Rhett, Stapleton again top charts
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 – Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton once again are leading the Billboard country songs and albums charts. Rhett is first on the Hot Country Songs chart with "Die a Happy Man" and Stapleton number one on the Top Country Albums chart with "Traveller" for the week ending Jan. 2, 2016
Cam debuted in second on the albums chart with "Untamed." Carrie Underwood was a spot back with "Storyteller." Luke Bryan's "Kill the Lights" was fourth. Sam Hunt held fifth with "Montevallo."
Zac Brown Band was up 3 to 16 with "Jekyll + Hyde." The compilation "NOW That's What I Call Country, Vol. 8" was up 5 to 21. Jon Langston debuted at 25 with a self-titled EP.
Cam was also second on the songs chart with "Burning House." Hunt switched spots with Cam was third this week with "Break Up in a Small Town." The Voice contestant Emily Ann Roberts was fourth with Cam's "Burning House." Brothers Osborne held fifth with "Stay a Little Longer."
Cole Swindell debuted in 10th with "You Should Be Here," which was just released. Roberts was also at 19 on the chart with "Islands in the Stream" with Black Shelton, a judge on The Voice, helping out.
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell continued dominating the Bluegrass Albums chart with "So Familiar." Rhonda Vincent was up three to second with "Christmas Time." Punch Brothers' EP "The Wireless" stayed third, and the group also was fourth with "The Phosphorescent Blues." Steep Canyon Rangers were fifth with "Radio," up four.
On the overall Hot 200, Stapleton was 6th, Cam 12th, Hunt 19th, Underwood 21st and Bryan 22nd. The top 200 and country albums charts utilized different methods.
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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