 | WALKIN’ A COUNTRY MILE
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COUNTRY MUSIC COLUMN
by Scott Stem
Country Music is hot again!! Sales for Country albums have skyrocketed in 2004 thanks to artists like Gary Allen, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Josh Gracin, Toby Keith, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, Joe Nichols, Brad Paisley, Julie Roberts, Josh Turner, Gretchen Wilson and more. It’s wonderful to see a variety of Country artists succeeding this year. With new albums still to come from Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood, this could be a fantastic year. If you are not aware of the 2004 nominees for the CMA Awards, log on: www.CMAawards.com for all the scoop. “The 38th Annual CMA Awards” airs live Nov. 9 (7-10pm Central) via CBS-TV, from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. There are some great albums recently released that any country fan needs to be made aware of... Among my fave albums right now is Horse of a Different Color by Big & Rich. It’s just plain fun, with songs like “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” “Love Train” and “Rollin’ (The Ballad of Big & Rich).” Tunes like “Holy Water” and “Live This Life” show a more serious side of the duo. This album, which is decidedly Country with a rock/pop/rap bent, is highly recommended. Island king Jimmy Buffett has topped the album charts with his Country-influenced License To Chill. The album’s first single, “Hey Good Lookin’,” features guests Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait. Martina McBride guests on Buffett’s next single, “Trip Around The Sun.” John Carter Cash, son of Johnny and June Carter Cash, has produced a new album: The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family. The album features the talents of Norman and Nancy Blake, Tim O’Brien, Janette and Joe Carter, June Carter Cash, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, Earl and Randy Scruggs, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, the Peasall Sisters, George Jones, the Del McCoury Band, Willie Nelson, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Marty Stuart, The Whites, and Ricky Skaggs. This album celebrates the legacy of the pioneers of Country Music. You owe it to yourself to get this album. New Grand Ole Opry member Terri Clark returns with Greatest Hits 1994-2004. It features her current single, “Girls Lie Too,” but reminds us of her past hits like “Better Things To Do,” “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me,” “You’re Easy On The Eyes,” “I Just Wanna Be Mad” and more. Clark is a superstar waiting to happen. This CD will show you why. “Nashville Star” winner Brad Cotter has released his debut album, Patient Man. The show, which aired on the USA Network, made Buddy Jewell a household name last year. Expect good things for Cotter as well. The man, the legend, the icon – Charlie Daniels has released Essential Super Hits, a 2-CD set featuring his biggest hits. Not only one of the nicest men you could ever meet, Charlie Daniels is also one of the greatest musical performers ever. This collection gives you everything. Andy Griggs returns with the album, This I Gotta See. Griggs is one of those artists that bubbles under the surface, gaining a few hits here and a few more fans there. It’s time for him to break through and take his place with the more well known names. This CD contains his current single, “She Thinks She Needs Me.” The Nashville Bluegrass Band celebrates 20 years with their new album, Twenty Year Blues. Regular readers of this column know that I absolutely adore the music of Country/jazz/folk/bluegrass trio Nickel Creek. The band – Chris Thile, Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins – has teamed up with one of their musical heroes, Glen Phillips (from Toad The Wet Sprocket) for an aptly titled special project, Mutual Admiration Society. The foursome has been touring select cities under that name as well. Legendary singer/songwriter Johnny Paycheck may have passed away, but his musical legacy lives on. Touch My Heart: A Tribute To Johnny Paycheck features 16 Paycheck-penned hits, performed by such artists as: Dave Alvin, Bobby Bare Jr., Neko Case, Marshall Crenshaw, Gail Davies, Robbie Fulks, George Jones, Jim Lauderdale, Mavis Staples, Hank Williams III and Billy Yates. Bobby Bare, Radney Foster, Buck Owens and Jeff Tweedy team up to perform a track here as well. Singer/songwriter Rachel Proctor scored a hit on radio with her song “Me & Emily” from her album, Where I Belong. Her music will make an impact on you. Mindy Smith has made a huge impact on CMT and Triple-A radio with the single “Come To Jesus.” If you like that single, check out her album, One Moment More. Superstar Travis Tritt is back with My Honky Tonk History. Tritt’s CD features a very controversial duet with John Mellencamp called “What Say You.” Tritt, a devout Republican, and Mellencamp, a stout Democrat, sing about the importance of standing up for what you believe in, but also listening respectfully to the other side. Perhaps that’s a lesson we could all use in this election year. I hope you are taking the time to listen to both presidential candidates’ views and researching the issues that are important to you. No matter what your political opinions are, you owe it to yourself to see Michael Moore’s documentary, “Fahrenheit 9/11.” You may agree with many of its points; you may disagree with it entirely. But you can’t deny the effect this movie is having on this year’s election. It will be almost impossible to make a thoughtful, informed voting decision without seeing this movie. If it’s no longer playing in your area, be looking for the DVD in October. The right to vote for your government is one of the things that truly makes America great. Men and women have died in order for you to have this voting privilege. Don’t let their sacrifice be in vain. Research the issues. Decide which candidate best represents your positions. Then vote. You owe it to yourself; you owe it to your country. | ||
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