Brantley Gilbert's latest single is without a doubt the best thing he has ever released to radio. "One Hell of an Amen" tells the stories of two men, one of whom died at war while the other is passing due to cancer, through the point of view of a close friend. It's a moving, inspirational song that shows depth that usually stays hidden in the land of album tracks.

While some songs of this vein can come across as sappy and unconvincing, "One Hell of an Amen" has enough bite in the production to sell it, while Brantley conveys raw emotion in spades.

The enjoyment of this single for many may come down to if you can tolerate Gilbert's style and vocals. I can, so I find it to be nothing short of a masterpiece. This track is downright fantastic, and is the best single at radio right now, bar none.

(On somewhat of a side note, the video is definitely worth a watch.)

Grade: A+
Listen: "One Hell of an Amen"

Hello folks, and welcome to the 2nd annual This Is Country Music 20 Worst Singles of 2014 list. This year, in addition to myself and sabre14, we have Pulse Music Board member zack97 contributing to our list. Without further ado, here are the twenty worst radio singles of 2014, as voted on by TICM contributors. Stay tuned for our Best Of list, coming soon!

#20
Little Big Town, "Day Drinking"

After "Your Side Of The Bed" and "Sober" under performed at radio, it was obvious that Little Big needed something upbeat and fun in the vein of "Pontoon" to catapult themselves back into top five territory. With that we have "Day Drinking". This song is lazy and annoying, the whistles throughout make it hard to enjoy, and do we really need more songs about how fun drinking is? It's an overdone topic as is, throw in a grating production and you have a mess of a single. - zack97

#19
Darius Rucker, "Homegrown Honey"

While "Homegrown Honey" was already a dull, unoriginal song to begin with, what makes it even worse is the fact that it's such a blatant attempt to return to radio after "Miss You" bombed. Bro-country is dead dude, get with the times. "Ooo, I dig the way that you move" is an embarrassing line. *sigh* - Markus Meyer 

#18
The Band Perry, "Chainsaw"

While "Chainsaw" is fairly unoffensive upon first listen, it grows worse upon each listen. When The Band Perry is on their game, they're interesting, and they hold up after repeated listens. "Chainsaw" is neither, it's boring, and it's grating. - MM

#17
Eric Paslay, "Song About A Girl"

This song spends three and a half minutes telling you what this song is not about but at the same time never going in depth about what the song "is" about. I'm sorry but Eric's song about "nothing", or at least nothing we haven't heard a million times before about a heartbreak queen rockin' the jeans before, if you ask me, and one I wish was never a single. - sabre14

#16
Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, "Somethin' Bad"

I expect better from both of these two. Lambert and Underwood have produced some of the most compelling material of the past five years, and this is what we get from their duet? Disappointing. This is all style, no substance, it's loud for the sake of being loud, and worst of all, it's pointless. Somethin' bad indeed. - MM

#14
Brantley Gilbert / Justin Moore / Thomas Rhett, "Small Town Throwdown"

This obnoxious piece of trash is easily the worst song on what was an otherwise brilliant album in Just As I Am. It's cliched, it's loud, and Thoma Rhett sounds terrible with his exaggerated twang. No thanks. - MM

#13
Maggie Rose, "Girl In Your Truck Song"

Maggie, why? When you put out three dynamite songs out to radio that barely make a dent with them its frustrating. So she thought that combining the names of a lot of famous "bro country" hits("Thats My Kind Of Night", "Chillin' It", etc.) would be a great idea. Unfortunately for her, this song doesn't work at all, largely due to the fact that the lyrics are lazy and stupid. Seriously Maggie. get on Maddie & Tae's side. At least they mentioned the bro songs cleverly and stood up for the females. - zack97

#12
Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan, "This Is How We Roll"

With this song came the same song and dance (literally) with FGL. A catchy melody but God awful lyrics. The overproduction is nothing new with them but the rapping by Tyler during the one of the song's verses was (on radio at least) and easily the worst part of the song. - sabre14

#11
Rascal Flatts, "Payback"

Sure, Rascal Flatts have had some bad singles over the years, but this one takes the cake. Gary LeVox sounds laughably bad here, as does everything else about this obnoxious, immature, and just plain bad "song". Apparantely country radio agreed, as it missed the top 20. You're better than this guys. - MM

#10
Jason Aldean, "Burnin' It Down"

