5 Worst Songs of 2015

     My favorite part of the end of the year is getting to tell all of you about the best music of the year.  My least favorite part is having to point out the worst.  Alas, it is my duty as a self-appointed gatekeeper of country music to formally call out the biggest transgressions to our beloved genre.  This year saw the rise of the "metro-bro", Bruno Mars wannabe music.  At this point, pop-country radio will accept anything but authentic country music.  While there were plenty of turds to pick from, these five floated to the top of this miserable list.

The 10 Best Songs of 2015

     Country music as a genre has reached new heights, touched millions of lives, and made millions of dollars.  However, it is nothing without the song.  Without a song, Hank Williams would be just another country boy from Alabama, Johnny Cash would be another Air Force recruit, and Loretta Lynn would be another girl from the holler in Kentucky.  In 2015, we had some great additions to the already illustrious list of music in country history.  While breaking down the best of the bunch was a tough task, it had to be done.  Keep It Country, Kids proudly presents the 10 Best Songs Of 2015.

The 10 Best Albums of 2015

      As the sun sets on 2015, the inevitable "Best Of 2015" lists begin to appear.  2015 saw some great albums from big names in both the mainstream and independent country worlds.  Making a full album of great songs is still a major accomplishment.  While much of the music industry is seeming to move away from the album format, these artists still make a full collection of songs that matter.  These are your ten best albums of 2015.

Tim McGraw "Damn Country Music" Album Review

     In mainstream country music, few names hold as much clout as Tim McGraw. Tim has been a superstar since the mid 90’s, and while many of his fellow 90’s country acts are fading from the radio play and big tours, Tim’s star shines as bright as ever. I’ve made no secret in the past as to why this is. Tim McGraw is the best trend chaser in country music.  Tim has a song for the sound that is popular in the mainstream for each mini-era of his career. Line dancing? “Indian Outlaw”. Late 90’s slick, but traditional-leaning country? “Where The Green Grass Grows”. Over-produced 2000’s pop-country? “Live Like You Were Dying”. Bro-country? “Truck Yeah”. This push towards adult contemporary country? “Highway Don’t Care”. Tim is a master at keeping an ear to what’s popular and finding his own version of it to stay relevant. Whether that earns him your respect or disdain is your call. Now, with country at a crossroads, Tim has to make a stand. We are at a point where you either make your money standing your ground for traditional country or sell out 100% to make noise.  Not much in-between.  While Tim still tries to play both sides of the fence, I’m happy to say that Damn Country Music is much closer to the right side of things rather than the wrong.

Carrie Underwood "Storyteller" Album Review

     Carrie Underwood is the definition of a superstar. She is recognized worldwide, her concerts are worldwide sellouts, and her music is wide spread. When she releases an album, people pay attention. Carrie’s latest record, Storyteller, hit the market earlier this year. While country radio has been mostly a boys club the past few years, Carrie, along with her friend Miranda Lambert, has been able to break through the testosterone wall. Furthermore, she’s been able to do it with songs that have actual stories and meaningful lyrics. “Smoke Break” was a great first single to get the ball rolling, so does the rest of Storyteller keep up with the high expectations that we have for Carrie?

Chris Young "I'm Comin' Over" Album Review

     There once was time, not so long ago, that traditional country fans had a guy in the mainstream world that had a bright future. A deep voiced young man that sang actual country music that mattered. His name was Chris Young. He stacked up some huge hits that country fans resonated with. “The Man I Wanna Be”, “Neon”, “Voices”, “Drinking Me Lonely”, and “Tomorrow” were all big hits that made traditional country lovers’ spidey sense tingle. Somewhere along the way, that guy disappeared. The cowboy hat stopped showing up. The fiddle and steel were muffled. The lyrics became generic. The Chris Young of yesteryear is a distant memory now. With his latest release, Chris completes his journey from standout traditionalist to corporate shill. I’m Comin’ Over is bland, repetitive, and pointless.

