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Worst 20 Singles of 2020

12/10/2020

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In a year of tremendous turmoil, music served for many as an escape, as a comfort in times of despair. As we come to the end of 2020, we are able to reflect on the tracks that got us through these hard times. And within the coming days, we will certainly do this.

As is tradition, myself and my good friend Zackary Kephart (of The Musical Divide and Country Universe) count down our least favorite singles of the year. As a broad comment, this year was not so much a horrible one for mainstream country as it was uninspiring. New artists come out of the woodwork with generic word salads while the usual culprits remain in standard form. There will be ample celebration of the highlights, but for now, here are the 20 worst radio singles of the year that was 2020. 
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#20
Little Big Town, "Wine, Beer, Whiskey"


As someone who will gladly defend Little Big Town’s Nightfall album, this is the most disappointing entry, for me. Beyond just being a clunky, sloppily mixed single where Jimi Westbrook’s performance is beyond over-the-top, it’s a sour drinking song that was only released as a summer single to try and salvage the band’s momentum in an otherwise tough time. In other words, Capitol Nashville has no idea to market them anymore, and the sooner the band escapes into the night, the better we’ll all be for it - especially when, again, Nightfall houses some of their best work; this just ain’t it. - Zackary Kephart
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#19
Kelsea Ballerini, "hole in the bottle"


I do think that Kelsea Ballerini has made strides artistically since the "Dibs" days, but I do not think that is represented by this track. I think the production grates and the melody feels jarring, and I don't think it suits her somewhat limited vocal range. It just doesn't have much to say and what it does, it doesn't do well. - Markus Meyer
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#18
Dylan Scott, "Nobody"


I'm not convinced that Dylan Scott has ever had an original thought. I'm not sure what the point of this is. I'm not sure what the point of any of his singles are. He's a perfectly capable vocalists that exaggerates for no reason, and does so on top of production and songwriting copy-pasted from every other crappy top 20 hit from a white guy with a silly haircut. I just don't see any appeal. - MM
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#17
Jason Aldean, "Got What I Got"

To be frank, Jason Aldean just does not have the skillset to pull this off. He's too inherently mad to do slowed down, sexy songs. Sometimes his anger works! It just doesn't here, and it's incredibly awkward to listen to. The production feels a little clunky and it makes for a weird listen that gets worse with time. - MM
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#16
Robert Counts, "What Do I Know"

You don’t know this guy, and given how there are only around 4,593 new, generic male artists that enter the fray every year, I can’t say I blame you. The production and performance leans into Jason Aldean’s worst tendencies of being a dark, overly serious, angry song, where the sentiment just feels misplaced all around. It’s macho posturing at its worst, and while this type of attitude is, unfortunately, a prevalent philosophy for certain country fans, it doesn’t represent the genre at its absolute best, thankfully. What do I know? I know this sucks. - ZK

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#15
Dustin Lynch, "Momma's House"

I'm sorry but what is there left to say about this guy. He's completely content just phoning it in, even though I'm not convinced anyone cares about his music anymore. This isn't actually one of his more offensive lyrics but he ruins it with his siganture slathering of autotune and production that sounds like a computer breaking down. Obligatory reference to "Cowboys and Angels" and what a letdown he's been since. - MM

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#14
Easton Corbin, "Turn Up"


Remember when, in 2015, Easton Corbin released a dated bro-country project in About to Get Real? Well, he’s basically doing the same thing again in 2020 with “Turn Up,” and this time around, it’s like a living incarnation of that Steve Buscemi “how do you do, fellow kids?” meme. “Let’s turn up and get lit like the kids do, my fellow lady friend!” - ZK

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#13
Lee Brice, "One of Them Girls"


I'm usually a big defender of Lee Brice. I think he's one of the good guys and unlike many of his peers, he has some legit vocal talent. It just baffles me how big this was. It's just middle-of-the-road fluff about his girl, who just so happens to apparently be the exact same as eveyr other girl described on country radio. It's completely unmemorable in every way. Bud light labels and hometowns and parties. Good one! Waste of talent. - MM
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#12
Florida Georgia Line, "Long Live"

Whew … I mean, Cledus T. Judd and Weird Al couldn’t have written a better Florida Georgia Line parody, I tell you. Wait, you’re telling me this is an actual Florida Georgia Line single? Oh, my. In all seriousness, what analysis must one offer to explain why their sixty-millionth song in this bro-country vein is bad? It just speaks for itself sometimes. - ZK
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#11
Parmalee feat. Blanco Brown, "Just the Way"

Songwriting by committee, almost literally. There’s no chemistry here between the two acts desperately yearning for relevancy on this tired, predictable schlock, derivative of the worst traits “boyfriend country” has had to offer so far. Also, my fellow dudes, we really need to retire the whole “God made this woman just for me” trope – it’s not nearly as endearing as you think it is, coming from, again, a fellow dude. Why is this even a duet? Are they really sharing the same woman? - ZK
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#10
Sam Hunt, "Hard to Forget"

