Brooks & Dunn- “Put A Girl In It”

Initial Impression- Top 20

Prediction- Top 20

Review:

Brooks & Dunn are back with their third single off of Cowboy Town, “Put A Girl In It.”  The lyric talks about how some things are good but become better when you “put a girl in it.”  For instance, the first verse talks about some expensive things–a brand new chromed and jacked up truck and a house on a hill–and a lot of money, but you truly aren’t happy until you put a girl in it.  It’s basically a song telling men that are these “things” they buy for satisfaction, etc. are not really good and that the truly good thing is a woman to love.  It’s an interesting way to phrase it, in my opinion, and I actually think the lyric works.

The vocals are true Ronnie Dunn vocals.  He always sings so good and that’s why they haven’t released a single with lead vocals by Kix Brooks since “South of Santa Fe” back in the late 90s (if you don’t know that song, that’s okay because it wasn’t too well received by radio, peaking at #41 on the Billboard charts).

The only thing about the song is the arrangement.  I just couldn’t really get into it that much as it didn’t seem to be truly “Brooks & Dunn.”  Maybe I need to listen to it a few more times and maybe it’ll grow on me some, but for now, I just can’t see this song doing anything higher than the Top 20 (the 16-20 range).

Darius Rucker- “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”

Initial Impression- Top 20

Prediction- Top 20

Review:

Yet another ”pop star” is trying to make some Country Music.  Hot on the heels of Jewel’s “Stronger Woman” comes Darius Rucker, best known as the lead singer of Hootie & The Blowfish, with “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.”  The lyric is about a man who left a woman and is now letting her “don’t think I don’t think about” how he regrets his leaving.  It’s another in a long line of “retrospective” songs where the singer is the worse for the leaving and the other has moved on and is now happy.  The lyric is truly country as it tells a story of how someone is feeling hurt and regret, which are two emotions that everyone can relate to.

While other pop stars have taken their voice and style to country recently with limited success (see Bon Jovi without Jennifer Nettles, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, etc.), so far only Jewel has been accepted.  Jewel has always sounded country to me.  If you own or ever had heard her Pieces of You album, you’d know that when you “strip the pop” from her songs, she’s all country.  The same cannot be said for Darius because Hootie & The Blowfish’s music, at least in my opinion, was 100% pop.  They always had well-written songs, so it doesn’t surprise me how well written this song is.

With all that said, and what pleases me and surprises me the most at the same time, is Darius actually pulls this off vocally.  He’s believable, he connects with the song, and he actually sounds like a lot of today’s Country acts.  I’d compare his voice to others, but you can’t with such a unique voice.  I think this song is good enough to make it to the Top 20 right now.  Will it grow on people?  Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.  I’m afraid that this may be a “flash in the pan” type song that the novelty of “Hootie” singing Country will wear off after he gets to the Top 20.  I truly hope I’m wrong because Darius’ voice fits Country Music (after all, he is from South Carolina).

EDIT:  To listen to this song, go to Darius’ Myspace Page

Point of Grace- “How You Live (Turn Up The Music)”

Initial Impression- Top 40

Prediction- Top 30

Review:

Being a Christian with a little knowledge of some Christian musicians, I was surprised to see Point of Grace getting airplay on the MediaBase 24/7 charts.  When I searched for the song to listen, I saw the connection.  Apparently, according to their myspace page, they are from Nashville.  Then I listened to the song, I was like, this sounds country enough to be played on the radio.  I was concerned it wouldn’t, but it was one of the debuts on the Billboard/R&R Top 60 this week.

The message of the song is simple–it’s not who you know or what you did, it’s how you live.  Basically, the point is, live for Jesus and that’s all that’s important.  What you did and who you know will be influenced by how you live and will be positively influenced by living for Jesus.  Now, I indulged a little bit because they don’t go right out and say that.  I do like songs that make you think about what they are saying and have to indulge when explaining it, so I see that as a plus.

I feel the song is as good or better than some of the song currently in the Top 40.  I am afraid that not enough people are going to want to hear this to push it into the Top 20, but I can see it making it in the Top 30, maybe pushing the higher end of that.  I sure hope radio picks this up because this is one of those songs people need to hear.

You can see where “How You Live (Turn Up The Music)” debuted on My Top 60 or vote for it on the Country Music Lover’s Chart by following the links.

Chuck Wicks- “All I Ever Wanted”

Initial Impression:  Top 20

Prediction: Top 5

Review:

A story: I knew that “Stealing Cinderella” had gone from the charts and the Chuck was releasing a new single.  I thought I had seen a new song from him on a Mediabase 24/7 chart last weekend, but I hadn’t really paid attention.  Monday, I was driving to a friends’ house and I heard a song I hadn’t heard before on a radio station I only listen to when I am out of my local area (Buffalo, NY…I can’t get WYRK when I either go visit my parents or my friend who live outside WYRK’s listening area back where I grew up).  I’ve heard other newer songs on this station before as it’s one of those national networks (CD Country) that play a lot of new music as soon as it’s released.  About halfway through the first verse I began to get an idea of who it was.  By the end of the chorus I’m saying “This is Chuck Wicks.  This sounds really good.  I like it!”

