Rhett, Underwood are happy
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 – Thomas Rhett is atop the Hot Country Songs chart with "Die a Happy Man" for the week ending Dec. 19, while Carrie Underwood is first on the albums chart with "Storyteller."
On the albums chart, Chris Stapleton is second, switching places with Underwood, with "Traveller." Blake Shelton is third with "Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits." Eric Church's "Mr. Misunderstood" was fourth, one ahead of Sam Hunt's "Montevallo."
"Elvis: Ultimate Christmas" went from 17 to 14. LeAnn Rimes went from 23 to 17 with "Today is Christmas." Kenny Rogers was at 18 with "Once Again It's Christmas," up 4. A compilation, "Country Faith Christmas," climbed 5 to 24 with Brett Eldredge closing out the top 25 with "Illinois," up 3.
On the songs chart, the top five remained the same. Sam Hunt was second with "Break Up in a Small Town," Chris Young third with "I'm Comin' Over," Cam fourth with "Burning House" and Dan + Shay fifth with "Nothin' Like You."
Barrett Baber debuted at 16 with "I'd Just Love to Lay You Down." Granger Smith jumped from 24 to 18 with "Backroad Song." Emily Ann Roberts debuted at 20 with "She's Got You." Baber and Roberts both are contestants on "The Voice."
On the Bluegrass Albums chart, Steve Martin & Edie Brickell were first with "So Familiar." Last week's chart topper, Punch Brothers' "The Wireless" EP fell to second. Rhonda Vincent was third with "Christmas Time." Punch Brothers also were fourth with "The Phosphorescent Blues," up three. Dailey & Vincent moved up five to fifth with "Alive! In Concert."
On the overall top 200, Underwood was 7th, Stapleton 11th, Shelton 13th, Hunt 19th and Bryan 25th.
More news for Thomas Rhett
CD reviews for Thomas Rhett
Center Point Road
Thomas Rhett represents a dilemma for traditional country music fans. Namely, that he doesn't create much country music that appeals to traditional tastes. Although "Center Point Road" doesn't entirely reverse that trend, even during its most overtly pop moments, this new collection of songs is still a pretty good one.
The best song is also a love song - to a truck - titled "That Old Truck." It's the kind of song that only makes sense within country music circles. »»» |
Life Changes
Thomas Rhett references mangoritas, Coldplay and verified Instagram accounts on his third album, and for some, that may be a deal-breaker. His ultra-contemporary style and pop culture smarts may be anathema for fans of traditional country. However, writing Rhett off by stamping a cowboy boot and hollering "That ain't country!" writes off some truly standout songs - created by combining the best elements of country and pop music. Take the sophisticated songwriting of country and the »»» |
Tangled Up
Thomas Rhett picks up where he left off on his 2013 debut, "It Goes Like This," which netted three chart toppers. Rhett would be hard to categorize as country, although in the big tent philosophy of what passes these days, country serves more as a marketing niche. He's more soul, funk and hip hop than country. His catchy, bouncy "Crash and Burn," another number one song, is squarely soulful pop with a few small sonic tweaks (whistles, backing "uhs" near the end) »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: The Lil Smokies provide the perfect antidote –
On a night when the world to be falling further apart thanks to coronavirus (this would be the night the NBA postponed the season), there stood The Lil Smokies to at least in some small measure save the day.
The quintet is part of a generation of musicians with bluegrass as the basis, but not totally the sum of the music either.... »»»
Concert Review: White makes the case for himself, no matter how dark the music –
John Paul White opined with a glint in his eyes that his songs were not of the uplifting variety. In fact, they were downright dark. How else to explain "The Long Way" with the line "long way home back to you." Or "James," a song inspired by his grandfather who suffered from dementia.
But lest you think that the Alabama... »»»
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