Throwback Thursday: Remembering Johnny Cash

     10 years ago today, we lost Johnny Cash.  Johnny Cash was a pillar of not only country music, but American music.  His love for the storytelling and emotion of a song was surpassed only by his love for June, who also passed away 10 years ago this year.  Johnny Cash was arguably the greatest country singer of all time, and is listed as an influence on countless artists.  He could do it all.  He worked with everyone from Elvis Presley to Waylon Jennings to Rick Rubin to Bob Dylan.  He recorded songs penned by anyone from Shel Silverstein to Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.  He sang songs about murder and drugs followed by a gospel song.  He could tell a story and break your heart like no other.  Johnny Cash IS country music.  Keep It Country Kids thanks the Man in Black for being a giant of music, and a giant of a human being.  Thank you for keeping it country, Johnny.  We miss you and June every day, and your music still lives on.

      The best way to celebrate Johnny is through his music, so here are some of my favorites.

Keith Urban "Fuse" Album Review

     When Keith Urban joined the cast of American Idol, I was worried.  The Voice took Blake Shelton from a guy standing up for true country to a fame obsessed sell-out.  Keith already leaned towards the fringe of country, but he still appealed to me because of his amazing guitar skills and dedication to honoring country music history by reaching out to work with traditionalists outside of the mainstream and donating time and money to the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Keith has always walked the line of country, pop, and rock very closely, sometimes falling one way or the other.  Fuse is still on that line, but with maybe a few more steps away from country.

Gary Allan "It Ain't The Whiskey" Single Review

     Gary Allan has announced the third single from his latest album Set You Free will be "It Ain't The Whiskey".  Gary has been on a strong run of great radio singles lately, with "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)" and "Pieces" being two of my favorites of the past year.  Gary has set a high bar for himself, but he manages to surpass the lofty expectations with possibly his best single to date.

Eli Young Band "Drunk Last Night" Single Review

     The Eli Young Band recently released their new single "Drunk Last Night" to country radio.  EYB really broke through with their last album Life At Best, spawning three hit singles, and the biggest song on the radio in 2012, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart".   They have some big expectations now.  After the level of success they have already had, now is the time to see if they will continue to be a major force, or if their star will flicker out.

5 Artists You Need To Be Listening To Part 2

     Earlier this year, I posted 5 artists you need to be listening to, even if they are outside of the mainstream and public eye.  There are tons of artists that you may not have heard of that are producing great music and keeping country strong.  For this list, I'm touching on some artists with a little bit bigger of a following.  You very well may have heard of these artists already, but this is an opportunity to dig deeper and see what they have to offer. If you are burned out by the same old same old on the radio, check some of these artists out!

Florida-Georgia Line New Album Tracklist Revealed!

     Florida Georgia Line are currently working on their second album.  The first album featured modern country classics about beer, girls, and trucks.  This new album looks to feature much of the same.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it!  The guys promise if you liked that first pile of crap, the second helping will be just as steamy!!  The following is a projected track list for the untitled album:

Taylor Swift "Red" Single Review

     We have watched Taylor Swift grow from sweet girl next door, to country crossover star, to full on pop princess right before our eyes.  The little girl in the "Tim McGraw" video is no more, and with a grown up girl comes a more grown up sound.  "Red" may be the most mature song Taylor has ever recorded, but does that mean its any good?

Old Crow Medicine Show Invited To Join The Grand Ole Opry

      Old Crow Medicine Show played a concert in Cleveland, Ohio at the State Theater on Friday, August 16, 2013.  Yours truly was in attendance in the front row dead center.  The boy put on a rip-roaring bluegrass, country, and folk spectacle that was well worth the price of admission.  Near the end of the show, however, we learned that this night would be a very special one for the Old Crow boys and everyone in the audience.

Will Hoge "Strong" Single Review

     If you've watched TV in the past month, I'm sure you've seen the new "Strong" ad campaign by Chevrolet, promoting the new Silverado.  If you watched the CMA Fest on ABC, you probably noted it was the most country part of the show.  So, what's up with this song?  It's the new single from singer-songwriter Will Hoge, and its a great tune.

Miranda Lambert "All Kinds Of Kinds" Single Review

     Miranda Lambert has released the presumably final single from her stellar album Four The Record.  "All Kinds of Kinds" has been climbing the charts for a few weeks now with no signs of stopping. The album has produced some big songs and some serious award show hardware for Miranda.  So, with the final release, does she send it out with a bang or whimper into her next album?