Believe it or not, I don’t dislike Sam Hunt’s music solely for its lack of a “country” sound – it’s just bad, no matter how you cut it. The Webb Pierce sample isn’t innovative, though it gives Sam Hunt one of the few decent melodies he’s ever had. But the song is just a mess, from the brighter, chipper tones – bolstered by a sing-a-long toward the end, no less - that contradict the otherwise dour theme, to the mix of chintzy-sounding drum machines and guitars that clash with the fiddle and dobro. It isn’t nearly the worst song off Southside, or even Hunt’s worst single. But it’s his most bizarre, and it absolutely deserves its place here.  - ZK
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#9
Dan + Shay, "I Should Probably Go to Bed"

The schtick is old. "Tequila" was really good and everything since has sounded identical. There is zero substantive difference between this and "Speechless" and "All to Myself" and "10,000 Hours". Find something new to talk about! They have immense vocal talent but you can only do the exact same song so many times. Beyond boring and unoriginal, to the point where it's infuriating. It's also 0% country, but that ship sailed long ago. - MM
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#8
Keith Urban, "God Whispered Your Name"

I’m copying and pasting my blurb from “Just The Way” to reiterate to my fellow dudes that, y’all, God isn’t cranking out women in Heaven’s factory for us. Otherwise, this has to be the most painfully boring entry on this list, hampered by a lack of real groove or melody and only made worse by Keith Urban’s twee, saccharine delivery. It’s the embodiment of boyfriend country at its absolute worst, which, at that level, is basically a NyQuil replacement. - ZK
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#7
Luke Bryan, "One Margarita"


To some extent, you have to commend Luke Bryan for not even trying to hide it. He knows he'll make millions off stuff like this and he just keeps cranking it out. A blatant grift with diminishing returns. It's annoying as all hell, is not fun to listen to, and isn't saying anything Bryan hasn't done 1000 times already. Sad but not surprising, and for my money the worst thing released in 2020. - MM


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#6
Kane Brown, "Cool Again"


Just so grating and a poor represenation of Brown's abilities. Same old same old. He misses loving this girl in the summer. Cheap pop production. No one will remember this in two years. Not much more to say that hasn't been repeated throughout these entries because they're all the exact same. Rather pointless. - MM 
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#5
Darius Rucker, "Beers and Sunshine"

Here’s the thing – most of these are bad singles by equally bad artists. Darius Rucker, though? He’s got a great voice, and while his material has always been more inconsistent than I’d prefer, it’s never been as bad as “Beers & Sunshine.” Beyond that God-awful hook that Blake Shelton already proved wasn’t all that funny more than a decade ago, it’s another summer single with some of the most dour, contradicting production I’ve heard all year. Even Rucker doesn’t sound like he cares, like this was just an attempt at releasing a vapid ode to escapism during the pandemic. A sad case, indeed, and “B.S.” of another variety. - ZK
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#4
Cole Swindell, "Single Saturday Night"

Cole Swindell has the occasional good track but man, when he's bad he is bad. His vocal talent is already so limited and it really stands out here. Not even remotely catchy and the production is laughably bad and sloppy. From an artist who is usually mediocre, this is a truly awful and anger-inducing effort. - MM
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#3
Niko Moon, "Good Time"

I don't really know who Niko Moon is and I do not care to find anything else out. He appears to have no actual ability and it sounds like a parody song. If you can't tell, it's about having a good time, so it's a pretty creative track. I expect we won't be hearing from him again when he's replaced by generic white bro #4632 next week, but my goodness this is just embarrassing. Hopefully if we ignore it'll just go away. - MM
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#2
Walker Hayes, "Trash My Heart"

This has to be Walker Hayes’ last bid for radio airplay, and if so, good riddance. I will not miss your half-assed, half-spoken delivery devoid of any charisma, your word choice that, like Easton Corbin, often embodies that aforementioned Steve Buscemi meme, or your God-awful, clunky-as-Hell production. He constantly echos the word “trash” throughout this song, and if that doesn’t speak for itself, I don’t know what does. - ZK
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#1
Florida Georgia Line, "I Love My Country"

I’ll be blunt, if my blurbs for these scream as half-assed, it’s because I just did not have the energy for most mainstream country singles this year – the ones that were hits, at least. It’s a genre that prides itself on speaking to real life problems, but this year, all country radio had to offer was either boring-as-fuck boyfriend country, which we’ve discussed here already, or bro-country revivals aimed at taking attention away from the global pandemic. 
 
