The Nashville-based trio Lady Antebellum did not drag out the time and fascinated both music critics and listeners with the very first long player. After the 2008 release of their self-titled debut, this young band trod the only right trail and quite soon presented their following album. This happened early in 2010; and their new record can be reasonably seen as one of the most important events in the country music to take place this winter. Need You Now has all chances to send a number of its tracks straight to airplays of big stations and earn a multiplatinum status. Released several months before, the single Need You Now did a great job advertising the new full-length record by the American ensemble. Having topped the Billboard country-chart, this song made it clear that the members of Lady Antebellum, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood were preparing a gorgeous present to their supporters.

Need You Now: nice from any point of view

There is no doubt that Lady Antebellum learned a great lesson from their debut work. For instance, they realized that what they are best at are mid-tempo and slow compositions with the hardly tangible rock-music influence. That is why Lady Antebellum executed their new album with an accent on the softer sound, which made the ballad material the most cherished diamonds on the whole record. The above-mentioned Need You Now comes from a category of those songs which creep into your mind and stay there already after the first listening. Its smashing chorus is its strongest part; and there seems to be nobody who could do perform it better than Hillary Scott did. The second single, American Honey, carries the spirit of the long-gone days and captures with the fiddle highlighted against the other acoustic lines. Of those tracks played with full guitar energy, one is likely to love Perfect Day. If this is the first song by Lady Antebellum that you have heard, you would certainly believe the guys are far from the shores of country and search the vast ocean of hard-rock. Since there are two lead-singers on the band, it is hard to overcome the temptation to compare their performance. Ready to Love Again, and If I Knew Then are the best compositions for you to watch the duel between Hillary Scott and Charles Kelly. The music here is intentionally pushed backward to let the vocalists grab all the limelight. Finally, you can not just pass by Hello World. It is not just another country ballad from Lady Antebellum, but an astonishing emotional piece with equally flawless music and lyrics.

This is just the beginning…

The professional approach that is demonstrated by Need You Now makes you but respect and admire its makers. The band that makes its first steps into the professional music world seems to grow steadily just every day and every minute. Apparently, the ensemble united those people who can be satisfied with only maximum results. Therefore, you can hardly find any weak point in this work. Perfectly recorded instrumental and vocal lines, polished sound are only, as they say, a good package. Yet it stores a product of the same top quality level. The participants of the American band showcased wonders of creative progress as all of them artfully took part in the writing process. When it comes to materializing what they had in their minds, you start to believe that they are highly skilled veterans of their craft. Already now, these musicians have a unique understanding of making the right things for the right purposes. This band’s success is just a proof to the concept that it is not only pop-music that can make you a mega star. With Lady Antebellum having only two albums of their own so far, their home state Tennessee and its capital Nashville are destined to turn into the center of the contemporary country. And this is just the beginning of the story.

Alex Bartholomew

Final album by late singer Johnny Cash is set to be released on February 22. Titled American VI: Ain’t No Grave, it was recorded in 2002, a year before Cash passed away in September 2003. It was not released due to singer’s death, and all this time it was unknown if the record will ever become available.

Finally, it was announced that the album would hit the stores on February 22, to coincide with Cash’s 78 birthday on February 26.

Produced by Rick Rubin, American VI: Ain’t No Grave features ten songs, including covers on Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson. The full tracklist for the album is:

Aint No Grave
Redemption Day
For The Good Times
First Corinthians
Where I’m Bound
Satisfied Mind
It Don’t Hurt Anymore
Cool Clear Water
Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream
Aloha

If you are interested to know how the process of finding one’s own trademark sound goes on during the whole career you should definitely get acquainted with the creative work of the country pop band Rascal Flatts. This marvelous group headed by the talented vocalist Gary LeVox has been making the music that attracted new listeners with each new album from the very beginning. If the eponymous debut album was mainly appreciated by the younger part of the audience more and more of adult listeners found interesting all the following works. Today Rascal Flatts performs an excellent mixture of pop music, country, rock and R&B. Because these eternal searchers will hardly ever be content with any concrete style their albums always both are a commercial success and get the critical acclaim. Therefore one can have no doubt that its new record Unstoppable is going to receive the same warm welcome as the two past successful full length works, 2006’s Me And My Gang and 2007’s Still Feels Good.