The only country sounding thing to me in "Burnin' It Down" is Jason's vocals. This is more Pop than Kelleigh's song which is saying something. The production has more of a Hip-Hop and R&B feel than a country one. The lyrics are another look away moment. There's nothing "offensive" or "taboo" about saying "Naked in my bed". But the reason most don't use it, is because it sounds, well, stupid. Probably my least favorite Aldean song but most obviously disagree as it topped the Mediabase and Billboard charts for multiple weeks... - sabre14

#9
Kelleigh Bannen, "Famous"

I know country radio is trending more into the Pop sound as time goes on but "Famous" takes it to a new level. The chorus made me though I had tuned into a Hot AC station when it first came on the radio. Quite the change from Kelleigh's country sounds on her first single, "Sorry On The Rocks". Kelleigh has immense talent but "Famous" masks it. - sabre14

#8
Chris Lane, "Broken Windshield View"

A song about small town pride with an obnoxiously loud chorus? Yeah, that pretty much sums up this song. It's obvious he's trying to cash in on the bro crowd like Cole Swindell and Chase Rice did, but unfortunately, he's a little too late. Try again with a better song next time Chris. - zack97

#5
Joey Hyde, "Get It On"

This is a perfect example of what not to release as your debut single. "Get It On" is uncreative in every way, shape and form. The lyrics are unoriginal. The instrumentation is repetitive, and the production is overbearing. Not a good first step into country radio. - sabre14

#4
Florida Georgia Line, "Sun Daze"

The boys of Florida Georgia Line took it a little too far with this song. Getting stoned is nothing new in country music, but the problem with this song is that the entire song talks about NOTHING other than getting stoned, oh and getting laid (classy). I don't think anyone will be able to forget the infamous "pink umbrella" line. Ugh. - zack97

#3
Dylan Scott, "Mmm, Mmm, Mmm"

We've heard this type of song 100000 times. A guy thinks a girls so hot that he wants to express that by showing how it makes him feel and how country he is. This song is one of the worst examples of this, nothing but cliche country boy lyrics that sound so stupid. The title doesn't even have an actual word in it. - zack97

#2
Tim McGraw, "Lookin' For That Girl"

When I first heard this song, something happened that had never happened to me before - my jaw dropped in disbelief. I couldn't imagine that this was indeed Tim McGraw. It sounded like some awful computerized auto-tune machine sputtering out odd and strange lyrics. I never thought Tim would outdo "Truck Yeah" in the horrendous department but he did so with flying colors. - sabre14

#1
Jerrod Niemann, "Donkey"

I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said a million time about this atrocity. This is embarrassing to Jerrod Niemann, his label, the songwriters, the producer, and country music. Everything about this is just terrible. An absolute no-brainer for my most hated single of 2014. Jaw droppingly bad. - MM

Oh the potential this duet held. Two of country musics elite vocalists pairing together could have been something for the ages. Both of these artists recent output has been nothing short of stellar. And we get... this? How disappointing.

This was a golden opportunity to get lyrical quality back on country radio. These are the artists behind recent masterpieces such as "Mama's Broken Heart" and "Two Black Cadillacs", not to mention two of the only female A-listers. Why did they have to record a bad-girl anthem? And not a very good one at that. It doesn't even really say anything, it's pretty much a feminized Brantley Gilbert bad-ass rocker. 

I will give it this: despite the obnoxious production, below average melody and hollow lyrics, Miranda does sound pretty good here. There was the potential here for a shout-fest but that doesn't happen. That said, I'm not a fan of Underwood on this one. Never been a fan of her performances on her bad-girl stuff before ("Undo It", "Before He Cheats", "Last Name") and "Somethin' Bad" does nothing to change my feelings on that. Too exaggerated for my liking.

*sigh* What could have been legendary adds up to nothing more than irritating radio filler. How disappointing.

Grade: C-
Listen: "Somethin' Bad"

Oh Jerrod. You had so much potential. You have an excellent voice and has shown that you're not afraid to take risks in your music, as exemplified by your 2012 release Free the Music. But that project bombed so I guess you had to give in and release a generic bro song like "Drink to that all Night". I get it, you have to make a living. But this? This is unacceptable.