Don Henley "Cass County" Album Review

     One of the biggest issues plaguing country music lately has been the ever growing amount of influences from other genres. This often comes in the form of musical stylings, but it also comes from outside artists as well. Sheryl Crow, Steven Tyler, Bon Jovi, Jessica Simpson, Brett Michaels, Uncle Kracker, and Kid Rock have all made attempts at country music in the past, with varying results. The latest to join the crossover brigade is Don Henley. You may recognize him as one of the founding members of The Eagles. You won’t find a more polarizing band in country music, or any genre for that example. Some people think The Eagles are honorary members of the country music world, as their sound always walked that line between country and rock. Others want to place most of the blame for the rock infused sound of today on bands like The Eagles. The truth probably lies somewhere between those two points. With all that being said, a lot of eyes were on Don when he announced his country album, Cass County. The good news is that Don took this seriously and created a labor of love for the genre. Cass County is as about as solid of a traditional country album you will hear in 2015 from the most unlikely of sources.

Jason Boland & The Stragglers "Squelch" Album Review

      Jason Boland and the Stragglers have been making real country music from the heart of Texas for quite some time now. Rather than waste time with pop fluff, these guys have doubled down on honky-tonkers and songs with weight and substance. The result is a sound that is instantly identifiable. With Jason’s latest album, Squelch, he and the Stragglers take a stand and make protest music that matters. Squelch is certainly a left turn from most of country music, but it is a welcome experience.

Eric Church "Mr. Misunderstood" Album Review

     The night of the CMA Awards, Eric Church dropped a surprise album titled Mr. Misunderstood.  After making an interesting-to-a-fault album in The Outsiders, the release of Mr. Misunderstood finds Eric back in his wheelhouse.  While most artists spend countless months prepping and analyzing every line on an album, Eric wrote, recorded, and shipped this album in a little under 3 months.  Members of his "Church Choir" fan club received free surprise copies the day of the release. Clearly, the roll-out of this album bucks any and all Nashville trends.  Thankfully, the music does as well. Mr. Misunderstood feels fresh, gritty, and unique.  This is Eric Church at his best.

George Strait "Cold Beer Conversation" Album Review

     There are a few things in earth that are constant: life, death, taxes, and George Strait.  No matter what the current trends and fads on the radio may be, you can always count on George Strait releasing great country music that is easy to listen to and staunchly traditional.  Cold Beer Conversation is no different.  This surprise album from George topped the charts among some solid competition.  It once again proves that being consistent and reliable is still marketable in country music.

The 49th Annual CMA Awards: Who SHOULD Win And Who WILL Win

   The 49th Annual CMA Awards will be held on Wednesday, November 4th at 8:00 in Nashville, Tennessee.  Once again, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will team up to take care of the hosting duties.  A CMA Award is the among the highest honors in country music.  The CMA Awards have always carried more relevance and weight than the ACM Awards or any of the other five hundred country award shows these days.  This year will once again feature many performances from artists outside of the genre, as country music continues to apologize for being country.  John Mellencamp, Fall Out Boy, Justin Timberlake, and Sam Hunt will all grace the stage, despite not actually being country artists.  Meanwhile real country talent like Sturgill Simpson, Courtney Patton, and The Turnpike Troubadours will watch (or not) from home.  Despite the carpetbagging performances and some questionable nominees, there are a lot of positives about this show.  Chris Stapleton is performing with Timberlake, so it may not be half bad.  He also saw a slew of well deserved nominations go his way.  Willie and Merle were nominated.  Hank Williams Jr will take the stage.  Maddie & Tae continue to surge towards the top.  It has potential to still be a decent show.  Below you will find a complete list of who is nominated for each category, who I think SHOULD win, and who I think WILL win.  Happy watching, folks!

Pat Green "Home" Album Review

      Pat Green was one of the biggest stars in Texas when he took his talents to Nashville to take on the world of country radio. While he experienced success, he lost a large chunk of his original fanbase, who accused him of “selling out”. Whether or not Pat was truly a sellout is neither here nor there, but let’s just say both his biggest fans who claim he never changed and his biggest detractors who criticized his frosted tips and mellowed out sound had a legitimate point. After a long hiatus, Pat is back with new album, appropriately titled Home. With the bright lights of Nashville far behind him, Pat gets back to his roots with this new set of tunes.

Zac Brown Band "Beautiful Drug" Single Review

     The Zac Brown Band is one of the most successful country groups of the modern era. They have sold out countless shows while sustaining great radio success. Most importantly, they have done all of this making mostly great country music that was often thought-provoking and poignant. Even their fun songs were interesting and fairly traditional. While Zac and the boys have always called themselves a southern rock band with strong country influences, they have always been one of the standard bearers for actual country music in the mainstream world. They were the ones to call out Luke Bryan and label “That’s My Kinda Night” as “the worst country song of all time”. Now, with the release of their latest album Jekyll + Hyde, The Zac Brown Band has sold out. Their latest single to country radio, “Beautiful Drug”, is an EDM driven disaster of a pop song, and not even worthy of one ounce of the word country.

