http://www.countrystandardtime.com/cdreviews.asp Country music CD reviews from CountryStandardTime.com Copyright 2007, Country Standard Time 20 Nov 2009 06:37:07 GMT 20 Nov 2009 06:37:07 GMT 60 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4291 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4291 Alejandro Escovedo may fly under the radar, but that doesn't mean he and his record label can't employ the marketing techniques of bigger entities. This new edition of his seminal "A Man Under The Influence" includes loads of sonic flotsam and jetsam that he has released through Bloodshot over the years, including a wonderful... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4317 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4317 Paying homage to a legend like the late Chet Atkins is a tall order, especially when the man who forever shaped Nashville's musical landscape happened to be a close friend and mentor. So it's not all that surprising Steve Wariner's latest album, a 10-song tribute to Atkins, who died in 2001, hits the high notes musically but is a bit over the top when it comes to his reverence for his one-time hero.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4316 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4316 After his death in 1953, Hank Williams, became less a performer than a post-mortem brand name wherein his basic personality as an artist was increasingly downplayed and diminished. This remarkably enjoyable three-CD set, drawn from warmly remastered acetates - featuring occasional surface noise - of the old Mother's Best radio show, showcases much of that nearly lost essence.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4213 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4213 Through three releases, the one constant about Carrie Underwood is her big voice. It's an instrument in and of itself no matter whether going for somewhat of a country sound, a pure pop bent or a tougher, rocking edge. She can add the right touch to sad songs such as Temporary Home in part about a young boy who has to shuffle from home to home or the tough sounding Quitter. ... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4297 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4297 From Sweet Appalachia to his girl leaning on a car fender in all of her Barbaric Splendor, Del McCoury reminds us his music and rural life is far from unsophisticated. The songs range from the straight bluegrass of Hello Lonely to the near swing tune I Remember You sung in high lonesome. There are waltzes, breakdowns, gold rush story songs and odes to moonshine in The Revenuer's Blues. ... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4292 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4292 Rosie Flores is the last person that needs more spunk, but somehow producer Jon Langford found a way to add a few more ounces of bounce to this rockabilly firebrand's stride. Flores might be small in stature, but she sure works up a big, bold sound throughout this excellent release. She rocks out with I Ain't Got You and... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4268 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4268 After his previous efforts with Heavy Trash, singer/guitarist Jon Spencer has tossed aside the spontaneous blues-meets-garage rock experiments and explosions for a tighter but at times unfocused slab of quirky tunes. Sure, there's the blasts of earlier albums sprinkled in between, but Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray are like a '60s one-hit... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4234 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4234 Joe Nichols' life has taken some dramatic turns since the release of his last record, "Real Things." Ironically, the 2007 album's title was a perfect fit for this offering as those turns have led Nichols to record some of the most personal songs of his career. Nichols' whirlwind last few years included getting married,... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4309 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4309 Over the course of 99 tracks on 4 discs, RCA/Legacy Recordings has given music fans a concise and nearly complete snapshot of Dolly Parton's considerable impact on country music with the release of the new box set - a task not accomplished by any other collection. The set covers all the career-defining hits you would expect like... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4315 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4315 On their second live album emanating from Charlie-O's World Famous nightclub in Vermont, the Starline Rhythm Boys lay down yet another engaging set of infectious honky tonk and rockabilly floor stompers. Produced by Sean Mencher, the 10-song performance captures the booze-soaked ambience of reverberating hardwood floors, freshly tapped kegs and bass-slappin' bacchanalia.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4295 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4295 In 1998, Lyle Lovett released "Step Inside This House," a 2-disc salute to Texas songwriters and, by extension, the spirit and pull of his home state. Lovett's place must have had a mighty big foyer as the writers invited in numbered 10 strong, including Willis Alan Ramsey, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, whose song gave the... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4285 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4285 Two years ago, the trio of mandolin player Alan Bibey, Dobro/slide guitarist Phil Leadbetter and vocalist Steve Gulley joined forces to form Grasstowne. Joining this dynamic trio were Jason Davis on banjo and Travis Greer on bass. Following up their initial success, Grasstowne now releases another tradition laden record. With a mixture of up-tempo high steppin' songs, stories of sorrow and woe, along with inspiring gospel, Grasstowne does an exceptional job.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4238 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4238 Tim McGraw knows what works for him on a bunch of songs tending to look at the human soul and the choices one makes in life. The sadness of Good Girls comes through loud and clear in a tail of friendship gone deadly wrong. McGraw gets ultra-introspective on If I Died Today. On the one hand, it's morbid, of course, but on the other, McGraw challenges the listener to consider how they live their lives and want to be remembered.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4219 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4219 As a founding member of New Grass Revival, ace mandolin player Sam Bush played a key role in helping to develop a progressive bluegrass voice that broke away from the strict guidelines and conventions of traditional bluegrass music. Although he is primarily known for his spirit of innovation, Bush's latest release, his eighth as a solo artist, is notable because it embraces the traditional roots that first steered him toward bluegrass music.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4314 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4314 There aren't many holiday albums from Dobro players out there on the market. But Jerry Douglas is about the best Dobro player in the business, so you likely only need this solitary one. These 12 songs are of the acoustic variety and mostly instrumental. However, the lovely Irish songstress, Maura O'Connell, lends her beautiful voice to... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4293 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4293 Charlie Daniels has recorded what he calls a bluegrass Christmas CD, although he isn't so exclusive that there are only bluegrass folks helping him out. His friends also include country singer Aaron Tippin ( Christmas Time Down South ) and folksinger Jewel ( Blue Christmas ). Daniels also made sure everybody knows full well that... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4280 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4280 The only weakness of James McMurtry's "Live In Europe" is its brevity, clocking in at just over 40 minutes. Recorded in The Netherlands and Germany, McMurtry focuses primarily on songs from his excellent 2008 release "Just Us Kids." Amongst the stronger tracks are Just Us Kids , a somewhat fatalistic view on aging... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4303 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4303 If charcoal could sing, it'd sound like vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Ben Nichols of Lucero: driven by a steady heat that can flare up when needed, and raw-throated from the smoke. It's a voice that fits the Memphis quartet's sound, which places them on the roughed- and rocked-up outer fringes of alt.-country's back forty alongside the likes of fellow rule-breakers Two Cow Garage and the periodically resurrected Slobberbone.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4302 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4302 Despite coming away empty handed during this year's Polaris Music Prize (Canada's equivalent to Britain's Mercury Prize), Toronto band Elliott Brood's latest effort is slowly making inroads in the U.S. And for good reason - it's a solid, foot-stomping, roots-y, rockabilly-tinged hoe down, something they lovingly dub "death country."... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4294 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4294 "Aged and Confused" is the sound of Bill Engvall not aging gracefully, but going into middle age gently kicking and screaming. Much of this comedy release explores how it feels to be reluctantly 50, in a youth-driven world. For instance, a bit titled Clubbing at 50 expresses the utterly uncomfortable atmosphere of aging men clearly out of place among the bright lights and electronic music of modern day clubs.... Country Music News