Look, I don’t begrudge anyone who needed more than a bit of escapism this year. But there were way better options than this, from singles that didn’t become chart hits to quite a bit of music found beyond one’s radio dial. Another way of saying that, to me, nothing this year quite spoke to that disconnect than Florida Georgia Line’s “I Love My Country.” Most people noticed it ripped off Kane Brown’s “Short Skirt Weather”; my mind immediately thought of Chris Young’s “Raised on Country.” Either way, you’ve heard this song from this duo before, a tepid attempt at recapturing any former glory they once had. “Cruise” forever defines their legacy, and, as far as the music goes, proves that they haven’t able to be much more than frat-bros partying it up with not a care in the world, at least, you know, in song. Moreover, “I Love My Country” is another shot for them to denounce their critics through their feigned “authenticity,” and speaking as one, I just didn’t care. I collectively found most mainstream singles disappointing and boring this year; this was just bad. - ZK
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Worst 20 Singles Of 2017

1/5/2018

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With 2018 now upon us, is there a better time to look back and reflect on the year that was 2017? We think not! Over the next two days we will be releasing our year-end features, starting with our annual Worst-Of list. While there was plenty of tremendous stuff this year (which we'll touch on tomorrow), let's take a look at the lesser offerings of the past calendar year. Featured in the rankings are our year-end regulars, Markus Meyer, Zack, and Chris Baggs!
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#20
Toby Keith, "Wacky Tobaccy"


I mean, at least "Red Solo Cup" could be fun in the correct setting. This is just immature and lazy. We get it, you're being a "bad boy". Don't worry Toby, I won't tell your parents. I could see the argument for how one would think this is fun, but really, to me it just seems like a cry for relevancy. - Zackary Kephart

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#19
Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line, "Meant To Be"


Bebe Rexha is a pop music artist and in a partnership with Big Machine Label Group, sang a song with Florida Georgia Line that was released as a late 2017 country radio single.

The song uses repetition in its chorus, with a driving pop-influenced backbeat to make the track catchy…but in reality, it comes off as uncreative and downright annoying. The song is a pop song; there’s no way around it. It’s fine if a song is pop but it’s a problem if it’s played on the country radio format, that’s false advertising, and to be honest, this song isn’t good, no matter what genre it is.  - Chris Baggs

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#18
​Dylan Scott, "Hooked"


Why? Who? What? When the hell did Dylan Scott actually become a thing? I remember pointing and laughing at this guy when songs like “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” couldn’t even chart. I guess radio really IS in need of Sam Hunt clones. As for this song, I don’t know what to say. It’s a ripoff of Thomas Rhett’s “Die A Happy Man” (which in itself is a rip-off of “Thinking Out Loud”) with sleazier language and generic production. Oh well, this guy won’t survive a few more years in this business anyway. - ZK

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 #17
Little Big Town, "Happy People"


Little Big Town is one of the best groups in Country music. Their vocals are unmatched in the format...but even they can swing and miss too. “Happy People” was the second single off their album The Breaker and it was absolutely the wrong choice, as evidence by its inability to crack the top 40 at country radio. The song uses the repeated phrase, “happy people” throughout its verses and the song’s theme while fine, comes off preachy and ends up laundry-listing everything happy people aren’t, when in reality, it’s possible to be happy while having many imperfections along the way. There are worse songs on our worst list but this is easily one of LBT’s lesser offerings. - CB
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#16
Morgan Wallen feat. Florida Georgia Line, "Up Down"


It's almost as if we counted some long lost single from 2014 just for kicks. I know it's tiring to rag on bro-country at this point, but dear God people, you have to work with what you have. You know things are bad in the Florida Georgia Line when they're on more featured singles than Tyler Childers is on year end lists. - ZK

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#15
Shania Twain, "Life's About To Get Good"


I'm as disappointed in anyone that Shania Twain's comeback amounted to...this. Really, we don't need to drag this out. The problems with rhyme with production. Oh wait, it is the production. Well, you get the point, right? - ZK

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#14
Todd O' Neill, "Love Again"

Todd O’Neill was Cumulus’ NASH NEXT’s singing talent competition winner in 2017 and his Cumulus played single, “Love Again”, made a sizable chart appearance. But “Love Again” is 2015 trend-chasing sound at its worst. The song reminds me of Waterloo Revival’s “Bad For You”, which isn’t a favorable comparison. The track’s production is all over the place and sounds like a cheesy pop song. The vocal arrangement is repetitive and annoying after just one listen.
- CB



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#13Chris Young, "Losing Sleep"

It would be easy to drop in a “this song makes me want to fall asleep” crack, but honestly, this song might qualify for such a hyperbole. Chris Young, who once sang well-written, traditional minded singles such as “Drinkin’ Me Lonely”, “You’re Gonna Love Me” and “Voices”, has now been releasing questionable material for a few years, with “Losing Sleep’ the latest release. The track offers little in the way of substance. Its instrumentation and production is boring. Its melody is nothing to write home about and its lyrics…what in the world does the hook line even mean?  

“Yeah we're winning, we're losing, when we're losing sleep”

Even if you can rationale what its meaning is, it’s a sloppy lyric and “Losing Sleep” is a waste of a lead single.- CB


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#12
Cole Swindell feat. Dierks Bentley, "Flatliner"


An obnoxious song about literally nothing. The writing thinks it's way more clever than it is, and the production pounds you over the head. There's no melody, and the performance does nothing to elevate the rest of the record. Well below both the talent of both artists (and Swindell has his fair share of mediocre tunes).  - Markus Meyer

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#11
Lady Antebellum, "You Look Good"

Well I was actually kind of looking forward to Lady A's comeback, and came out thoroughly disappointed. In one of the most obnoxious records of the year, the vocal falls flat, the melody goes nowhere and lyrically it says... Well, not really anything. It's thoroughly grating, and is a let down coming from a group who has shown capable of so much more. - MM

