while his all-inclusive, courageous views on "The Heaven I'm Headed To" may not please hardcore red-staters. The perpetual debate pitting country modernists against traditionalists often reaches the same levels of intensity as in current politics. Long Trip Alone demonstrates the smartest solution: quality modern country of the moment that simultaneously honors its past. --Rich Kienzle

AOL Music:
Other Highlights:
'Long Trip Alone' -- The title track embodies the theme of the record: Life's a much better trip when you're not alone.

'That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me' -- Screaming, bra-tossing fans and late-nite parties on the bus could make it hard for a woman to love Dierks, but this song is his pledge that he'll stay away from trouble.

Locked and Loaded

2006-09-03T13:33:00.000-05:00

Check out this tour announcement!

-"Every Mile a Memory" is flying up the charts, at 11 on R&R after only 6 weeks.

-The Randy Rogers Band's new album "Just a Matter of Time" is currently streaming on Cmt.com here.

Keith Anderson's new single Podunk is a great song, it's good to see that out to radio; the same goes for Ray Scott's "I Didn't Come Here to Talk", Sara Evans' "You'll Always Be My Baby", and "Toby's Crash Here Tonight."

Every Mile a Memory

2006-08-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

Every Mile a Memory is getting the airplay it deserves. It's on all the time on CMT and GAC. This song will take Dierks to the next level, a great thing for country music. When he played this at his fan club party in June, the reaction was much louder than those following other songs. He's showing that he can be one of the "country poets" he's admired as heroes in "Being Me" with the Grascals.

Long Trip Alone will be huge!

Jake Owen

2006-08-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

Jake Owen's debut album "Startin' With Me" is an album that earns your money. A young golfer from Florida, Jake has produced some of the best country I've seen from a new singer in a while. With pure country lyrics and heavy servings of loud Les Pauls and Telecasters, he fits right into the most promising part of the modern country market. Several of the tracks could be hit records, following the success of "Yee Haw."

"The Bottle and Me", "Somethin' About a Woman", and "You Can Thank Dixie" (featuring Randy Owen of Alabama) have the potential for great airplay. "The Bad in Me" and "8 Second Ride" are, quite frankly, badass songs with heavy rock guitars that deserve to be hits, but the wimps at country radio may not have it. All that being said, the title track could be the most appealing, with it's powerful sentiments about one's shortcomings and terrible mistakes in life. Get this album.

Cma Fest Day 1. Ray Scott

2006-07-18T09:51:00.000-05:00

CMA FEST DAY 1

2006-07-18T09:02:00.000-05:00

Having had over a month to reflect on the experience I had at this year's CMA Fest in Nashville, it's time for a few remarks, as well as a few of the 4+ gigabytes of photos and video clips I gathered over the five days I was there.

Over the course of the four days of Fan Fair, shows begin around 10am, on the Riverfront Stage, situated at the bottom of Broadway. Performers play about four songs each as technicicans prepare the stage to their side for the following singer. The night shows take place across the water in recently renamed LP Field, where the Tennessee Titans play.

Day 1. Jace Everett put on a good set, as did Rodney Atkins. Shannon Brown was quite good on stage, and very personable off, signing at the Tower Records booth. I was extremely surprised by the high quality and non-poppish feel of Emerson Drive's set, especially their Waylon Jennings tribute. The finest performances were however, by Eric Church and Luke Stricklin. Both have great albums out which need to get more radio play. Stricklin signed at the Tower booth as well, and was great to talk to.

Over in the convention center, I was able to meet Ray Scott, who spoke of spending a long time working hard on every guitar lick on My Kind of Music.

The night show was without a doubt the best I have ever seen. Little Big Town started things off, and Pat Green followed. Blake Shelton was then followed by the reigning queen of country, Sara Evans. After helping a member of the audience propose to his girlfriend, Sara performed one more song, and then announced the surprise guest, Dierks Bentley. Though I admit I am quite biased in his favor, all those around me agreed that he received the loudest applause of the night.

Gary Allan followed, with Brooks and Dunn coming on after that. As if the country fan in me hadn't had enough, Keith Urban walked out to accompany Kix Brooks on the guitar, as B&D brought the house down with a string of hits. Hank Jr. followed, albeit a bit reluctantly, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, or what's left of them, closed the night.

