July 3rd, 2009 | Category: News | Leave a comment

Seven new entries — from artists ranging from Jack Ingram to Willie Nelson — were screened by the CMT New Music Video Evaluation Team this week. Conclusions from the videos: Summer is here and many artists think you really want to go behind-the-scenes.

Artist: Jack Ingram
Video: “Barefoot and Crazy”
Director: Stephen Shepherd

Let’s see: We’ve got a Jack Ingram outdoor show by the water. What’s next? We go “Barefoot and Crazy,” of course. Another very summery-looking, very energetic video.

Panelists’ comments: “Well, that’s the video of the day.” “The people looked real, not like they had been cast.” “Well, I prefer well-placed hardbodies. Just kiddin’.” “Looks like another ‘All Summer Long’ — without the boat.”

Artist: Whitney Duncan
Video: “Skinny Dippin’”
Director: Roman White

Let’s see: We’ve got a sunny day out in the country, pickup truck, a young couple and a picnic by a river. What’s next? “Skinny Dippin’,” of course.

Panelists’ comments: “That’s the best song she has done.” “Does she really sing ‘bare white tushes’ there?” “Yessir!” “Never heard that word in a country song before.” “The video looks beautiful.”

Artist: Dailey & Vincent
Video: “On the Other Side”
Director: Julian Smith

The bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent perform a lilting spiritual song, “On the Other Side,” with a string quartet here.

Panelists’ comments: “Beautiful singing, but that song is not the right vehicle for a video by them.” “I love them, but this looks awkward.” “Sounds great, but this just doesn’t work for me.”

Artist: Trailer Choir
Video: “Rockin’ the Beer Gut”
Director: The Brads

This time out, the risk-taking trio Trailer Choir begin the video with an audience contest. They invited tryouts for “Rock What You Got,” and we get to see all the results. Some are appealing. Some not so much.

Panelists’ comments: “Oh, Lord, I’m so tired of seeing the worm.” “It rocks out, but I dunno.” “I like these guys, but this video is boring.” “Their fans will love it.”

Artist: Luke Bryan
Video: “Do I”
Director: Shaun Silver
(Note: this video will be available online at CMT.com on Tuesday, July 7.)

Luke Bryan sings about the domestic troubles of a young couple living in one of the sleek new high-rise condominiums in Nashville. He appears throughout the action.

Panelists’ comments: “There’s something confusing here. Luke looks almost like the actor here.” “But he’s younger.” “I very much like the looks of this.” “It sounds great.”

Artist: Jimmy Wayne
Video: “I’ll Be That”
Director: Todd Cassetty

Jimmy Wayne sings “I’ll Be That” in shots that are intercut between rehearsals and live concert appearances.

Panelists’ comments: “Good song. I like it.” “That’s a very up performance.” “The audience response sounds like it was sweetened up a lot at the end.” “The video sounds great, except for that.”

Artist: Asleep at the Wheel, featuring Willie Nelson
Video: “Hesitation Blues”
Director: Zalman King

Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel take the viewer behind-the-scenes as they rehearse and then perform the old classic, “Hesitation Blues.” To be sure you know what you’re seeing, there are onscreen graphics telling you that.

Panelists’ comments: “Those graphics are very distracting.” “Yeah, this doesn’t need that.” “Great performance.” “Nice to hear horns again.” “It sounds great.”

Consensus: Jack Ingram’s “Barefoot and Crazy” has its debut in hot shot rotation on CMT on Monday (July 6). Whitney Duncan’s “Skinny Dippin’” and Trailer Choir’s “Rockin’ the Beer Gut” both debut in medium rotation on Monday.

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

This is not official in any way. At all. But it is, as of this blogging, one of the most active topics in the forum on Carrie Underwood’s Web site. So I thought I’d bring the question over here, too: How would a duet with Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson sound? A few people posted that they think it would be terrific, with two powerful vocalists and American Idol darlings putting their talent together. Another poster thought maybe Underwood would “have to bring her vocals down to not drown out Kelly.” All I know is that when Clarkson shared vocals with Reba McEntire on her already-huge hit, “Because of You,” it went all the way to No. 2 at country radio. So if Underwood and Clarkson did consider a duet, which song would be their best bet?

Photo credit: Lester Cohen / WireImage

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

Looks like all those years with a Dixie Chick rubbed off on Charlie Robison. He may have divorced the Chicks’ Emily Robison, but it sounds like he’s married to that whole fiddle and steel and mandolin brand of music. (That said, there’s not one single banjo lick on the entire album.) Although he may consider himself too hip to be pigeon-holed as country, his new album, Beautiful Day, is countrier than most Texas country artists ever strive for.

