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.

The 5 Worst Songs of 2014

     2014 was seriously one of the best in recent memory for country music.  But, no year is truly perfect.  Bro-country may be finally on the demise, but there were a few floaters this past year that we couldn't quite get to go down.  These stinkers represent the embarrassing side of mainstream country.  Hopefully, as country continues to improve, this list will be less significant, but this year it still contains a lot of big songs. Cover your ears, kids, here are the 5 Worst Songs of the Year.

The 10 Best Albums of 2014

     Writing a great song is no minor feat.  It takes skill, determination, and talent to write a country song that moves people.  It is an even greater feat to write an entire album worth of great songs.  That's what these 10 artists did.  These 10 albums represent the best of country music in 2014.  From throwback records to "metamodern sounds", all facets of country music are covered here. Keep It Country Kids proudly presents the 10 Best Albums of 2014.

The 10 Best Songs of 2014

     2014 saw a noted increase of quality from the country music mainstream.  Country music is nothing without great songs; songs that touch our hearts, make us laugh and cry, make us feel something.  It is very refreshing to be able to turn on country radio and actually hear some decent, heartfelt music.  We still have a long way to go, but baby steps are important.  These 10 songs come from mainstream country, independent artists, bluegrass artists, and everything in between.  Here are the 10 Best Songs of 2014.

Shooter Jennings "Nashville From Afar" Single Review

     “Shooter Jennings isn’t a fan of the Nashville system” would be a strong contender for most obvious headline of the year. Shooter has made no secret of his disdain for the mainstream country scene that his legendary father once called home. He’s recorded anti-establishment songs like “Solid Country Gold “and “Outlaw You” , and has been a constant reminder of the crooked and devious ways of the suits in Music City. Shooter is at it again with his new single “Nashville From Afar”. I’m sure the song won’t get much attention outside of the underground world; this is a song the rest of country music needs to hear. Shooter tells it like it is and makes a strong case against the powers that be.

Eric Church "Talladega" Single Review

     Eric Church’s latest album, The Outsiders, took a lot of sonic risks. The album is a trip through country, rock, and metal that leaves more questions than it answers at times. Some of the risks paid off into fantastic songs, some of it sounds like a mess. One song that he did not take any risks on was “Talladega”. This song is not anything outlandish or different, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great song. Sometimes, less is more.

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”.