Last Call Ball III

2006-07-18T08:41:00.000-05:00

The night before the CMA Fest's country-overload began, Dierks Bentley held his third annual Last Call Ball at Nashville's Global Cafe, at the corner of Broadway and 4th. While ticket-holding fan club members lined up over an hour before doors, the anticipation of a casual acoustic set from Dierks and the TLB made time fly, but generous buffet tables and free drinks at the bar didn't hurt things either.

A few beers, chicken tenders, and a double jack daniels (yes, all seemingly included in the $30 ticket price) later, the party headed upstairs for the show. Global's performance room is a rather intimate setting, with the max capacity of 400 facing a two or three foot stage. Fan club organizers awarded five stageside tables to fans based on various merits. With one table left, the announcement was made that it had been awarded to "Bob." My dad's reaction was a mix of shock and pride for his name, as he raised his hand and admitted that he was indeed the Italian in question. I joined him stageside.

Dierks, Rod, Robbie, Steve, and Tim came out to thunderous applause, as XM radio recorded. A camera crew was also at work throughout the night, for Dierks's upcoming live dvd, as we later learned. "Free and Easy" was the first new song the TLB performed, and it was fantastic. When the boys added Tim Seargent on the steel, they also got a great banjo player, as evidenced by his picking and even a line in the song.

pair of boots and a sack of clothes,
free and easy down the road i go...

When Dierks opened with these lines, the similarity to Lot of Leavin' is evident, but only as further development of his style, which seems to be blending the best of greats like Waylon and Cash with his neo-traditionalist touch.

ragweed's rockin' on the radio,
free and easy down the road i go,
so i keep rollin' like tim's banjo,
free and easy down the road i go...

They played the radio hits, and album stuff, but the two other new songs revealed a huge record forthcoming.

After the set, Dierks endured hours of greeting each one of the partygoers personally for a word and a photo. My group consisting of 4 GUYS at the Woman-soaked event, Dierks greeted us with "DUDES!" We had a great time with him joking about the ratio of cowgirls to cowboys, which he attributed to "this song he had out for a while, Come a Little Closer."

Shooter

2006-05-06T13:23:00.000-05:00

Charlottesville, VA. Shooter Jennings and the .357's put on one hell of a show at Starr Hill.

With a set list that kicked off with "Electric Rodeo," from his new album of the same title, and "Gone to Carolina," the first single from the record. More later.

Slowdown video

2006-03-11T02:20:00.000-05:00

Dierks's new video translates the song to the screen in excellent fashion.

Listen to Shooter's new cd, Electric Rodeo here.

Awards based on reality, not politics.

2006-02-15T13:56:00.000-05:00

CMT Music Awards

With all the press that surrounds the Grammy's and the Oscars, and the fact that both almost always fail to award the best projects, CMT's awards honor the fans' opinion, and thus deserve more respect. Vote.
Although popularity does not infer quality, at least it gives a better reading than nominating a movie just because it's about gays. (No he di'e'n't!)

Somebody has to say it.

2006-02-15T13:20:00.000-05:00

Once again I find myself disgusted by what passes for country these days. The number one offending song right now must be Rascall Flatt's new single "What Hurts the Most." This song is pop musch nearer r&b/hip hop than country. The synthezsized beat, the arpeggio of short phrased lyrics: it is not country music. Spike-haired Gary and his falsetto need to stop tarnishing country music's image by enabling people to classify this song as country because it has an accoustic guitar and plays on "country" radio. Although it is already a huge hit (number 11 after only 7 weeks), it's a pop song for women with more business getting played at a highschool dance than on my "country" radio.

Carrie Underwood on top of the coutry charts again with "Jesus Take the Wheel." Radio has been spinning this to death even though it is just another pop ballad (this is only worsened by the fact that it's from a cookie-cutter "Idol").

Bon Jovi!? Come on, are you crazy? He would have to write a duet for himself and Merle Haggard to have a chance in my book as country, so doing a song with "country's" pop band Sugarland's lead Nettles is crappy as would be expected.

