Eric Paslay "She Don't Love You" Single Review

     2014 has been a nice turnaround for traditional country music, with mainstream artists singing songs of more substance, lesser known acts like Sturgill Simpson and Brandy Clark getting recognition, and legends like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash releasing great new music. One of the mainstream guys who has been getting some buzz is Eric Paslay. He co-wrote “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and had a number one single with the forgettable “Friday Night”. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Eric Paslay has released one of the best songs on the radio with “She Don’t Love You”.

The Band Perry "Gentle On My Mind" Single Review

     I’m not sure if this is a popular opinion among the independent and traditional country world, but I am a fan of The Band Perry. Sure, the big hair and over the top performances on award shows in the past comes across as gimmicky and flashy, but they consistently put out some darn good songs. “Better Dig Two” has a cool, dark vibe, “If I Die Young” is a modern classic, “You Lie” and “Postcard From Paris” are great radio singles, and “Don’t Let Me Be lonely” is a fantastically written song, even if it is closer to pop than country. In today’s mainstream country wasteland, they are an actual bright spot. Their new single is a cover of “Gentle On My Mind” by Glen Campbell, and it is one of the best songs on the radio today.

Jason Aldean "Burnin' It Down" Single Review

      I haven’t really torched a song in a while. Lately, a lot of the radio singles have shown some improvement. Luke Bryan and Florida-Georgia Line put out some decent songs. Even the dorkiest goober in country music, Cole Swindell, has a decent new single. But, this song just rubs me the wrong way. Of all the “bro” country singers, Jason Aldean has bothered me the least. At least when he rapped in a country song, it was a little more daring and bold, not fomulamatic and cliché like it is now. And in between his run of the mill party ditties, he has recorded some decent songs like “Fly Over States”, “The Truth”, and “Night Train”. That being said, Jason has really set me a blaze with “Burnin’ It Down”. This song is a pathetic, mind-numbing cry for attention, and needs to be erased from my memory as soon as possible.

Garth Brooks "Man Against Machine" Album Review

     Well, it finally happened.  Garth Brooks released his big comeback album.  Many, myself included, predicted a massive changing of the guard in country music, with a return to past glory.  Those big plans never really came to fruition  Garth's debut single was underwhelming and hasn't performed well on radio.  Then came the Toby Keith circa 1999 album cover and the doubts began to rise.  What was once the most anticipated album of the last 5 years turned into a barrel of worries of misdirection.  All of that doesn't matter now.  Man Against Machine is here,  So, what do we make of this album?

Little Big Town "Pain Killer" Album Review

      Wow, where do I begin?  Little Big Town has been one of my favorite mainstream bands for quite a while.  Some of their songs like "Shut Up Train", "Sober", "Little White Church", and "Your Side of The Bed" are some of the best radio singles in recent memory.  When their last album, Tornado, dropped, I was nervous going in.  The lead single, "Pontoon", was one of the dumbest, most annoying songs I've ever heard.  The album ended up being fantastic.  This time around, they have an even more annoying lead single, "Day Drinking".  I decided to be excited for this one, as the last one was just fine despite the slow start.  I was wrong.  Pain Killer isn't the worst album I've heard, but it is a significant drop from a band that previously was fantastic.

Angaleena Presley "American Middle Class" Album Review

     When Miranda Lambert announced she was going to start a band, I had no idea what kind of fury she was releasing on country music. First, The Pistol Annies’ albums have been full of great songs. Then, Ashley Monroe drops a fantastic solo record. Angaleena Presley wrote “Fastest Girl In Town”. Now, Angaleena is all on her own, and it might be the best Pistol Annies member album yet. American Middle Class is solid songwriting through and through, and sounds timeless from cover to cover. Angaleena Presley has officially arrived.

The 48th Annual CMA Awards: Who SHOULD Win and Who WILL Win

     This Wednesday, November 5th, the 48th annual CMA Awards will take place. The Country Music Association is widely recognized as the biggest honor among country music awards. While many debate the merit of the awarding process, few will deny that a CMA Award is one of the crowning achievements of a country music career. This year’s show will be once again hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, and will once again be broadcast on ABC. There are many performances scheduled, including some head-scratching pop guests, Ariana Grande and Megan Trainor. For the third straight year, Keep It Country Kids has your complete nominees and predictions guide. Keep It Country Kids proudly presents: The 48th Annual CMA Awards: Who SHOULD Win and Who WILL Win.

Lee Ann Womack "The Way I'm Livin'" Album Review

     It's been awhile since we have heard the unequaled Lee Ann Womack grace the radio dial.  After a long hiatus, she has finally given us some new material, and it was well worth the wait.  Lee Ann Womack is an artist who has stood by her guns and kept her music traditionally grounded, yet commercially viable.  The Way I'm Livin' continues that trend.  It's not only on of Lee Ann Womack's best albums, its one of the best albums of an already stellar 2014.