Josh Thompson "Change: The Lost Record Volume 1" Album Review

     When Josh Thompson first hit it big, a lot of people predicted big things for him.  His first few hits "Beer On The Table" and "Way Out Here" made waves on the charts.  His follow up album, Change", never saw the light of day, as an under-performing though critically acclaimed lead-single "Comin' Around" and label unrest left him without a record deal.  Now that he is under an independent label, Ole Digital, he is finally getting that album out to the public in the form of two EPs.

Dierks Bentley "Riser" Single Review

     In 2015, country music has few ambassadors in the mainstream world.  George Strait and Alan Jackson are no longer relevant.  Traditional fans are looking for someone to show leadership in the genre.  While you won't hear Dierks speaking ill of his buddies in the genre, he will lead by example.  Dierks refuses to leave songs of substance on the cutting room floor.  Sure, he has "5-1-5-0" and "Drunk On a Plane", but those are peppered with "Say You Do", "Bourbon In Kentucky", and his latest, "Riser".  As the title cut of his current album, "Riser" is an anthem we can all get behind.

Carrie Underwood "Smoke Break" Single Review

     After spending some well-deserved time off with her first-born son, Carrie Underwood is back in the spotlight with her new single, “Smoke Break”. No one has ever denied that Carrie has one of the best, if not the best voice in country music history. She can sing anything and make it sound great. Throw in a cheerful disposition, stunning good looks, and a knack for crafting interesting songs and you have a bona-fide superstar. Carrie has it all. Lately she has been really bringing it hard with her song material, and “Smoke Break” is no exception. Carrie once again proves why she is the reigning queen of country music.

The Turnpike Troubadours Album Review

     If I had to perfectly define country music evolution, I wouldn’t have to look much further than The Turnpike Troubadours. While stars in Nashville use the term to justify the fact that their music is anything but country, The Turnpike Troubadours quietly provide an excellent example of it. Their latest, self-titled album falls right in line with their previous efforts. The group shows growth and maturity while sticking firmly to their roots. Making this album self-titled was an excellent decision, because with it we get a perfect musical picture of who The Turnpike Troubadours are and what they are all about.

Cam "Burning House" Single Review



      Country radio has a female problem. This isn’t breaking news or a shocking development. Most country radio fans have realized for a while that if your name isn’t Miranda or Carrie, your chance at having a career at country radio is slim to none. Sure, Jana Kramer, Kacey Musgraves, and Mickey Guyton have had hits here and there, but nothing substantial. Kacey couldn’t even turn multiple CMA wins into a radio career. This is where Cam enters. Cam is a west coast singer who started out as a songwriter. Her single “Burning House” is setting the charts on fire right now. Can Cam spin this into a string of hits and make a name for herself? That remains to be seen, but for now, we can enjoy one of the best songs at country radio right now: “Burning House”.

Lindi Ortega "Faded Gloryville" Album Review

     Imagine a smoky lounge in a rough end of town. Seedy characters file in and out while bluesy country music echoes down the alley from a dark haired singer. Her raspy voice cuts through the crowd noise and captivates the downtrodden souls searching for something. If you can imagine that scenario, you’ve pictured the perfect visual representation of Faded Gloryville, the new album from Lindi Ortega. This Canadian-born beauty has been wowing Nashville honkytonks and collecting endless praise from critics since her career began, and this album falls right into that line. Faded Gloryville is a mix of country and blues that is a sonic treat for the broken-hearted.

The Band Perry "Live Forever" Single Review

     The Band Perry has been a pretty decent bright spot in the country music world the past few years.  Songs like "Better Dig Two" and "All My Life" were unique and fresh.  "Gentle On My Mind" was a great cover of a classic and a gutsy single release.  Of course, "If I Die Young" is a modern classic, one of the last truly great songs to be released to radio before the onslaught of crap took over.  Throw that out the window.  The Band Perry took any shred of credibility they had and chucked it out the window in favor of a generic pop train wreck.  "Live Forever" is pathetic, worthless, soul crushing garbage that qualifies as audio torture.

