Country Music Reviews! CountryChart.com

Grammy nod for Reckless Kelly "Good Luck & True Love" packaging

2011-12-01T09:24:00.012-06:00

Hard work by Red Dirt bands is not often recognized by the Grammy Awards. However, Reckless Kelly's "Good Luck & True Love" received a well-deserved Grammy nomination for its terrific album packaging on the band's hit album. Art directors Sarah Dodds and Shauna Dodds provided a comprehensively compelling package for "Good Luck & True Love" that was heralded by this magazine in August 2011 as "

Martina McBride, Reba & Rascal Flatts Team With Colonial Candle For Christmas Gift Set

2011-09-28T08:40:00.005-05:00

COUNTRY SUPERSTARS REBA, MARTINA MCBRIDE, RASCAL FLATTS & MORE WILL BE FEATURED ON THE HOLIDAY ALBUM & CANDLE GIFT SET Our good friends at Big Machine Records have teamed with Colonial Candle to announce a partnership just in time for the upcoming Christmas season. A star-studded lineup of country artists singing their favorite Christmas tunes – combined with the magnificent scent of fresh

Stoney LaRue and Turnpike Troubadors lead Texas Country Chart Top 40

2011-09-20T09:08:00.003-05:00

Stoney LaRue Stoney LaRue's "Velvet" takes command of the Official Texas Country Chart Top 40 for the second week as The Turnpike Troubadours rise dramatically to take the Number Two spot on the Texas music and Red Dirt chart with "Long Hot Summer Days." Josh Abbott featuring Pat Green on "My Texas" came in at Number 3, and Kevin Fowler didn't disappoint at Number 4 with "Hell Yeah I Like

ALBUM REVIEW: The Good Intentions "Someone Else's Time"

2011-09-17T03:57:00.000-05:00

Liverpool, England is known worldwide for its musical heritage, and the folk country band The Good Intentions are near-perfect musical ambassadors with the new album "Someone Else's Time." But from the evidence presented in the 11-song album, it is clear that the project should have been called "Our Time" That's because The Good Intentions star shines bright on their seemingly mistitled album "

ALBUM REVIEW: Crystal Yates "Love Wins"

2011-09-16T18:29:00.004-05:00

Love is not the only thing that "wins" on Crystal Yates new country fusion CD titled "Love Wins." That's because the genre of country music is a "winner" since it can now boast an accomplished, new artist such as Crystal Yates that blends elements of folk, bluegrass, blues, contemporary Christian and country to create a winning formula that is deserving of radio chart success. The album begins

ALBUM REVIEW: EG Kight "Lip Service"

2011-09-16T16:58:00.005-05:00

Describing her sound as "country-flavored, southern-fried blues," EG Kight offers some "Lip Service" to country music on her new album of the same name. And the blues artist extraordinaire has never sounded better. Country audiences will swoon to the confident, sultry sound of the first track "Sugar Daddies," which shows that EG Kight is no Bonnie Raitt wannabe. As she has proven over the years,

ALBUM REVIEW: Paladino "Paladino" (Self-Titled)

2011-09-16T16:22:00.002-05:00

If Reverend Horton Heat had children with Lucinda Williams they might have offspring that could form a band that sounds like Paladino on their quirky and intensely interesting "Paladino" self-titled album. The project begins with the upbeat "Lonely Mountain" that can best be described as "cowboy punk." With a laid-back but fast-paced vocal style that is unusually compelling, lead singer Jonathan

Reader Wins 5 CDs, DVD in Country Chart's Rebecca Linda Smith Sweepstakes

2011-09-16T06:51:00.020-05:00

Cassandra Darensbourg Rebecca Linda Smith prize winner Congratulations to Cassandra Darensbourg, a resident of the wonderful city of San Bernardino, California, for winning Country Chart's Rebecca Linda Smith sweepstakes and taking home a prize of 5 CDs and a DVD from the talented Texas country music artist Darensbourg, a receptionist in San Bernardino, has won five CDs from award-winning

Win A Stoney LaRue "Velvet" T-Shirt & CD from The Chart

2011-09-16T05:14:00.005-05:00

The Chart is offering readers a chance to win a Stoney LaRue "Velvet" T-Shirt and CD in our latest sweepstakes competition in conjunction with WildfireApp - the only Twitter and Facebook approved contest app. Simply click here or the box below to enter now! Stoney LaRue's new album "Velvet" has been at the top of virtually every album chart this month, and Stoney LaRue's hit single (and title

ALBUM REVIEW: Drake Jensen "On My Way To Finding You"

2011-09-16T04:20:00.005-05:00

Drake Jensen has a deep country voice that could just as easily come out of El Paso, Texas rather than the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada - where he was born and raised. Nevertheless, the country crooner is on his way to finding his own country music dream with his surprisingly accomplished new album "On My Way To Finding You." The album's first single "Wash Me Away" received a

Stoney LaRue and Deryl Dodd Top First Ever Fan-Voted "Texas Country Chart"

2011-09-13T21:32:00.019-05:00

Texas Country Music's first ever fan-voted "Texas Country Chart" Top 40 Songs was published today with Red Dirt star Stoney LaRue's hit "Velvet" and Deryl Dodd's "Baby Where's My Bottle taking the first and second spots respectively. The fan voters found some country love for Eli Young Band's mega-hit "Crazy Girl" at #3 and Reckless Kelly's "Good Luck And True Love" at #4. Rounding out the Top

SINGLE REVIEW: Casey James "Let's Don't Call It A Night"

