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.