Editorial Review

The Dixie Chicks aren't old enough to remember when radio programmed pop records next to country, rock, folk, and beyond, but their Texas DNA tells them that's the way music was meant to be heard. On Read more

Reviews (280)

Good American Album
To the roots of the matter I would say and very good too. I never thought I would be saying this about a Dixie Chicks album but I liked this one. It's the real thing. It's what America is all about. It touched my heart I would have to say.

Brilliant bluegrass takes Chicks back home
Home is a good title for this album, as it finds the Dixie Chicks making the most of their bluegrass roots. This outstanding album begins with Long time gone, a great song about family memories. Next comes an incredible cover of Landslide, a song written by Stevie Nicks, best remembered as a member of Fleetwood Mac. Travelin' soldier is a sad song about a woman receiving letters from a soldier who gets killed in Vietnam. Those three songs set the standard for the album but there are many other fine songs here including the title track (a reflective ballad), More love (another excellent ballad) and Top of the world (not a cover of the Carpenters' classic - this is a Patty Griffin song). The other songs are also excellent.
The "Home" of the brave, the sound of the free
[...]"Home" is a glossier effort than "Fly" or "Wide Open Spaces," yet at the same time, probably their most earthy. Only a very few artists have been able to walk this kind of fine line, and they would number the kind of musicians and songwriters that appear on "Home" with the Dixie Chicks or as artists in their own right. I'm thinking of people like Marty Stuart, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Ricky Scaggs or Emmylou Harris. That's the kind of vibe that "Home" gives off.Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Pop   

Editorial Review

This introduction to the Man in Black's catalog is about as fine a one as can be found on one disc, primarily because the 21 classic tracks span J.R. Cash's entire career, from his first rockabilly single, "Hey, Porter"/"Cry! Cry! Cry!" (Sun Records, 1955), to his last significant alt-country tracks (American Recordings, 2003). Though Cash had his peaks and valleys in the studio, what shines brightly on this collection is how constant--how unwavering--his creativity remained, whether he was writing and performing original material or interpreting the work of others. His voice, too, remained a majestic thing of wonder, even as Cash often sang off-beat; settled his bass-baritone somewhere Read more

Reviews (42)

Great CD, missing one song though.
Cocaine Blues (from Fulsom County). If this song was on here it would make it superb, alas the CD is only fantastic!
The legend of Johnny Cash- JOHNNY CASH
This is a great collection of Johnny Cash's songs.It as almost equally divided in sections for parts of his life. When I bought this album, there were only three songs that I had not previously heard. The album opens with tunes of Cash's classic Tennessee-two-step format then progresses to his wonderful story-telling years. This CD is littered with tracks written by other artists: Jack Clemet, June Carter-merie Kilgore, Billy Edd Wheeler- Jerry Lieber, Shel Silverstein, Kris Kristofferson, Wayne Kemp, jimmy Webb, Bono, Chris Cornell, Geoff Mack, and finally- Trent Reznor. As many of you know Trent Reznor is the lead singer of Nine Inch Nails-a modern Hard Rock Band. The last song on the album-"Hurt"- was composed by Trent. The song is about drug addiction and general hardship. When performed by Johnny Cash, "Hurt" turns from a somewhat tangled emotional mess to a heartbreaking tale of a man questioning his own salvation. This album is a great collection of music and can be enjoyed by anyone from your grandmother to your grandson.

Great place to begin.
As a relative newcomer to the music of Mr. Cash, this album was recommended to me.It includes great examples from his entire career. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country Gospel    3. Pop    4. Rock & Roll    5. Rockabilly    6. Traditional Country   

Reviews (42)

Definitely a must buy
I really think John Denver's songshas more to it then amazing melody and lyrics and ofcourse not to forget his voice.Its actually hard to compare him with other artists but I can definitely say that I feel the best listening to his songs. Although some of my other fav songs like love again are not included in this cd but still the cd has most of his best songs. The highlights of the cd are the unrealeased version of calypso and leaving on a jet plane. so, If you have heard his songs before or not, this cd is a must buy for all.