Keith Urban's "Tonight I Wanna Cry" is a piano pop ballad, but I have to let him go, because he works his sunburst Telecaster almost as good as Paisley, and writes great banjo music...

Trace Adkins is a great country singer. "Honky-tonk Badonkadonk" is retarded, but excusable by virtue of the fact that he has a sense of humor, much like Toby's, which in this case, simply went overboard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I't's not all bad news these days though, quite to the contrary: with the number 2 song on the charts Brad Paisley gets Dolly another hit, with an amazing song about GOD. The video is an example to all other singers as well.

Josh Turner has turned out a phenomenam album, and the title track is finally getting the spins it deserves. Jumping 4 slots this week to 4, twenty-nine weeks have paid off. The video, like Paisley's is excellent, and the most innocent and tastefully shot project in recent memory.

"Living In Fast Forward" is yet another summer flavored serving of Chesney at his finest. It's hard not to like it. Look for him to release "Summertime" just before heading into the season of the same name; it will be huge.

My man Dierks's single 'Settle for a Slowdown" is flying, which is a good indicator for the industry. Listen to Dierks' three albums, and you will hear some of the purest country music being made today.

Toby's "Get Drunk and Be Somebody" is flying even faster, already nearing the top ten. Another good sign. His new album "White Trash with Money" should be great.

Listen to Josh Turner's new album on CMT.com

2005-12-31T11:29:00.000-05:00

http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/turner_josh/1141238/album.jhtml

First impression: That low voice and the rich instrumentation makes every song enjoyable.

Your Man, Way Down South, Me and God, the cover of Don Williams' Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy, White Noise, Baby's Gone Home to Mama are the best, the singles will hopefully be drawn from amongst these 6.

-White Noise, with John Anderson (of "Seminole Wind" and "Swingin'" fame) is hilarious. White Noise, coming from the white boys, I can't keep my cowboy boots from stompin....take me where those honkies are a 'tonkin." If they can swallow some political criticism, it could be a big hit.

-Way Down South is the anthem of the southern boy, structured around the everyday life of a young man soaking up the elements of southern goodness. "Country music on the radio, talk about a good ole sound."

-Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy, a cover of Don Williams' hit, similarily is devoted to the man of the south, but from the perspective of one out of place in the city. A great remake.

-Me and God, with Ralph Stanley and Diamond Rio is moving in its content, and beauftiful in its harmonies.

-Baby's Gone Home to Mama is very good, very comical ; very similar to What it Ain't from the debut album. Rhymes with Nostradamus, and chihuaha ("that stupid little dog, more like a rat"); also very funny is Loretta Lynn's Lincoln

-The ballads Angels Fall Sometimes, Would You Go With Me, and No Rush are excellent, but do not surpass the first rate quality of the single Your Man.

3 and a half minutes of Paisley licks.

2005-12-15T00:57:00.000-05:00

Arguably country music's most talented guitarist, Brad Paisley playing his "pink paisley."

From http://www.drzamps.com/

LISTEN:
mp3

"A collaboration between Master Tele Player Brad Paisley, and Master Amp Builder Mike Zaite has given birth to the all new Prescription Extra Strength."

CCR: Garage

2005-12-14T23:56:00.000-05:00

Ok, Southern Rock, but you have to listen to it. Nice guitar licks, and the only thing I've been listening to in the car lately, well formed compilation. Plus, Cody named his kid Dierks...

Dierks Bentley: Next up is "Settle for a Slowdown"

2005-12-14T22:58:00.000-05:00

If you don't already know it, Slowdown is a great song with a lonesome verse structure, and a powerful buildup chorus. Know the words before is hits radio January 23.

article from http://www.netmusiccountdown.com's Neil Haislop...

2005-12-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

"I watch a lot of live shows, and to me, that's just the one element you can't buy or download or borrow or steal: the live show experience," Dierks told Blair Garner last week on After MidNite.

"I pay a lot of money to go out and watch the bands I enjoy sing and to play live, because that's just the coolest thing you can possibly feel is the energy and the passion that comes from a live performance, so we certainly spend a lot of time working on our live show. You know, at the end of the day, I think me and all the guys in the bands want to be known as one of the best live bands in any genre of music, not just Country, but to just be a great, live band, so it's definitely where a lot of my focus is right now."
------
This is why anyone who has seen a Dierks show returns a bigger fan than before. He is full of character and has taste when it comes to country showmanship.

