James Otto – “Just Got Started Loving You”

From the time I heard James Otto’s song “The Ball” on KMPS’ “Test Track” radio segment, I was hooked on the Washington (state) native’s voice.  His smoky, whiskey soaked vocal delivered a lyrical song that, in the hand of a lesser talent, might even have come off ast rite.  That impression was over five years ago.  I reviewed the “Days Of Our Lives” album after the hit single of the same name became a hit.  I loved it and I still don’t understand how his record label, at the time, Mercury Records Nashville, messed up making him a star.  Whatever happened, James, a member of the Muzik Mafia, is back with a John Rich produced record set to be released in the spring by Warner Brothers Nashville.

 ”Just Got Started Loving You” is one of those songs that has slowly moved its way up the radio charts.  Seductive and sexy like many of Andy Griggs‘ songs, “Lovin’ You” may just be the song that gets “The Otto Show” off and flying.  The Andy Griggs comparison is a strong one for radio is missing that kind of voice, since they won’t play Griggs himself, but Otto actually has a voice that would sound good singing any genre.  Rich’s production on the song is spot on (as usual) and the mix of Hammond organs, fiddles and noticable steel guitars (not just to ‘make sure it’s country’) is certainly a great way to get a song in my good graces. This is probably the most romantic song on radio since Josh Turner’s “Your Man” was a chart topper back two years ago. 

If you want to hear this song, I suggest going over to iTunes and downloading it for free.  It’s their “Discovery Download” this week after last week featured Ashton Shepherd’s “Takin’ Off This Pain” as their ’single of the week.’ 

Grade: A-

Jewel – “Stronger Woman”

 

If you can picture what Taylor Swift might sound like in 15 years, that picture probably would be something like “Stronger Woman” from Jewel.  Jewel went from sleeping in her car to being a big star in the late 1990’s with “Foolish Games” and “Who Will Save Your Soul.”  While many traditionalists and neo country fans might argue about the merits of a Beyonce or a Jessica Simpsoncrossing over to country music from pop, Jewel shouldn’t and doesn’t merit the same arguments.  She’s always been more ‘folk’ than pop, which has often landed Jewel in the ‘outside’ the Top 40 ranks.  I always thought she should’ve been a country singer, and now, with her new recording contract with The Valory Music Group, she is.  “Stronger Woman” is a song that moms of Taylor Swift fans will love.  It’s also highly likely that those same tweens and teens will like this well-written ‘girl power’ song too.  What this adds up to is another finely produced single from the Big Machine label group. 

Grade : B

Rockie Lynne – “I Can’t Believe It’s Me”

Rockie Lynne first appeared in 2005 with his wonderful single “Lipstick.“  While radio barely let it slip by the Top 30, Lynne’s major label Universal South released his album anyway.  Two more singles, “Do We Still” and “More” both failed to make the Top 4o and Lynne was dropped by the label.  New indie label Robbins Nashville, with big label distribution a la “Indie” label “Big Machine Records, snatched up Rockie and “I Can’t Believe It’s Me” is the first fruit of their partnership.  It is as mainstream as country records get, the production is crisp, the lyric is relatable (if not overdone), and the Ronnie Dunn-like vocals are as top-notch as anything Lynne’s previously recorded.  It’s a strong debut for the label and it should be Rockie’s big breakthrough at country radio. 

 Grade: B+

Listen (via MySpace)

Ashton Shepherd – “Takin’ Off This Pain”

 

With the release of this single, Shepherd is one of the critical ‘ones to watch for 2008. Possessing a strong traditional country mentality, Shepherd seems to have fans and the industry abuzz. With a voice like hers, and a song like “pain,” it’s easy to see why. The vocal is strong,t he production is crisp and a lyric that’s Gretchen Wilson-like without the trailer trash mentality.  In the end, this a fine debut single that leaves you waiting with baited breath for Ashton Shepherd’s debut album to drop.