Sunshine Music Lives On
John Denver has melted hearts for generations with what can be described as "sunshine music".A mix of country, bluegrass, folk, and great pop sensibilities, Denver has always been the lucky peoples' choice (even if he is the critics' underdog as a singer songwriter).His voice is excellent. As though he would really need a defense, anyway, his collaboration with Pacido Domingo, one of the three tenors, is certain testimony to his vocal credibility.Cynics need not apply, for if some of his more sentimental songs are "sap," then at least we know he got his ingredients fresh from the best trees in Vermont.He created great soaring songs for lady and land.Some are orchestrated to perfection; others are homegrown prizes."Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Rocky Mountain High," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" all resonate with articulate sweetness.He perfected ruggedness with "Thank God, I'm a Country Boy" and "Wild Montana Skies," but his serenades are also expert, including "Andromeda, (Welcome to My Morning)" and "Annie's Song".Subjectively, "Calypso" is no hokey homage, but a heartfelt classic that demonstrates a fine vocal range.Besides covering all of the classics, this C.D. collects some great, unfamiliar terrain."Fly Away" and "Sweet Surrender" are excellent songs that add to the scope of the album and his legacy. For those of us willing to stand our ground, his 'Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits' gives us all his famous songs and all the unfamiliar territory we might have missed.John may have left us early, but his portfolio of "sunshine music" has yet to be imitated much and never completely dismissed.
Appreciation later in life.....
I was never a 'fan' of John Denver in my growing up years.His music was a part of those years, but I took it for granted just hearing it on the radio. Now, some 20 years later, I can appreciate it more than ever. His beautiful mind, his thoughts, his feelings all come out in his music. My husband and I now own property in West Virginia and when I play 'Country Roads' it makes me cry.Because now I feel the love for that place just like he did when he wrote that heartfelt song.Take me home, country roads...to the place I belong - West Virginia! It makes my heart long for our beautiful mountain! All those songs of yesteryear now mean something to me. I love his style, his words, the arrangements. Just a must play cd long rides in the country or just listening to while cooking supper in the kitchen! Thanks John Denver for making songs that touch the heart! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country-Folk    2. Country-Pop    3. Folk-Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Soft Rock    10. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Somewhat remarkably, the youthful trio Rascal Flatts has an uncanny ability to sound 20-something going on 13. They are often dismissed as just another slick, contrived "boy band," though that hasn't kept them from chart-topping success. Admittedly, these Rascals do sound slick and even generic on run-of-the-mill teem anthems like "Fast Cars and Freedom" and "The Day Before You." Yet, on a few shining tracks like "Bless the Broken Road," "When the Sand Runs Out," and a lovely hidden cut called "Skin," the chic threesome also betrays poise, maturity, and thoughtfulness amid its chart-conscious predictability. Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (102)

Here's To You Review
If you liked the first album by Rascal Flatts, then you'll love Feels Like Today.This album covers every type of song from love and romance to a thank you to their fans.Rascal Flatts combines country music with a pop sound that makes their songs truly unique.If you like the traditional lyrics of country music then you will definitely enjoy those of Rascal Flatts.They really know how to take the basic "drinking and lost love songs" and not only add a twist to them, but also expand the horizon of country a little and make it a bit more personal.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!!!! Come on, gimme some more stars!!!!!!!!
a very sattisafied coustermer
i have enjoyed the feels like today cd so very much this is my frist cd buy them but it sure wont be my last i think they are great.thank them so much for there music keep up the good work a real fan pat . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Pop   

Editorial Review

Though fans shouldn't mistake this various-artists soundtrack for the next Toby Keith album, the music for Keith's star-turn film (also featuring Kelly Preston, Burt Reynolds, and Willie Nelson) builds from reflective balladry to unbridled, triumphant rock. It may be hard to separate the thematic sequencing from the movie it accompanies, but the soundtrack itself tells a story. It begins with Keith's melancholy, violin-drenched duet with Lindsey Haun on the title track; progresses through the spiritual uplift of a revival of "Uncloudy Day" that finds Willie Nelson and BeBe Winans joining Keith, as well as Sonya Isaacs's testament to faith on "The Battlefield" (with harmonies by Vince Gill); and culminates in the rambunctious "Big Bull Rider," the bluesy boogie of "Zig Zag Stop," and the full-throttle rock 'n' roll of the closing "Jacky Don Tucker (Play by the Rules, Miss All the Fun)." Matraca Berg, Fred Eaglesmith, and Keith's running buddy Scotty Emerick are among the others contributing tracks. While Keith sings on only 7 of the 13 cuts, there's a unifying vision throughout. Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Soundtrack

Reviews (10)

He just keeps getting better
Broken Bridges is an absolutely wonderful CD.Not only does Toby sound wonderful, he shows his talent as a writer as well as his knack for gathering songs that fit the mood of the movie.It is a CD that everyone should enjoy because there is something for everyone.