Found this a little late but a great read.

2005-12-08T20:50:00.000-05:00

Fantastic article on Dierks Bentley, from his home state of Arizona, which sums up his leading of the charge of the new traditionalist country movement....

Josh Turner

2005-12-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

Josh Turner's second album Your Man out January 24. I expect to see a strong sophomore effort. The title track single has been floating around but will likely receive a boost from the video which should be released very soon, which Music Row reported was just filmed in Nashville's Hermitage Hotel.

Quick look at My Kind of Music

2005-12-03T14:57:00.000-05:00

RATING: 9 out of 10

Ray Scott's debut album "My Kind of Music" is top quality country. Released Nov 22, it debuted at no. 39 on Billboard's country albums chart. I saw his video on GAC this past summer, and I have been anticipating this record since. It does not disappoint. Billboard has a good review for a change. "My Kind of Music" is an obvious hit for anyone who's heard it, blending the hard baseline beats of Waylon with a wry wit and one hell of a deep voice. "Different Kind of Cowboy" has a classic Western feel to it, but drives with a good hard electric and lyrics for all of us who really have nothing to do with driving cattle. His love song "I Didn't Come Here to Talk" surprised me for a moment, but only made me a bigger fan in light of this versatility. Two of the richest tracks, both musically and lyrically are "Gypsy" and "Walls." Walls in particular is powerful. The opening chords played loud on an electric make the song from the first seconds. It's awesome in the car. Gypsy on the other hand, has subtle character, a rich composition, and that buildup characteristic of big hits. His solid faith is manifested in the penultimate track "Bear With Me Lord." A hidden 13th track is explained as a thank you, and a snub to superstition. The return of Outlaw-Rambler is certainly well underway.

Come a Little Closer #1.*

2005-11-21T12:28:00.000-05:00

On March 8th I wrote that DB's "Come a Little Closer" would "go to number 1." It has.

*After 2 weeks at the top spot, CALC *REGAINS* the throne after a stint from Joe Nichols.

See, I'm not crazy.

2005-11-15T22:42:00.000-05:00

Anyone that knows me know that I am likely one of Dierks Bentley's biggest fans. I'm not going to lie, most of my friends make fun of me for it, but I've been following him since around the time of the release of "What Was I Thinkin", after my brother and I had been hearing it, and seeing the video on CMT. Since then I've become absorbed in his music, and been fortunate enough to meet him 5 times. Since around the first time I saw him perform and met him in April of 2004 at Charlottesville's tiny Starr Hill Music Hall, I became an avid fan, and began making wild predictions looking into a future of immense success. With the second single off his second record just coming off of a two week stand at number 1, another number 1 video, the CMA Horizon award (although a year too late), his face plastered all over CMT, GAC and Country Weekly, and rumors of a tour with Chesney coming up, he has certainly reached a new level of stardom. This is the best case of mass approval of real quality in a long time. All the singles Sugarland has released are pop-rock with some country instruments. Big and Rich's new album is mostly not country at all, and as vocally talented as they are, Rascall Flatts is the country industry's answer to the f-ing Backstreet Boys. This Skin-Sarabeth stuff is not country music, it's soft rock, pop, anything but country. I have been pissed off for a while now about crappy bands and crappy songs getting recognition for being good country music, while in reality it has been pop junk packaged as country, and suddenly country isn't so hick anymore.
I jumped aboard the relatively empty Dierks bandwagon as soon as I discovered him because it was a revivial of real country, and I'm glad he's finally getting what he deserves.

Dierks Bentley show

2005-08-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

The TLB jams at Innsbrook Pavillion, July 13.
The show was wild, and I took a ton of pictures as always.
Here, notice what adorns Dierks' mic stand.

Gary Morse moves on.