 Grade: B+

Country Music and American Idol

With the recent news that 2006 (Season 5) winner Taylor Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee both lost their record deals with SonyBMG (while the 3rd and 5th place guys, Elliot Yamin and Chris Daughtry, rack up the hits), I think the producers of the show have or should look into ‘pushing’ more country or, rather, country/pop singers through to the final voting rounds.  Look at the genre’s track record with the show.   While not much is remembered of the first two season’s contestants, Josh Gracintook his 4th place finish to Nashville and recieved a record deal from Lyric Street Records.  He charted 3 Top 5 singles from his eponymous debut with “Nothin’ To Lose” hitting the top spot.  He has charted three singles from an unreleased sophomore record but only reached the Top 20 (“Favorite State Of Mind”).  Sixth place contestent Carmen Rasmussen initially self-released an EP before signing with indie Lofton Creek Records in 2006.  She released her debut album “Nothing Like Summer” in the summer of 2007.  Fellow Contestants from season two to have some connections to country are Kimberly Caldwell and Vanessa Olivarez.  Caldwell has looked for a deal while Olivarez is a co-writer of the song “Sugarland” by the popular duo of the same name.

 Season 3 didn’t produce anybody who has gone on to even sniff at a country career but Season 4 turned out to be a big one for both country music and American Idol.  Three of the Top 12 finalists had country leanings and while the troubled Jessica Sierra (currently mandated to two years of rehab in lieu of jail time for drug/alcohol issues) has found herself being directed towards pop and rock,  12th place finisher Lindsey Cardinale  has benefited from a couple years of seasoning and was recently signed to a record deal by Aria Records Nashville.  Lindsey also dueted on newcomer (and Iraq war veteran) Stephen Cochran’s debut album from the same record.  “Let It Rain” might be the best song on Cochran’s eponymous record.  While the success of Cardinale is nice, the success of Season 4 winner  Carrie Underwood is noteworthy.  Living up to the title that she won, Carrie has overcome her lack of experience to become one of country’s best voices and most commercial artists.   She even crossed-over to find pop success with a song that wasn’t remixed for pop airwaves.   Her runner-up, Bo Bice, released a Gold selling debut album for RCA Records but the “nickelback-lite” which RCA favored wasn’t that successful and Bo found himself following season 5’s Elliott Yamin’s self-released path.  As such, Bice’s sophomore record, “See The Light” is a southern rock opus that could do well on country’s airwaves if he was given a chance to. 

 Season 5 featured a couple of artists who’ve gone on to get major label deals in Nashville.  Not only have Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covingtongarnered label deals but both artists have found success at radio.  Pickler even has a Gold record.  While Covington’s self-titled record may lean more towards Bo Bice than it does Hank Williams, the current country/rock flavor favored by radio allows him to have success.  Pickler rode a wave of “aw-shucks, ain’t she adorable” production pieces on American Idol to the 5 of the show.  Covington managed to crack country’s Top 10 charts with his debut single “A Different World.” 

the 6th season of American Idol was considered ho-hum by many but one bright spot may have been the Navy’s Phil Stacey.   Following in Gracin and Covington’s footsteps, Stacey was signed to Lyric Street Records in late 2007 and released his debut single in a week ago.  “If You Didn’t Love Me” is a country/pop song co-written by label mate Gary LeVox (of Rascal Flatts).   While Stacey has yet to prove that he’ll continue to American Idol’s streak of placing finalists within the Top 40 of the country charts, he certainly is further proof that American Idol would be smart to ‘focus’ more on the country/country-pop artists who show up on the show in season 7.   And while it’s true a ‘traditional country’ guy or girl has never managed to made it to the Final portions of the show, the fact that country continues to be the most popular radio format for music (talk radio is #1), bodes well for American Idol’s continued support of country.  After all, the show has produced more successful country artists than they have any other genre. 

Phil Stacey – “If You Didn’t Love Me”

 

 

 

 

 

While watching American Idol last year one singer immediately grabbed me.  Phil Stacey was the singer and I immediately felt that he was a candidate to get signed to a recording contract by one of Nashville’s many labels.  Phil managed to make it pretty far into the competition.  On the show he sang songs ‘country’ to the point that he, like fellow bald AI alum Chris Daughtry, was pegged as a guy who knew who he was.  Thus, he probably wasn’t going to need to win to get the record deal.  Those thoughts were right and Lyric Street records, home to former AI contestants Josh Gracin and Bucky Covington, quickly agreed to a deal with Stacey.  He entered the studio with Wayne Kirkpatrick and recorded a song that was co-written by Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox.  “If You Didn’t Love Me” is the song and it is the kind of song I expected to from Phil.   A ‘tempo’ ballad that is unsurprisingly similar to some of Rascal Flatts’ songs, given the co-write by Levox, I don’t see how this song won’t be ‘loved’ by radio.  People who’ve liked the songs from Rascal Flatts will probably enjoy this song more due to Stacey’s more appealing vocals.  He has a voice that is husky and rich and at times recalls Heath Wright from Ricochet.  As far as debut singles go, this one’s a keeper.  In fact, it might be the best debut country single from a male American Idol participant.

