Lady Antebellum Downtown New Single Review

Review: Lady Antebellum Offer Up Sassy New Single Downtown! Anyone who knows me knows I am not the biggest fan of Lady Antebellum, it’s just not my kind of music. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to newly released single “Downtown.” The new tune will be featured on the trio’s brand new album set to release later this year. Modern Country and Sass! I can’t say that this song is terribly country but then that’s not what I expect from Lady A anyway. It does, however, have a modern country beat and a lot of tone-y electric guitar work, particularly in the solo, that gives it a swaying bluesy feel. In this respect, it is a great song for the bars and clubs to get people up dancing, and I can see it being hugely popular there. Hillary Scott takes the lead vocals on this one with Charles Kelley backing up, and I think this was the correct decision, as his husky vocals can seem a little too laid back for this kind of track. Instead, Hillary brings out some so far unnoticed sass that a lot of people have been complimenting her on. I mean, we need more sassy females right? This adds a certain sexiness to the song which I’m sure isn’t going to hurt its sales and airplay at all. Smooth Vibe and Punchy Beat. Musically, we have a bassy guitar riff, simple yet effective, and it’s underlying the verses really enhances it, and let’s it fester as an earworm. The pre-choruses strip down to begin anticipation for the release of the chorus, which delivers, with a punchy drum beat, incorporating a variety of bluesy ornaments and flairs. From here, we run into the more interesting second verse, which in true modern country style builds on the drum part, with more decoration and a fuller mix. We also get some counterpart going on with the spoken vocals of the boys showing their appreciation in between Hillary’s vocals and beats of the second pre-chorus. The song appears to be trying to combine a smoother vibe and a more punchy one, if you listen to the way in which the instruments are used; I would say they pull it off. One thing I think country fans will have an issues with, however, is the vocal effects used on Hillary at the end of each chorus. I’m not technically- minded enough to explain what they used, but it does bother me a little and pushes the song more towards the pop domain. Appealing Lyrics! Lyrically the song reminisces of a love where they would always go out Downtown, and party, and hang out, and now their life together is boring and the song’s narrator is itching to get out again, be shown off, and generally have a good time. The line “you might be tired, but I’m not” pretty much sums up the song, and as previously mentioned Hillary’s sass really works here. Maybe this is for the Continue reading Lady Antebellum Downtown New Single Review

Eli Young Band New Album and Tour In 2013

Interview: Eli Young Band Touring, New Music, Recent Success and More, Headed for A Big 2013! Hailing from North Texas, Eli Young Band has been hard at work for over a decade, and they are nowhere near the finish line. Many of us have had EYB on our radar for some time, but in the last year or so it seems this foursome has really started to hit their stride. Mid-success, and on the verge of an arena tour with Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Nation, drummer Chris Thompson took a few minutes to chat with me about all things EYB! The CMNB team will be catching the talented group when they head to Fayetteville, AR (fun fact: one of EYB’s favorite towns to play!) on Thursday, February 7th, and this date along with a few other mark their return to the road after almost two months off. They weren’t sitting idly, though. These boys were hard at work in the studio working on a new album we can expect later on this year, probably around early summer. So far, they have eight tracks complete, and this album is the first time the band members have taken on the role of co-producing. EYB consistently releases quality music, and it’s exciting to hear that they’re taking an even larger role in the recording process. It’s pretty remarkable that this group has been together for as long as they have…no easy feat. They started “jamming” together when that met at the University of North Texas in Dallas. From playing local nights at a bar in Denton, their friendships and love of music grew into a partnership that has served them well. You still have to wonder…what’s their secret to sticking together and making things happen? “I think some of the magic for us was we got a lot of the stupid fights out of the way before the success and the pressure came and realized that we needed to focus on the friendships and I think a lot of just really like bands. In a lot of ways, even though we’ve been a band for awhile it feels like we’re just arriving. Doors are starting to open, and we’re learning that when opportunities arrive, you take them.” -Chris Thompson Having recently played live at the 2012 CMA Awards, experiencing a great reception of singles from their current album, Life At Best, and other milestones, Eli Young Band seems to be hitting all the right notes lately and having their hard work of the past few years pay off. Speaking to this, Thompson had a few words of advice for aspiring artists, “I would say we just took every opportunity that we had…didn’t say no to a lot. Had a lot of perseverance and making a point of being around people that are driven is key. The four of us have always been really driven and we drive each other. We always think there’s something better around the corner. You know, great things happen Continue reading Eli Young Band New Album and Tour In 2013

