tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668Thu, 05 Sep 2024 23:41:13 +0000JewelJewel liveStronger Woman<p>by Hannah Dudley</p><br> <p>Country Music: A way of life to many but completely underrated in the UK. I'm going to help change that here as I review and introduce country classics old and new, filtering the trite from the truly brilliant and dispelling your notions that country is corny. A lot of it is, but even then it can be great.</p><br> <p>Opinions expressed are all mine and uninfluenced by external factors!</p>http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)Blogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-8853263175677686154Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:16:00 +00002011-11-06T23:16:33.659+00:00You can take the boy out of the country. You can't take the country out of the boy. This sums up the incredible live show Ryan Adams put on at London's Union Chapel on his Ashes And Fire tour. With a setlist that included pretty much every Ryan Adams track I've ever loved (but never thought he'd play)...from opening with his classic, Oh My Sweet Carolina, to the rousing rendition of http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/11/ryan-adams-returns-union-chapel-live.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-7716906648431431259Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:03:00 +00002011-10-02T21:03:18.412+01:00The Band Perry continue on their rise to country superstardom. This track, 'Independence', from their debut album, is your typical small town girl wants to get out country story and the band recorded this brilliant acoustic rendition in Nashville last year. Love it. http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/10/band-perry-show-their-independence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-1358542778102065249Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:17:00 +00002011-09-21T22:17:44.486+01:00Miranda Lambert has gone done it again. Teaming up with longterm friends and fellow country singer-songwriters Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, the trio make up Pistol Annies. Their debut album went straight to the top of the country charts stateside and first single of the same name, 'Hell On Heels' tells us why. With harmonies oozing southern charm and country turns, it's a fresh sound http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/09/get-me-some-pistol-annies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-1682846468029425710Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:53:00 +00002011-07-30T16:53:00.134+01:00Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are undoubtedly two of the most successful, endearing and hardworking performers in Country music today. Song after song, album after album, year after year, they keep coming back and keep getting better. So what else to do next than join forces! Country award viewers will already have witnessed their excellent pairing as now regular presenters at the yearly http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/07/brad-paisley-carrie-underwood-remind-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-4055366506387796529Sat, 18 Jun 2011 09:44:00 +00002011-06-18T10:44:19.975+01:00I mentioned in a previous post about Brad Paisley's new record that Paisley references classic country artists/songs in lead track 'This Is Country Music'. I wanted to follow his lead and showcase those songs myself, as they really do span an incredible selection of country greats. First up is the legendary George Jones. Notorious for his battles with alcohol, his association with former wife http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-country-music-george-jones-he.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-6341334691336319333Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:14:00 +00002011-06-12T23:14:36.787+01:00For my one hundredth post, I am going to make a big prediction. Hunter Hayes is going to be one massive country star. He's young, talented and has looks that young girls (much younger than me) will go gooey over. His breakout hit 'Storm Warning' shows off his musicianship and vocal skills in a meld of soulful pop country. With chops that defy gravity and talent that shape him into a mini http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/06/hunter-hayes-needs-his-own-storm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-5247339760224271373Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:38:00 +00002011-06-08T23:38:22.521+01:00Ever heard of Brad Paisley? Maybe you think he's some stetson wearing redneck. Think again. This is a multi-platinum selling country superstar who wrote a song referencing Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks when Obama won the presidency - and he even got to perform it at the White House for President Obama. Brad Paisley's new record, 'This Is Country Music', could not sound any more exciting.http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/06/brad-paisley-brad-who.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-4402470841398780163Tue, 24 May 2011 22:43:00 +00002011-05-24T23:43:51.759+01:00Merle Haggard is one of the great 'outlaw' country artists. Notoriously amongst the inmates during Johnny Cash's San Quentin prison performance in 1958, 'Mama Tried' is a track that epitomizes the genre and Haggard's career. This live performance, from a TV show recorded ten years later, is as chillingly resonant today as it was then. http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/05/legendary-merle-haggard-mama-tried-live.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-8275882834782890688Sat, 14 May 2011 20:11:00 +00002011-05-14T21:11:41.283+01:00It's a great moment when an artist you love is about to release a new album. The supremely talented Brad Paisley is set to do that in less than ten days time and I am EXCITED! A reliable tune-smith, tracks I've heard from the forthcoming release, eptly titled 'This Is Country Music', have lived up to Paisley's previous offerings. 'Old Alabama' is typical Paisley, and features...Alabama(!) http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/05/brad-paisley-is-coming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-3308741536446153878Wed, 11 May 2011 18:54:00 +00002011-05-11T19:54:19.037+01:00As the title suggests, this is a song that, if you let it, will make your heart bleed. This haunting harmonies, nostalgic Southern lyrics and all out mesmerising performance from Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings of Welch's 'Wayside Back In Time' should bring you to your knees! If it doesn't, watch it again and imagine you're on a dusty sun-scorched sidewalk in Memphis. Too too good to be missed.http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/05/make-your-heart-bleed-gillian-welch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-2506165144678704535Wed, 04 May 2011 23:22:00 +00002011-05-05T00:22:05.931+01:00If you haven't yet joined the Jason Aldean party, I won't just shout WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN (oops I just did), but will kindly send you your first invite. Watch this sublime performance of the soaring country ballad, 'Don't You Wanna Stay', with Kelly Clarkson at the 2010 CMA awards. http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/05/jason-aldean-kelly-clarkson-make-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-198277971696388811Tue, 03 May 2011 20:54:00 +00002011-05-03T21:54:23.412+01:00Back to my favourite new band of 2011...The Band Perry! Since I first wrote about them they've been named Best New Artist at the 2011 ACMs, received a string of CMT nominations and generally got that much bigger; and they deserve it. Here's another classic contemporary pop country track from the family trio, 'You Lie'. http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/05/band-perry-get-little-bigger-you-lie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-6852235771029369469Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:25:00 +00002011-04-29T19:25:53.525+01:00If you've not seen this ELECTRIC performance by Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler from this year's ACM Awards, you'd better watch it now! Steven is a legendary performer in my opinion and teamed perfectly with the always amazing Carrie Underwood. Enjoy! http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/04/carrie-underwood-meets-steven-tyler.