Tim McGraw with Catherine Dunn "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools" Single Review

     Tim McGraw ends up as the butt of my criticism many times. I have given Tim grief for always chasing trends and not being the most original artist. But credit is due where credit is due, and lately, Tim has been a part of the solution, not the problem. Lately, as country has taken a turn towards the traditional fare again, here is Tim with some traditional singles. I’m not complaining, but I stand by the fact that Tim is a follower, not a leader. The bottom line simply comes to the point that no matter what the reasoning, we are getting some good work from Tim McGraw. “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” was a bright spot on the radio last year, and “Shotgun Rider” wasn’t bad either. But, Tim has now released the best song from his latest album, Sundown Heaven Town, to radio. “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools” is simply a great country song.

Chris Young "Lonely Eyes" Single Review

      Chris Young has had one of the most roller-coaster careers I have ever seen. He won a reality show, Nashville Star, and took a long time to establish himself on country radio. He then suddenly shot to stardom, with multiple number ones in a row. The nice thing about Chris was that he was able to have his success with songs that were still very solid. “Tomorrow” is fantastic, “The Man I Want To Be” is great, and ‘Voices” is strong as well. But, after the traditional “Neon” didn’t do so hot, the big wigs stepped in. Out popped a new Chris, wasting his killer voice on duds like “Aw Naw”. Now, Chris seems to be getting back to what he is used to. “Lonely Eyes” isn’t quite up to the high marks that “Neon” and “Tomorrow” set, but it’s a good step in the right direction.

Mo Pitney "Country" Single Review

     2015 is just a few weeks old, and already we have a newcomer who is lighting the world on fire. Mo Pitney is a mild-mannered country boy from Illinois who has been raising a lot of eyebrows with his debut single, simply titled “Country”. The song has been getting added into rotation across the nation, gaining a lot of support along the way. He has been garnering comparisons to Randy Travis already, and it is well deserves. Mo Pitney might be the guy to get some real country back on mainstream radio, and he perfectly lines up with the ideals of this blog.

Remembering Little Jimmy Dickens

     Country music lost one of its most beloved stars on Friday when Little Jimmy Dickens passed away at 94 years old.  Little Jimmy Dickens was a Country Music Hall of Fame Member and Grand Ole Opry Member.  In fact, he was the longest tenured Opry member, joining the sacred institution in 1948.  He was known far and wide for his comedic styling and wit, but far above that, Little Jimmy was loved for his caring attitude and tender guidance.  His stature was the only "little" thing about him; he had a giant heart and left a large shadow over the Opry stage.