 Listen here: If You Didn’t Love Me (requires real player)

Living Hard with Real Things and That Lonesome Song about Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love: The Best Country albums from 2007

With 2007 now in the books and the best singles discussed, it’s time for The Lost Highway to disseminate its favorite albums from the year. There were some surprising releases on this list along with some that weren’t so surprising. Also, there are a few albums that just didn’t hit the mark they were intending to hit. The rules for our list are simple. The only qualifications are that the album should be released in the last calendar year, contain all-new material and be released for the country music market. So, pour yourself your favorite beverage and sit back and enjoy the list.

15. Josh Turner – Everything Is Fine
(MCA/UMG Nashville)
Josh Turner has a voice for the ages. It’s a strong resonating baritone that can convey every lyric he sings with honesty and sincerity. It’s that kind of vocal ability that made Randy Travis a superstar and has also found Turner doing quite well. “Firecracker” started the record off on a nice note but it’s the two ‘duets’ “Another Try” and “Nowhere Fast” that really make this a record worth owning. The second single from “Everything Is Fine,” “Another Try” is also Turner’s first real ballad released to radio since he became a radio star. Trisha Yearwood adds her sterling vocals to the song. Anthony Hamilton co-wrote and duets on “Nowhere Fast” and who’d have thought these two seemingly different vocalists would turn out a great track? “So Not My Baby” is a fun little summer song while “Soulmate” is a classic sounding love song that may just end up a wedding anthem in the years to come.

14. Bobby Pinson – “Songs For Somebody”
(Cash Daddy/CuBJ Entertainment)
Bobby Pinson has the kind of haggard, expressive voice that is easily identifiable. Unfortunately that seems to be the kind of thing that radio really doesn’t want nowadays. Sometimes it seems as if they don’t want music with any identity but instead ‘background’ music that people don’t mind hearing in between the commercial breaks. With that said, Bobby Pinson self-made and released “Songs For Somebody” and used the internet to initially distribute it. Songs like “Back In My Drinkin’ Days” and “Just To Prove I Could” are as well produced and written as anything on radio but they go deeper because they have that great voice emoting each lyric. Songs like “ Past Comin’ Back” and “If I Met God Tonight” help to clearly identify Pinson as a superstar songwriter.

13. Miranda Lambert – “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”
(Columbia Records)
While Miranda may be a bit ‘over-rated,’ she still delivers good records. The title track, “Gunpowder & Lead” and “Guilty In Here” showcase her raucous side while “Down” and her biggest hit to date, “Famous In A Small Town” showcase the more literate, Mary Chapin Carpenter-like songwriter in her arsenal. It all adds up to a wonderfully complete sophomore record. It’s the kind of sophomore record that Gretchen Wilson probably wishes she had made to follow-up “Redneck Woman.”

12. Jack Ingram – “This Is It”
(Big Machine Records)
Jack Ingram has always been a favorite of the Lost Highway, and his emergence in 2006 as a radio star was well-earned. “This Is It” contains all of the previously released singles, the chart-topper “Wherever You Are,” and Top 20 singles “Love You, and “Lips Of An Angel.” Also included are “Measure Of A Man” and new single “Maybe She’ll Get Lonely” Another standout is “Hold On.

11. Sarah Johns – “Big Love In A Small Town”
(BNA Records)
While there wasn’t a hit single released from the record, Sarah Johns was able to see her album get released to radio. This is the kind of record that could remind some of Sara Evans’ debut record in that it is unabashedly country. Such a record seeing the light of day on a major label and without a true hit single is something we all should be championing. Standout tracks include the title song, “The One In The Middle” and “He Hates Me.”

10. Elizabeth Cook – “Balls”
(Thirty One Tigers)
Formerly on Warner Brothers Records, Miss Cook has managed to release a record that out does that WB one-off. Too ‘traditional’ for radio, Cook released one of the better singles in “It Takes Balls To Be A Woman” (which was somehow forgotten on our best singles list). There isn’t a bad track on the whole disc and if radio were not so ‘pop-oriented,’ Elizabeth would most surely have had a hit or two already from this classic release.