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#10
Jordan Davis, "Singles You Up"

You know, for a guy who cites Jason Isbell among his influences, I would expect Jordan Davis' music to not...well, suck. "Singles You Up" is the biggest travesty that you (thankfully) likely didn't hear this year though. The song takes the premise of Old Dominion's "Break Up With Him" right down to the creepy insistence for the girl in question to break up with this guy just so she can be with the "narrator". It's overproduced, it's badly written...need I say more? - ZK

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#9
​Chris Janson, "Fix A Drink"

Listen, Chris Janson has some serious upside. Listen to "Holdin' Her". Listen to "Drunk Girl". Those are some top-shelf efforts. This.. Well, sucks. There aren't really any redeeming qualities. Janson, who can be a decent technical vocalist at times, comes off as grating, while the production lacks nuance and simply hammers electric guitars. It goes nowhere and simply screams 'Buy Me a Boat 2.0', but without the charm. - MM

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#8
Luke Bryan, "Light It Up"


Imagine writing a song about a guy wanting a girl to blow up his phone and that literally being the entire song. That’s what the lead single off Luke Bryan’s What Makes You Country was about and if the theme wasn’t bad enough, it also sounds like a watered-down repeated instrumentation and production of his previous work. Luke Bryan can sing good material but “Light It Up” was easily one of the year’s worst ideas and executed songs. - CB
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#7
​Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood, "The Fighter"

This had serious potential. Two of the most potent vocalists, and strongest talents in the genre teaming up? Man, this could have been good. Instead we got ultra-pop fluff. Like seriously, this is beyond Sam Hunt-level pop. Nothing about this even remotely resembles country music, and quite frankly, it's borderline insulting to even try and peddle it as such. Such a shame. - MM

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#6
Florida Georgia Line, "Smooth"

Okay, listen. I've been a Florida Georgia Line apologist before. I'll admit that, despite their lyrical downfalls, I enjoy their upbeat melodies and hooky choruses. But honestly, this is quite poor. It's lyrical cliches wrapped in a grating production and a jarring melody. An unfortunate effort that rightfully fell short of the top ten. - MM  

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#5
Dustin Lynch, "I'd Be Jealous Too"


Dustin’s been a case example of an artist that decided to follow the trendy, chart-success chasing sound of mainstream Country radio.  “I’d Be Jealous Too” might be the best (worst?) case of that. The song sounds more like a pop-dance track than a Country one. Starting with finger clicks that lead into a loud and obnoxious chorus production that drowns out Dustin’s (computerized) vocals.

​Lynch does have a good voice – maybe one of the best male vocals in the genre – but his musical output has been nothing more than an over-produced, mishmash of pop sounds beneath a backbeat that resembles little in the way of country music. His music has been catchy but that doesn’t mean the rest of it is good. - CB




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#4
​Dustin Lynch, "Small Town Boy"

The worst rural cliches from the early 2010's smothered in ceaseless autotune. There's no charm, no personality, and no resemblance of depth in the songwriting. Lynch showed early in his career, or even with passable efforts like "Mind Reader", that he's better than this. What he's doing now is taking the worst of the country-boy phase, with the worst of the pop/R&B phase, and blending them together into one terrible effort. - MM

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#3
Canaan Smith, "Like You That Way"


We chose NOT to link to the single cover featuring the butt because...well, do we really have to explain why? Anyway, Canaan Smith tried to draw up controversy by mentioning Miranda Lambert in a questionable fashion on his latest single. After all, it was the only way this guy was ever going to get another hit now that the bro-country well has run dry. Instead, it thankfully did nothing, and now all that's left is a song that's creepy, repetitive, boring, and honestly, completely representative of Canaan Smith's career. - ZK

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#2
Sam Hunt, "Body Like A Backroad"

Personally, this is my far and away my pick for the worst single of the year, and this is coming from someone who would easily put Walker Hayes at #1 on any other year. What is there to say that hasn't been said already, though? This song makes your mouth drop each time you hear it, not because it’s breathtaking, but because it’s one of the biggest misogynistic pieces of crap you’ll ever hear in your life. The title really says it all, but even the comparisons he makes are downright creepy. I get that they were probably trying to go for a lightweight, breezy sex song, but in order to make that actually work, beyond good writing you need some personality and charisma. Sam Hunt doesn’t have that. Hell, he doesn’t even sing half of the time. He’s just there. Thankfully aside from that turd by Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt didn't completely resurrect bro-country. - ZK

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#1
Walker Hayes, "You Broke Up With Me"


I honestly can't think of a single good thing to say about this song. Even if you want to ignore the blatant lack of country influence, there are still no redeeming qualities. The melody is jarring. The vocal is choppy and drenched in autotune, drowning out any chance Hayes had at redeeming it with vocal talent. The lyric is immature, and lacking in any sort of storytelling, or substance. It's genuinely hard to make it through this song. The fact that this has found a home on country radio is a travesty. Does Hayes have a good backstory to tell? Absolutely, but you sure wouldn't know it after listening to this trainwreck. - MM

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Single Review: Vince Gill & Little Big Town - "Take Me Down"

11/23/2015

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​It’s quite fitting that the holiday season is upon us, since receiving new Vince Gill music feels like Christmas in itself. But seriously how else can you describe it? We haven’t heard much from Vince since 2013 when he teamed up with Paul Franklin for the album, Bakersfield. Now, that was a monster album all its own, but the last time we really got any new original music from Vince goes all the way back to 2011 to the release of his album, Guitar Slinger (which by the way, featured the No. 1 smash “Threaten With Me Heaven…..ok, well it SHOULD have been a smash…..thanks country radio).