Maddie & Tae "Start Here" Album Review

     From the lowliest depths of pop country hell,a bright spot has emerged on the scene for mainstream country music.  Maddie & Tae came out of the box strong last year with their timely and hilarious hit "Girl In A Country Song".  Most critics were quick to point out that country fans needed to cool their jets, as these were just two young girls and we couldn't heap all these expectations of wrestling country radio back on their shoulders.  Well, with the release of their debut album, somebody is going to have to cool me down.  Is this "old fashioned traditional country"?  Not really. But is it one of the very best and most authentic country albums of the past few years in mainstream country? Hell yeah.

Luke Bryan "Kill The Lights" Album Review

     Well every one's favorite metro-sexual pretty boy is back with a new album of big hits for the soccer mom and preteen in your life.  Luke has made quite a name for himself in his illustrious career, starting off as a strong vocalist with  throwback sound, and morphing into a caricature of the frat-boy country lifestyle.  Kill the Lights promised growth and maturity from Luke.  I don't see it.  This isn't art or music, it is marketing and demographic targeting.  Luke is officially no longer a country music artist, he is a marketing gimmick through and through.

Courtney Patton "So This Is Life" Album Review

     Earlier this year, we were treated to a fantastic release by singer-songwriter Courtney Patton.  So This Is Life is a stellar collection of songs that bring back the simple story-telling that country music purists long for.  Much in the vein of Brandy Clark's 12 Stories, Courtney's new album has stirring commentary from a female perspective presented in a frank and casual manner.  If you are longing for some good old fashioned stories, this is the album for you.

Ashley Monroe "The Blade" Album Review

     If there has ever been an artist just knocking at the door of super-stardom, its Ashley Monroe.  This girl has got talent that blows you away and the looks to match.  She can write a song with wit and heart and own a room with those same skills.  It is an absolute travesty that she isn't on par with the Miranda Lamberts and Carrie Underwoods of the world.  With her latest release, The Blade, Ashley makes a few blatant attempts to crack into that world, but still remains rooted in the sound that we love from her.  The Blade is a mixed bag, but there is more good than bad and certainly a great album to give a listen to.

Jason Isbell "Something More Than Free" Album Review

     Jason Isbell, former member of the Drive-By Truckers, recently released his latest album Something More Than Free.  Jason Isbell has been building up quite a reputation as one of the best songwriters in the business.  Each of Jason's songs tend to feature vivid imagery, exquisite story-telling, and intelligent musings on the world.  Something More Than Free is album for the working man who is also a deep thinker.  It is about making a living, overcoming demons, and living life.  It also comes across as very personal, and that's what males it so great.

Turnpike Troubadours "Down Here" Single Review

     Back in 2012, I decided I wanted to start a country music blog.  I was inspired by some other great websites, but mostly I was inspired because I wanted to tell my friends about the great country music they were missing.  At the forefront of those thoughts were the Turnpike Troubadours.  These guys have been doing absolutely everything right in country music, and this site was a way to tell people about them and so many others.  So if you love (or hate) my ramblings, you can thank (or blame) these guys for a large part of the inspiration behind it.  Well, finally, the guys have released some music and I can review it.  "Down Here" is the lead single from their self-titled album due out in September. As usual, "Down Here" finds the guys making great country music that is fresh and fun.

Alan Jackson "Angels & Alcohol" Album Review

     At this point, Alan Jackson needs no introduction.  The man is a living legend in country music.  He has proved over and over that traditional country can be cool and can be relevant.  After dabbling in bluegrass for his last album, Alan is back in the country format for his latest release, Angels & Alcohol.  A review of this album is hardly necessary.  It is Alan Jackson.  He doesn't know how to make bad music.  But, I will still share some thoughts on this new album, which fits right in the Alan Jackson discography as a solid and entertaining group of tunes.

Sam Outlaw "Angeleno" Album Review

     Well, lets get this out of the way first.  Yes, Sam Outlaw is his real name.  Sam decided to carry his mother's maiden name to honor her after she passed away.  Now, with a name like that, I'm sure you were expecting some hard-charging country rock that dripping with blood, sweat, and beer.  Well, you couldn't be farther from the truth.  Sam Outlaw hails from Southern California and has a sound that is much more Gram Parsons than Waylon Jennings.  His smooth delivery and laid back sound makes Angeleno a beautifully arranged album that is among the best in 2015.