A stylish, bright and very positive album Unstoppable

As it could be well expected Rascal Flatts has once again recorded a stylish, bright and very positive album. The record Unstoppable consists of 11 tracks each of which has its own interesting idea and a definite message. At the same time there are both calm ballads and songs obviously meant to be performed at a live show, preferably at a stadium. The first on the list is the track Love Who You Love, optimistic, loud and letting us know at once: a serious pop music is still the basic direction in the work of Rascal Flatts. The first single Here Comes Goodbye is a very beautiful and soulful piano creation, a ballad devoted to all who has recently broke up with someone loved, offering the most powerful and hence memorable chorus on the album. A more up-tempo composition Close is refined with some rock elements which are the interesting guitar hooks making the song remind of the works of the band Live a bit, while the song Forever surprises with the most complicated tune on the album and the vocals a bit resonant with the accompaniment, nevertheless, taken together it all sounds very beautiful and harmonious. The title track Unstoppable is another ballad perfect to be performed at a stadium as the chorus is simply shouting to be sung along here. The song is naturally devoted to the eternal love as well as Things That Matter, a slow, sensual song making one think of the important things and refined with the best guitars on the album. The positive emotions are simply pouring out on Summer Nights, probably the most danceable number on the album and the record closer is another piano ballad Why, filled with nostalgia and easily able to make the most sensitive listeners cry.

Powerful and yet soulful music

Whether it is a lot or not Unstoppable is the sixth album of Rascal Flatts and it can be clearly felt on it that these guys feel quite confident both in their studio and on the stage. In this respect it should be noted that all of their previous works were much more modest in this respect therefore some might not like this frank we-are-celebrities position. On the other hand Rascal Flatts can by no means be accused of behaving like that without a reason – in the majority of cases the band’s works have been successful, the hits have never left radio airs and the concerts are always overcrowded. Perhaps this is why this time the guys have allowed themselves to give up practically all the country elements – if there was at least one country composition on the previous album there is none of them on Unstoppable. A good quality pop combined with rock and R&B prevail here, and the serious themes of love, a happy and not a very happy one, please throughout the whole record. In general the title Unstoppable is rather suitable to its content: this powerful and yet soulful music will be remembered for a long time and produce the strongest impressions.

Alexandra Zachernovskaya

Neil Young is a unique phenomenon and it is enough just to look at his list of albums, collections, live shows recordings and numerous singles to make sure of that. This man is never tired of writing new songs getting inspired with any events happening in the world. During the pauses between the new creations Young periodically releases his old compositions of which he always manages to find just the necessary number as to make up another album. Thus taking into account the fact that the old songs collection Chrome Dreams II was released last year and the recording Sugar Mountain: Live At Canterbury House 1968 saw the light of the day last year it is high time for the original material today. The album Fork In The Road is the one to represent it. One could only guess what this creation would be about and it turns out that Neil Young has once again surprised everybody. The thing is that besides his beloved guitar he has some other hobbies in life one of the main of which are the cars. It is to them that the record Fork In The Road is devoted to as well as to all the car industry of the North America, gasoline, roads and everything that any driver cannot imagine his life without.

Fork In The Road makes one think of the important questions

It is a well known fact that Neil Young is not only a talented musician but a no less gifted film director. His new project is a documentary about the electro car technology and the record Fork In The Road is just about that. This ode to the road and cars offers ten songs each of which touches upon a certain aspect of a driver’s life often making the listener think of the important life questions. Compositions When Worlds Collide and Fuel Line do not only please with Young’s vocals which have by no means worsened but also with the amazing guitar hooks that underline it. The song Just Singing A Song is a more up-tempo number with a splendid solo, a memorable chorus and a deep meaning: the singer realizes that not everybody in the world is going to get his message and is only left to regret it. Perhaps the album’s most romantic track is Johnny Magic on which the joy of traveling in the car can be compared only to the joy Young gets playing his guitar. The artist turns to the economic problem on Cough Up The Bucks, and the theme of a true love for one’s own car unfolds on Get Behind The Wheel. The ballad Off The Road is remarkable for a complicated tune and filled with the feeling of exhaustion because of a night long driving whereas the track Hit The Road covers not the most positive sides of the man’s using cars such as for instance air pollution. The album closes with the title composition Fork In The Road once again reminding that the musician is concerned about the economic crisis problem and wants the others to take it more seriously.

