Hey, I’m gonna make a commitment to try to be posting much (much, much, much…) more frequently. I was supposed to start at the beginning of the year, but there’s been some personal problems on my end so I’m only getting around to it now.
I figured I’d review the top 20 songs on the charts right now just to get back into things. I’m really hoping that things improve as the year goes on because after writing this, I’m really depressed with the state of the industry. (Off to listen to something good)!
1. Alan Jackson – Country Boy
After Like Red On A Rose Alan had to come back with something more traditional. He did that very well with “Small Town Southern Man”, and followed up decentley with “Good Time”. But this is probably the saddest single released last year. I never thought Alan Jackson would have to be this formulatic. D+ (C+ if almost anybody else recorded it.)
2. Brad Paisley & Keith Urban – Start A Band
I was fairly excited to hear this song when it was announced, but the end product doesn’t live up to my expectations. It’s an okay song, nothing original or anything, just okay. C
3. Blake Shelton – She Wouldn’t Be Gone
His Pure BS album was his strongest set yet with some really good gems remaining unreleased on the album, yet Warner Bros. decided to move on to a new record and released this song to radio. I won’t say it’s bad, but it’s boring. If I didn’t already know it was Blake singing I wouldn’t have guessed it was him. It’s just bland for me. C+
4. Billy Currington – Don’t
hmm…Much like the first three songs this one just doesn’t do anything for me, it stands out compared to other songs, but it still manages to bore me. The video drove me to dislike this song even more than I should. D-
5. Dierks Bentley – Feel That Fire
Finnaly something I can be a little positive about. While not an amazing song by any means “Feel That Fire” at least sounds like Dierks gives a damn about what he’s singing. It’s very cliched but Dierks makes it sound good, just like he did with “Trying To Stop Your Leaving”. B
6. Toby Keith – God Love Her
I’ve never been a fan of Toby’s but this along with his last single (”She Never Cried In Front Of Me”) are actually okay by me. This isn’t as strong as SNCIFOM, but at least it doesn’t offend my ears like some of his other work. C+
7. Kenny Chesney & Mac McAnally – Down The Road
Probably the best Kenny single in years…. D+
8. Keith Urban – Sweet Thing
I’ve always had a soft spot for Keith Urban, there’s just something in his style that intrigues me. The beat of this song just makes me want to go for a drive, or a run or something. It makes me want to sing along which is something most songs should aim for. A-
9. Brooks & Dunn & Reba McEntire – Cowgirls Don’t Cry
It’s a re-write of Crystal Shawanda’s “You Can Let Go”, which was a better song overall. Ronnie Dunn’s vocals just don’t have any emotion singing this one. When Reba joins on the last Chourus it’s more of a distraction than an addition. B&D haven’t impressed me in a long time, and I think It’s about time they go their seperate ways. C
10. Sugarland – Already Gone
I didn’t think this was a good choice as a single, but it definatley grew on me as it climbed the charts. I actually now think that this was a very wise choice as the second single, because it’s a very well written tune, and you finally hear Kristian Bush on a Sugarland song! B
11. Rascal Flatts – Here
If there’s one artist I can’t stand in “country” music right now, it’s Rascal Flatts. I know they can put something good out if they really really try but at this point I doubt I would even care. F (this is better than Bob That Head though)
12. George Strait – River Of Love
Like with Alan’s latest it’s sad to see such a legendary artist have to record something like this in order to stay relevant. F
13. Taylor Swift – White Horse
Wow Taylor Swift will have the second highest rated song in the top 13?! While this isn’t overly country (some would argue it’s not at all), it’s still a very well put together song. These are probably her best lyrics so far, and her voice doesn’t sound strained like on most of her other singles. B+ (you didn’t really think she’d get an A, did you?)
14. Darius Rucker – It Won’t Be Like This For Long
“Wow Taylor Swift will have the second highest rated song in the top 13?!” I couldn’t say top 15 because of this song. It’s lyrics are nothing speacial, but Darius has a voice that can make anything sound good, and the melody really appeals to me. If he can keep up his current momentum till his second album I think Capitol found their next superstar. A-
15. Pat Green – Let Me
After two relativly strong singles we’re back to the Sh!t that makes up most of the top 20. I used to like Pat a lot, and when “Wave On Wave” was a hit I thought that it meant good things for the industry. I thought that more Texas artists would get a shot at mainstream radio and it would influence other artists to be more like the Texas scene. Instead Pat Green was the one who was influenced by “country” radio’s sounds and now this latest single can’t even be recognized as Pat Green, or anybody for that matter. (seriously There’s zero personality in this song) F
16. Lee Ann Womack – Last Call
Ahhhhhh something good again… While I want LeAnn Rimes to win the Grammy for Female Vocal performance, I also wouldn’t mind seeing Lee Ann Womack take it home for this stunning song. It’s not very traditional sounding, but when a song’s writing, vocals and production is this good who cares?! A+
17. Jake Owen – Don’t Think I Can’t Love You
Will this song be remembered 10 years from now? No. Will it be remembered 2 years from now? Probably not. But while this song has no lasting appeal, it does it’s job in showing off Jake’s voice in a very inoffensive way. C (A perfect example of a C BTW)
18. Rodney Atkins – It’s America
I was really pulling for Rodney for the last couple of years. His voice isn’t anything special, it may be the weakest voice currently on the radio but he has always picked good songs to record. This however is atrocious. I can’t even continue talking about it. F
19. Jack Ingram – That’s A Man
While Pat Green changed his sound so drastically you can’t even tell it’s him anymore, you can still kinda hear Jack Ingram’s roots shine through on this track. Like most of the top 20, the lyrics are kinda boring and arent’ anything we haven’t heard before but at least here they seem to get the job done. C+
20. Miranda Lambert – More Like Her
I don’t know how long Miranda’s career will last. Is she just getting lucky right now, because she really doesn’t fit in with the rest of the female’s who get played on the radio these days, and yet here she is with another top 20 hit. This is her strongest song so far, it’s a great performance and I’m hoping this one goes all the way for her, as it’s time for another female other than Carrie or Taylor to hit the top. A
