Hey all! Don't forget that today is the day the Road Hammers CD Blood, Sweat and Steel is released in stores. You'll definitely want to check this one out. Speaking of the band.... check out their GAC show this week to get a look at what life is like for a band attempting to win over audiences in a new country. Should be cool.  Here are airtimes, courtesy of GAC:

06/26/2008 8:30 PM
07/03/2008 8:30 PM 
07/10/2008 8:30 PM

Check out their page on the GAC website to get more airtimes and episode descriptions. GAC isn't going to stop there, though. They're also going to give you a look at Jewel and her path to becoming a country star when they make her the focus of Origins on the 28th at 9 PM. All times are eastern, btw.

As promised, today I am finally going to offer you a little sneak peak at the Road Hammers’ new release, Blood, Sweat and Steel. If you’re a country fan, you will definitely want to pick this one up when it gets a physical release at the end of the month. Their music has that modern flair, yet keeps true to a more traditional southern sound. The songs range from uptempo numbers full of attitude to laid-back songs that are good for a hanging out and relaxing. Here are a few of my personal highlights:

"Working Hard at Loving You"- This is one of the uptempo songs and is sung with attitude and confidence. It’s about doing what you can to make the person you love happy. The chorus goes "It’s not a 9-to5 situation when you’re doing what you love to do. Your kiss is my compensation. Working hard at loving you."

"I’ve Got the Scars to Prove It"- This is probably my favorite song. It’s what I’d call the most mature one of the bunch. This is a slow number about being scarred by love. One of my favorite lines is "These marks are here to remind me where I went wrong, what made me strong and how I moved on."

"Overdrive"- Another uptempo one with a lot of harmonica in it. It’s one of those songs whose energy is catching... you will not be able to sit still while this one is on! It’s about only feeling alive when you’re going at a crazy pace.

Overall, a really nice effort and I’m looking forward to seeing where they go from here. Be sure to check your local music store or amazon to get your copy when it’s released at the end of this month.

In other news, Sara Evans tied the knot again. Congrats and much luck to her... with the way celeb marriages have gone lately, she may need it!

Brad Paisley is working hard on that instrumental album. Here’s a neat story courtesy of GAC about a strange coincidence that happened behind the scenes. I hope radio will embrace this CD, but I’m not holding my breath.

Congrats to Carrie Underwood for "Last Name" getting to #1. It was a close race with Brad... can Carrie hang on to the top? We’ll see when the chart is released later in the week.

Finally, if you’re a Jewell fan, tune into GAC tomorrow to catch her new video, "I Do".It’s going to air at 8:45 AM eastern. Stay tuned, because tomorrow I am going to start bringing you regular commentary on the new season of Nashville Star. First, I will fill you in on the premiere, then later on in the day I’ll post my thoughts on the new episode. I’ll start posting on the show every Monday after that.

Well, that’s it for now. Take care and I’ll see y’all later!

Ryan Shupe of Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand had to have surgery after his appedix started acting up on Friday. He's doing fine and will be back with the band as soon as possible. The bad part was, he had to be admitted to the hospital on the same day the band was going to do their first in-store appearance in support of their new CD. According to his PR people, the band went ahead with the appearance after all. Instead of Ryan singing, fans were allowed to come onstage and show off their own talents. Well played, guys!

Their new album, Last Man Standing, was released on May 27th so check it out.

I had never heard an Andy Griggs CD before, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I put "The Good Life" into my computer's CD player. I'd heard a couple ballads that had been released off his other CDs, but that was it. Imagine my surprise to hear something totally different than what I was expecting. The songs are a mix of modern country and southern rock, delivered with confidence, attitude and a little bit of a gritty tone.

One of the best songs is Tattoo Rose. Which, by the way, came up as the title of the CD when I played it on real player. It's a fun song that definitely needs to be released as a single. I can just hear it on Country radio now.

Another great track is "It's All About the Money".  What I like about this is it mixes fun, upbest music with a lyric that is a bit darker and more cynical. Basically, it's about people using others for what they've got and doing shady things to get what they want. This is another one I think would make a great single.