Tim McGraw Two Lanes of Freedom Out Today

Tim McGraw’s Latest New Album Two Lanes of Freedom Available Now. Tim McGraw‘s highly anticipated new album, Two Lanes of Freedom, finally released today (Tuesday, February 5th). The new record features eleven tracks (the deluxe version offers up four additional songs), and it seems to offer up to slightly different versions of McGraw. On one side, there is the party anthem belting (hate to say it) trying to stay young Tim with songs like “Truck Yeah.” On the other hand, there are more traditional sounding, heart string strumming tunes like “Nashville Without You,” “Annie I Owe You a Dance,” “Tinted Windows,” and “Number 37405.” On yet another hand all together, there is the Tim that is continuing to push the boundaries of “country” with pop infused upbeat tunes, like “Southern Girl” (complete with a little autotune thrown in…), “Mexicoma,” and “It’s Your World,” that could easily crossover to Top 40 stations like The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, and (of course) Taylor Swift have done in recent years. Speaking of Tswift, there is the collaboration with her and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care,” that is sure to appeal to just about everyone. Its a pretty good song, and their three voices really meld together well. Essentially, with Two Lanes of Freedom, Tim McGraw gives a healthy selection of tracks to music fans across the country, right on over to pop, spectrum. For his first album release on Big Machine, following the Curb Records debacle, I think this is setting the right tone for McGraw. He still has a lot left to offer fans, and he isn’t afraid to keep pushing boundaries. I really feel like he’s trying to say, ‘I’m not done yet,’ and from what I’ve heard on this record, I’m okay with that. Find the deluxe version here, and the regular version here via iTunes. Next up, Tim heads out on his Two Lanes of Freedom Tour with Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft. Two Lanes of Freedom Complete Track Listing. 1. Two Lanes of Freedom 2. One of Those Nights 3. Friend of a Friend 4. Southern Girl 5. Truck Yeah 6. Nashville Without You 7. Book of John 8. Annie I Owe You A Dance (Deluxe Version) 9. Mexicoma 10. Number 37405 11. It’s Your World 12. Tinted Windows (Deluxe Version) 13. Highway Don’t Care (feat. Taylor Swift & Keith Urban) 14. Truck Yeah (Live) (Deluxe Version) 15. Let Me Love It Out of You (Deluxe Version) Watch: Tim McGraw’s Most Recent Video for One of Those Nights.

