Country Mike Blog

March 4

Mike Sudhalter  |  February 23, 2008

March 4, 2008 will be a big day for country music fans, especially those whose leanings are traditional.

That's the day when Alan Jackson releases his new album, "Good Time." There's 17 songs on it, which is more than the usual number of songs on an AJ album. Plus, he wrote all of them this time. So, this is the first real AJ album since 2004's "What I Do." Yeah, he did a gospel album, an uptown lounge kind of thing (or whatever that was), released a live album with Strait and Buffett and had some greatest hits packages thrown in for good measure.

But if it weren't a big enough deal that AJ is back in full-swing, there's another reason to listen to some more country on March 4.

Ashton Shepherd is releasing her debut album, "Sounds So Good." You know how the traditional fan base is always trying to find its savior? Well, they can only blame themselves if they don't buy Shepherd's debut next Tuesday. Because this Alabama girl, friends, is the real deal. If you don't believe me, you can listen to her album before hand on her web site. Old fashioned country with drinkin' and cheatin' songs and titles like "Whiskey Won The Battle" and "The Pickin' Shed."

Well, I for one, am counting the days 'til the fourth. It'll be a honky-tonk holiday for me.