Reviews (17)

What Happened Bubba??
After the big time success of "License to Chill" the expectations on this one were big, but it opens with the ballad "Bama Breeze" and thumps along from there without much trademark JB tropical breezin' to carry the listener along. The lyrical content is confusing and borderline annoying, especially "Reggabilly Hill" and "Wheel Inside the Wheel", which is surprising because JB didn't write these two so it's strange why he would include them. Jimmy wrote only four of the songs, which maybe explains why this one doesn't quite take you where you expected to go with him. At least there are no clunkers like "Math Suks" or "Simply Complicated", or better yet, no Bruce Cockburn drama duds like "Pacing the Cage". I'm a die hard Parrothead here who owns everything JB has put out, and this cd has been given 4-5 listens all the way through. I've tried hard to let it grow on me but it instead gets a bit more grating each time. "Boats to Build" and "Trip Around the Sun" definitely raised the bar, and this one doesn't come close. OK, rack it up to "going in a different direction". Trust me, I will always buy anything Jimmy puts out. Hopefully more steel drums and more songs written by Jimmy himself.
Great New Album
I really like this new Buffett album, it's a bit of a return to his roots and has some really mellow tracks...
Back to the Island
I have to agree with one of the original reviewers here in that Buffett really dug deep and went back to basics to cull this CD.If you're buying it because you got hooked on License to Chill, you may be disappointed, but those who appreciate the "old school" stuff certainly won't be.
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Subjects:  1. Country    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. United States of America   

Editorial Review

The idea of twang king Alan Jackson pairing up with Alison Krauss for an album of love songs might seem heretical to some, especially if they heard only the first cut, the adult-contemporary ballad "Anywhere on Earth You Are." But producer Krauss, whom Jackson approached to make a traditional bluegrass record, always knew there was a sensuous heart beating beneath his aw-shucks demeanor, one that would fit perfectly with the intimate repertoire, genre-bending musical framework, and virtuoso players she'd always chosen for herself. (Robert Lee Castleman, one of Krauss's favorite writers, weighs in with four tunes, and Ron Block, Jerry Douglas, and Dan Tyminski, Krauss's Union Station cohorts, anchor the band.) Jackson, it turns out, also wanted a chance to reflect on the ups and downs of his long marriage, apart from 1998's daring, spoken-word hit "I'll Go On Loving You," a far lustier admission than anything included here. If there's a downside to this brilliant, if unlikely pairing, it's that Krauss's somber program could benefit from something a tad more libidinous or uptempo. But what Read more

Reviews (42)

Outstanding and refreshing!
I really don't understand all the complaints! This is quite a departure for Alan Jackson, that much is true. This isn't the twangy Alan Jackson we are used to. But listen to this CD with fresh ears... it's really amazing! He has a truly unique voice that I would compare to the smoothness of Don Williams. What's wrong with an artist of Alan Jackson's calibur trying something new?! If it was the same old thing, people would compain about that too! In this release, he really shows a different side of himself, it's more bluesy and laid back. I found it a very comfortable listen and I enjoy it more every timeI hear it. Please don't let the negative comments on this CD keep you from giving it an honest try. It's worth the time!

Gorgeous!
This recording is lush, filled with fine musicanship.
Perhaps Country's Finest Vocalist
What is amazing to me about Alan Jackson is the fact that he is considered just a country artist.Listening to the phenomenal LIKE RED ON A ROSE, you often wonder if you are really listening to ONLY a country album.If I were to answer that question, I would say no-- Jackson has so much vocal appeal here that he should have no problem crossing genres to appeal to a broader audience than just the country fans that have lauded and followed his throughout his very successful career.Sure, LIKE RED ON A ROSE didn't open with the largest numbers of Jackson's career and also there is the possibility that where "quantity" is concerned it may not end up selling as much as his older, more "classic" albums, but in my opinion, LIKE RED ON A ROSE just may very well be my favorite country album of 2006 and also it just maybe one of my favorite albums of the entire year.
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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. New Traditionalist    4. Pop    5. United States of America   