The whole point of the story is to illustrate that Chuck Wicks is beginning to get a strong hold on Country Music Radio as he has a distinctive voice and style.  I personally thought that “Stealing Cinderella” was a little gimmicky at first, but it grew on me and made it to #5 on the charts (showing that it grew on others).  This song, about a man realizing how the woman he loves was all he ever wanted in his life, is a high paced, well sung, just plain old awesome song that doesn’t need to grow on people.  It’s the kind of love song that people want to hear on the radio after a long winter and in front of summer.

I definitely think this song will make it to the Top 20 soon, which, if you’ve read my reviews in the past is a mark of success to me.  The sooner to the Top 20, the higher the chance it’ll get much higher.  Sometimes songs take a long time to climb the charts to #1.  For example, Tracy Lawrence’s “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” took around 40 weeks to make it there, mostly because once the album was out, radio stations played the Tracy/Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney version a lot too. 

Anyway, I can see Chuck easily making it to the Top 5 again with this song.  I am a little hesitant to say he’ll get his first #1 because it’s hard for new acts to get to #1 on their first or second single without something huge in their favor.  Two recent acts who had #1 singles with their first single are Carrie Underwood and Heartland.  Carrie had the American Idol success in her back pocket–people loved her and her music without hearing her on the radio first.  Heartland had a song pegged to be a Father/Daughter dance song at weddings with “I Loved Her First.”  Of course, Heartland hasn’t put out a successful single since.

I can get on these “ramblings” sometimes where I spew out stats about Country Music (it’s the math nerd I am).  The point is, I love this new song, it’s going to do awesome, and I am slowing becoming a Chuck Wicks fan.  If this song goes #1, I won’t be surprised, but I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t match or succeed the success of “Stealing Cinderella.”

You can see where “All I Ever Wanted” debuted on My Top 60 or vote for it on the Country Music Lover’s Chart by following the links.

Heidi Newfield- “Johnny and June”

Initial Impression: Top 60

Prediction: Top 30

Review:

The first time I heard this song, I just was not impressed.  I’m still not impressed.  For anyone who doesn’t know, Heidi Newfield is the former lead singer of the band Trick Pony.  Trick Pony had only moderate success on the charts, charting 8 songs, only 3 of which made the Top 20, none higher than 12 (their debut hit “Pour Me”).

The song drops Johnny Cash song titles (and probably some June Carter Cash, but I’m not as familiar with her music as I am with Johnny).  The whole hook to the song is how the singer wants a love like Johnny and June had.  This song is obviously meant to be a “back door” tribute to the Cash family, but you could of written the same kind of song with song titles from Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and other Country Music couples past and present.  I understand the sentiment because they loved each other until death parted them, so that is not my biggest problem. 

My biggest problem with this song is that there is not much to the verses and the choruses are way too intense in contrast to the verses.  A chorus needs to be different musically than the verses, but to go from a lower register, very quiet verse, to an intense, higher register chorus is just too much of a contrast for me.

That said, I agree that it’s good enough to chart on the Billboard/R&R Top 60, but I can’t see it having a sustained run on the charts.  I think a lot of stations will play it because of the “back door” tribute to the Cash family, but I think the song’s biggest weakness (as mentioned earlier) will ultimately lead it to fizzle out in the Top 30 somewhere.

You can see where “Johnny and June” debuted on My Top 60 or vote for it on the Country Music Lover’s Chart by following the links.

Alan Jackson- “Good Time”

Initial Impression- Top 20

Prediction- Top 5

Review:

Alan Jackson is one of my favorite artists and I hardly buy his music.  I have 3 of his albums (Everything I Love, When Somebody Loves You, and Drive) and he’s released at least twice that many since I started listening to Country.  The title track from his Good Time album, the second single, is an upbeat song about having a good time.  While I don’t connect with a lot of the lyric, what I do connect with is wanting to have fun on the weekend after a long week of work (even though my definition of fun is not in the lyric at all).  This song, combined with “Small Town Southern Man,” makes me want to get his latest CD.

The song is catchy, the song is well written, and Alan just has a great voice and a great connection with the song.  “Good Time” definitely will make the Top 20 (I think it’s as good or better than some of the current Top 20) but I don’t think it’s got the strength to be the second #1 off the album.  I do believe that, with summer coming, it’ll be the first summer anthem of 2008 (or at least a lead-in anthem) and end up in the Top 5.

You can see where “Good Time” debuted on My Top 60 or vote for it on the Country Music Lover’s Chart by following the links.

