2015 was a massive year for This Is Country Music - Page views were the highest they've ever been, reader interaction reached new highs, and we added a new writer in Louis Knoebel. Because of this, TICM looks poised to grow even further in 2016, and we hope that you all stick around for it! Below you'll find a bit of a preview for 2016 from both myself, Markus, and Louis, as well as an album calendar for the first third of the year. Thank you all for reading, and here's to a great 2016!
Louis Knoebel: I joined This Is Country Music halfway through 2015, so I'm definitely more than ready to tackle everything music related from the get-go in 2016. In the seven months that I've been a writer I feel like I've become better at developing my thoughts as well as developing my own unique writing style. There are definitely reviews floating around here that I wish I had never typed, but it's all part of the learning process I guess. One thing I'm looking forward to in 2016 is reviewing more Americana artists than we did this year. As you'll see below, there's a ton of great stuff coming out and I want to cover it all (or at least try to). Two of my favorite discoveries of this year have been Gretchen Peters and Michael Monroe Goodman, artists that have gotten little coverage from other websites. That's why I'm looking forward covering acts that hardly anyone else is talking about (along with the big dogs like Sturgill and Isbell). The album I'm looking most forward to in 2016 is the Dave Cobb produced concept album, Southern Family. There's a lot of talented artists present on that album and it's all going to be handled by one of the best producers out there. What's not to love? Overall, I'm looking forward to another year of growth for TICM as well as implementing some new features here. Thank you to everyone who has read TICM thus far! We greatly appreciate our readers and we hope we don't disappoint in 2016!
Markus Meyer: We've come a long way since I started this little blog back in November of 2012. I feel that personally, I have developed quite a bit as a writer, to the point where my early work - back even as far as early 2014 - feels embarrassing. I also feel grateful to have had Louis come on, and truly push the site to new heights. With 2016 now here, I feel the need to acknowledge what I'm looking forward to over the next twelve months. As you've probably realized, This Is Country Music has branched into the depths of the Americana world of late, and I'm hoping to make some contributions of my own towards that cause. Whether it be covering some of the big names ala Brandy Clark (who's new album is arguably my most anticipated of the year) or Sturgill Simpson, or throwing some accolades towards some of my cool new discoveries, such as the brilliant William Clark Green, I hope to help you guys discover cool new music. Within the next couple weeks, we're also hoping to implement some great new features that I hope you guys will enjoy! It should be a big year for TICM, so I hope you guys will stick around and keep reading!
Album Release Calendar
January
8th
The Grascals- "And Then There's This"
15th
Brothers Osborne- "Pawn Shop"
Randy Rogers Band- "Nothing Shines Like Neon"
Hank Williams Jr.- "It's About Time"
JD and the Straight Shot- "Ballyhoo!"
19th
Rachel Brooke- "The World's Greatest Anchor"
21st
Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands- "The Hazel and Alice Sessions"
22nd
The Cactus Blossoms- "You're Dreaming"
Green River Ordinance- "15"
Aoife O' Donovan- "In The Magic Hour"
Marie Osmond- "Music Is Medicine"
29th
Gretchen Peters- "The Essential Gretchen Peters"
Dianna Corcoran- "In America"
Sierra Hull- "Weighted Mind"
Aubrie Sellers- "New City Blues"
Buddy Miller & Friends- "Cayamo Sessions at Sea"
February
5th
Charles Kelley- "The Driver"
Lucinda Williams- "Ghosts Of Highway 20"
The Infamous Stringdusters- "Ladies and Gentlemen"
Dori Freeman- self-titled
12th
Vince Gill- "Down To My Last Bad Habit"
Lorrie Morgan- "Letting Go Slow"
Wynonna- "Wynonna & the Big Noise"
14th
Joey + Rory- "Hymns That Are Important To Us"
19th
Austin Lucas- "Between the Moon and the Midwest"
Lake Street Dive- "Side Pony"
Sam Riggs- "Breathless"
26th
Chuck Wicks- "Turning Point"
Waco Brothers- "Going Down In History"
Caleb Caudile- "Carolina Ghost"
Bill Carter- "Innocent Victims and Evil Companions"
March
4th
Loretta Lynn- "Full Circle"
18th
Various Artists- "Southern Family"
25th
Margo Price- "Midwest Farmer's Daughter"
TBD for March- Karen Jonas- "Country Songs"
April
1st
Brandy Clark- "Big Day In A Small Town"
8th
Hayes Carll- TBD (tentative date)
Other confirmed for April but have yet to determine a specific date-
Aaron Einhouse- "It Ain't Pretty"
Jo Dee Messina- "Masquerade"
Sarah Jaroz- TBD
Other projects that have been announced or are in the works:
Keith Urban- "Ripcord"
Reckless Kelly- TBD
Matt Woods- TBD (scheduled to be released sometime in the Spring)
Holly Williams- TBD
Jack Ingram- "Midnight Motel"
Natalie Stovall and the Drive- "Heartbreak"
Louis Knoebel: I joined This Is Country Music halfway through 2015, so I'm definitely more than ready to tackle everything music related from the get-go in 2016. In the seven months that I've been a writer I feel like I've become better at developing my thoughts as well as developing my own unique writing style. There are definitely reviews floating around here that I wish I had never typed, but it's all part of the learning process I guess. One thing I'm looking forward to in 2016 is reviewing more Americana artists than we did this year. As you'll see below, there's a ton of great stuff coming out and I want to cover it all (or at least try to). Two of my favorite discoveries of this year have been Gretchen Peters and Michael Monroe Goodman, artists that have gotten little coverage from other websites. That's why I'm looking forward covering acts that hardly anyone else is talking about (along with the big dogs like Sturgill and Isbell). The album I'm looking most forward to in 2016 is the Dave Cobb produced concept album, Southern Family. There's a lot of talented artists present on that album and it's all going to be handled by one of the best producers out there. What's not to love? Overall, I'm looking forward to another year of growth for TICM as well as implementing some new features here. Thank you to everyone who has read TICM thus far! We greatly appreciate our readers and we hope we don't disappoint in 2016!