The last track I wanna highlight is called "Shadows". It's a mid-tempo song about trying to escape bad or painful memories. He sings the song with passion and a trace of frustration. It's definitely worth a listen.

If you don't want to wait until the release date to get it, it's now available through online retailers. Pick up a copy, you won't regret it. Well, I'm out of here for now. Take care and "play something country!"

Hey, everyone!! It's been a long time, I know, but I'm back and ready to share some stuff I got through the grapevine.

First off- Andy Griggs' new CD is getting a physical release in just 6 days. Check back tomorrow, when I'll give you a preview of it. He released a digital version a little while back. I'll also be offering you a sneak peak at the Road Hammers' new CD. That one comes out on June 26th.

In the meantime, why not check out the Road Hammers on TV? Their new single "Girl on the Billboard" is playing on GAC and CMT Pure now. The single officially gets released on the 9th of June. Their TV series I mentioned earlier airs on the 12th at 8:30 PM. I'll be there to give you the rundown on the show. Finally, if you want to see them live, they'll be performing at the CMA Music Fest on on June 6th in Nashville.

Do you want to see your picture on a billboard? Well, you can... sort of. In honor of their new single, The Road Hammers are also offering fans the chance to e-mail their picture to girl_on_the_billboard@yahoo.com. The pictures will end up on a special billboard-themed widget on their MySpace page. Gotta hand it to Country artists... they get pretty creative with their promo.

In other Country Music news... how about those CMAs? My personal hightlights where Miranda Lambert's performance of "Gunpowder and Lead", LeAnn's "Family" performance and Miranda's "album of the year" win. I seriously never saw that one coming. Good for her! I just hope it brings her greater air play and attention in the Industry. As for Sugarland's and Kellie Pickler's new songs? I'm on the fence right now. I wasn't too thrilled, but I can see them growing on me in time. We'll see.

Shania fans are stil probably shaking their heads over the Lange-Twain seperation. I have to admit, I never saw that one coming either.  What makes it even worse are reports that he was supposedly messing around with a secretary. I hope that's not the case. Either way, Mutt's being unusually candid, talking to People several times recently about the split and rumors surrounding it. Guilty conscience, perhaps?

Well, I guess that's about all for now. Take care and see y'all soon!

Well, I just got to see the new Carrie Underwood video for "Last Name" on TV for the first time. It's even better on TV- my computer doesn't always like  playing videos, unfortunately. If you wanna catch it, it'll be at at 12:56 PM tomorrow, as well as many other times.

Gretchen Wilson is gonna spill more details about her new CD on the CMA Celebrity Closeup Special. It's supposed to air June 5th. More more details, and to see how you can go, check the link. There's even a number there to call and ask Gretchen and a couple others questions.

And, finally.... the main reason for my post title. John Rich is gonna take another go at Gone Country. And this time? He's even got a Jackson involved, as well as an actress that is known for being a bit... out there? So much for any intergrity or true talent in this competiton. Well, except maybe Sabastian Bach. Damn you, Sabastian!! You just might make me tune in. See the full list of competitors here.

Well, that's it for now. See y'all next time!

Even though "Last Name" was only released a few weeks back and has still not peaked, her label is looking to the future. According to this, XM radio's Highway 16 will play two possible singles and let fans decide which will win. It starts at 7 PM eastern time, so tune in! If you don't get a chance to listen, check the blog's comments to see what the choices are.

EDIT: XM Radio listeners chose "Just a Dream" over "I Know You Won't" with 84% of the vote. According to Pulse, other people's stations are doing the same thing. Will the label ultimately listen? Stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the video for "Last Name", courtesy CMT. I'm loving it. It's fun, energetic and I'm looking forward to seeing it on TV.

In other news, looks like Tim McGraw is jumping on the fragrance bandwagon. He'll be releasing his own later this year. I guess we can expect a fashion line and hair products or something next. Hey, it's the next logical step in the celeb marketing playbook. Good luck to him. I'm sure his fans would prefer a decent single, though...