Phenomenal!
I have one word for this soundtrack: MERCY!!! This soundtrack is so phenomenal. I love all of the songs and all of the artists showcased, but I'd like to mention a few of the artists that truly stood out to me. Miss Lindsey Haun is probably one of the most talented singers I've heard since Carrie Underwood won American Idol. I am looking forward to Lindsey's debut album. Then there is Scotty Emerick. I always enjoy listening to him sing. Matraca Berg and Sonja Isaacs deliver powerful performances on their tracks. And, last but not least, Toby! I just can't say enough about how impressed I was by his performances on the soundtrack. It is with this soundtrack that Toby shows why he's had such a long and successful career in music. His voice is so versatile and completely amazing! (And, so is his songwriting abililty.) I especially loved his part in the song "Uncloudy Day". He sang it so exceptionally well that I cannot listen to it enough!
a great cd
I love the Toby songs and I love the other ones too. Putting this cd on is like listening to some great radio station. I am glad this introduced me to Lindsey Haun and Fred Eaglesmith. Can't wait for the movie, I can picture it already! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Pop    3. Soundtrack Collections    4. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Editorial Review

Though this 1975 album cost Willie only $20,000 to record, it handed him the success he'd craved after years as a hit songwriter and modestly successful singer. By blending originals and vintage material, he created a timeless Western saga, one that originally left Columbia Records, who'd guaranteed him artistic control, skeptical. The label's doubts, amplified by the fact that Nelson had recorded the album in Texas with only his seven-piece touring band, evaporated after the album and two singles, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Remember Me," became huge hits and launched Willie into the stratosphere. This enhanced version preserves the original sequence, adding four bonus tracks. One, a brief snippet of Bach's "Minuet in G" from the 1986 Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (61)

Its alright, depends on what you're expecting
Not one of my favorites but still an important work for Willie Nelson fans.It is not a flashy studio recording - many of the tracks seem hardly more than Willie and his guitar. Oddly enough, I think I the bonus tracks are the best part of this recording for me.If you are looking for vintage Willie, however, this could be the recording for you.

Classical Greatness
I think Willie is a great singer but he has never been a personal favorite. This album, though, is among my favorites. In it, he demonstrates his skills as a lyricist, he mellow voice and his ability to narrate a song.
CD-Red Headed Stranger-Willie
This is the ONLY album I enjoy from beginning to end! Unlike other CDs', each song stands on its own merits. I am happy it came out in CD form---great quality recording!!!!Thanks! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Outlaw Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country    6. Traditional Country    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

With stunning album-length explorations of jazz and 1950s acoustic skiffle and a country-rockabilly collaboration with Linda Gail Lewis behind him, Van Morrison continues exploring classic country with compelling reinterpretations of standards from the 1950s to the 1970s. He reaches back over half a century for Hank Williams Sr.'s "Half As Much," "Your Cheatin' Heart," and "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" and Webb Pierce's landmark honky-tonk hits "Back Street Affair," "There Stands the Glass," and "More and More." Moving to the mid-'60s, he capably explores George Jones's "Things Have Gone to Pieces" and Connie Smith's "Once a Day." The 1970s are his limit, however, as he probes Rodney Crowell's "'Til I Gain Control Again." Three Morrison originals blend nicely into this mix, as do two non-country favorites: Chuck Willis's "What Am I Living For" and a gleeful spin on Blue Lu Barker's 1938 jazzy, single-entendre favorite "Don't You Make Me High." Recorded in Ireland with uncluttered hard-country backing, Read more

Reviews (69)