The artist is more sincere than ever at his age of 63

No matter what Neil Young sings about he never lets us forget why he is considered the founder of many a rock direction. Such styles as grange, garage rock, classic rock and rock’n’roll meet on Fork In The Road. Yet whatever stylistic variety this work can boast its content is by no means less interesting. On the whole the automobile topic has always interested the musician and there are quite a number of hits devoted to this man’s friend in his collection. Yet it is the first time that an entire album is about it and soon a new video project is going to be ready. Neil Young will present his own reconstructed Lincoln Continental 1959 as a live example of his ideas how to make automobiles much less harmful for the environment and he is about to drive it to Washington DC to demonstrate it to the high and mighties. As for the songs on Fork In The Road, on the one hand they make us understand what exactly Neil Young would like to change in the sphere of automobile construction and on the other hand are contagious with the clear affection to driving as it is because the artist is more sincere than ever at his age of 63.

Alexandra Zachernovskaya

Nowadays, it is hard not to know the name of Bob Dylan, even if your computer play list has none of his songs. This singer-songwriter, actor and artist was given the Pulitzer’s prize absolutely deservedly for his piercing compositions. In 60s, Dylan became one of the prolific artists, who openly told about the human rights. Later, he started exploring the philosophic messages of our being, which also was demonstrated in the creativity of this outstanding musician. Actually, one can write about Dylan’s achievements endlessly, but one thing is clear – this man still continues to write and astonish the listeners with his works. Some time ago, Dylan gathered in a studio his command, with which he perfectly performed during the numerous tours, in order to record only one composition for the soundtrack to Oliver Dahan’s new film My Own Love Song. Thus they recorded Life Is Hard. However, the work did not stop at that moment – vice versa, it only got its start, as it all resulted on a full-length, titled Together Through Life. This disc is the thirty-third long-play by the artist. During this notable session, Dylan also collaborated with David Hidalgo from Los Lobos and Mike Campbell from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. The first one provided the accordion for the record, while the second artist decorated the disc with mandolin – and both of them accompanied Dylan on their guitars.

The vintage folk rock in all its glory

Which is obvious on the Together Through Life disc from its first chords, is the stylish tint of time. It gives a strong impression that the disc was recorded not in modern times, but many years ago. The accordion and mandolins along with philosophic texts make an amazing atmosphere of the good old times. Such songs, as the bluesy My Wife’s Home Town and the tender ballad Life Is Hard, which was the initial point of this entire album, could be performed by the folk-rockers of the past in some saloon of a cowboy town near the Mexican border. The disc opens with the blues-influenced energetic composition Beyond Here Lies Nothin, in which we can appreciate the concord of the musical collective, gathered by Dylan. The track If You Ever Go To Houston lets us enjoy the harsh vocals by Dylan and accordion play. It is one of the most memorable compositions on Together Through Life to some extend. The poppy rock tune Jolene features the catchy electro-guitar motif and strong lyrics. The song This Dream Of You is the only one on the disc, entirely written by Dylan himself, and it is his songwriting triumph, undoubtedly. The Spanish-like melody of this song is decorated with the passionate violin. The rock composition Shake Shake Mama, placed close to the end of the disc, will refresh the listeners with the witty jokes and a charge of energy. The album closes with two tracks, I Feel A Change Comin On and It’s All Good, which manage to be powerful and delicate at the same time.

Together Through Life: a spontaneous and jolly album

It may seem unbelievable, but the famous philosopher and skeptic Bob Dylan, who will be sixty-eight soon, suddenly decided to show us his joyful and fun-loving side. The disc Together Through Life is filled with jokes and broad hints on the fact that everything is going to be all right. The song It’s All Good can be a vivid example. After a thoughtful, sometimes absolutely pessimistic long-play Modern Times, the new attempt by Bob Dylan, packed by romantics and hope, really gives us a strong faith in the happy end of our lives. As usually, Dylan was almost prophetic and undoubtedly wise to record an album like Together Through Life, as he made it when the US and other developed countries have hard times. He rightfully decided that there would be time enough to moan about the sins of humanity and transience of life – but right now, it is much more important to sooth the listeners. Besides, Together Through Life acquired astonishing lightness and spontaneity of the work, from which it resulted – one can easily feel the creative input and inspiration in each track on the disc. The sound of Together Through Life also features the charming “rawness”, which is usually characteristic of indie genre. But it is more important, that this imperfection of sound witnesses the fact that the album was recorded in one touch and became the desired prodigy of the artist. It will be half a century soon from the start of Bob Dylan’s career, and Together Through Life is a perfect proof that the singer will pass this Rubicon with pride and a wish to present us with many other wonderful long-plays.

