The 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time Part 2: 90-81

    The 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time continues along with Part 2: 90-81.  As we continue to countdown towards the greatest song of all time, I hope you learn a little about country music history, and possibly hear some of these amazing songs for the first time.  Now, on with the countdown!

Melody Williamson "There's No Country Here" Single Review

      One of the go-to knocks on modern country is that they are "pandering to 15 year old girls".  We've all said it, I'm guilty of it.  But perhaps we under-estimated 15 year old girls.  Melody Williamson is a 15 year old freshman from Nashville, Tennessee who plays in her family bluegrass band.  She is a perfect example of the target demographic.  She decided to sit down and write a song about what she hears on the radio and how she feels about it, and she didn't give the answer most young girls would.  What we see here is someone wise beyond their years and crafty with their words who created a protest song that should stop you right in your tracks.

Nick Dittmeier "Light Of Day" Album Review

     One of my favorite things about country music is discovering an up and coming talent making a name for himself.  Breaking out in the music business is hard, and seeing all the young talent that not only puts the effort and time in to make it, but cares enough to do it right, is really refreshing.  Nick Dittmeier is one of those artists.  His second album Light of Day is set to release April 27, and if you like country music with a rock edge, you'll dig this album.

"Working Man's Poet: A Tribute To Merle Haggard" Album Review

     It's been a busy month for one of country music's biggest legends, the great Merle Haggard.  He turned 77 and was honored on the same day at the ACM Awards by Miranda Lambert, George Strait, and Garth Brooks, and the week before, Working Man's Poet: A Tribute To Merle Haggard was released.   A quick glance at the artists contributing would make most traditional country fans and Haggard fans simply laugh and turn away.  Aldean AND Luke Bryan?  But, if you give this album a chance, you'll see that not only do these artists all do these songs justice, but the best ones come from the guys you'd least expect.  This is a very good tribute album.

The 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time Part 1: 100-91

     Keep It Country Kids is proud to announce we have hit 100 posts!  It's a big milestone for a small, independent blog of this nature, so to celebrate, we are taking on the largest undertaking on the site yet!  Beginning right here with post 100, we will countdown the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. There isn't a specific formula to the process, but it is a combination of personal taste, success of song, and historical impact on the genre.  There are songs from every decade, every style, and every era of country music.  Hopefully you will learn a little bit of country music history, hear some of your old favorites, and (most importantly) hear some of these classics for the first time.  Keep It Country Kids is proud to present The 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time Part 1: 100-91

Maggie Rose "Looking Back Now" Single Review

     Maggie Rose is one of the most promising female vocalists to hit the mainstream in quite a while.  Her 2013 hit "Better" was a touching country ballad in the style of the female greats of the past, and her debut album Cut To Impress did just that: Impress.  "Looking Back Now" is the third single from the album and is slowly climbing the charts.  Country radio is a touch shell to crack for female vocalists, but Maggie Rose has the chops to break out and join Miranda, Carrie, and Taylor at the top.

The 49th Annual ACM Awards: Who SHOULD Win and Who WILL Win

     The 49th edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards will take place tonight from Las Vegas.  Vegas is as fitting as a venue as any for this show, as the ACMs typically are all flash and lack substance compared to the CMAs.  While the this particular awards show always wreaked of corruption and politics, it has boiled to a head this year.  The leader in the New Artist of The Year category is clearly not eligible by the ACMs own rules, one of the nominees for Duo of the Year has barely even made a dent on radio, and one of the nominees for song of the year is over 2 years old.  Tack on performances by many outside of country music such as Shakira, Sheryl Crow, and Stevie Nicks, the lackluster country list of performers, and the fact that nobody is clear on how the voting process of some awards even works (do fan votes actually get counted? Nobody knows) and this has the potential to be a stinker of a show.  But, Merle Haggard is getting a tribute, and Kacey Musgraves and George Strait have a chance to let traditional country be well represented if they pull off a few wins, so it has potential to be a decent night as well.  Now, on to the predictions!