Reviews (13)

"Strait Country"... Just not 80's "Strait Country".
This CD doesn't appear to have any powerfully emotional songs in it, and then again it doesn't have many fastbeat songs either. Yet, at the same time, they somehow manage to (and may I say vaguely) keep the traditional country sound that makes him the king, with fiddles, and twangy guitars and all. Regardless of what you think about his music, Strait picks songs he can sing well, and the fact that theresfifteen new cuts instead of only 10? Thats a huge bonus that makes this CD worth it's five stars.

George rolls out another GREAT ONE!!Highly recommended!!
George Strait only gets better with time.This is another one of those CDs I'll never get tired of hearing.If you are thinking about buying this CD think no longer just go with your instincts & buy now, you know George won't let you down!!!!

He does it again
Again George Strait has done it.But I am his number one fan...And I love this CD.Prob close to a fave for me ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Nothing changes folks like babies and war, and since the release of their last album, 2002's Read more

Reviews (951)

Man the Dixie Chicks suck
The Dixie Chicks are whiny losers, and I hate them. Natalie Maines is a pig, and she has a major attitude problem. I hate their new music, and I don't even like Bush. If I saw Natalie Maines I'd yell at her and tell her she sucked because she does. Do not buy this cd. It's bad music, and there a million better things to spend money on than supporting crappy people and paying good money for bad crappy music.
Ya just don't get it...
do ya Natalie? The problem isn't your extreme dislike of Bush. The issue is your self indulgence - your insistence on stating your political opinions to a captive, PAYING audience. People are touchy about that kinda thing. Maybe they went a little overboard in their criticism. But they pay to hear you sing, NOT to hear about your politics. You're the Dixie Chicks - three of the most talented women ever to grace the music industry. So stop whining, get over it, and move ahead.

Let the music do the talking
As a father of an American girl, all I can say is "thank you."These girls rock.The attitude that is so blatant in the lyrics of the debut track is dripping from every note played on this album.This is the attitude I want my girl to have when she has to stand up to adversity. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Adult Contemporary    3. Contemporary Country    4. Country    5. Country-Pop    6. Neo-Traditionalist Country    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Johnny Cash had been breaking new ground for a decade when Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (161)

Johnny Cash at His Best
This is Johnny Cash at his best. With the bio-pic "Walk The Line" making the cable TV circuit (I've watched it on HBO at least three times in the last week), people are going to start searching out Cash's albums. If you're a fan, like I am, please direct them to this honest, insightful album. The music alone is well worth the small price of this CD, but with the additional gems such as the extra photos, liner notes, and Johnny's banter between and during songs, this is by far one of the 20th century's musical classics. June Carter's wit shines through, however briefly, and her voice is as lovely and true as Cash's. Don't mistake this for your run-of-the-mill country album. This is the Man in Black at his darkest, playing prison songs to approximately 2,000 inmates. This is Cash bringing entertainment and inspiration to hardened men who are probably smiling and laughing for the first time in years.
One of the best CDs I own
This CD is an absolute blast to listen to. Not only is each and every one of the songs great, this CD also includes some of the onstage interaction between Cash, his band, and his audience that really livens things up. And this CD has very, very good sound that has been digitally remastered for the best quality of this recording to date. Crank up the volume on a good sound system and you can hear the prisoners shout all kinds of funny stuff. All in all, a very good portrait of a great entertainer.