Cross-genre master
Morrison has produced credible albums in Rock, Blues, and Jazz genres. Pay the Devil has the Irish soulster performing classic American country music and some originals that sound entirely appropriate between Hank Williams and Clarence Williams.
Sweet and Sharp - Deceptively Well Crafted
This album is deceptive - on first hearing in a setting with lots of distractions, it actually sounded unremarkeable, as if the songs were done almost casually, one or 2 takes each.But as I listened again, I was stopped when I heared that familiar sharp, plangent, emphatic and superbly modulated voice reaching for real feeling in "What Am I Living For?" - "hey, he cares about this stuff!" I said to myself.At the end of that song someone (Van?) says "hey, that was worth it."Indeed it was! - great country soul singing of a not-normally-country tune.The next tune, a Van original, "This Has Got To Stop," knocked me out - uncompromising deeply felt lyrics, rolling beat, syncopated shouts - a real Van Morrison song, country style.Then the rest of the record came clear to me.There are some great renditions of songs that should sound completely hackneyed, a la Ray Charles' "Modern Sounds," which may well have been the starting place for this record.And - the crucial test - his Hank songs add to the vocabulary.Van doesn't give anything away to any country singer, or even Ray.He channels that feisty, angry, hurt, caring persona into some great country music - this said by a guy (me) who owns 20+ each of Hank Williams and George Jones records, 30+ Ralph Stanley/Stanley Bros. records, and everything Merle Haggard, ever did, etc.

marking time
When Van Morrison is on his game-Astral Weeks, Moondance, Into the Music, Tupelo Honey etc. he's as good as it gets.When he misses, (A Period of Transition, Avalon Sunset) there are moments of brilliance, but the record never seems to come together.Pay the Devil has moments that are quite good (Your Cheatin' Heart, Big Blue Diamonds, Half as Much, What Am I Living For) but far too many misses. IMHO he misses badly in his interpretation of Rodney Crowell's Till I Gain Control Again.
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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country Boogie    3. Country-Pop    4. Country-Soul    5. Honky Tonk    6. Ireland    7. Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan    8. Neo-Traditionalist Country    9. Pop    10. Pop/Rock    11. Progressive Country    12. Rock    13. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

One of the freshest country albums of the year comes not out of Nashville, but rather New York, from a sporadic band with the unlikely (and somewhat suggestive) moniker of the Little Willies. At times, the fivesome (named in homage to Willie Nelson) hearkens to the great historic western-swing bands--crack, loose-limbed musicians fronted by a hypnotically sublime girl singer. If that sleepy female voice (and her distinctive piano) sounds astonishingly like Norah Jones, that's because it Read more

Features

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Reviews (48)

Perfect for the road
I purchased this CD before going on vacation. With both a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old in the car, we had to endure the loud soundtracks of movies from the back seat. And, when I suggested that we turn off the TV and listen to a CD, they were both unhappy! That is, until I popped in this CD. These happy tunes made all of us smile and my kids even started to sing along! If you want a CD that will make your day, purchase this one!

Fun listen... more fun the second time, even more fun after that!
I'm a recording engineer by trade.I sit in little rooms with no windows and big speakers listening to the same song for 15 hour stretches for weeks in a row.Every now and again a record will roll through that is actually fun to make.This sounds like one of those recordings.
Nora and Texas Swing
Great collection if you like Nora and also like Texas Swing. There's Nora doing a few cuts as lead and sounding great as usual. The other cuts on the CD are great country tunes, some funny, some sad with a tight band keeping it interesting. Definately worth a listen. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Americana    4. Country-Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

During the "folk music-scare" of the early 1960s, a bunch of white middle-class youths with names like the Greenbriar Boys and the Even Dozen Jug Band discovered the mountain music of the Stanley Brothers, Skillet Lickers, and Uncle Dave Macon and set about introducing it to the country's college kids. Four decades later, the members of OCMS fit the profile of those early revivalists, yet if anything they have tapped deeper into the primal elements of an American art form. As demonstrated on their debut, they have assimilated not just the sound--banjos, harmonicas, acoustic guitar and bass--but more importantly the haunting spirit of music that was made to keep hard times at bay. How else to explain their ability to take a well-worn chestnut like "CC Rider" and infuse it with an energy that reveals once again why it is a classic? Not content to live completely in the past, they wrote "Big Time in the Jungle," which, though it is about Vietnam, could easily be transposed to 2004's desert conflicts. Kindred spirit and producer David Rawlings (Gillian Welch's longtime collaborator) has kept their energy intact, but one can only wonder what sort of magic they must deliver live. Read more

Reviews (69)

Country music fan
The more I listen, the better I like it.Very hillbilly, but the songs are catchy and stay in your head.