Kacey Musgraves "Pageant Material" Album Review

     Kacey Musgraves is one of the biggest lightning rods in country music.  On one hand, you have a female making traditional country music in 2015, having some mainstream success.  On the other, you have a girl who many view as snooty or cocky.  She certainly wears her heart on her sleeve, and that has turned off some fans.  With her second album, Pageant Material, she does some work to refute those notions.  A lot was riding on this release.  Kacey fans wanted to see her continue to fly the flag for traditional country music, while critics wanted to see some growth in her subject matter and songwriting.  Thankfully, Pageant Material does both.  This album goes a long way in cementing Kacey's legacy as a top notch artist.

Remembering Jim Ed Brown

     Jim Ed Brown went home to be with the Lord on June 11, 2015.  He was 81 years old.  Jim Ed Brown was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry.  He had recently been battling cancer, and announced the remission of the cancer in early 2015.  Unfortunately, the cancer fought back, and Jim passed away on June 11.

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard "Django And Jimmie" Album Review

     There are few accolades and praises left that haven't been heaped upon Willie Nelson or Merle Haggard.  These two men have cemented their legacies as two of the best and brightest that country music has to offer.  If there was ever a Mount Rushmore of country music, these two would be two of the highest vote-getters to be honored.  When you gain living legend status as these two have, it is easy to kick back and rest on your laurels.  Not the case here.  Willie and Merle's new duets album Django And Jimmie recently hit number one on the Billboard Country Albums Chart, proving that these two legends still have plenty of gas in the tank.

Keith Urban "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" Single Review

     Oh boy.  Where do we even begin?  Keith Urban has been toeing the line between country and pop for years now, but he managed never to offend too strongly or ruffle too many feathers.  Sure, a hardcore Waylon fan probably doesn't enjoy "Kiss A Girl", but they don't go out of their way to criticize him like they would Luke Bryan or Florida-Georgia Line.  Perhaps it is his easy-going attitude, his encyclopedia-like knowledge of traditional country, or his commitment to the Country Music Hall Of Fame.  Whatever it is, Keith has managed to find his niche in the country music world to little dissonance.  Well, Keith better be prepared, because his new single is going to get some traditional fans hot and bothered.  "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" is a jumbled, incoherent, ill-conceived mess of a song that isn't interesting, isn't smart, and isn't country.  

Thomas Rhett "Crash & Burn" Single Review

     Do you like Bruno Mars?  I know I do.  His smooth vocals and throwback arrangements are bringing new life to the classic Motown Sound of the late 60's and 70's.  His brand of pop is exactly the kind of stuff I can get behind and promote as pop music that is artistic, fun, and worthwhile.  I am a big Bruno Mars fan.  He is a lot of things, but one thing he absolutely is not is country.  Thomas Rhett did not get that memo.  In his latest attempt to jump on any trend possible to make a buck, Thomas Rhett has decided that he is a soul singer who lost his way.  "Crash And Burn" is the latest in a long line of country singles that prove that our genre has completely lost its identity.

Whitey Morgan & The 78's "Sonic Ranch" Album Review

    While the heart of Texas and the hills of Tennessee have provided us with the majority of the great music you hear today, an unlikely location is the birthplace of one of the best artists in the biz right now. Whitey Morgan is a modern-day outlaw whose music’s attitude ranks right up there with the best of them, and he hails from Michigan. Don’t let that throw you. Whitey Morgan and the 78’s newest album, Sonic Ranch, is a honky-tonk masterpiece that feels like it comes straight from the Lone Star State. In fact, Sonic Ranch is easily one of the best albums of 2015.

Luke Bryan "Kick The Dust Up" Single Review

      The past few months have seen a significant downturn in the amount of bro-country being thrown mercilessly at our tender eardrums. With the exception of the clueless Florida-Georgia Line, most artists have learned that the public has grown tired of the party that never ends from artists who never grow up. Apparently, Luke Bryan missed the memo. After announcing his latest Spring Break EP would be is last, there were thoughts that maybe he was finally going to attempt to put out some songs of substance as he did on his first two albums. We were wrong. Luke’s new single is an uninspired, unoriginal, and unbalanced mess that further pushes the genre towards irrelevancy. 

