Hunt, Rhett, Swindell vie for ACM New Artist honor

Southside

There are some interesting moments on Sam Hunt's "Southside" album, but interesting doesn't always equal good. The single "Hard To Forget" samples Webb Pierce's "There Stands The Glass," one of country music's best and most enduring drinking songs. It's ironic, though, how Hunt needed to sample an old country song in order to incorporate any hint of actual country music into his album. Interesting, yes, but it may make you reach back for a ...

Montevallo

It's no secret that the genre of country music has been growing and expanding in definition over the past several years, from the bombastic arena rocking fury of early Garth Brooks to more recent days and acts like Florida Georgia Line, further blurring the lines of country and other genres. Finding traditional country themes and vibes to merge along the rivers of hip-hop, R&B and pop, the picking is ripe for rising artists like Sam Hunt and his debut recording, "Montevallo. ...

X2C

Sam Hunt is riding the country charts with "Leave the Night On," a rather surprising occurrence considering that the Georgia native has extremely little to do with what remotely constitutes country music on this four song EP. Hunt has gained some acclaim as a song writer, having penned Kenny Chesney's "Come Over," Keith Urban's "Cop Car" and Billy Currington's "We Are Tonight." Hunt fits in perhaps only because of the crossover sounds ...