To put it lightly, "Donkey" makes today's radio fodder seem revolutionary. I really thought we had reached rock bottom when Brantley Gilbert released "Kick It In The Sticks" back in 2012. It seems as though Blackjack Billy had something to say about that when they released "The Booze Cruise" last summer. And when Tim McGraw released "Lookin' For That Girl" I honest to god thought they couldn't do worse if they tried. Well... they did worse. I'm passed the point of being angry or disappointed about it. At this point it's hilarious. It's as if label execs are playing a huge game of "who can release the biggest pile of crap to radio". 

"Donkey" features processed vocals, obnoxious melody and production, coupled with lyrics that basically go like "I'm gonna ride a donkey to the club and have sex LAWL". There is literally NOTHING listenable about this song. I can appreciate a good novelty song, but this... this is embarrassing to not just country, but music in general.

I say this with caution, but I truly believe that we cannot get any worse than "Donkey". It is deeper than bottom of the barrel. It goes through the barrel and smashes the concrete beneath.

RIP good Jerrod Niemann.
2010-2013

Grade: F
Listen: "Donkey"

Ah yes. Summer time. The time where anthems and up-tempos rule the airwaves and where ballads go to die. It is time for our summer single round-up.

Eric Church - "Cold One"

This was the standout from The Outsiders for me. At first glance it comes across as just another drinking song. But it's actually a breakup song. The production is funky but not overly thick and Church sells it. Good stuff.

Grade: A

Danielle Bradbery - "Young In America"

This is pure fluff, but good fluff. Bradbery sounds good here and sounds like she is legitimately enjoying herself. Production is restrained and an infectious melody. I can get into this.

Grade: B

Thompson Square - "Testing the Water"

Why? Just why? For an album full of fun, infectious tunes why this? A song like "Here's To Being Here" has so much energy and charisma. This is dull. I don't say that about much of Thompson Square's stuff.


Grade: C

Brad Paisley - "River Bank"

Lyrically clever, takes the interesting production traits of Wheelhouse and makes it a bit more radio friendly, a performance reminiscent of Paisley's early work. I was hoping it wouldn't be a copy of "Water". It wasn't.

Grade: B+

Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan - "This Is How We Roll"

The rapping here is crap. It seriously sucks. So do the lyrics. But I find myself jamming to it. It's catchy as hell. I like it. Can we forget I ever said that now?


Grade: B

Dustin Lynch - "Where It's At"

This is very, very average. Boring lyrics, boring production, boring melody, boring vocals, boring single cover. ZZZZZZZZZ.

Grade: C-

If there's one term that could describe BG's latest, it would be: bro-country in disguise.

Reasoning? The melody and production job here is pretty solid, and unlike anything else he's ever released. And the video is pretty creative to.

But all this doesn't change the fact that this is typical bro-country, at least lyrically speaking. "Pretty little mama looking at ya like that"? "Drop a tailgate on your truck"? Really? This is borderline embarrassing. But like I said, there are some redeeming qualities here, to make it tolerable. 

This guy has proven he can make great music (none of it gets released though), so lets hope his upcoming album has more songs like "Savin' Amy" and less of this.

Grade: C

Listen: "Bottoms Up"

Well, this is....interesting, to say the least. Eric Church has given us perhaps the most polarizing "country" single of 2013. The reason for the quotations is that this single leans more towards metal or rock than country, even by today's standards.

But unlike the other country-metal single we have experienced lately, Brantley Gilbert's ultra-crappy "Kick It In The Sticks", Church gets his done in a unique fashion.

It starts off with a buildup, featuring haunting-esque guitars along with Eric's toned down vocals. The buildup leads into an explosive, anthemique chorus complete with arena-rock "oh oh oh"s.

Church reels it all in with a confident performance, making this an electrifying record. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's damn sure mine.


Grade: A-

Listen: "The Outsiders"

Doc Walker- "Put  It Into Drive"

Hands down their best yet. We needed a song about getting out there and just chasing your dreams. Outstanding vocals and production are an added bonus.

Grade: A

Eli Young Band- "Drunk Last Night"

Full of regret without going all sappy on us. Excellent lead vocal from Mike Eli helps connect the song to it's audience.

Grade: B+

The Civil Wars- "The One That Got Away"

Haunting and sincere. Production is down-to-earth and doesn't get in the way of the beautiful yet depressed vocals and performance.

Grade: B+

Toby Keith- "Drinks After Work"

An irritating and distracting keyboard riff throughout the song ruins what could have been a cute, fun song.