This isn't a total surprise (I heard some rumors on different forums about it) but it's still a bit of a head scratcher: Little Big Town has left their label.  They're now a part of Capitol Nashville, home to Trace Adkins and Lady Antebellum, among others. Now, all I want to know is.... what's up here? I would prefer a smaller label just because they care more about artistry and less about sales figures. Ah, well. I guess we'll see how their next CD turns out.

Hey, everyone! If you're a fan of Country Music, you will not want to miss these upcoming shows on GAC.

First, Taylor Swifts takes you behind the making of her latest video in the special "Taylor Swift: On the Set". Read all the details and see airtimes here. I'm looking forward to it because for some odd reason, this video has grown on me. It's not the most original thing in the world, but has some great shots in it.

The one I'm most looking forward to, though, is the Top 20 Countdown. They're going to premiere the video for Dolly's single "Jesus and Gravity." I haven't had the chance yet to hear the song, but that title has me already. I'm predicting a great song with some humor to it. Will I be right? We'll see.

Well, that's about it for now. Take care and I'll see y'all next time.

Does anyone remember the Guns N Roses videos from the early 90s that were supposed to tell a story from start to finish? Well, according to a blog post being discussed on Pulse Music Board, Carrie Underwood’s "Last Name" tells what happened pre-"Before He Cheats". The country music video is even said to feature the same guy from the "BHC" and the infamous Red truck (that thing's been getting a lot of milage in her videos...).

If you wanna read more, check out the discussion here. I love the idea for this video. It seems like her videos are getting more fun and creative with this album and I’m curious to see what else gets released from Carnival Ride. Personally, I want "Just a Dream" and "Flat on the Floor" to get released as well. Maybe even "The More Boys I Meet". Now, that could have a fun video...

What do you all think? Is this video concept a good idea? Are you wondering "where’s the Pinto"? What should be next? Sound off and let me know! Til then, take care and "play something country!"

I saw Taylor Swift's new video yesterday on GAC and well- I'm not thrilled. I can't say it's a horrible video, cause it's not. I'm just not as impressed with it as I was with other videos out. It starts off with Taylor and a friend stalking an ex and fuming over the fact he's letting another girl drive a car he never let her drive. It then mainly focuses on performance footage of Taylor and her band in front of a burning set, while adding in some clips of her singing the song in a couple differnt set-ups. At the end of the video, Taylor snaps out of a daydream and tells her friend that she's "over it" and they drive off, tossing a burning photo out the window.

I will say this- she has definitely gotten very comfortable in front of the camera and she's a natual performer. This should keep her fanbase very happy... as long as the parents don't start complaining about how the burning picture being thrown out the window is a fire hazard. It should be pretty interesting to see what she ends up coming out with next. If you wanna see the video for yourself, check out the GAC website. They should have the video available for streaming as well as the times it will air on TV.  

Ashton Shepard is one of my favorite new Country Music artists. She’s got a very Gretchenesque voice and a more traditional musical style. Because I’m such a fan, I thought I’d share this interview I found with her on GAC. She talks about a lot of different things from starting up in Nashville to the "too country" issue. I especially love the part where she talks about hiding her song notebooks. You have to read that part in her own words to get the full impact, but it's cool and too funny. I have to admit, I'd probably do the same thing in her shoes.

Well, it's here. "Picture to Burn" is going to air at 4:11 Eastern time on GAC. Check it out, I hear it's gonna be pretty good. I'll report back after I see it to share my thoughts. I hope y'all will do the same.

Well, I've gotta get going. See y'all next time and take care!

I just saw Jewel's "Stronger Woman" for the first time and have kind of a mixed reaction to it. I love the song itself, and think it's got a great message to it. It's all about being confident in yourself and not conforming to what other people think you should be. I just don't think the vocal was her best. I don't know why, but it just seemed off.