2011-09-11T23:03:00.003-05:00

Fort Worth native and American Idol alum Casey James sizzles with sultry country vocals in his debut single "Let's Don't Call It A Night." The third-place finisher in Idol's ninth season begins the song complimenting his new lady friend's dress. He sings: "Love the way you look in that dress; You got me thinkin' thoughts in my head." James' vocals are pure and crisp. While the new country artist

ALBUM REVIEW: Slaid Cleaves "Sorrow And Smoke: Live At The Horseshoe Lounge"

2011-09-11T19:42:00.000-05:00

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ALBUM REVIEW: Brandon Rhyder "Live At Billy Bob's Texas"

2011-09-11T17:32:00.000-05:00

Very few artist's have the stamina and simple country charm of Texas country star and Carthage, Texas native Brandon Rhyder. Now, fans have a special 4-disc "Live At Billy Bob's Texas" set (2 CDs & 2 DVDs) that sizzles with excitement and smolders with Red Dirt intensity. The 24 songs on the 2 CDs clock in at a beefy time of almost two hours. The festivities begin with the terrific "You Burn Me"

ALBUM REVIEW: Kyle Park "Make Or Break Me"

2011-09-08T17:54:00.004-05:00

With top-notch production and just the right amount of Red Dirt swagger, Kyle Park bursts back onto the country music scene following a hit album and two successful EPs - including one that landed him in the top 5 of iTunes country chart. That's no easy feat for most artists, but it's just another day at the studio for Kyle Park, who is daring country music fans to "Make Or Break Me" in his new

Free Download: Bradley Gaskin "Mr. Bartender"

2011-09-08T02:28:00.001-05:00

If you love Travis Tritt, then Columbia Nashville wants to introduce you to its newest discovery - Bradley Gaskin. Download the single "Mr. Bartender" right now - free of charge. However, once you listen to the cut, you will immediately realize that you would have paid for it as well. Click the album cover to the left or the link below to download the song free.

Album Review: Stoney LaRue "Velvet"

2011-08-28T18:14:00.003-05:00

On the TV show "Seinfeld," George Costanza mentions his desire to "drape" himself in velvet if it ever becomes socially acceptable. Well, George's mother can safely get out the cutting shears because Stoney LaRue has created a musical masterpiece with "Velvet" that will make you want to wrap a bolt of velvet around you and never let go. It's been six, long years since Stoney LaRue offered up his

Album Review: Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward "Live In The Living Room"

2011-08-28T17:05:00.002-05:00

Changing musical directions can sometimes lead to a burst of creative energy. This holds true for Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward in their new album - the stripped down "Live In The Living Room." Parker's fame comes largely from his stellar reputation in Texas country/Red Dirt music, but this acoustic set proves that the band could draw just as many fans from Americana and roots music. Creating

Album Review: Micky And The Motorcars "Raise My Glass"

2011-08-28T16:24:00.002-05:00

The sixth album is the charm for the hardworking Micky And The Motorcars who don't disappoint with the eleven new cuts on the beer and whiskey-drinking celebration titled "Raise My Glass," which takes listeners on a rollicking Texas nightlife adventure that might leave you still feeling the fun in the morning. The album begins with the title track "Raise My Glass," which is a classic Red Dirt

Album Review: Midnight River Choir "Welcome To Delirium"

2011-08-28T15:09:00.001-05:00

The album "Freedom Wine" from Midnight River Choir impressed just about everyone who heard it, and now the fun-lovin' country boys are back with "Welcome To Delirium," which is just about as enjoyable as a 12:00 am river rafting trip - and, by the way, exactly where the group formed. If Gavin DeGraw and Sunny Sweeney had a love child, he might sing a song like the first track "Mile Marker," which

Album Review: Reckless Kelly "Good Luck & True Love"

2011-08-28T14:25:00.004-05:00

Texas country aficionados rejoice, because the world's best Red Dirt band is bringing fans "Good Luck & True Love" with a new album. Reckless Kelly carefully planned every detail on the project, including one of the best CD packages of any country album this year. Great cover art is important, but it's the music that matters most to Reckless Kelly, and the album begins with the mid-tempo, Red

Review: David Serby "Poor Man's Poem"

2011-08-26T18:47:00.000-05:00

If political folk maverick Woody Guthrie were alive today, he probably would be inclined to go to iTunes and download David Serby's new album "Poor Man's Poem." However, Serby would likely feel so honored that he would give Guthrie a few cases of CDs for free. David Serby's first song, the title track "Poor Man's Poem," takes its cue from the musical heritage of the past, and Serby's folksy style

Review: The Greencards "The Brick Album"

2011-08-26T14:57:00.000-05:00

Musical wunderkinds The Greencards have enchanted musicians like Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan so much that they invited the group to tour with them. Now, in their fourth studio project, "The Brick Album," The Greencards will once again wow the CD buying public with their brand of Americana/bluegrass/alt rock fusion that has led to a diverse and well-deserved following among young hipsters and

Review: Moonshine Bandits "Whiskey And Women"

2011-08-26T14:17:00.003-05:00

If the country music industry decided to hire some of their own to act as bouncers with the goal of keeping out the scourge of "pop" country, the first and only name on the list would probably be the hard-working, talented and extraordinarily intimidating "Moonshine Bandits." The only problem would be keeping the Moonshine Bandits away from the "Whiskey And Women," which is, unsurprisingly, the

Review: Gary Nicholson "Texas Songbook"

2011-08-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

Home state hero Gary Nicholson has had a long and varied career that has taken him from deep in the heart of Texas all the way to Hollywood, where his work has been featured in movies as diverse as Crazy Heart and Major League. Now, Nicholson is paying tribute to his home state with "Texas Songbook," featuring Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel - along with many more Texan friends. The album