2005-08-12T20:54:00.000-05:00

The great steel guitarist Gary Morse left Dierks Bentley's Terminally Lonesome Band this week:
from Dierks.com:
Gary Morse has left the building ...... August 11, 2005
we are sad to report that gary "high and tight" morse has left tlb. He has in fact accepted a gig with Brooks and Dunn, but not because he likes them better or that they're more fun than tlb but because they have better catering. that was a joke (trying to make light of a truely sad time). b&d's lighter schedule will enable gary to spend more time in the studios of nashville laying down his signature sounds on more records you hear being played on the radio. We have been very lucky to have him stick around as long as he has since he is and has been a highly sought after studio musician for quite some time. We were honored to have him as a member of the band and will always consider him one no matter who he playing with.

In the meantime, tlb is searching for a replacement (those are some big boots to fill) so you may see a few different faces out there for the next couple of weeks.

New guys to watch.

2005-08-12T20:49:00.000-05:00

Check out Ray Scott, with "My Kind of Music." He's got a distinctively traditional sound, and enjoyably clever lyrics. He will stick around.

Luke Stricklin's "American by God's Amazing Grace" is as my associate Matt said, the best of the "soldiers's anthems" out there, including "American Soldier" from Toby, and the current single "Arlington" from Trace Adkins.

Who cares what Rolling Stone says about country?

2005-05-23T13:04:00.000-05:00

If one sets out to review a record, one must listen to it, and write honestly. I was curious to see what Rolling Stone had to say about Honkytonk University, TK's new album, after I read that Dierks' Modern Day Drifter had received 3.5/5 stars.

Well reviewer Rob Sheffield panned it. He claims that Keith merely follows Nashville trends and sides with:

"right-wing meatheads. (Hell, if Al Qaeda invaded the U.S. of A. tomorrow, Toby Keith would hit the radio next week with "Ridin' My Camel to You.") But with the war in the toilet, Keith sounds lost and confused. Honkytonk University is the most downbeat record he's ever made, with none of his usual humor. Even the yee-haw title track, on which he longs to 'get down with my boys in Afghanistan and Baghdad City,' is no fun"

Hey Sheffield:
You're full of crap. You call the record "downbeat" and claim to have found "none of his usual humor." How bout "As Good As I Once Was" ? That's classic Toby; honest humor poking fun at himself. " I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was." Did you listen to "You Ain't Leavin' (Thank God Are Ya)" ? Because if you did, you would have heard "She forgot her new laptop, so I know she'll be back. I'll have a hottub full of hotties, icin' down a 24 pack. She'll cuss me like a sailor, but I don't care. We'll have a few choice words, when I come up for air." Again, signature TK tongue-in-cheek humor. Two songs, and the claim of NO humor has been soundly defeated.
As for your apparent distaste for anything but smiley-mindless-sunshine songs, it only reveals that you have no basic understanding or respect for country in general. Name a few of the great hits. "He Stopped Loving Her Today." "Folsom Prison Blues." HANK WILLIAMS. "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." Country is about life.
The review you wrote for Modern Day Drifter, while brief, and merely summary reveals more about your bias against Keith than it does about the quality of MDD. Sounds like you'd have a problem with anything that TK put out, possibly because he has ties to Bush. Stick to reviewing the music, not your personal politics, then you won't look like such an idiot.

Dierks' Chart Action and Honkytonk Univeristy Release.

2005-05-19T11:54:00.000-05:00

Billboard's Top Country Albums (tm) Chart revealed huge success for Dierks Bentley's second Capitol album, Modern Day Drifter, as it debuted at NUMBER 1, with 70,917 copies sold. The album comes in three versions: the regular 11 track record, the Limited Edition 13 track record & dvd, and the fan-club only version, signed by D himself. Dierk's single Lot of Leavin' Left to Do is up to number 5 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles (tm) and Radio & Records Country National Airplay (c) charts.

R&R has four other great Real Country singles moving up this week:
Gretchen at #1 - "Homewrecker" (A Coal Miner's Daughter?)
Joe Nichols, #3 - "What's a Guy Gotta Do" (Light but Good Country)
Toby Keith #25 - "As Good As I Once Was" (Classic T.K. honest humor)
Brad Paisley #29 - "Alcohol" (Paisley's great lyrics and twangy riffs kick ass!)