Carrie Underwood Two Black Cadillacs Video Review

Carrie Underwood’s Two Black Cadillacs Video Takes Fans Down A Strange and Winding Road. I’m pretty disappointed in Carrie Underwood‘s new video for single, “Two Black Cadillacs.” Yep, I said it. The song was released as the third single from her most recent album Blown Away back in November, with the video reportedly being filmed then too, but even just two weeks ago Carrie was claiming on Twitter that they were still editing, trying to make it perfect. So as a result, there were pretty high expectations for this video! …And then I watched it. Too Long. At 5 minutes 47 seconds, this is a long music video, but it had been announced that it’d be shot as a short film. S,o I was prepared for the standard couple-of-minute-long intro without music, plus maybe a section around the bridge where the music cut out for another short scene. This is a formula that has been tried and tested and it works. However, what proceeded was not as it should have been. It begins dramatically and suspensefully with expected scenes of winter and a lonely Cadillac come into view. There’s some creepy piano music that I don’t think was necessary but it works okay within the context. However, instead of allowing the suspense to linger and to draw it out properly to instigate a mood, the song kicks in just 20 seconds into the video, and you’re left wondering what they’re going to do with the time. Too Confusing. Much of the first half of the song is filled with multiple-angled shots (including many close-ups) of Carrie driving the Cadillac, the wintery desolate environment, and the funeral. As it progresses, we get a few brief shots of the Cadillac in a different setting, at night, driving down an alley in a city with the headlights beaming on a couple meeting for an embrace, presumably the cheating husband and mistress. Carrie plays the mistress, with another similar-looking actress playing the wife. There’s some lovely scenery, good graphics, great outfits (Carrie is a vampy mistress), nice close-up shots and some well-timed interplay between the two opposing scenes. However, for me, it’s far too slow, there’s too much of the same thing, and I feel like there should be a lot more content. Slowly but surely, we get some plot narrative, with the briefest of shots depicting the wife chasing her husband in one of the Cadillacs during the night scene. It is implied that due to the blasé attitude of the mistress when the Cadillac turns up that Carrie is a decoy for the wife to corner the cheater. Too Strange Suddenly, however, after the end of the third chorus, the music dies down and the sinister piano music from the beginning returns. Although we don’t see the cheating husband being run over, it is implied and there’s even a token ‘crash’ sound against a black screen. I’m already feeling that they’ve ruined the momentum of the song at this point. The piano Continue reading Carrie Underwood Two Black Cadillacs Video Review

Tate Stevens To Be On The Grammy Awards

X Factor Winner Tate Stevens Will Be Featured At The 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Tate Stevens will give fans a first look at his debut music video for “Holler If You’re With Me.” This will take place at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards February 10 on CBS. The video will debut during the Grammy broadcast compliments of Pepsi as part of his grand prize winnings. The single, “Holler It You’re With Me,” will be available for download beginning February 5.

EDM Meets Country Music: DJ DU

DJ DU Shakes Things Up Infusing EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and Country For One Wild Ride! I never thought I’d be writing about someone who mixes country music with electronic dance music, but that’s exactly what I’m doing thanks to DJ DU. I recently got wind of DU and his country/EDM infusions via #CMchat, and I’m not gonna lie, at first I didn’t know quite what to do with it. Now, I know some of you are probably thinking, that’s crazy! Leave my country alone! I understand where you’re coming from, but just hold on and give DJ DU and his unique style a chance! DJ DU originally hails from the East coast, but now resides in the dusty and warm desserts of Arizona. A self-professed country music fan and bonafied musician (plays bass, drums, guitar and more…), this DJ has a love and respect for the genre, and his musical concoctions are simply a natural progression of his musical tastes! He let me know that first and foremost, he has to love the song to work with it! “First of all, I gotta love the song. I gotta feel the song and know the crowd is gonna love it. I gotta love the artist. I try to look for songs that are up and coming on the charts, and there are other songs that are staples, like the Johnny Cash one, you hear Johnny Cash and you gotta love it.” -DJ DU No doubt traditionalists will balk at the idea of mixing country tunes this way. Even DJ DU said himself that there are some songs that he wouldn’t even touch. Still, he is getting a great response from artists, and was even featured live on the 2012 American Country Awards on FOX spinning a special mix just for Kip Moore. Right now, he’s playing festivals like Country Thunder and big venues like Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and folks at the clubs are loving these reinvented country songs! Major upshot for country artists, their music is being heard and appreciated by folks that would never have listened to them before. DJ DU hopes that he’ll get the chance to work with artists in the studio on original work, and maybe even sing a recording deal sometime soon. I’m definitely intrigued, and can’t wait to see where this goes! Check him out for yourself below! DJ DU gives country an EDM twist! Find more here! DJ DU will be posting a new “Duesday” remix every Tuesday, so keep checking back in!