9. Tracy Lawrence – “For The Love”
(Rocky Comfort Records)
The first release from his own record label, Tracy Lawrence sure hit the mark with “For The Love.” It is his best record in about a decade and features a nice mixture of traditional country tunes (“Just Like Her) with more mainstream fare like the stellar “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” single. The second single of this solid selling record , “Til I Was A Daddy Too” is a wonderful song which shows off the newer, softer side of Mr. Lawrence.

8. Brad Paisley – “5th Gear”
(Arista Nashville)
Brad Paisley may make some goofy songs like “Ticks” but it’s songs like those, along with his strong vocals that help keep him country. His stellar guitar playing doesn’t hurt matters either and lead-off track (and future single) “All I Wanted Was A Car” showcases all that has helped Mr. Paisley become a superstar. Other strong tracks on the CD are “Letter To Me,” “Better Than This” and the Carrie Underwood duet “Oh Love.”

7. Blake Shelton – “Pure BS”
Warner Brothers Records
2007 is the year in which Blake Shelton seemingly put it all together. His record featured two strong singes, the more mainstream “Don’t Make Me” and the more traditional sounding “The More I Drink.” But they’re not even the best songs on the record. “Back There Again” and “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” get that nod.

6. Tim McGraw – “Let It Go”
(Curb Records)
Even without “If You’re Reading This” “Let It Go” is one of the best releases of the year. But when you add one of the years best singles to a record full of all kinds of great country songs, you have a stellar record. Aside from the Number one hit “Last Dollar (Fly Away),” the record also contains “I Need You,” I’m Workin’” and “Between The Devil And Me.”

5. Gary Allan – “Living Hard”
(MCA/UMG Nashville)
Gary Allan has sung just about everything in his career and there isn’t a time that we didn’t like it. Even when singing songs that did not really fit his mold, Gary managed to place some grit onto them. More often than not “Living Hard” comes off as sounding like a record from a man firmly in his groove. “We Touched The Sun,” “Like It’s A Bad Thing,” “Learning How To Bend,” and “Half Of My Mistakes” are the standouts here.

4. Joe Nichols – “Real Things”
(Universal South)
From the moment “The Impossible” was released to radio, we knew Joe had everything it took to be a country music star. Joe has managed to continue to make compelling singles but never has really pulled-together a top-flight album until now. The title track could be the best song he’s ever recorded while singles “Another Side Of You” and “All Good Things” only tell part of the story as Joe’s recording of “She’s All Lady” proves that a great song is a great song and it does not need to be ‘pop-sounding’ to be worthy of airplay.

3. Jamey Johnson – “That Lonesome Song”
(Big Gassed Records)
Jamey Johnson released one record in 2006 with major label BNA Records. But, for some reason, they didn’t like him enough to get passed a half-hearded promotion of his second single. Jamey took back the reins of his career and steered it towards songwriting and scored when George Strait won the ACMs with “Give It Away.” Jamey based the song on his own life and much of what’s found on “That Lonesome Song” follows the same path. “High Cost Of Living,” “In Color” and “Next Ex Thing” are but three of the great tracks found on this record.

2. Porter Wagoner – “Wagonmaster”
(Hellcat Records)
While it won’t have the same ‘iconic’ status among all music genres as Johnny Cash’s “American IV” record did, “Wagonmaster” nonetheless had a smaller impact on those who’ve given the record a chance. It’s one for the ages, a piece of quality material from a legendary artist. Like Cash’s last few albums, “Wagonmaster” showcases a great artist making vital music. There isn’t a bad track on the record and Marty Stuart’s production is reverential and the stories told by Porter are nothing short of genius. “Committed To Parkview” and “Albert Ervin” are just two of the standouts.

1. Trisha Yearwood – “Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love”
(Big Machine Records)
The title track was a Top 20 hit for Garth Brooks’ bride but it did more than enough to announce the re-emergence of a superstar vocalist of the highest order. Trisha Yearwood is the best vocalist of her generation (in any genre of music, male or female) and rivals some of the all-time greats. Her voice is an instrument that can wrap itself around a lyric and pull out every ounce of drama and emotion out of it. Every track on the record stands up to the best of her work and “This Is Me You’re Talking To” is perhaps the finest moment of Trisha’s career. It’s a career record. She reaches for the sky but never over sings and always controls her voice, something the younger female vocalists could learn from. Trisha’s had a few hits that were penned by Matracia Berg and a couple here, “They Call It Falling For A Reason” and the gorgeous “The Dreaming Fields,” could both be hits. “Sing You Back To Me” is another beautiful song from Tony Arata and it works as a perfect ending to 2007’s best album.