Lots of Fun
It is ironic that even though this concert was given at a prison and most of the songs are about being destitute, this recording is fun to listen to. It really helps to have seen the movie, "Walk the Line." When you listen to the CD in the context of Cash's life and the reason he played at Folsom, this CD takes on a whole new dimension. I am not usually a fan of Country music, though I have been striving to care less about style and more about content, but this music has a lot of heart. It is not intricate, nor is it ingenious in its conception, but the passion is there. The only annoying thing is that if you are not careful, these songs get stuck in your head, especially "Folsom Prison Blues."
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Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country    6. Rock & Roll    7. Rockabilly    8. Traditional Country    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

These new recordings of mostly recent Gill compositions are the culmination of a project aimed at recording four distinct albums: rock, romance, vintage honky-tonk, and acoustic. Read more

Reviews (9)

None Better!
It's hard to find the words to do this boxed set justice.Vince Gill proves beyond a doubt that the music is the message and nowhere is that message delivered with such richness as in these songs.His versatility, voice and grown-up love of writing, playing and singing are showcasedhere in an easy movement from one genre to the next. Appeal with this body of work is broad and exciting! Bravo, Mr. Gill!

Wailin' In A Big Way-Funky, Rockin'Balladeer
"Part of me thinks this has a chance to really break down some barriers, a chance to really go places that maybe I've never gotten to before," Gill says of the 43-track set, which includes collaborations with Sheryl Crow, jazz singer/pianist Diana Krall and the Everly Brothers' Phil Everly. "At the same time, my fear is that people will say, 'You know, 11 songs would've been just plenty.: interview with Vince Gill.
Vince Gill shines on These Days
This boxed set of all brand new music from Vince Gillbelongs in everyone's cd player.This music is a real treat for Vince's fans.And, what a bargain...43 songs for such a low price!! ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

This fourth effort from the soft-rock-masquerading-as-country band Rascal Flatts moved more than 721,000 copies its first week out, which let the female-friendly trio rub elbows with some mighty heady company. Only four other country artists (Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, the Dixie Chicks, and Tim McGraw) have rolled out numbers like that, and only 24 other acts total (including Eminem, 50 Cent, U2, and Coldplay). So what's the hook, besides Gary LeVox's wounded tenor and Joe Don Rooney's boy-band face? Clearly, it's the songs. Or it Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (118)

Great country
Of the numerous country cds I bought this year, this one is my favorite.A great cd!

Definately a miss....
I have to say that I'm a musician, and as a musician I have respect for the guys.But just because I respect them as musicians doesn't mean I'm obligated to like their songs.Honestly, I never really had a problem with Rascal Flatts until this album came out.
Nashville "Trash"? Please.
I read one review on here calling Rascal Flatts "Nashville Trash". It definitely gave me a good laugh, for how wrong they were, but it also made me shake my head in disgust. Why? Simple. The person was just trying to copy what everyone else (that dislikes the group) was saying.
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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. Pop   

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Pop   

Editorial Review

The ethical questions surrounding this final album in the Read more

Reviews (121)

How to Market a Dead Man on a CD
This is a good example on how to market a dead man on his miss fortune and cash out on his miss "fortune like Rick Rubin did on this one. If you want to cry buy this discs because it will make you cry because it is highly depressing. I hope that Mr Rubin that God punish you for this one I do not want to play it again and if you could read my mind Rick for this job on a dead great artist like Johnny Cash. I hope you walk the line to his grave

the man leaves the stage
I finally did it. Broke down and bought the last album that can be considered "real" by Mr. Cash. I kind of held off 'cause I knew it would feel like an admission that it's over. The well known story is ended. I knew it had but was in a sort of denial, 'cause Johnny made you feel like you really knew him and was your friend and I don't want to let my friend go. It's been such a grand ride, starting when I was a boy and hearing "A Boy Named Sue" and moving into different styles but always aware of the man in black and really finding him when he joined Highwaymen.
Stunning departure album
The music industry indeed lost a bit of its soul with the passing of Johnny Cash. This album is a very spiritual one, almost as if Mr. Cash perhaps knew this would be his last chance to sing his heart. No other song spells this out that than 'Help Me'.
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Subjects:  1. Country    2. Pop   

Editorial Review

It's a great and perhaps impossible challenge to encapsulate the highlights of Johnny Cash's vast musical catalog in a two-CD, 36-song collection like this. Yet, though it barely scratches the surface, 2002's Read more

Features

• Limited Edition
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (70)

Sony censors Cash
Overall, this would have been a pretty good Johnny Cash compilation.
"Essential"for Cash fans
I have always loved Johnny Cash. He is defitnetly the best country music singer there ever was. This CD is an absoulutely perfectly done collection in honor of the artist's 70th birthday. It has all of his best songs,(but where's rusty cage?) From I Walk The Line to The Wanderer with U2. A great reprersentation of Cash's career. Buy this CD, you won't regret it.