Markus Meyer: We've come a long way since I started this little blog back in November of 2012. I feel that personally, I have developed quite a bit as a writer, to the point where my early work - back even as far as early 2014 - feels embarrassing. I also feel grateful to have had Louis come on, and truly push the site to new heights. With 2016 now here, I feel the need to acknowledge what I'm looking forward to over the next twelve months. As you've probably realized, This Is Country Music has branched into the depths of the Americana world of late, and I'm hoping to make some contributions of my own towards that cause. Whether it be covering some of the big names ala Brandy Clark (who's new album is arguably my most anticipated of the year) or Sturgill Simpson, or throwing some accolades towards some of my cool new discoveries, such as the brilliant William Clark Green, I hope to help you guys discover cool new music. Within the next couple weeks, we're also hoping to implement some great new features that I hope you guys will enjoy! It should be a big year for TICM, so I hope you guys will stick around and keep reading!
Album Release Calendar
January
8th
The Grascals- "And Then There's This"
15th
Brothers Osborne- "Pawn Shop"
Randy Rogers Band- "Nothing Shines Like Neon"
Hank Williams Jr.- "It's About Time"
JD and the Straight Shot- "Ballyhoo!"
19th
Rachel Brooke- "The World's Greatest Anchor"
21st
Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands- "The Hazel and Alice Sessions"
22nd
The Cactus Blossoms- "You're Dreaming"
Green River Ordinance- "15"
Aoife O' Donovan- "In The Magic Hour"
Marie Osmond- "Music Is Medicine"
29th
Gretchen Peters- "The Essential Gretchen Peters"
Dianna Corcoran- "In America"
Sierra Hull- "Weighted Mind"
Aubrie Sellers- "New City Blues"
Buddy Miller & Friends- "Cayamo Sessions at Sea"
February
5th
Charles Kelley- "The Driver"
Lucinda Williams- "Ghosts Of Highway 20"
The Infamous Stringdusters- "Ladies and Gentlemen"
Dori Freeman- self-titled
12th
Vince Gill- "Down To My Last Bad Habit"
Lorrie Morgan- "Letting Go Slow"
Wynonna- "Wynonna & the Big Noise"
14th
Joey + Rory- "Hymns That Are Important To Us"
19th
Austin Lucas- "Between the Moon and the Midwest"
Lake Street Dive- "Side Pony"
Sam Riggs- "Breathless"
26th
Chuck Wicks- "Turning Point"
Waco Brothers- "Going Down In History"
Caleb Caudile- "Carolina Ghost"
Bill Carter- "Innocent Victims and Evil Companions"
March
4th
Loretta Lynn- "Full Circle"
18th
Various Artists- "Southern Family"
25th
Margo Price- "Midwest Farmer's Daughter"
TBD for March- Karen Jonas- "Country Songs"
April
1st
Brandy Clark- "Big Day In A Small Town"
8th
Hayes Carll- TBD (tentative date)
Other confirmed for April but have yet to determine a specific date-
Aaron Einhouse- "It Ain't Pretty"
Jo Dee Messina- "Masquerade"
Sarah Jaroz- TBD
Other projects that have been announced or are in the works:
Keith Urban- "Ripcord"
Reckless Kelly- TBD
Matt Woods- TBD (scheduled to be released sometime in the Spring)
Holly Williams- TBD
Jack Ingram- "Midnight Motel"
Natalie Stovall and the Drive- "Heartbreak"