New Album:
Dreamworks Nashville released their penultimate TK album "Honkytonk University" this week...it's great stuff. The two singles, "Honkytonk U" and "As Good As I Once Was" are classic TK, and the rest is just as pure. A duet with Keith's idol, Merle Haggard, "She Ain't Hooked on Me No More" penned by Keith and his buddy Scotty Emerick sounds like an old Hag song from the opening bars. Their "Just The Guy to Do It" brought a smile to my face when I heard Scotty sing it back in June; Toby's rendition is much better. With what Toby calls a "weird" song, "Big Blue Note," grows on the listener with each repetition. "She Left Me" and "You Ain't Leavin' (Thank God Are Ya)" are similar in content, but both have unique likable cleverness to them. A strong dose of ballads recall the pre-Shock'n' Y'all era, and it's refreshing. "Knock Yourself Out" written by TK, Scot and Dean Dillon (who's been writing Strait hits for years) is the standout. "Your Smile" also shines. H.U. a *four and a half star* Real Country Record. Get it.

Track by Track: Modern Day Drifter

2005-05-08T15:36:00.000-05:00

guess the Lord made me hard to handle so lovin me might be a long-shot-gamble so before you go and turn me on be sure that you can turn me loose cause i still got a 1. lot of leavin left to do (Listen)

Genius. The entire record is country songwriting at its finest, at the turning point for modern country music. With the first single Echoing "Ramblin Man" sentiments of Hank Williams with a Waylon feel in the steel and rhythm, Dierks and co-writers Brett Beavers and Deric Ruttan craft a charactered track that has garnered success on radio. A touch of banjo hints at Dierks' taste for bluegrass and his knack for weaving it into country. Gary Morse's Bakersfield steel drives all the empty space, and keeps the song rolling to the footstomping drum beat. He's a man who only semi-reluctantly accepts the "leavin'" label, as after all, "the Lord" made him that way.

2. come a little closer baby, I feel like layin' you down

A real country love song bursting with honest passion without being sap. I heard Dierks sing this in April, and a lot of the audience had not heard it before; when he sang the third verse, which starts with "come a little closer baby, i feel like strippin it down," the women in the audience began screaming so loudly I could barely hear the band. This will probably be the next single, and should go to number 1 with confidence.

...learnin everything i'll ever need to know about life and love in the 3. cab of my truck

In the ode to his truck "big white" , who boasts 160,000 miles, D, Brett Beavers (great article on him) and Mark Nesler appeal to every truck lover out there. An "ode de pickup" that only country music could produce. It got a great response at the show I saw. In risk of beating a dead horse, this, like every other song on the record, is better crafted than 90% of all country singles that get airplay out there.

next three tracks coming.

2005-05-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

Garbage (yes, garbage) like American Idol dredges up the likes of Josh Gracin, who cannot be considered a country singer. He is a pop singer, using country as a springboard to launch himself into a pile of money. Of course I'm not naive enough to think that Toby Keith doesn't like raking in $27 million a year, but deep down, he's about making good music. His new single "Honkytonk U" is a dead ringer for some long lost Waylon tune, complete with some of Outlaw's the old band. Rumor has it though that Toby rushed to release the single before Dierks Bentley could get "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" on the airwaves. This looked like speculation, until I realized that Toby heard the song New Year's Eve, when he played a show with Bentley in Nashville. It's a business. They're both great songs, (those two guys happen to be my favorites) but I think "Lot of Leavin'" is better crafted, if not just because of the material. Listen to Bentley's new album , Modern Day Drifter, which comes out May 10, here. Also, look for TK's Honkytonk University May 17.

welcome to real country music

2005-05-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

There is a picture of me wearing a diaper, holding a guitar, and watching Willie Nelson on TV. My first favorite song was "Momma's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" by Waylon and Wille. Country music is the purest form of American music out there. Of course jazz has purely American roots, and there's always Appalachian bluegrass, [and I'm sure you can find a shirtless hippy somewhere, laying on the roof of his VW Bus banging a tamborine] but country is the only American musical product that is still very much mainstream.

I set this up to discuss and promote the singers, or as is more pc to say, "artists," who are keeping alive the tradition of good, pure country music. There's a phrase that my favorite country singer says over and over, and it sums everything up without being meaningless: "Keep it country."