Texas Country Music Charts & Lifestyle Magazine - Lone Star News & Red Dirt Reviews

CHART NEWS: Josh Abbott Band Rules The Texas Music Chart, New Entries by Mark McKinney & The Washers

2013-02-02T17:26:00.002-06:00

While Stoney Larue's "Travelin' Kind" is less than 100 spins away from Number 1, the Josh Abbott Band holds steady at Number 1 on the Texas Music Chart with his mega-hit "I'll Sing About Mine." Rounding out the top 5 for the week ending January 28, 2013: Jason Boland & the Stragglers "Obsessed" at Number 3, Reckless Kelly's "Pennsylvania Avenue" down 2 to Number 4 and the Eli Young Band

SINGLE REVIEW: Tyler & the Tribe "Heaven & Hell"

2013-02-02T16:42:00.002-06:00

Rockin' the house is no problem for the down-home boys known as Tyler & the Tribe. Like all good outlaw and Red Dirt bands, the Tribe has a little bit of good and a little bit of bad - sometimes a whole lot of the latter. However, this is how Texas loves its country bands, and Tyler and The Tribe's superb new single "Heaven and Hell" gives you a little bit of both. Tyler & The Tribe - Click

ALBUM REVIEW: Deryl Dodd "Random As I Am" ("ranDDom As I Am")

2012-08-18T01:43:00.000-05:00

Music doesn't come much better than Deryl Dodd's stirring new album "Random As I Am." Indeed, the well-known country star has produced a project that will probably land on many Top 10 country album charts at the end of the year, and the unique cover art and title should not scare away traditional country fans. That's because Deryl Dodd has produced 13 uncompromising, Texas country tunes that

ALBUM REVIEW: Matt Stell "Vestibule Blues"

2012-08-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

A "vestibule" is defined as the passage before an entrance, and that makes "Vestibule Blues" a fitting sophomore album title for singer-songwriter Matt Stell, who has traveled a long way since his fine debut album "The Sound & The Story." However, Stell is still on the cusp of widespread recognition, and "Vestibule Blues" proudly proclaims that the artist is ready for the big time - on his own

ALBUM REVIEW: Brad Dunn & Ellis County "Ranch Cat"

2012-08-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

The most successful country music vocalists seem to have an easy-going manner and a confident vocal delivery, and newcomer Brad Dunn & Ellis County definitely fit the bill on their new Texas country album "Ranch Cat." The 53-minute, 14-song album begins with the upbeat "3 Days in Mexico" that could easily find a home on both Texas and mainstream country radio. "Piece Of Me" has much of the

SINGLE REVIEW: Jamie Richards "She's Cold As That Beer She's Drinking"

2012-08-17T01:49:00.000-05:00

In what might be the best song title of the year, Jamie Richards is back with his painfully honest song about a conniving seductress appropriately titled "She's Cold As That Beer She's Drinking." And it's a barnburner. Back in 2008, we introduced you to Jamie Richards when reviewing his hard-to-find 2007 CD titled "Drive" (read full review by clicking here). Now, Richards is obviously

ALBUM REVIEW: Jeremy Steding "I'll Keep On Livin', But I Don't Learn"

2012-08-16T11:36:00.000-05:00

If a full-bodied, country voice excites you more than sweet tea on a hot El Paso summer afternoon, than Jeremy Steding may just be your favorite new Texas country artist. On his new album "I Keep On Livin', But I Don't Learn," Steding continues to prove that he is one talented country boy. Produced by the legendary Walt Wilkins, Steding's new album begins with the upbeat "Annie Ray," which

VIDEO REVIEW: Dave Roberts "Sweet Like Honey"

2012-08-15T19:59:00.000-05:00

Texas singer-songwriter Dave Roberts scores big with the sultry music video "Sweet Like Honey," featuring Roberts' strong country vocals and a leading lady that is hotter than a West Texas afternoon. As you can see from the video, love is in the air with Dave Roberts' "Sweet Like Honey," and director Evan Kaufmann deserves special praise for his careful attention to detail. The song itself

SINGLE REVIEW: Kevin Fowler "That Girl"

2011-09-16T01:02:00.000-05:00

With top-notch production, memorable lyrics and some Texas country attitude, Kevin Fowler's new single "That Girl" might just provide fans with almost as much joy as seeing their Red Dirt hero live. And few things in life are more fun than a Kevin Fowler concert. Fowler's vocals have never sounded better, and "That Girl" could provide an opening for Kevin Fowler to have a Top 5, mainstream

ALBUM REVIEW: Nick Verzosa "She Only Loves Me"

2011-09-16T00:29:00.000-05:00

It's hard not to appreciate the rich country voice of new Red Dirt star Nick Verzosa on his debut album "She Only Loves Me" following his successful five-song effort "The Smoking Gun EP" (read review by clicking here). The aforementioned EP yielded two hit singles "Look Back To Texas" and "Back When Love Was Easy." Indeed, the themes of "love" and "Texas" are constantly at the forefront of this

ALBUM REVIEW: T.J. Broscoff "Ready To Fly"

2011-08-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

Drugs and alcohol fueled talented musician T.J. Broscoff during his early years culminating in the artist hitting bottom after selling his shoes for a hit of crack. However, Broscoff had a musical gift, and he had previously scored critical success fronting a rock band called "The Unknown." Thankfully, Broscoff managed to do what many others cannot by freeing himself from his addictions and

ALBUM REVIEW: Tom Cheatham "Scars That I'll Keep"

2011-08-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

The Austin, Texas music scene was the homebase of singer-songwriter Tom Cheatham for the last five years or so until his recent move to Dallas. The change of scenery obviously caused a creative explosion within Cheatham that is fully evident on his sophomore album "Scars That I'll Keep," which continues the artist's unique fusion of traditional country and Red Dirt music. The album begins with

VIDEO REVIEW: Luke Olson "Me And This Road"

2010-09-03T18:22:00.000-05:00

Producing a cover of a critically-acclaimed Chris Knight classic is the Red Dirt equivalent of a new R&B artist singing a Whitney Houston classic. But Luke Olson's on-target vocal interpretation of "Me And This Road" allows allows the San-Antonio, Texas country star to make the song his own while adding a different texture to the original Chris Knight classic. In short, both the video and song

SINGLE REVIEW: Pauline Reese "First Love"

2010-08-31T13:18:00.000-05:00

Following her win as 2010 Entertainer Of The Year at The Texas Music Awards, singer-songwriter Pauline Reese tops off a great year with the brand new single "First Love." The beautiful songstress delivers an intense and introspective vocal performance with "First Love," which carefully blends Texas country with a cool Taylor Swift-esque sound that works on all levels. The first verse builds to