Chris Stapleton "Traveller" Album Review

     If you have listened to the radio in the past 5 years, you know Chris Stapleton. While writing songs for Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, and many others, he has established himself as one of the top men in the songwriting business. He has had numerous number ones, writing some of the better songs on the radio. He was also previously in the band The Steeldrivers, making sweet, sweet bluegrass music. Now, Chris is on his own. He has released his debut album Traveller to great amounts of hype and fanfare. In this case, we actually have an album that lives up to the hype. Traveller is easily one of the best albums of the year.

Zac Brown Band "Jekyll & Hyde" Album Review

     One of the best and most consistent bands of the past decade has been the Zac Brown Band. Even though they do not claim to be exclusively a country band, they have released some of the best country music in the mainstream world. Zac was a chubby, bearded everyman with a beanie and a Carhartt. He looked the part and sang the part. Country fans tired of the glitz and glam were attracted to the understated demeanor and average Joe appeal of the Zac Brown Band. Their latest release, Jekyll & Hyde, promised some new horizons for the group. Little did fans know that they were getting disjointed and misguided mess that would alienate a large portion of their fan base.

Zane Williams "Texas Like That" Album Review

   While Nashville continues to produce mediocrity and bland artists, Texas continues to pump out quality music by real artists. Recent releases by Robert Earl Keen, Aaron Watson, Randy Rogers, and Wade Bowen have given us some of the best music of the year. Now, we can add Zane Williams to that list. With his newest release, Texas Like That, Zane Williams joins an already crowded field of top albums in 2015. Zane has an approach that is a great bridge between modern country music and the great music of the past.

Dwight Yoakam "Second Hand Heart" Album Review

     After disappearing from the music scene for a few years, Dwight Yoakam came back in a big way in 2012 with 3 Pears. Now, Dwight is making an attempt to tap back into his cowpunk roots with Second Hand Heart. While the album may sound similar to some of his early stuff, it is still very much a modern album that fits in today’s landscape. Second Hand Heart does a good job to make sure that Dwight Yoakam remains the coolest guy in country music.

Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen "Hold My Beer: Volume 1" Album Review

     One of the long forgotten gems of country music history is the duets album. Sure, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis do some great work, and Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller have put out some fantastic duets albums as well. But, we have been missing the “buddy album”. Waylon and Willie used to do it, as did Willie and Merle Haggard. Now, we have that buddy album with Hold My Beer Volume 1 from Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers. These two Texans turned their popular acoustic tour into a full length compilation. This isn’t just friends having a good time, however. Hold My Beer Volume 1 is as strong of an album as any in 2015. If you like straight-up traditional country, this is for you.

The 50th Annual ACM Awards: Who SHOULD Win and Who WILL Win

     The 50th Annual ACM Awards will be taking place on Sunday, April 19 in Dallas, Texas. The ACM Awards have been under intense scrutiny the past few years, as the legitimacy of the awards has been called into question due to inconsistent criteria for awards and the implementation of fan voting for major awards. Frankly, the ACM Awards are the little brother to the CMA Awards, so they are trying to pump life and excitement into the show. Look no farther than the eyebrow raising performers list that includes Christina Aguilera and Nick Jonas. Bringing in pop stars to apologize for being country is nothing new, but it seems to be more and more egregious each year. I feel shortly we will see Wiz Khalifa debut his new single on the ACM or CMA Awards. Fortunately, while we will have to put up with out of place pop stars and country wannabes like Sam Hunt and Cole Swindell, we will get some good performances from Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, and a Brooks & Dunn reunion. It is also possible that Garth Brooks will be lip-syncing his performance. So, there’s a decent chance the ACM Awards will be a train wreck. However, we will still all probably rubberneck to see the disaster. Without further ado, here are my picks for who SHOULD win and who WILL win at the 50th Annual ACM Awards.

Will Hoge "Small Town Dreams" Album Review

     There are a lot of great artists out there that make worthwhile, substantial music that falls just barely inside the realm of country music. Will Hoge is one of those artists. He is unapologetically more of a rock artist than country, but he is the definition of walking the line that straddles to two genres. When mainstream guys talk about “blending the genres” and “outside influence” THIS is what they should sound like. With the release of his new album, Will is experiencing the most exposure he ever has as an artist. From a number one co-write to a Chevy truck ad campaign, Will has witnessed his stock rise over the past few years. Thankfully, the music that resulted was not a step back. Quite the opposite, as Will Hoge is making the best music of his career with Small Town Dreams.