Lauren Alaina Working On New Music for 2013

Lauren Alaina Announces She’s Back In The Studio and Working On a Second Album for 2013! Just when I think Lauren Alaina can’t do anything else to make herself any more endearing…she posts an adorable video like the one below to her Facebook! Alaina took to the social platform this morning with the candid video to let fans know she’s working on new music, has been writing with talented folks in Nashville and is really excited to release the new tracks! She doesn’t specifically say that the album will be out this year, but I’m willing to bet, we’ll be hearing news along those lines sometime soon! Get more from Lauren on Facebook and Twitter! Watch Lauren Alaina’s Special Message Now!

Jaida Dreyer Half Broke Horses New Single

Jaida Dreyer Releases New Single Half Broke Horses to Country Radio. Jaida Dreyer has released a new single to country radio title “Half Broke Horses.” The combination of a bittersweet story and Jaida’s beautiful voice with just the right amount of twang is sure to make this song stick with country listeners. Dreyer admits that the lyrics come from a very personal place, and that honesty just makes the new track that much stronger. “I’m not afraid to say this part of my life is difficult for me to write about, but I felt I had to be honest with both myself and the listener. If I left that hole out, it would take away from the legitimacy of the record. We all experience loss throughout our lives in different ways and this song allows the audience into a piece of my past that shaped my life forever.” -Jaida Dreyer The new single is featured on Dreyer’s upcoming album, I Am Jaida Dreyer. Listen to the new song now, and be sure to follow Jaida on Twitter!

New Sarah Darling Home To Me EP Available Now

Sarah Darling Offers Up Four Track EP Home To Me, Available On iTunes Now. Today (Tuesday, January 29th), country songstress Sarah Darling released a new four track EP titled, Home To Me. The new project is the follow-up to her 2011 full release and second album, Angels & Devils. The four songs (four full plus an acoustic version of the title track) on this album are low key and unassuming, but each has a depth to them musically and lyrically that sticks with you even after they finish. The stripped down (and by that I mean not overly produced or pop-ish) quality allows Darling’s voice and talent to ring clear. In that, this EP has really done it’s job well…left you wanting to hear more. If you haven’t yet, look it up on iTunes, and stay tuned for more Sarah Darling news by following us on Facebook and Twitter! Catch Sarah when she guests on the #CMchat #Twangout on February 4th at 8:00pm CT! Go to Twangout.com for more! Home To Me EP, Track Listing: 1. Home To Me 2. How Dare You 3. You Don’t Have To Be Lonely Tonight 4. Home To Me (Acoustic Version)

Luke Bryan Releases Spring Break Here To Party In March

Luke Bryan Releases New Album Spring Break Here To Party March 2013. Country fans get ready because Luke Bryan is ready to throw more Spring break and summertime party anthems your way! In keeping with the his previous Spring break themed EP installments, Bryan will be releasing an album of party ready tunes titled Spring Break…Here To Party that will be available in stores and digitally on March 5th. There are a few of the usual suspects from past releases plus two new original tracks. Additionally, Luke has scheduled his annual Spring Break Concerts for March 12th and 13th at Spinnakers in Panama City Beach, FL. On March 14th, fans can also catch the “Red Dirt Diaries” tour stop which will be hitting up the Amphitheatre at the Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama. I don’t know about you, but just writing that made me ready for some sand, sun and fun! Spring Break…Here To Party Track Listing 1. Suntan City 2. Just A Sip 3. Buzzkill 4. If You Ain’t Here To Party 5. Little Bit Later On 6. In Love With The Girl 7. Shore Thing 8. Sorority Girl 9. Shake The Sand 10. Love In A College Town 11. Wild Weekend 12. Cold Beer Drinker 13. Spring Break-Up 14. Take My Drunk A** Home Current Luke Bryan Tours and Tickets