Essential Johnny Cash
This is what country music should sound like. Most "so called" country music today all sounds the same. There is no mistaking the sound of johnny cash. This is a very good CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Guitar    5. Pop    6. Progressive Country    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rockabilly    9. Traditional Country    10. United States of America    11. Vocals   

Editorial Review

Would Read more

Reviews (1278)

Our own Carrie Underwood!!!
She is the best Idol so far and some day I hope to go to the American Idol tryouts and be just like her!!!
Staying power beyond "Bubble Gum" pop....
Although I love watching new talent, I am not much for the hype of American Idol.Still, I saw enough of Carrie Underwood's performance in the competition to decide that I would give her album a shot, and it was definitely worth it!Likely intended as a country-pop album for a "younger" crowd, Carrie's first set of vocals is fun, moving, and powerful enough to cross generations.I can put this CD in and listen to it several times through before I even think about putting in something different.I find the title track to be somewhat annoying, but the rest of the effort is solid.Carrie shows us insightful hopefulness on "Wasted" and "Jesus Take the Wheel," butt-kicking authority on "Before He Cheats," and the pain of loss on "Starts with Goodbye".Overall, I think Carrie earned her AI title, and it should be interesting to see if she can reach Clarkson-like popularity.If you like Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and (of course) Kelly Clarkson, chances are you'll find at least a few tracks to love on "Some Hearts."

The best Idol debut yet, and a great pop-country cross over
It was obvious during the top 12 of the fourth season of American Idol, that if Carrie didn't win, it would have been a huge upset. Good as Bo, or any of the others may or may not have been, Carrie was never in the bottom, almost always praised, and was cut out from way back to her audition to go far. She's pretty, and has a great voice to boot too, why wouldn't she win? Well she did win it, and it should have been obvious to everyone that her debut album would be country. It was just naturally her genre from the get go, which is one reason this album suceeds. Unlike many idol contestants, Carrie knew and everyone else knew exactly what genre she fit into, so sticking to her natural genre, and throwing in some pop crossover appeal, we get Some Hearts.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Pop    5. Pop Vocals   

Editorial Review

A few decades ago nearly every country singer had at least one--often more--gospel albums in their catalog. Today, aside from gospel veteran Amy Grant, who balances the sacred and secular, and Randy Travis, that concept has long faded. For Alan Jackson, however, treating the musical past as present has been a way of life, as it is with these 15 timeless hymns from his youth. Recorded with just two acoustic guitars and a piano, it was originally a private Christmas present to his mother. The spare instrumentation is surprisingly robust behind his flawless readings of "I'll Fly Away," "Softly and Tenderly," "How Great Thou Art," "Are You Washed in the Blood?," and "The Old Rugged Cross," all as beguilingly unpretentious as any of his country hits. Instead of an all-star duet, wife Denise and daughters Mattie and Ali join in on "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus."In the end, what began as a private bequest becomes a moving, eloquent gift to Jackson's entire audience. Read more

Reviews (70)

A Great CD
My sister told me about the CD. I'm glad she did. You won't be disappointed.Alan Jackson does a great job singing the old time favorites like Blessed Assurance, How Great Thou Art, The Old Rugged Cross, and he does a wonderful job.

WOW Great CD
its a great CD i love it so i got one for my dad (preorder) and then he loved it so he got one for my mom, and then they got it for my grandmother. and then my dad got it for our Church and now they play it every sunday!