As for the video? Very nice. It's an artsy kind of clip that shows Jewel performing while the scenes cut to other women dressed up in typically "girl" stuff. During the video, Jewel slowly strips herself of make up and other frills until she's got a simple, natural look. The other women in the video do the same. It's a simple video that fits the message of the song nicely.

Btw... I was just browsing GAC's site and saw that Taylor Swift's video for "Picture to Burn" is scheduled to air in the middle of the night. Keep an eye out, because the last time I saw a video scheduled like that, it entered into pretty regular rotation within the next day or so.

I'm excited, cause I was just browsing the Pulse music boards and found out that Chris Young has a new CD scheduled for August 26th. He's one of my favorite Nashville Star winners and I hope this album does really well. check my past posts for my reviews of him.

In other good album news, Gretchen Wilson and Kelly Pickler also have been given release dates. They are September 2nd and September 9th. It's really funny to see that, considering Taylor Swift was just talking about one of the new songs they wrote together. I just wonder how she and Gretchen will end up faring on the charts.

I also noticed that GAC seems to be jumping on these new releases. When the SHeDaisy Greatest Hits came out, they started playing their music more. Now that Chris Young has a release date, his "Drinking Me Lonely" is getting airplay again as well. Looks like they're cluing in, huh? Well, that's all for now. Tune in tomorrow for more! In the meantime, take care and "play something country!"

So I just got done seeing Taylor Swift be interviewd on Country Music Across America about her new video "Picture to Burn". That's not the biggest news to come out of that, though. She also shared a little tidbit about a song she and Kellie Pickler wrote together that just may show up on Pickler's second  CD.

The song, according to Taylor, is called "The Best Days of Your Life" and is pretty much a kiss-off song ala "Before He Cheats" and "Picture to Burn".  Taylor says that it's an amazing song that is going to be a big one for her. She shared the hook with the audience as well: "It's too bad you already had the best days of your life". Sounds pretty interesting and I'm looking forward to getting to hear it.

As a side note, the host mentioned how when Kellie, Taylor and Carrie are in a room together, everyone gets intimidated and they say "here comes trouble". Taylor laughed and said they're good girls. Pretty cute moment. The episode also featured LeAnn Rimes talking about her latest video for "A Good Friend and a Glass of Wine". She also discussed writing Family and hosting the Colgate Country Competition. If you missed it and want to check it out for yourself, check GAC's website for airtimes.

Well, I just got done watching Carrie Underwood's new video for "All-American Girl" and I have to say it is one of my favorites by her. It kind of reminds my of Faith's Hill's "The Way You Love Me" in that Carrie is shown in many different costumes throughout. She goes from a wedding dress to a nurse outfit to a cheerleader outfit and more. Carrie appears to be having a blast with it, too, which makes it even more fun. Here are my two favorite scenes...

1) Carrie, dressed up as a newscaster sings behind a desk while a ticker goes by discussing a crime. The only part I caught of that was black sunglasses and loiusville slugger. LOL

2) Carrie is shown in her "Before He Cheats" sunglasses and leather get-up in front of a smashed up red truck. She's holding a baseball bat and gives a "who me?" look to the camera as she shrugs.

This is definitely worth a look for Carrie fans. Check it out on GAC at 5:35 PM today and again at 11:19 PM. If you miss it, be sure to check out the GAC site to find out when it will air again. Well, that's all for today. Take care and see y next time!!

It's an old concept.... music video features a "recording session" or footage backstage at a concert. For "Takin' Off This Pain", Ashton Shepard does something just a little different. The video is mixed with behind the scenes footage, so you'll see a shot of Ashton taking some clothes off a clothesline and packing them into a suitcase mixed with footage of her shooting the scene. It's a cute video and a nice on the concept I can't remember seeing before. I believe I mentioned the song on here before, so I'll just leave it at this: she reminds me of Gretchen Wilson vocally and it's a good track.

If you want to check it out yourself, turn the dial to GAC this afternoon at 4:14 PM today. Stay tuned, cause I have news about a new favorite video coming....