Country Singles Jubilee 7.20.09: The Trying To Love Three Women Edition
Posted by Jasper Jones on 07.20.2009
This week's Jubilee has three country singles from three beautiful country ladies. Plus, inside you'll find an obscure gem from Hank Williams, Jr. and a great country song by Mick Jagger of all people!
Welcome back, Jubileers! I've noticed over the last couple of columns that The Jubilee hasn't covered many female artists lately. I've tried to balance that out a bit this week. Have fun!
Country Music Tidbits
Where Did Big Kenny Go?
The recent release of John Rich's solo album, Son of a Preacher Man, has caused some people to wonder what his cohort-in-crime Big Kenny has been doing lately. The other half of Big & Rich has been mentoring and judging contestants on CMT's Can You Duet as well as working on his second solo album. Recently Big Kenny and crew filmed a video for his debut single, "Long After I'm Gone". It had to be shot in a mere 48 hours thanks to Big Kenny's hectic traveling schedule. Since the video's release, it's been in heavy rotation on GAC and has been featured on CMT's Power Picks. Fans can check out the video and get a free download of the song at www.bigkenny.tv.
Country Boys and Girls Getting Down On the Farm
Announcements concerning Farm Aid 2009 were made last Thursday. The benefit show, sponsored by Horizon Organic, will be held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, MO. on October 4th. Acts currently signed on to preform include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, The Dave Matthews Band, and Neil Young. Other acts joining them will be announced at a later date. Farm Aid says they've gotten a record number of calls and concerns from farmers across America thanks to the rise in debt and the current economic recession. Here's hoping they can raise a record number of funds to help those out in need. Tickets go on sale July 25th on the Live Nation website.
MUSIC TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Country Singles Reviews
Sarah Buxton - "Outside My Window"
Sarah Buxton is a relatively new country act. She's signed to Lyric Street Records, the current home of acts Rascal Flatts, Bucky Covington, and Billy Ray Cyrus. She may only have one 6 song EP out, but she's been virtually all over the place. Buxton's first recording was a duet with Cowboy Troy on his 2005 album Loco Motive. Since then she's done back up work for Kenny Rogers, John Corbett, and Keith Urban. She even co-wrote Urban's 2006 hit "Stupid Boy". With a great resume like that it's only a matter of time before she becomes a success on her own. Buxton released three songs from her EP as singles and all them cracked the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. That's exceptionally good for a newbie!
"Outside My Window" is Sarah Buxton's current single. It's set to be included on an upcoming untitled album. "Outside My Window" is completely saturated in happiness, but never drifts off too far into sappy poppiness. She sees rainbows, red birds singing, and sail boats outside her window. Buxton sings brightly channeling the early work of Martina McBride with a dash of SheDaisy, another artist on the Lyric Street Records label. There is a bit of a bizarre guitar intro that doesn't quite fit with the rest of the song though. Luckily, it's quickly forgotten once the song gets rolling. The only other glaring problem with the song is that the chorus is little too cliched. This could be Buxton's chance to be break it big on country radio. "Outside My Window" is just pop enough and country enough to please the current radio listener and put a big ol' smile on their face.
Favorite Lyric: "I know, I'm dreaming like a child/ But some things just don't go out of style"
Rating: 3.5/5
Jamie O'Neal - "Like A Woman"
The beautiful Jamie O'Neal is an Australian country music singer with two Number 1 country singles. Her debut album, 2001's Shiver, peaked at Number 14 on the country album charts and the singles "There Is No Arizona" and "When I Think About Angels" both hit Number 1. Despite her second album, 2005's Brave, making it all the way to Number 3 on the country album charts, O'Neal's subsequent releases have not done so well and she's changed record labels twice. Her last substantial hit was 2005's "Somebody's Hero" which peaked at Number 3. O'Neal's current record label, 1720 Entertainment, says that she's poised for a big comeback with her next album, but it's release date has been pushed back several times now.
"Like A Woman" is the first single released from Jamie O'Neal's forthcoming album of the same name. The fact that this song hasn't taken off yet baffles my mind. It's a perfect modern country song mixed with elements of women's country from the late 80s and early 90s. I could honestly see Reba McEntire singing this song in 1988, or Lorrie Morgan singing this song in 1992. It's about a woman who's worn out by the stress of everyday life. Either she works all the time or is "mommy" all the time, and she's forgotten what it's like to feel like a woman. She pleads with her husband to "lay her down" and remind her what it's like to be passionately loved. Jamie O'Neal gives an incredible and passionate vocal performance that just blew me away. It's evident that she really believes in the song and isn't just phoning it in like some current country superstars seem to do from time to time. It's refreshing to hear a country song that's not about getting back at an ex-lover, politics/patriotism, religion, or being from a small town.