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-9180042133594693429Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:47:00 +00002011-03-27T23:47:41.460+01:00It's Sunday night, I've just been watching a TV dramatisation of 'Women In Love' so it seems fitting to draw your attention to what is undeniably one of the greatest love songs ever written. And guess what - it's a country song! So what if Ms Houston made it mega famous; Dolly's version is the original, heartwrenching classic. If you've never actually listened to this before...GET READY!!! http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-will-always-love-youdolly-parton.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-7905914165696563017Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:21:00 +00002011-03-21T19:21:34.190+00:00I was an enormous Michelle Branch fan when she first blazed into the US charts back in around 2001 with her album 'The Spirit Room'. Since then she's released a few studio/live albums, two of which were recorded as the country duo 'The Wreckers' with Jessica Harp. It was a great album but the band has since disbanded and Michelle has returned to, I have to say, fairly lacklustre rock/pop http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/michelle-branch-back-on-form-free.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-8532644198738970110Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:50:00 +00002011-03-16T22:50:37.396+00:00Combining the charm of Lady Antebellum, the songwriting style of Taylor Swift and vocal harmonies only found amongst siblings, The Band Perry are going to be huge. And they're already well on their way! A host of girl-boy Country bands have sprung up in the wake of Lady A's success and many have been pretty heavy going for me. But The Band Perry actually get me quite excited, so check out the http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/introducing-band-perry-next-big-country.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-399591522361010895Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:44:00 +00002011-03-11T23:44:17.682+00:00I will never forget this first performance of Brad Paisley's that I ever saw. It's from 2007, live at the Grand Ole Opry, of him singing the truly gorgeous introspective song, 'Letter To Me'. Hopefully it'll get to you just like it got to me. You're witnessing one of the modern greats... http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/discovering-brad-paisley-letter-to-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-2343842377842388996Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:50:00 +00002011-03-07T22:50:32.058+00:00Amazing songwriter, guitarist, singer and all round cutie - yes, I said it - Keith Urban is exactly what modern Country music needs. Unfortunately better known in the UK as Mr Nicole Kidman, Urban was selling millions of records well before he met his other half. The best way I can describe Keith Urban's style is country's answer to Springsteen. A truly great voice, some unforgettable songs http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/keith-urban-modern-countrys-answer-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-7017881856306824131Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:51:00 +00002011-02-28T22:51:06.016+00:00Coming from a backwoods town in the middle of nowhere, Loretta Lynn had forsight beyond her time. Love love love the lyrics in this brilliant song. Enjoy Loretta Lynn's, 'The Other Woman'. http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/sheer-genius-true-queen-of-country.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-2421393219156021961Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:33:00 +00002011-02-26T18:33:44.860+00:00Dave Rawlings is sheer genius. Gillian Welch has blown me away ever since I first heard her album The Revelator about five years ago. So for the songwriting duo to join forces in Dave Rawlings Machine is...epic! I saw them perform at The Troxy last year, along with members of Old Crow Medicine Show (O.C.M.S for short) and was stunned. With all the trite trash that fills the majority of the http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/dave-rawlings-machine-rolls-on-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-5779545687490848760Mon, 14 Feb 2011 23:28:00 +00002011-02-14T23:28:01.233+00:00If you've never listened to a Hank Williams song properly, I'm actually really jealous of you, because your life is about to be changed forever. Here's a live performance from 1949 of his UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING classic, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. With an insanely unique voice, Williams achieved greatness, despite dying at the shockingly young age of 29. His performances reflected the pain he http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/original-great-hank-williams-so.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-6896475992884881289Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:43:00 +00002011-02-11T23:43:16.223+00:00I love this girl. It's about ten years since I first heard Loni Rose's music in the background of shows like Roswell and Dawson's Creek - songs like 'I Never Thought That You Would Come' and 'Let Me Go Back' which remain amongst my favourite songs EVER! If you don't know them check out the former here: I Never Thought That You Would Come. She's still pulling at the heartstrings and recording http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/loni-rose-shines-on-day-like-this-video.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-3111053686712130275Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:23:00 +00002011-02-10T22:23:31.015+00:00Purportedly Dolly Parton's debut performance on the now infamous Porter Wagoner Show in 1967, this performance is one hell of an introduction to America's Southern Country Queen. http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/retro-dolly-she-aint-no-dumb-blonde.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-3037394416293710864Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:10:00 +00002011-02-10T22:35:01.315+00:00So I'm a sucker for those distraught/heartbreakingly depressing songs...but even I like a bit of sunshine every now and again! Check out the video for Jewel's brilliant song, No Good In Goodbye, from her latest album, Sweet & Wild. http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/jewels-no-good-in-goodbye-video.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13281668.post-9083904733243213570Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:03:00 +00002011-02-02T20:03:36.315+00:00Joanna Smith seems to be on everyone's 'ones to watch' list at the moment and there's a very good reason why. Hailing from small town Southwest Georgia, Joanna has gone from Broadway (Nashville) performer to artist with a recording and publishing deal in one short year. Watch this amazing acoustic performance of her new single, Georgia Mud and remember this girl! http://acousticbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/keep-your-eye-on-joanna-smith.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hannah Dudley)0