Now we’re being treated to news of a new album from Vince set for February 12th called Down To My Last Bad Habit. From what we know about the album, Vince has a hand in writing every single track, including a tribute to George Jones as well as guest appearances by Cam, Ashley Monroe, and Little Big Town. Needless to say, this looks like it’s going to be a big project. For now, we’ve been serviced to the lead single from the album called “Take Me Down”. With that in mind, how is the taste of new music from Vince after four years?

Well, I could see it being pretty polarizing honestly, but if you ask me, I think it’s a solid song from Vince and a great appetizer from Vince’s upcoming album. The reason the song might be viewed as polarizing is because of the sound. The opening chords feel very “Rihannon” esque, and with the inclusion of Little Big Town on this song, that Fleetwood Mac vibe remains present throughout the song. That’s not to say we need to go calling the lawyers however. There’s still plenty to enjoy on this song even if the sound isn’t your thing. Vince has one of the strongest voices in country music, and that voice certainly hasn’t deteriorated in power over time. His voice sounds as good as ever, especially on the chorus. The subject of the song is rather simple, this one revolving around a man who is overcome by the pleasures of his woman every time she comes around. It’s a good enough song that doesn’t sound cheesy or sleazy. It sounds sincere, and again, Vince’s vocals make this song a lot better, especially when combined with Little Big Town’s.

When it comes to looking back at the greatest country singers of our time, Vince Gill is sure to make many lists. However, don’t let this think I’m throwing bonus points his way just for being who he is or giving him sympathy points since radio won’t play him. This song is a great song on its own merit, and proves that Vince hasn’t slowed down one bit over the years. 2016 is already crowded with great releases from the Randy Rogers Band, Brandy Clark, and Brothers Osborne, and now we can add one more to that list too with Vince. And I don’t know about you, but he might have just topped my list of most anticipated albums.

Grade: B
Listen: “Take Me Down”

Author: ​Zackary Kephart

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Single Review: Little Big Town  "Painkiller"

8/29/2015

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After releasing one of the best singles so far this year with “Girl Crush”, Little Big Town is back with the title track to their latest album, Pain Killer. Now, as for the album itself, it was a very polarizing listen that had many songs I loved, and many songs that I wish had stayed off the album. “Painkiller” was one of the latter.

The song isn’t atrocious, but it is heavily lackluster. The song itself talks about how a loved one acts as one’s pain killer, someone who erases the pain of everyday troubles. It is a nice theme, but it could have been better written. What really clinches this song is the annoying reggae beat that accompanies it. The band just sounds so uncomfortable with it, especially as they sing, “yeah you take it away-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay”. The song is overproduced and just doesn’t move any sort of needle at all. I can’t believe that they went from a beautiful song like “Girl Crush” to something like this.

Overall, this isn’t terrible but it’s so… empty. There is no point to this song whatsoever, and also has an annoying production to it that is just incredibly unnecessary. I know the band is capable of much more than this, but you wouldn’t know it based on this song. “Pain Killer” is something I’ll forget about in a month.
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Grade: C-
Listen: “Pain Killer”

Author: ​Zackary Kephart

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Worst 20 Singles of 2014

12/23/2014

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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!
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#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

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#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 

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#15
Sam Hunt, "Leave the Night On"


This song shouldn't even qualify for the worst "country" song. It's anything but country. If you called it pop or R&B, then you'd be right. Now, I'm no staunch traditionalist, but come on. A line has to be drawn somewhere. The lyrics are nothing special either, just a song about a guy who is spending all night with a girl, hmm, where have we heard that before? Evolution of country? Please.
- zack97

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#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



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#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

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#7
RaeLynn, "God Made Girls"


People wanted more females in country music so god made Raelynn....unfortunately, neither she, nor this song are the remedy to the problem. "God Made Girls" basically states that women were made to be subservient to men. Great, nice step forward right? Ugh, to back it up too, her voice sounds so annoying that it makes this almost unlistenable. 
- zack97

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#6
Jake Owen, "Beachin'"


Sometimes I don't mind talking verses in songs, even country songs. They can be executed. Take "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" and "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues" as exapmles. But "Beachin's" verses comes off as awkward and unnecessary. I actually don't mind the production and the chorus is passable, but the verses absolutely kill any chance of being decent

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#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



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#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

0 Comments

Top 20 Best Singles of The Year

12/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Well, after that last list left me wanting me to vomit, I think it's time for a little positivity around here. May I present you, TICM's 20 best singles of the year.