A gem!
The editorial review above of this band is on target.OCMS' sound isinspired by traditional music (which I consider to be the pre-curser to bluegrass and less gimmicky).What gives it life is that it has been infused with the influences of a bunch of young guys,i.e. punk, blues, rock, country, rap, etc.It's what gives them their unique energy and style.It's what makes the old mountain songs sound new and fresh and what makes their brand new stuff sound like old mountain classics.My favorite is Tear It Down.
Very Solid
Altogather very good, although "Wagon Wheel" is a rip off of Bob Dylan's "Ride Me Mama" that was never released.Not to take anything away from them, their version is excellent.Good music for any fan of something real. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Folk    2. Folk    3. Jug Band    4. Neo-Traditional Folk    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. String Bands   

Editorial Review

You don't have to get very far into Alan Jackson's splendid second anthology of hits before you're struck by how well the rangy Georgian has built his catalogue and how beautifully Keith Stegall continually produces his songs, filling the instrumental breaks with unexpectedly creative solos. While Jackson's choice of cover songs is usually inspired ("Pop-A-Top," "Little Bitty"), he's a deft writer, alternating his tongue-in-cheek, Sheriff Andy Taylor persona with his "just a singer of simple songs" earnestness, lacing it all with an unfettered delivery and a Haggardesque dedication to the bedrock honky-tonk sound. There are times when he edges too close to formula, running the romanticized, small-town, cornbread-and-chicken conceits ("Where I Come From") into the ground. But then he quickly redeems himself with a lip-tremblingly good "Drive" or "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)." This package consists of two discs, 16 hits and two new cuts filling the first and an unnecessary and somewhat inferior eight album tracks occupying the second. Of the two new songs, the emotional husband-and-wife ballad "Remember When" handily outdistances the too-trite "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" with perennial smart-ass Jimmy Buffett. Jackson's too good an artist to settle for such an easy reach, but hey, let's cut him a little slack. He's paid his dues. Read more

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• Limited Edition

Reviews (14)

Country music at its best
If you don't like this album, then you don't like country music.

Great CD!
I LOVE this CD!!I bought it particularly for 'Remember When' and the song about 9-11, but the rest of it is great as well.He has a very rich, easy-to-listen-to voice, which does justice to everything he sings.I don't think I've ever heard him sing a 'bad song!'

Compressed sound, too loud compared to other music
I love Alan Jackson, he is one of my favorite vocalist.But this and his other greatest hit CD is mixed compressed and to loud.Having it on my music list while listening on my headphones causes me to rip off my headphones when his music comes on and blows out my eardrums.This has happen once to often.I now have removed these two albums from my music list to save my ears.
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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Country & Western    4. New Traditionalist    5. Pop   

Editorial Review

What goes around, comes around. As the resident rock star in Nickel Creek (contrasting with the trio's more reserved Watkins siblings), mandolinist Chris Thile has sent his music soaring in surprising directions from its bluegrass base.Though this solo release finds him dipping into the songbooks of the White Stripes ("Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground") and the Strokes ("Heart in a Cage"), much of the music sticks closer to tradition than Thile has in recent years. Among the highlights are an uptempo romp through Gillian Welch's "Wayside (Back in Time)," a pretty fair yodel on Jimmie Rodgers's "Brakeman's Blues," the close harmonies of the bluesy "If the Sea Was Whiskey," and Thile's original "You're an Angel and I'm Gonna Cry," classic country weeper. Five of the fourteen cuts are instrumental, with the opening "Watch 'at Breakdown" combining bluegrass instrumentation and jazzy sophistication, and "The Beekeeper" giving Thile's fingers a chance to fly. Read more

Reviews (9)

Mesmerizing
Saw the How to Grow a Band at the old staple, the Belcourt Theatre here in Nashville the week that the album came out, and since I'm in the press, I had been listening to the disc for 2 months already. I really truly love this album. One reviewer complained about the long pauses in the middle of songs adn Chris being too far from the mic sometimes. For me, those were good things. I LOVE dynamics and contrast, two things sorely lacking in most music today. HTGAWFTG is full of both. It feels like a classic album with modern content.
language warning
wonderful album ruined by the use of foul language in the next to the last track, what a shame.

Pick a Thile .. any Thile.. They're all here
How you react to this new offering from the amazing Mr. Thile depends on which of his multiple manifestations appeal. I liked most of what's here, so I gave the album a 4 out of 5......
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Subjects:  1. Bluegrass    2. Country    3. New Acoustic    4. Pop    5. Progressive Bluegrass    6. Traditional Bluegrass    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

After the sort of year that Kenny Chesney has experienced--from a whirlwind courtship through a short-lived marriage--a guy needs some time to chill. Thus it's no surprise that Read more

Reviews (58)

He's having fun!
Saw Kenny in Vegas before the ACM Awards while he was taping
Really enjoy this cd
Really enjoy this cd - easy to listen to by the pool.