Favorite Lyric: "You're the one who really gets me / Honey let me feel the fire in your hands / I know you can keep me burning/ Feel the yearning/ Cause you're still my only man"
If you watch much CMT, then you probably remember Caitlin Lynn and Will Snyder (Caitlin & Will) from the first season of Can You Duet. Caitlin, a modern voice with a tinge of the blues, and Will, a southern rocker, were separated from their original duet partners and put together by the judges on the show. Few thought the two would make it due to their lack of experience together, but they shocked the world by winning it all. After winning, the duo was quickly signed to Columbia Records' Nashville division. They have recently released a digital six song EP in advance of their first full length album, Dark Horse, set to be released later in the year. Caitlin & Will seem to be on the right track. The duo already made their Grand Ole Opry debut last May.
"Even Now" is technically not their debut single. Caitlin & Will intended for it to be their debut release after testing it at a couple of live shows and getting and overwhelmingly positive responses. However, the record label stepped in and decided that a song called "Address in the Stars" would be their first release instead. Problem is that "Address is the Stars" might be a good song lyrically, but it suffers from massive overproduction. "Even Now" is leaps and bounds better. Prime example of a record company sticking their noses in and messing things up. You be the judge, and tell me which you like better.
"Even Now" is a simple country tune, and I am a sucker for a great duet. I love having both sides of the story in the same song. Caitlin and Will sound great together. "Even Now" utilizes them as a duo much better than "Address In the Stars" which is basically all Caitlin. Plus, it has an appropriate use of an electric guitar solo in a country song.
Rating: 4/5
Retro Country Single
Hank Williams, Jr. - "Cold, Cold Ground"
Hank Williams, Jr. suffers from what most entertains do when they have conquered their craft and attained success that most others can only wish to experience. It appears that he feels he's done everything there is to do, so now he phones in his music. Same thing could be said about other musicians like The Rolling Stones or actors like Eddie Murphy. They rest on their laurels. They know people will see their movies or buy their music just because their name's on it. They're past the point of trying to impress anyone. Hank, Jr.'s early work was very impressive. Songs like "The Last Love Song", "I'll Think of Something", and "The River" showed flashes of brilliance that kept the listener buying his records. Some time about 1990ish, it seems like Hank just gave up. His quality of music and songwriting took a hit. Great party songs like "All My Rowdy Friends" and great love songs like "Queen of My Heart" were replaced by gimmick songs like "Naked Women and Beer" and "Can't We All Just Get a Longneck?". His latest album 127 Rose Avenue shows glimpses of the old Hank, so maybe he's not completely hopeless yet. Here's hoping he gets serious again and puts out one more really, really great album before it's too late. If you want to see Hank, Jr. at his best, pick up the Living Proof: The MGM Records 1963-1975 box set.
"Cold, Cold Ground" is a perfect example of an incredible old Hank Williams, Jr. song. It can be found on The Best of Hank Williams Jr. Volume One or on the previously mentioned box set. It's mid-tempo song that includes rock-a-billy piano with an acoustic and slide guitar. Hank's lyrics have never been better. He talks about using liquor to get her off his mind in the first verse, but the liquor just brings him closer to death. He talks about smoking cigarettes to pass the time to keep her off his mind, but they just bring him closer to death too. By the third verse, he's realized that all things keeping her off his mind going to kill him. He decides to speed up the process and commits suicide by pistol. "Let my tombstone read: No liquor, no smoke, no drug, but a woman's love...put me in that cold, cold ground" Listen to the song and compare it to anything he's put out in the last fifteen years and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.
Favorite Lyric: "I hear that hammer clicking/ what a sweet, terrible sound"
I Bet You've Never Heard This Song
Mick Jagger - "Evening Gown"
As the front man of The Rolling Stones, arguably the greatest rock n' roll band of all time, Mick Jagger ruled the 60s and 70s. He's was in the news, in the magazines, on the radio, and on the big screen. Success flourished until a fallout with band-mate Keith Richards caused a rift in mid 80s. It was during this time that Mick felt he was being stultified in the band and began to write material for solo albums. He wound up releasing two in 80s, She's The Boss and Primitive Cool. Both records were critically praised, but only did so-so commercially. The Stones released their "return to form" album, Steel Wheels, in 1989 and Jagger spent most of his time promoting and touring with that album. Mick's next solo album would be 1993's Wandering Spirit. Unlike the previous two albums, Wandering Spirit was a commercial and critical success. It is wildly considered his best solo album to date. It would be almost ten years before Mick Jagger would released another solo effort. Goddess In the Doorway was released in 2001 on Virgin Records. Once again the album had critical success but very little commercial success.
"Evening Gown" is one of my favorite songs from Mick Jagger's solo work. One of the only things that The Stones could do better than The Beatles was country music. Mick and/or Keith could write a hell of country song when inspired, and "Evening Gown" is proof positive. It's about being a wild party guy, but deep down needing to find someone to grow old with. There are lots of myths and legends about the life of Mick Jagger. Some may be true. Some are probably just rumors. In "Evening Gown" he's trying to explain that he wants to find someone fun to be with for life. The piano work is great and the song fits Mick's unconventional voice perfectly.
Favorite Lyric: "People say I'm a drinker/ But I'm sober half the time/ People say I'm a loser/ But I get lucky on the side"
That's all, folks! Come on back next week for some more great country tunes. Until then, continue tippin' your hat to the keeper of the stars and don't fall in love with a ramblin' man!
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