There’s some solid fiddle in “Middle of the Night” and “If the Rain Don’t Stop.” And some oddly cheery mandolin nestled in “Down Again.” But even though “El Cerrito Place” was a hit video for Robison a few years ago, I don’t know if this album will take him as far into the mainstream as his Lone Star country-rock brethren Pat Green and Jack Ingram.

The lyrics, though, are where Robison’s true range of emotions come into play. This is not the music you play at a summer barbeque. Nor is it the straightforward life-is-tough country downers that occasionally make it onto the radio. The stories here are as deep, raw and painful as Robison’s life must have been as he watched his marriage dissolve. Like on “Reconsider,” which much like Faith Hill’s “Cry,” is a broken-hearted lament for love to come back home.

But like any strong man with a pen and a guitar, Robison is over it by track nine, “She’s So Fine.” I’ve never gone through a divorce. But if I ever do, I would want Robison’s music by my side. Together we’d commiserate, bitch, plead and then move on.

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect with the title of Jack Ingram’s new video, “Barefoot and Crazy.” I had this picture in mind of people boycotting their socks and shoes as they ran the streets amuck, freeing their feet from the restraints of uncomfortable thongs and stilettos. But I was wrong for the most part. Really, the video is about summertime and swimming. And, yes, it comes with all of the summertime video prerequisites — girls, bikinis, lots of water and even a sing-along thrown in at the end. But I’m a little worried for Ingram and his barefooted friends. If you watch Whitney Duncan’s latest music video you’ll know why. Word on the street is, she’s been taking off more than her shoes.

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

If you like bluegrass music, I have a couple of recommendations for you. The first is Marty Raybon & Full Circle’s This That and the Other. You may recognize Raybon as the engaging lead singer of Shenandoah, who had a batch of popular country singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These days he’s pursuing bluegrass music full time yet the new material doesn’t stray far from Shenandoah hits like “Next to You, Next to Me” or “If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too).” If you like those tunes, try “Everybody’s Reaching (Out for Someone)” and “Luzianna Man.” You’ll be pleased to discover that his voice still sparkles.

Brandon Rickman is currently the lead singer for Lonesome River Band, although his first solo album, Young Man, Old Soul, veers more toward the singer-songwriter side of things. Indeed, you can tell he wrote the gritty “Always Have, Always Will” with the SteelDrivers‘ Chris Stapleton. Like Ronnie Bowman before him, you get the feeling that Rickman could evolve into an in-demand songwriter in Nashville.

Finally, if you’re looking for one of the sweetest singers in bluegrass history, try Mac Wiseman’s Bluegrass Hits and Heartsongs, an introductory collection of 1970s recordings that he made quickly to supplement his catalog after his previous label was snapped up in a merger. (Yeah, that happened in the 1970s, too.) Selections like “Don’t Let Your Sweet Love Die” and “When the Roses Bloom Again” are classics in the genre, and now that we’re in festival season, you’re likely to hear them all summer long.

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines | Leave a comment

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines | Leave a comment

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines | Leave a comment

One of my favorite songs right now is Eli Young Band’s “Always the Love Songs.” The video’s not bad either. But I had no idea just how popular it was until I found out that it has been consistently beating out videos from Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn. That’s been happening on CMT Power Picks, where viewers watch and then vote for their favorite of the two videos being pitted against each other. So while this simple, on-the-road video may not have had the production budget of the others, it still rises to the top when the fans get their say. The band’s new song, “Radio Waves,” was just released, and I wonder if that one will have a repeat performance on CMT if and when they make a video.

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment

You know that Nickelback song, “Rockstar”? The one that has frontman Chad Kroeger screaming the litany of reasons why it would be cool to be one? He wants to dress his ass in the latest fashion, get a front door key to the Playboy mansion, have a brand new house on an episode of Cribs, a credit card that’s got no limit, and he’ll stay skinny ’cause he just won’t eat. Well, that post-grunge rocker is one of the writers behind Tim McGraw’s new single, “It’s a Business Doing Pleasure With You.” And true to his style, this one also has a litany. But this time, it’s all the ways a girl is costing a guy so much: new spinners on her Escalade, more purses than Versace, going over to Gucci before going out for sushi. But when she turns her lovin’ on, he just can’t say no. What makes this song feel much more country than Nickelback is that McGraw seems to have brought his twang out of retirement. And it’s so good, I think that if Chad Kroeger wanted to write more country songs, it would be a pleasure doing business with him.

July 2nd, 2009 | Category: Headlines, News | Leave a comment