Cody Jinks "Adobe Sessions" Album Review

     In 2015, we’ve had some great albums. We’ve seen some neo-traditional albums, some bluegrass, some folk, some southern rock, and even some decent mainstream country. What we have not seen is that old school, outlaw country sound. Well, it’s here. Cody Jinks brings his Texas sound to the world with his latest album, Adobe Sessions. If you miss country music with some rough edges and meat on its bones, this is the album for you.

Jon Wolfe "Natural Man" Album Review

     Jon Wolfe is a country artist from Oklahoma who is starting to garner some attention with the release of his latest album Natural Man. Jon comes on high recommendation from Aaron Watson, and has been making noise on the Texas charts as well. While a lot of artists have been going back to a more traditional sound, Jon Wolfe has found a way to take the best of the mainstream world and the traditional world to create a very enjoyable listening experience.

Little Big Town's "Girl Crush" Is Using Gay Rights For Airplay

     Country music group Little Big Town has found themselves smack dab in the middle of a controversy.  Their latest single, "Girl Crush", is about a woman feeling intense jealousy towards the object of her affection's new flame.  The song tiptoes along the lines of making the jealousy sensual.  It has been accused of promoting the "Gay Agenda" and pulled from radio stations due to complaints from many listeners about it's controversial content.  Or has it?  All signs point to this being a case of Little Big Town, and the always-present-for-a-controversy Bobby Bones, using a fake uproar to help a fledgling song move up the charts.  It's pathetic and sad.

Kacey Musgraves "Biscuits" Single Review

     Kacey Musgraves has brought her unique style back to country radio again with her newest single, “Biscuits”. While much of her music has brought her critical appeal and awards, she has yet to have a big smash hit that eclipses the charts. Maybe country radio just isn’t quite ready for her unapologetic attitude and twangy arrangements. “Biscuits” fits firmly in line with the rest of her material, which in reality, is what makes and breaks this song.

Attention Real Country Music Fans: We Are Winning

      Anyone who knows anything about country music knows that there is a longstanding and intense war being waged for the soul of country music. Tradition and fortune are at odds seemingly every day now. Traditionalists are fighting to keep country music rooted in the history that made the genre great, while moving forward to new heights. Mainstream country wants to make as much money as possible, while turning country music into a rock/rap/pop hybrid, citing claims of “evolution” and “progress”. While the fight has looked bleak for the true fans like me, the tides have turned. Not only are we making headway, I would go as far to say that right now we are winning the fight for country music.

Sam Hunt "Take Your Time" Single Review

     I have yet to take on the newest problem facing country music, Sam Hunt. I’ve been hoping that if I ignored him enough, this stupid EDM craze would fade into obscurity. I’m still confident it will, but not before it further erodes the traditions of country music. While I do think that, overall, true country music is beginning to step back into the forefront, there are a few leftover pop wannabes that can hold up the inevitable change. Sam Hunt is the biggest of those hurdles. With his latest single shooting up the charts, he is one of the top dogs in mainstream country right now. His video for that single, “Take Your Time”, was just released to much fanfare. While it has the mainstream dolts heaping praises on him, I find it a pathetic and shameless plug to gain attention. Be impressed all you want, but I refuse to be patronized.

Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors "Medicine" Album Review

      Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors are shining examples of why Nashville is called “Music City”. They hail from East Nashville and have become big time players in the music world, even if they don’t really fit in any conventional genre. They are a little rock, a little folk, a little country, but all good. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, you need to check these guys out. If you are looking for an easy to listen to album that is accessible to everyone, their latest release Medicine is a must listen.

Love & Theft "Whiskey On My Breath" Single Review

       Love & Theft have been the epitome of what Nashville has been looking for lately: two nice looking guys who look edgy enough to get girls to swoon, but still safe enough to take home to mama. They haven’t put out any music that was incredibly inspiring, but they haven’t had anything too terribly offending either. In all honesty, that’s almost like a win when you look at some of Nashville’s worst. All that has changed now. Love & Theft’s latest has all the makings of a modern classic. If you haven’t heard “Whisky on My Breath” yet, you are missing out.