Grade: C-

Tim Hicks- "Get By"

This sounds like something from the bad half of Brantley Gilberts discography (I completely expect BG fanatics to tear me apart for that comment). Hicks might have potential but he certainly won't reach it releasing trash like this.

Grade: D

Ronnie Dunn- "Kiss You There"

Really Ronnie? Coming on the heels of fantastic artistry such as "Bleed Red" and "Cost Of Livin" This is really dissapointing. Vocal effects block off Dunns outstanding ability as a voclaist. It's a pretty dull song as well. It's not the worst thing ever, it's just way below his capabilities.

Grade: C-

Entertainer

Should win:

Jason Aldean- MM
Blake Shelton
Miranda Lambert- GP
Luke Bryan
Taylor Swift


Will win:

Jason Aldean
Blake Shelton- GP
Miranda Lambert
Luke Bryan
Taylor Swift- MM

Markus: Meh, went with Aldean because he released "Fly Over States". Swift will win due to fan-voting. 

Gator: Just because, despite her bad year, Miranda is still my favorite. Blake will because he just won't stop it seems.

Male Vocalist

Should win:

Luke Bryan
Jason Aldean
Eric Church- MM, GP
Toby Keith
Blake Shelton


Will win:

Luke Bryan
Jason Aldean
Eric Church- GP
Toby Keith
Blake Shelton- MM

Markus: Church has released the best music, but I wouldn't bet against Shelton. I like the Toby Keith nom.

Gator: I agree Church has the best music but I think he will win because the ACM's can be pretty adventurous


Female Vocalist

Should win:

Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood- MM, GP
Kacey Musgraves


Will win:

Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert- MM
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood- GP
Kacey Musgraves


Markus: Why is McBride even nominated? Anyways, I'm not an Underwood fan, but she has released some of the best music of her career, along with a great album. Too bad I can't see Lambert losing.

Gator: Carrie by far has the best vocals in the category and with her great commercial and critical year I think its hers to lose.


Duo

Should win:

Florida Georgia Line
Big & Rich
Thompson Square- MM
Sugarland
Love and Theft


Will win:

Florida Georgia Line- MM, GP
Big & Rich
Thompson Square
Sugarland
Love and Theft


Markus: TS has released "Glass" and "If I Didn't Have You". Two excellent singles. But FGL has dat "Cruise" momentum.

Gator: I don't think any should win and that they should combine this category with group but i suppose it will go to Florida-Georgia Line


Group

Should win:

Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
The Band Perry
Little Big Town- GP
Zac Brown Band- MM


Will win:

Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
The Band Perry
Little Big Town- MM, GP
Zac Brown Band


Markus: It's the LBT era now. So they'll win. But I'm rooting for ZBB all the way!

Gator: This time next year I'll be voting for The Band Perry most likely, but since it's not, I'll go with Little BIg Town because they've been good quality and great commercially.

Single

Should win:

Little Big Town- 'Pontoon'
Miranda Lambert- 'Over You'
Eli Young Band- 'Even If It Breaks Your Heart'
Eric Church- 'Springsteen'- MM, GP
Hunter Hayes- 'Wanted'


Will win:

Little Big Town- 'Pontoon'- MM, GP
Miranda Lambert- 'Over You'
Eli Young Band- 'Even If It Breaks Your Heart'
Eric Church- 'Springsteen'
Hunter Hayes- 'Wanted'


Markus: 'Springsteen' is by far my favorite. But I can't seem them passing on 'Pontoon' after the CMA's and Grammy's didn't. It's not like the ACM's have ever been creative.  

Gator: I like Church's the best but I don't think "Pontoon" is as bad as people try to make it out. I can handle it winning,


Song

Should win:

Miranda Lambert- 'Over You'
Eli Young Band- 'Even If It Breaks Your Heart'
Eric Church- 'Springsteen'- MM, GP
Lee Brice- 'A Woman Like You'
Hunter Hayes- 'Wanted'


Will win:

Miranda Lambert- 'Over You'- MM, GP
Eli Young Band- 'Even If It Breaks Your Heart'
Eric Church- 'Springsteen'
Lee Brice- 'A Woman Like You'
Hunter Hayes- 'Wanted'


Markus: 'Springsteen' is legendary, but will lose to 'Over You'. *sigh*.

Gator: One final nomination for "Over You" and one final victory. I've got to say it has grown on me with all this belated attention.