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#20
Autumn Hill, "Can't Keep Waiting"


 This is my absolute favorite Canadian country artist. One of the best written songs in either nation this year. Autumn Hill is such a talented vocal duo. This song leans contemporary for sure, but it might have been the best song on their album. Which is saying a ton. -S14


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#19
Kellie Pickler, "Little Bit Gypsy"


A toe-tapping beat propels this fun, melodic number, which boasts an infectious
chorus: both lyrically and musically. Kellie Pickler's personality shines
through thanks to her perky vocals that fit the song like a glove. -IC


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#18
Joe Nichols, "Sunny and 75"


Perhaps his most modern, but also arguably his best. Nichols puts in a Grade-A vocal performance, backed up by a cool as heck arrangement. -MM


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#17
Blake Shelton, "Mine Would Be You"


That last line... wow. I mean, nothing against the killer vocals or production but seriously. -MM

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#16
George Strait, "I Got A Car"


When "I Got A Car" starts, you automatically think to yourself if your a true country fan, "Yeah, I'm gonna love this". The melody is classic George. If this was released in 1992 you would never know the difference. And of course the clever hook. "I guess I hadn't thought it through that far... But I got a car". -S14


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#15
Little Big Town, "Your Side Of The Bed"

The chemistry between real-life couple Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook
during the vocal duet is unmatched. But its the soaring four-part harmonies,
which are put front-and-center on this quietly-produced ballad, that seal the
deal for this powerful song.  -IC

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#14
Sara Evans, "Slow Me Down"

Starting with a hook that packs a punch, Sara Evans elevates the song even
further with her effective vocal performance on the big chorus. The use of
plucked strings puts a unique stamp on its sleek, modern feel. -IC

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#13
Easton Corbin, "All Over The Road"


Breezy, fun and 100% country. Reminiscent of King Georges best work. -MM

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#12
David Nail, "Whatever She's Got"

 One of the most infectious melodies of the year makes great use of
the bouncing banjo. Coupled with equally catchy lyrics and sung by one of
today's most gifted male country vocalists, it is a bright spot among other
lightweight tunes. -IC

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#11
Dan + Shay, "19 You+Me"


Two words, "The Chorus". Shay Mooney's vocals are picture perfect, and the imagery is amazing as well. -S14

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#10
Little Big Town, "Sober"


Kimberly finally gets a lead vocal, and damn did they pick a good one to give her. Beautiful song and Jay Joyce's less-is-more approach paired with Kimberly's killer vocal makes this by far LBT's best single to date. -MM

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#9
Ashley Monroe, "Like A Rose"

Ashley Monroe's autobiographical tune hits hard on all fronts. Sharp,
detailed lyrics combined with twangy vocals over a simple, neo-traditional
production treatment makes for an enjoyable listen. -IC

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#8
Tebey, "Til It's Gone"

I believe that Tebey wrote one of the best chorus' I've ever heard. The sad truth of life is until something is finally taken away from you.. Then you would appreciate it, and you would just want another chance at it. Unfortunately life doesn't work that way. 
-S14

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#7
Maggie Rose, "Better"

Maggie Rose turns in a beautiful and passionate vocal on a song that
thrives on her emotional delivery. The lyrical subject matter is refreshing and
the production is well done, making for a very tight piece of contemporary
country. I can't get enough of "Better" and it is easily my favorite country
single of 2013. -IC

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#6
Chris Cagle, "Dance Baby Dance"

Can you believe this is Chris Cagle singing this tear jerking father-daughter ballad? The same guy that sang hillbilly rock anthems like "Got My Country On"? I'm not sure I believe it, but Cagle has given us my favorite single of 2013. -MM

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#5
LoCash Cowboys, "Best Seat In The House"

 If you didn't know who the artist was, I can guarantee you would say "Wow.. That's a great song". Forget what LoCash has done before in the past. This touching father son ballad was my favorite single of 2013, and a song that every person that has lost their dad should hear. -S14

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#4
The Band Perry, "Don't Let Me Be Lonely"

Crafty songwriting and a charismatic performance make this a standout
among the group's strong catalog. The fluctuating energy level of the song plays out well with the lyrics, with the slow roll of the verses becoming an event at the chorus, only to draw back for an effective bridge. -IC

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#3
Miranda Lambert, "All Kinds Of Kinds"

Lambert's joyful performance backed up by a unique arrangement and a killer lyric about being yourself makes this Lambert's finest single since "The House That Built Me". -MM

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#2
Gary Allan, "It Ain't The Whiskey"


Country music was built on this kind of music. Gary's vocal delivery along with the haunting feel to it, makes this one of the best songs he has ever recorded. -S14

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#1
Kacey Musgraves, "Follow Your Arrow"

TICM's best single of 2013 is Musgraves' lighthearted anthem to being yourself, despite what others think. Wether that be same sex marriage, smoking pot or just not giving a damn. It's a remarkable song, executed perfectly by one of the top young talents in music. Bravo Kacey, bravo. -MM

0 Comments

2013 CMA Award Predictions

11/2/2013

1 Comment

 
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For this set of predictions, myself and new writer sabre14 will be making our predictions and picks (Gator is busy so he is unable to join us this time).