Kenny Chesney is the best of the best!
Road and the Radio is a fantastic collection of wonderful songs.I can't think of a song on the CD that I don't enjoy listening too over and over again (with the possible exception of Who You'd be Today, listening to it once is emotionally draining) Summer Time, Living in Fast Forward, and the title song are my favorites along with You Save Me which I hope he releases as a single.Hearing a Kenny Chesney sing always brings a smile to my face!AWESOME! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Country-Pop    4. Neo-Traditionalist Country    5. New Traditionalist    6. Pop    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Good things come to those who wait. During John Prine's nine-year interval between albums of original material, fans who hailed his recovery from cancer wondered whether he'd ever return to full creative speed. Here, Prine puts doubts to rest with an album that ranks with the finest of an inspired career. The big heart of "Glory of True Love," the socially conscious bite of "Some Humans Ain't Human," the reflective grace of "Taking a Walk," the wry whimsy of "Crazy as a Loon"--the hallmarks of Prine's artistry are reaffirmed on Read more

Reviews (81)

Bush criticism
I'm ordering simply because of "Some Humans Ain't Human" which is exactly right for those right-wing religious lunatics who have taken over the asylum and refuse to allow of any criticism of Bush.They spew venom and hatred, and send death threats to any artists who criticizes Bush.these hypocrites wrap themselves up in the flag and are too chicken to actually fight in this preemptive, illegal war, supported by lies.
You just can't win
I can only laugh when I read some of these other reviews.As a performing artist, sometimes you just can't win.Many of the artists who are lucky enough to have been around as long as John Prine has, hear the old criticism over and over again, "I liked his older stuff better."Well, it seems many see this Prine release as simply "more of the same."So there it is - you change and you get criticized, or you don't, and you still get critized.I'm sure it doesn't mean much either way to Mr. Prine.
John Prine is one of the good guys!!!!
Just like Dylan, it pays off to wait for John Prine to release his latest insights.Fair & Square is as much as a masterpiece as anything he has ever recorded.With his unique brand of lyrics and his voice which is a force of nature, Prine takes us back to the 1930's all the way up to the day you listen to him.What a great CD.It is one of those cd's that you really can't pick a favorite tune since they all hit you and take you to places and emotions that someone (like me who just hit 50), thought he had lost.I could list some of the lyrics here and go on and on but I will limit myself to just a few."Crazy as a Loon" is as much a Prine song as I have ever heard but with an originality that only a true artist can present.Prine makes "Clay Pigeons" (Blaze Foley) his own while remaining true to the original."She is my Everyone" is a great, bouncing, funny, John Prine original."She is my everything, from her long black hair, to the freckles on her diamond ring"."Some Humans Aren't Human" should be played at the White House.Prine hits Bush and his right-wing supporters between the eyes with their hubris and arrogance.John Prine is a national treasure and I'm so happy I was introduced to him back in the "Dear Abby" days.I've been hooked ever since but that is not to say that those who have never tasted his wisdom and comments on human nature won't enjoy "Fair & Square".My girlfriend (who had never even heard of him) absolutely loved it.I had to buy an extra copy since she won't give me mine back.If you haven't figured it out, I'm a huge John Prine fan and this is a great cd. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Folk    2. Folk & Traditional    3. Pop    4. Rock/Pop    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

When George Strait's "She'll Leave You With a Smile" moved to the top of the country charts in early 2003, the handsome Lone Star crooner bested Conway Twitty for the most No. 1 singles by a solo artist. This collection of 50 chart-toppers, spanning 22 years, showcases the Cadillac of country singers at his best, blending traditional and contemporary stylings, but never straying too far from the core of his Texas barroom sound. "Fool Hearted Memory," from 1982, proves that Strait had his uncluttered production and straightforward vocal approach down from the start, no matter how many producers guided him to his peak. Through the years, the path to superstardom dictated that he trade the crisp Western swing of "Right or Wrong" and "Ace in the Hole" for squishy, mid-tempo crowd pleasers like "Check Yes or No" and "Write This Down." But he redeemed himself with such poignant heartbreakers as "So Much Like My Dad" and "…Smile." This retrospective's one new track, "I Hate Everything," about a man in a bar who's besotted more from pain than whiskey, doesn't match up with the singer's best material, but it's still got that irresistible Strait hook: average-guy sincerity wrapped in a down-to-earth heart. Read more

Reviews (110)

Great 50 Number Ones
If you love George Strait, and many of us do, this is a great collection of hits that have accompanied our own lives through many years. So many favorites from one of the very best!

