Country Mike Blog

Accents, top songs

Mike Sudhalter  |  December 30, 2008

People often want to know why I don't have a Boston accent anymore....fact is, I never did. I don't know why some folks have accents and others don't, but I don't hear a lot of twang down here in Texas, when people talk.

Occasionally, you'll run into someone with a southern accent, but that's probably because they're from a small town somewhere in the Lone Star State.

I'd like to hear more accents - of all kinds - because otherwise, every place tends to start feeling the same....just like with the same big box stores in every state.

Country Standard Time ranked 16 of the top albums of the year....unfortunately, I haven't heard all of them, but it's hard to believe there are very many better than Alan Jackson's "Good Time" release. It was a return to his signature sound, after a one-album departure (thanks a lot, Alison Krauss for producing that disappointing disc).

Jamey Johnson's album was fourth. Oddly enough, I stumbled upon it on itunes when it was a digital-only, independent release. Most of the songs stayed the same when MCA Nashville picked it up.

Hayes Carll (seventh) had a nice debut with "Trouble In Mind", but it's not for you Top 40 Country/Taylor Swift listeners. He has a quirky sense of humor, and you have to like that to get that to enjoy the full experience of his music.

I really liked Joey + Rory - "The Life of A Song" (12th), but I have to give the nod to Joey Martin - one of the duet - and her debut album from a couple of years ago - "Strong Enough To Cry." I first heard of Martin on an Internet radio station. She sang an excellent ballad called "That's Important To Me."

Four out of 16? Looks like I need to start listening to some more quality country music.