Entertainer

Should win:


Taylor Swift
Jason Aldean
George Strait - MM, S14
Blake Shelton
Luke Bryan


Will win:



Taylor Swift
Jason Aldean
George Strait - MM
Blake Shelton
Luke Bryan - S14



Markus:  George will get sympathy votes from voters. Not to mention he's put out the best music of these 5.


sabre14: I just don't have faith George will get enough votes here to overtake Luke. His album is better, and he had a great first leg of his farewell tour. But the massive sales of Luke will be too much in the end.






Male Vocalist


Should win:

Blake Shelton
Jason Aldean - MM
Luke Bryan - S14
Keith Urban
Eric Church


Will win:

Blake Shelton - S14
Jason Aldean 
Luke Bryan - MM
Keith Urban
Eric Church


Markus: If "Fuse" had been released within the eligibility period, Urban would have been my should win by a landslide and Church is my favorite of the bunch but he hasn't done much this year. So I guess I'll go with Aldean. This is Bryan's to lose though.

sabre14: I think the voters will lean Blake purely for the fact of his success of his television appeal coupled with his album being out longer than Luke's. I have to go with my gut on this one.





Female Vocalist

Should win:

Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert - S14
Carrie Underwood
Kacey Musgraves - MM
Kelly Clarkson


Will win:

Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood - MM, S14
Kacey Musgraves
Kelly Clarkson


Markus: This one is probably the most competitive group, for both picks. Underwood and Lambert have both released material among their career best this year, but Musgraves' album is too good to overlook. I could see any of them, Clarkson aside, winning this. Swift is the biggest name, Lambert is always a safe bet, Underwood has had a monster year and Musgraves has the critical acclaim. I guess I'll go with CU but wouldn't be suprised to see it go to the one of the aforementioned three.

sabre14: I feel Miranda has the perfect combo of great artistic music along with the success to go with it. But Carrie has the better chart numbers therefore she will win.





Vocal Duo of the Year

Should win:


Big & Rich
Thompson Square - S14
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars - MM

Will win:

Big & Rich
Thompson Square
Florida Georgia Line - MM, S14
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars 


Markus: A weak year for this category? What a shocker. In all seriousness, if FGL hadn't been arguably the most dominant artist in the format this past year, TCW would have a fighting chance by virtue that they released an album, which is more than B&R or Sugarland have done.


sabre14: Pretty cut and dry category. Thompson Squares album is better and makes better music. FGL have had 3 chart toppers and the digital and album sales to justify them winning.







New Artist of the year

Should win:


Florida Georgia Line
Lee Brice
Kip Moore - MM, S14
Kacey Musgraves
Brett Eldredge

Will win:

Florida Georgia Line - MM, S14
Lee Brice
Kip Moore
Kacey Musgraves
Brett Eldredge


Markus: Probably the best quality wise. I don't really consider Brice a new artist anymore though. I liked FGL's and Brett's debuts, but not quite to the extent I liked the other 2's. I'll give the should to Moore by the slightest of margins. FloGaLine takes this though.


sabre14: This will be my personal favorite of the evening. Kip had a great Album coupled with a string of chart toppers. But I would not be shocked to see the voters give more love than we think to Kacey or Lee. In the end I'll go with FGL with the transcending impact they have made in country music wether I like it or not










Vocal Group of the year

Should win:


Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry - MM
Zac Brown Band - S14


Will win: 

Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town - MM
The Band Perry - S14
Zac Brown Band


Markus: "Pioneer" is one of my favorite albums of the year. So they get my should win. I'm still gonna say LBT takes this though, but TBP are gonna start taking these home.


sabre14: I think the time has come for The Band Perry in this category, even though Zac Brown Band made a stellar album and two number one hits.






Vocal Event

Should win:


Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly, “Cruise”
Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care” - MM, S14
Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies, “Boys ‘Round Here”
Kelly Clarkson feat. Vince Gill, “Don’t Rush”
Jason Aldean feat. Luke Bryan and Eric Church, “The Only Way I Know”

Will win:

Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly, “Cruise”
Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care” - MM, S14
Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies, “Boys ‘Round Here”
Kelly Clarkson feat. Vince Gill, “Don’t Rush”
Jason Aldean feat. Luke Bryan and Eric Church, “The Only Way I Know”


Markus: Pretty competitive this year for a change. 3 of these were #1 hits, the other is huge pop hit and one features two big names. I'll give "HDC" both of them though.

sabre14: To me this song was the best song out of these choices and it was the biggest country hit this year. Pretty simple if you ask me.










Album of the year

Should win:


Blake Shelton, Based on a True Story
Carrie Underwood, Blown Away
Taylor Swift, Red
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer, Different Park - MM, S14
Little Big Town, Tornado


Will win:

Blake Shelton, Based on a True Story
Carrie Underwood, Blown Away
Taylor Swift, Red
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer, Different Park - MM, S14
Little Big Town, Tornado


Markus: I can't be the only one suprised "Uncaged" and "Night Train" have been completely snubbed at both the ACM/CMA'S so far. This one is close between Kacey and LBT for me but I'll give it to Kacey, who will also win.


sabre14: This one they will get right. Kaceys album was the most unique and well done record this year and I have a feeling the CMA's will see the same thing.







