Thus far in their career, I've gathered 3 things from Florida-Georgia Line.

1. They honestly sound like they want to party. Not just sort of, they REALLY sound like they enjoy partying.

2. Their songwriting is really underrated. Many may argue this, but the truth is despite the topic being more or less the same thing, their songs are full of clever lines.

3. The production is thick. Sometimes over the top. I have no doubt with a better producer they could be great.

All three of these points are relevant on their latest hit "Round Here".

It's once again a believable performance. That isn't an issue for them.

There are some decent lines here, my favorite being "That fireball whiskey whispers, temptation in my ear". I don't know why, but I love that lyric.

The production for the most part is fine. But when the chorus comes, it's loud. It's like this good-good-good-good-BAM. Explosion of noise.

The good news is it disappears after a bit.

This wouldn't be my first choice as a single, but it does have some guilty pleasure cred going for it and is definitely worth a listen.


Grade: B

Listen: "Round Here"

With summer just around the corner, I decided we should like at some fun, summery tunes that have been released recently. (Sorry for no full length reviews lately. Been busy and we cover more ground this way).

Jason Blaine- "Rock It Country Girl"

Pretty much "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)" minus the ultra catchy chorus which made the song memorable. Dissapointing coming from an artist who is usually so consistent.

Grade: C

Randy Houser- "Runnin' Outta Moonlight"

There are some vocalists who can make the most boring of material sound better than it actually is. Randy Houser is among them. Another backwoods love scene, but that voice.....

Grade: B

Jon Pardi- "Up All Night"

If there's one thing Pardi has proved thus far, it's that he can inject personality into 'meh' material, even if he's not the strongest of vocalists.
If he could add personality to quality material, he has the potential to be very good artist for years to come.

Grade: B-

Florida Georgia Line (feat. Nelly)- "Cruise" [Remix]

Still catchy, and Nelly doesn't ruin it, but it's far too polished which takes away some of the magic of the original.

Grade: C+

Blake Shelton (feat. Pistol Annies and Friends)- "Boys 'Round Here"

Good instrumentation, stupid lyrics, goofy performance, cliched, I don't know.

Grade: ?

Thompson Square- "Everything I Shouldn't Be Thinking About"

Cute, fun and flirty. I hope they put more depth into their songs soon, but for now I'll keep enoying their pleasant fluff.

Grade: B

(Credit to 'Farce the Music' for this idea).

3 Up

Chris Young- "Aw Naw"

Youngs voice does not work for party songs. Ballads, mid-tempos, love songs, sure. But please leave the partying to Dierks, Blake, Luke and FGL next time. Thankyou. (At least it's well sung).

Grade: C-

 Craig Morgan- "More Trucks Than Cars"

Backside of the city limit, water tower, power line, swimming holes, county fairs, ford truck, kickin' up dust, biscuits, gravy, waitress calls you baby (there's a new one!), hell ya, amen, yee'haw, city limit sign. Lol. He's desperate.

Grade: F

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.

Florida Georgia Line- "Get Your Shine On'

Feels a little compressed, but still sounds decent. Has a great hook, along with a feel-good vibe and it's easy to sing along to. Again, not everyones cup of tea.

Grade: B+

Autumn Hill- "Anything At All"

Awesome country production, excellent vocals and solid lyrics.
Very promising from one of Canada's up and coming duo's.

Good stuff.

Grade: A

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.