Ninelle Kazakoff

One of the most successful American Idol winners country singer Carrie Underwood does not need any presentation for quite some time now, unless you are completely uninterested in her genre. Even if it is so you are sure to hear about this talented singer very soon for she has been at the back of the pack with her idol Shania Twain for a long time. There is no less charm and strong emotions in Carrie Underwood’s hits but they offer even more boldness, wittiness and deep thoughts. Curiously it is country music that has allowed this girl to tell the whole world of her ideas concerning a perfect relationship, about what she thinks the most important in life and at the same time the singer never stops having fun as much as she can charging her listeners wit the most positive emotions. Her first two albums have not only made Underwood a world-famous singer but also the possessor of a multitude of prestigious awards and her fans have been anticipating the third work, which is a wonderful album Play On released this November and fully justifying their best hopes.

Fresh memorable tunes on Play On

From the very beginning of her creative work Carrie Underwood has successfully synthesizing country and pop music actively adopting guitars, fiddles and drums and preferring fresh memorable tunes. The same goes about her third album: on Play On you will find both igniting compositions like the opening first single Cowboy Casanova and touching ballads such as the already super popular Mama’s Song. The former is a trenchant, joyful, utterly unserious number that a self-confident artist can permit herself, the latter is a deep sincere growing up daughter’s addressing her mother asking not to worry about her. One of the most meaningful pieces Carrie has ever performed is the track Change – it makes it clear that she is concerned about the world appealing to us to make small things that may seem unimportant at first sight that can result to change the world to the better. The contagious rhythm of the song Undo It combines greatly with its lyrics, a rebuff to an unlucky young man, while the ballad Someday When I Stop Loving You has proved to be one of the most sensual and soulful on the record. Its mood contrasts with a classic country composition Songs Like This that does Carrie credit as a genre representative as well as the song This Time. A light rock flavor in the form of electro guitar on Unapologize makes this song another album highlight and the closing title ballad Play On pleases with a very beautiful tune and a simple message – go on playing even when the game is obviously lost.

More and more wisdom is appearing in Carrie’s works

Carrie Underwood can be very different in her songs but it is always clear that those are simply different sides of one and the same personality, quite mature and integral. The artist herself has not yet got used to being praised and remains modest and sincere striving to give people as many positive emotions as she can with the help of her music. Therefore it is no wonder that Play On is very similar to her previous works – Carrie does not make any experimentation consciously as she is well aware of what kind of songs she is best at and goes on performing them. Perhaps the only thing where we can trace some changes is the themes. More and more wisdom is appearing in Carrie’s works and it is connected with how to make this world at least a bit more beautiful, cozier, kinder and cleaner if it is impossible to reach perfection. We can be sure that Carrie Underwood will continue render these ideas to the listener on her following creation because it has been clear since the artist started singing that she is not one of those who give up easily.

Alexandra Zachernovskaya

Here’s band with the Taste of Honey, Heart make up of two female musicians that go by the name of Bomshel their debut album “Fight like a Girl” have some meaningful tracks on them that apply directly to my life. Having a daughter that is either Hip-Hop, acid rock, Pop, Soul, R&B, Country or Latin rap depending on who her chosen “Crew” is for the time being.

Have a wide range of musical tastes but it all boils down to this Good Music is Good Music no matter what the genre. The ladies prove their talent on tunes such as ” 19 & Crazy” and ” Karma Is A Female Dog”, with witty names of the tunes and the actual playing of the music with a Charlie Daniels flavor shows they did their homework.

Having a female counter part that will fight with and for me is the largest step in surviving in this world today. These ladies are stepping up the game for “Country Music” as we have become to know. Give it a good listen and see what they have to say.

Dean Brody, yes I know that name is not known with the other great names of the Country music scene but this youngster sings with the conviction and wisdom of someone who has been there at a very young age.  His self titled album has the range of a young adult finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of life and realizing he has enough time to choose the direction his will go in.

The music and arrangements are very clever and fits the story that the album tells, from rowdy bar room party to reflective old man wisdom being passed by just the actions of  the people in the songs. I know that the times and tases change but it is always refreshing to see someone stay true to their nature and be who they are.

Welcome to the Country Corner! And you know we mean that in the truest southern fashion y’all!   True ountry music makes you move your feet, grab your partner, come on let’s go!  Long past the days of dosey doe, country is here to stay.  As with most music, Country is more related to a state of mind than a geopgraphic location or ethnic ties.  Here, we would like to all share* our Country Pickin’s and enjoy the discussions about past current and future Country artists. 

*Please remember, all music posted must be yours to share.  We currently operate on an honor system, no sampling each other without each others permission.  Hopefully it will never come to it, but mesures can be taken to protect content if it becomes an issue.