Single of the year

Should win: 


Florida Georgia Line, “Cruise” - MM, S14
Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care”
Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Kacey Musgraves, “Merry Go ‘Round”
Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”


Will win:

Florida Georgia Line, “Cruise” - MM, S14
Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care”
Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Kacey Musgraves, “Merry Go ‘Round”
Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”



Markus: Say what you will about FGL or "Cruise", but it would be unfair to not give them single of the year.


sabre14: This was the biggest hit on all the charts this year, and sold like crazy. This one has to go to "Cruise"






Song of the year

Should win:


Lee Brice, “I Drive Your Truck”
Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Kacey Musgraves, “Merry Go ‘Round” - MM, S14
Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”

Will win:

Lee Brice, “I Drive Your Truck” - MM
Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Kacey Musgraves, “Merry Go ‘Round” - S14
Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”


Markus: Pretty good "Pontoon" aside. It's close for me between Lee's, Kacey's and Miranda's but I'll give "MGR" the slight edge. "IDYT" takes it though. It touched so many people.

sabre14: If this doesn't win It will be a travesty. Kaceys song was the best song in terms of writing a different impactful yet, putting it in a subtle way to get her message across, and I would think the voters will agree.
1 Comment

Female Singer Singles Round-Up

6/13/2013

2 Comments

 
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Ashley Monroe - You Got Me

A song that is a stand out from an excellent album. It is haunting, sensual and hypnotizing. Beautiful testament to her, and Little Big Town's talent,  but sadly has no shot at radio.

Grade: B+

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Carrie Underwood - See You Again

A somewhat bland track that is improved by the authenticity in her vocal performance. A few years back this would have been dreary, now it is almost inspiring and certainly heartwarming (especially when put with the video).

Grade: B-

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Jana Kramer - I Hope It Rains

A song of sass and energy. It is a welcome change from the sincere yet depressing tones of her previous singles. The song has it issues that anyone can notice, but the track has enough fun to it that one can only root for it to rain on the high heeled and white short beauty.

Grade: B-

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Kacey Musgraves - Blowin' Smoke

After "Merry Go Round" proved surprisingly successful, Kacey continues to challenge radio with a song that is in an unusual format for Country Radio. The metaphor and vignette structure both work eloquently to depict Musgraves' potential as being what she has been hyped up to be. In the end, it is not perfect or earth shattering, but it cannot be faulted and is easily enjoyable.

Grade: B

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Kellie Pickler - Someone Somewhere Tonight

"Kellie Country" is back and she sounds great. Easily one of Pickler's best vocals and so one can only hope radio will take notice to her on the strength of her Dancing With The Stars win. The strong lyrical content sees both the good and bad in life; therefore, it is a track that brings back the realism of life to Country that has been missing extensively in the last decade.

Grade: B+

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Lauren Alaina - Barefoot and Buckwild

The energy and personality in the performance are good, but that is about all there is. The hook is even lacking exponentially.

Grade: C

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Little Big Town - Your Side of the Bed

The topic is nothing new or special, but they execute the track with their beautiful vocals to save it from boredom. The track will most likely maintain they're success at radio and hopefully "Sober" can be sent next.

Grade: B-

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Miranda Lambert - All Kinds of Kinds

The first three singles were lackluster, to say the least, but with these last two tracks from Four the Record Lambert is returning to her prominent role of clever lyrics that challenge convention while ear worming their way into your memory. If this is successful, maybe Musgraves will release "Follow Your Arrow" next. Either way, this song is a welcome challenge to radio that insinuates the complexity of life and the importance of non-judgmental actions.

Grade: B+

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Sheryl Crow - Easy

It is hard to hold something against an industry veteran like Sheryl Crow, especially when she is having success at radio as not only a crossover but as a woman over 50. With that said, the song is kind of lazy. It isn't as distinctive as past tracks like "All I Wanna Do" or "Soak Up the Sun" and so it leaves one wanting more. Hopefully, her success will continue though.

Grade: C+

2 Comments

ACM Award Nominees+Predictions

2/20/2013

0 Comments

 
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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.
0 Comments

Single Review: The Farm- "Be Grateful"

1/12/2013

3 Comments

 
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I didn't like "Home Sweet Home". But I like this quite a bit. How couldn't you? It's just an all-round good song.

They sing the "don't take what you have for granted message" like they really do want to get the message across.

The singles strongest point though, is when the narrator get's put on overtime and goes over to sit on the bench. The other dude on the bench hasn't been able to find work which puts the the narrarator in his place. It's almost like the narrator from
Ronnie Dunn's "Cost Of Livin" is the other guy on the bench. Ha.

They nail the Little Big Town-esque harmonies on the chorus perfectly and the production doesn't get in the way of the meaningful lyrics and solid vocals.

Oh, and my new motto is "When you think you've got it bad, you can always find someone who's got it worse.

I know I won't be complaining for a while.


Grade: A-



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