George Strait 50 Number Ones
I love George Strait's music and have been enjoying this CD in my car driving to and from work every day.The CD has a lot of cuts on it I had never heard previously but you will love it.My only disappointment regarding the CD is the cuts are shorter I believe then you would find on one of his other CD's.
George Strait's 50 No. 1's
Disappointed that it did not have Amarillo by Morning or Something Special. They were number one and more popular than some of the songs on this CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. New Traditionalist    4. Pop    5. Western Swing Revival   

Reviews (32)

Great group
This is the only CD in my trucks CD player for the last, well since my folks bought it for me at the concert on the 4th of July.It rocks and and has great mellow sounds just right for Atlanta traffic.

Better The Second Time Around
There's less commercial flash (though it's still evident at times) and more personal effort from the members of Little Big Town on this, their second album, "The Road To Here."The album starts off fine with "Good As Gone."This tune drifts solidly into their radio hit, "Boondocks."This song, while drowning in commercial pop country lyrics, stands apart from most modern country due to the nice four-part harmony of the group.Another standout from this album is their other radio release, "Bring It On Home."In fact, this is probably the strongest song on the album."Wounded" has a nice sound as well.Songs like "Bones," "A Little More You," and "Looking For A Reason," are good, but they all begin to sound alike as the album rolls along.The only glaring downfall in this album is the hokey, pop country drivel, "Welcome To The Family."It falls into the same category as other silly tunes like "American Honky Tonk Bar Association," where it seems that the songwriter tries too hard to make a cheesy country tune.
Great record
I haven't enjoyed a record this much since "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac. Excellent songwriting and beautiful performances. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Country-Pop    4. Neo-Traditionalist Country    5. Pop    6. Western   

Reviews (8)

A Cut Above Country Radio Regulars
Charlie's latest has no weak tracks whatsoever.The title song is full of tongue-in-cheek humor and rebellion, hearkening to some of John Prine's best songs.It has one of the catchiest lines ever in country music:"Buy me a whiskey, get yourself stoned, we gonna have a good time." As usual, Charlie tells a great many stories in his songs:a unrepentant pleasure seeker lets it all hang out south of the border in "New Year's Day;" a man hits the skids emotionally in "The Bottom;" the narrator remembers his own broken childhood and admires his infant son in "Photograph;" a dissipated adult recalls his first drink and charts his own disgrace in "Something in the Water;" a girl weds a bad man in the haunting "Magnolia," a story-telling style that is reminiscent of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying." Charlie Robison has more talent as a writer and performer than 99% of anyone in Nashville.Please buy this album; do yourself a favor.If you like songs deeper than your average mud puddle but still universally-applicable, this CD is for you!

Different, But Good
I found this album to be quite different then what I've come to expect from Charlie, but it is still good and worthy of attention."El Cerrito Place" is the best song on the album and I find myself listening to it over and over.If you are a Texas Country Music Fan or a Charlie Robison fan then you will like this album.Also, if you like Charlie, check out his brother Bruce Robison as well.

Charlie Robison's Best Yet
This is Charlie's best release yet.It features a wide range of songs that will keep everoyone happy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country   

Reviews (2)

Genuine Inspiration
We bought this CD, along with some others, for a driving trip through Colorado.This was by far our favorite.You need to listen carefully; the melodies are great, but more than that, each song has a clear message about life, choices, and how we treat one another on this journey.And, the CD displays each artist at their very best -- heartfelt and sincere.OUR top 3 song? Three Wooden Crosses, I Can Only Imagine, and The Little Girl; but these are followed closely by the other 14.A GREAT CD.We're getting more of these to share with family and friends.

THREE WOODEN CROSSES
I did not enjoy this cd. Not really gospel except for a couple of songs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Gospel    2. Country    3. Country Collections    4. Country Gospel    5. Pop    6. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

Australian-born Keith Urban, hot off the double-platinum success of his 2002 sophomore album, Read more

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