Sugarland with Little Big Town and Jake Owen- “Life In a Northern Town”

Initial Impression- Top 50

Prediction- Top 40

Review:

A compilation of three of today’s hot new acts–Sugarland, Little Big Town, and Jake Owen, this song talks about how life typical is in a northern town.  We hear a lot of songs about life in the south out on radio, so I’m actually glad to see someone singing about life up north.  I grew up in a small town in Western New York State, and I can relate to a few things in the song.  However, that’s all the good I can say about the song.

First of all, there seems to be too much going on vocally with too many people singing.  If this was just Jennifer Nettles and Jake Owen, or Jennifer Nettles and one person from Little Big Town singing lead and everyone else singing background, I think the song would sound much better.  Instead, we have 7 people each singing lines and then all of together for the chorus.

Can I say anything good about the chorus?  There’s not much to it other than vocal harmonies.  I have listened to it a few times trying to figure out what syllables they are singing and I just can’t seem to figure it out. 

My initial impression is not too high for this song, and I compare it to some of the songs that are in the Top 50 right now (#41 to #50).  For the simple fact I like the fact these three acts have come together for a song, I see the radio pushing this into the Top 40, but I can’t really see it getting much higher because of some of the deficiencies I talked about earlier.

EDIT:  To listen to this song and watch the video, click here.

Eric Church- “His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)”

Initial Impression- Top 20

Prediction- Top 10

Review:

Eric Church is one of today’s underappreciated artists that are being passed over for the “flash in a pan” artists who disappear as quickly as they came onto the scene.  Eric’s first single from his sophomore album, “His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love),” is one of those message songs that the average Country Music fan can relate to.  “I ain’t got his kind of money, but he ain’t got my kind of love” just basically throws it down saying that love is better than money.  As someone of modest means, I have agree with that sentiment.  The average “joe” who works down at the factory can love someone better than a lot of the rich hot shots that are out there.  I’m not saying all rich people are superficial when it comes to love because that’s not true, but there are people out there who can’t truly love someone because of their money.

This is another song that is as good or better than some of the current Top 20 songs, and I think this will get Eric into the Top 10 for the first time.  This could be the song that starts to get Eric the appreciation he deserves.

EDIT:  To listen to this song, just visit Eric’s MySpace Page.

Rodney Atkins- “Invisibly Shaken”

Initial Impression- Top 20

Prediction- His 5th #1 from one album!

Review:

An artist gets on a roll sometimes and his record company wants to get as much out of their money as they can.  When that’s the case, they may release a song to radio that they may not have normally had in order to try to keep their artist on a roll.  I’m not sure if this song was a planned single all along, but there’s no argument that Rodney is on fire.  His If You’re Going Through Hell album is/has been nominated for lots awards and has scored Rodney four straight multi-week #1 singles.  I bought the album while “Watching You” was climbing the charts, and cannot believe how good this album was for someone who just couldn’t get going a few years ago.  

Okay, I’m rambling on about one of my favorite all-time albums and this is a single review!!  The best things about “Invisibly Shaken” is that is a lot different than his previous 4 singles.  Instead of the medium- to fast-paced songs he’s had at #1 recently, this song is truly a ballad.  As a matter of fact, it’s one of only two on the entire album.  However, this is probably his best song on the entire album.  According to his liner notes, the fans requested this song a lot at his shows, so they recorded it.  He evens admits that it sounds much different than the rest of the album.  I think a lot of people who don’t have the album, will be surprised to find out that it is on the same album as his four #1’s.

The vulnerability that Rodney gets across in this song sells it for me.  The song is about a guy who’s taking a breakup well on the surface, but is ‘invisibly shaken’ on the interior.  This song is as good or better than some of the songs that are currently in the Top 20, and I think it’s so good that he’ll end up having his 5th #1 with it.  Great job!!

Jamey Johnson- “In Color”

Initial Impression- Top 40

Prediction- Top 30

Review:

Sometimes, we just need a song that reminds us how our grandparents grew up.  With all the problems that we have going on today, we don’t have it near as bad as our grandparents or great-grandparents had it.  In this song, Jamey sings about learning about his grandfather’s past through old black and white photos.  The hook to the song is “You should have seen it in color,” meaning that if you though the photo was “impressive” then you should’ve been there.  Through good times and bad, we should always know we weren’t the first and we won’t be the last to go through these times.

My initial impression of this song is that it is good enough lyrically and musically to be receiving the same airplay that songs in the Top 40 are getting.  As far as where it will end up on the charts, I don’t think Jamey has enough of a footing in the industry or a strong enough voice to put a well written song like this out and have radio picked it up and run with it.  He’s probably going to have do a lot of work behind the scenes to get radio to play it a lot, so I’m going to predict low for this song instead of high.

To see where Jamey’s song debuted on My Top 60, please visit http://cmlchart.mywebcommunity.org/topsixty.html.  To vote for this song for the Country Music Lover’s Chart, visit http://cmlchart.mywebcommunity.org for details.

Note:  I’m trying a slightly different format to my Single Reviews now by including all my thoughts into one concise section instead of going into detail in each part.