Vocal event

Should win:

Kelly Clarkson & Vince Gill- 'Don't Rush'- GP
Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw- 'Feel Like A Rockstar'
Rascal Flatts & Natasha Bedingfield- 'Easy'- MM
Jason Aldean, Eric Church & Luke Bryan- 'The Only Way I Know'
David Nail & Sarah Buxton- 'Let It Rain'


Will win:

Kelly Clarkson & Vince Gill- 'Don't Rush'
Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw- 'Feel Like A Rockstar'
Rascal Flatts & Natasha Bedingfield- 'Easy'
Jason Aldean, Eric Church & Luke Bryan- 'The Only Way I Know'- MM, GP
David Nail & Sarah Buxton- 'Let It Rain'


Markus: None of them blow me away, but 'Easy' is my fave. Though, I guarantee 'The Only Way I Know' will win.

Gator: I think Vince and Kelly are the best (and if this was the Grammy's it would have a chance) but the star power is too much to bypass here.


Album
 
Should win:

Taylor Swift- 'Red'
Eric Church- 'Chief'- MM
Carrie Underwood- 'Blown Away'- GP
Luke Bryan- 'Tailgates and Tanlines'
Little Big Town- 'Tornado'


Will win:

Taylor Swift- 'Red'
Eric Church- 'Chief'- MM, GP
Carrie Underwood- 'Blown Away'
Luke Bryan- 'Tailgates and Tanlines'
Little Big Town- 'Tornado'
 

Markus: 'Chief' is my fave and I also have a feeling it will win.

Gator: Underwood did some great stuff and was the biggest step forward, but I don't see her picking it up over Church.



New Artist

Should win:
 
Florida Georgia Line
Brantley Gilbert- MM
Jana Kramer - GP

Will win: 

Florida Georgia Line
Brantley Gilbert- MM, GP
Jana Kramer

Markus: Don't love any of them, but I love "More Than Miles", so I guess I'll go with Gilbert. Oh, he will win as well.

Gator: Jana is by far the most acceptable nominee and the most interesting one. While I'd love to see her deservingly win this, I see her fiancee stepping in for the victory.


Video

Should win:
 
Eric Church- 'Creepin'
Kacey Musgraves- 'Merry Go 'Round'- GP
Hunter Hayes- 'Wanted'
Little Big Town- 'Tornado'
Taylor Swift- 'We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together'
Zac Brown Band- 'The Wind' - MM

Will win:

Eric Church- 'Creepin'- MM
Kacey Musgraves- 'Merry Go 'Round'- GP
Hunter Hayes- 'Wanted'
Little Big Town- 'Tornado'
Taylor Swift- 'We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together'
Zac Brown Band- 'The Wind'
 
Markus: Lol. How can you not love the video for 'The Wind'? I also like the video for 'Merry Go Round' though. I think this will go to 'Creepin' but I could see 'Wanted' taking it as well.

Gator: I personally think that Musgraves' video was an eloquent depiction of her excellent single and the fact that she is even nominated is awesome. Her somewhat surprising nomination makes me think she could win it, but I would not be surprised if Hayes sneaks in with his boyish charm.

The nominees for the new artist catagories were announced
today.

Female


Should Win:

Jana Kramer
Kacey Musgraves- MM, GP
Sunny Sweeney


Will Win:

Jana Kramer- MM, GP
Kacey Musgraves
Sunny Sweeney


Markus: Musgraves seems to be the most interesting and released "Merry Go Round" one of
my 2012 faves. But Jana had a top 5 smash in "Why Ya Wanna" so she's pretty much
a lock for it. No idea why Sweeney was nominated...


Gator: I like both Kacey and Jana a lot so I am fine either way with those results. I
just think Kacey is the more interesting talent as of yet, although she doesn't
have as much of a foundation to warrant this nomination.. Don't get me started
on Sunny..

Male


Should Win:

Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes- GP
Lee Brice- MM


Will Win:

Brantley Gilbert- MM
Hunter Hayes- GP
Lee Brice


Markus: Kip Moore. But of the nominees, Brice is my fave by far of the 3. For the will win, its a
toss-up with Brantley and Hunter, but I'll go with the former, seeing as he has
some of the most loyal fans in the genre.


Gator: Honestly, I do not like any of them all that much  but I think Hunter has the
most raw talent and promise, plus crazy teen fans, so I'll go with him.