By all means
I dont think you will be disapointed if you like the old hyms & Alan Jackson what a perfect combo. I reach for this time & time again . ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Live country albums are relatively scarce these days, and that's regrettable.Granted, the studio is a remarkable place, yet there's something about a quality concert recording--the immediacy and raw interaction with the audience--that no studio effort can match. While most concert albums are recorded at one location, Kenny Chesney created this collection from tapes of five years of shows at various locales. The material reflects the past eight years of his career, including "How Forever Feels" from 1998, "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" from 1999, and "What I Need to Do" from 2000. "When the Sun Goes Down" comes complete with Uncle Kracker, who appeared on the single. There's an edgy version of 2005's "Beer in Mexico" and a remarkable performance of "Anything But Mine" in which a surprised Chesney stands by as the audience takes over the chorus. What's amazing is the blazing-hot consistency of the band throughout. While their backing reflects Chesney's arena-rock influences (no number is shorter than four minutes), his charisma, energetic presence, and ability to connect is pure country. Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (5)

Great live CD, BUT.......
there are several songs "missing" on this live CD! For one.....I am sooooo disappointed that Kenny's version of Conway Twitty's "Love to lay you down" did not make it onto the cd. :( Kenny says that they tried to record it, but it never came out "right". WHAT????? The few times I heard it live it was PERFECT!!!! I am sure other concert attendees would agree with me too! Kenny should have done a "double live" cd like Garth did. He has TOO many hits to just do 1 CD of 14 songs!
great performance.....recording quality low
Kenny's performance is as good as it gets, however the mixing of this album could have been alot better. The way they did the crowd noise is annoying and the guitars sound like they are background music. When I bought this cd I also bought ac/dc live, I know what your thinking... but it was a disapointment to listen to a good quality live recording then listening to Live those songs again. Overall it is still worth buying.

A Great Album!!
A great feel good, good times CD throughout...
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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Country    2. Country    3. New Traditionalist    4. Pop   

Editorial Review

The success of his debut, Read more

Reviews (64)

Nice album from a very nice guy
This review contains nothing new from what you have already read from the other customers who have heard, and own this particular album. This is straight up country music album, as what a country album should be. I bought this album mainly because I was blown away by the song "Your Man". Although the songs here are strong, besides that smash hit "Your Man", highlights of this record are: Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy, Way Down South, and Gravity. Why I didn't give this album a full 5 star is there are some songs that I didn't particularly enjoy: "No Rush" is a drag, too slow for my liking therefore I think it's entitled appropriately and "White Noise" is an okay song, I just never was a fan of Jon Anderson. Overall, Josh's second release is worth the listen. Enjoy!

blown away
At work, I only needed the traffic report before hitting the hiway, and found it on some country station. I normally do not listen to country, being a classical music lover. Whilst listening, this singer came on with the 'your man' song, and I found myself amazed at this voice. Days to follow I looked forward to the traffic report, and to hopefully hear this voice again. They played another song 'will you go with me' by this singer, and his name was mentioned after, and so in knowing his name, I found his albums on amazon. Well now I can say I definately am a country fan, and am ordering his music. Am very impressed and happy for finding thisopen door into a beautiful sector of music that I haven't explored before.
Not a perfect album, but good
From the first time I heard "Would you go with me" I loved that song. (The video is good, too.) The banjo and mandolin combine so beautifully that the tune sticks in your head and heart.I am not a big country fan to begin with, but Turner's voice was so good I figured I'd buy the album.
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Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Neo-Traditionalist Country    5. Pop   

Features

• CD-single

Reviews (3)

Heartland Goes for the Heart with their Debut CD
Prime Cuts:I loved Her First, Built to Last, No Getting Over Me
Lovely song
I think this is a lovely song and the singers are good.
Great Debut
This will be a great addition to any country music lovers collection.If you are a DJ...you must get this disc! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Pop   

Editorial Review

One of country's fastest-rising acts, Sugarland arrive at their follow-up to 2004's triple-platinum Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Pop