The Best Country Songs of 2007

In Country Music in 2008, as with any year, there will be the good, the bad, and the in between.  In 2007 country music had a lot of good, too much bad, and a fair share of the in between.  As is customary on a music website, I have compiled a list of my favorite songs from the year 2007.   Without further verbositiy, here is the list:

30. Brad Paisley – “Letter To Me”
A single released from the “5th Gear” album.
If there was an artist in country music who rivaled Keith Urban’s sheer musical ability it’d be Brad Paisley. I’ve always liked Paisley but over the years his humorous songs sometimes don’t appeal to me as they probably should. “Ticks” was a perfect example of this. However, Paisley has always counter-balanced his humorous songs with genuinely inspired moments and “Letter To Me” is one of those moments. I never expected this song written by a grown-up Paisley to his fifteen-year-old self to be a single but here it is as one. Kudos to both Brad and his label for getting it out there. It’s clever (as all of his songs seem to be, even the creepy/tacky ones like “Ticks”) and worth seeking out because who hasn’t wished they could write a letter to their younger selves?

29. Jason Meadows – “18 Video Tapes”
From the “100% Cowboy” album.
Singing in a voice that’s similar to radio star Craig Morgan, Jason Meadows sings a touching parental story. Afraid that his unborn child will grow up without a father, a man decides to record a video tape of ‘lessons’ for each year of the child’s life. It’s the kind of song that country music does well and goes down a well-worn path and carves a refreshingly new perspective on it. Vince Gill, once again, shows why he’s one of the most gracious singers in the business by singing flawless harmonies behind the former contestent of Nashville Star.

28. Lady Antebellum – “Love Don’t Live Here”
A single available digitally and from their forthcoming album.
A trio comprised of Charles Kelley, Hilary Scott and Dave Haywood. The band has ties to a couple moderately famous people in Josh Kelley and Linda Davis. Charles is Josh’s brother (and former drummer) and Hillary is Linda’s daughter. The trio formed in 2006 and was signed to a major contract in 2007. Perhaps hoping to clinb on the Sugarland gravy train, Capital Records signed the trio. Coming somewhere in between Sugarland and Little Big Town this band with an interesting name certainly has created a catchy debut single that also is one of my favorite moments of the year.

27. Ashton Shepherd – “Takin’ Off This Pain”

Available in the digital format.

Recently released to radio, Shepherd is one of the critical ‘ones to watch for 2008. With a strong traditional country mentality, Shepherd seems to have fans and the industry abuzz. With a voice like hers and a song like “pain” it’s easy to see why. Terri Clark seems to be having a hard time at radio these days so maybe Ashton will take her place as the ‘traditional girl’ the way both Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift seem to be the ‘pop girls’ at radio.

26. Ashley Monroe – “I Don’t Want To”
A single that is available in the digital format.
Released in 2006 but charting in 2007 within the Top 40, ”I Don’t Want To” also features Ronnie Dunn. While they sound OK together, Monroe’s distinctive voice is what makes this song. Sadly, radio doesn’t seem to be “Satisfied” with miss Monroe. I guess it is just that hard to break female artists at country radio. Hopefully as gifted as Ashley is that she’ll get the chance to have a full album released.

25. George Canyon – “I Want You To Live”
From the Canadian release “Somebody Wrote Love“
A huge hit in Canada from the former Nashville Star runner-up, George Canyon penned a touching song that deals with a well-worn discussion (death) in country music and manages to make a compelling song with it. It also shows off Canyon’s fine voice as he sings the chorus “I want you to live, I want you to love, I want to go back to the way it was, to hear you say my name again, I want to see your smile again, I want you to live.“ Anyone who’s lost someone close to them will certainly relate to the lyrics of this potent ballad.

24. LeAnn Rimes & Marc Broussard – “Nothing Wrong“
Album track from “Family“
Firmly into her second decade as a country artist (at only 25 years old), LeAnn finally took the reigns of her career and recorded the best album of her career. This duet pairs one of my favorite male vocalists with one of my favorite female vocalists. Co-written by the pair with songwriter Blair Daly, The song finds the two outstanding vocalists blending their voices together. While not steeped in traditional country tones, the song is nonetheless a greasy, gritty love song. It works really well and helps lend some credence to my feelings that Broussard probably could have a successful country career if he wanted it.

23. Lance Miller – “She Really Loves Me”
Available digitally.
Channeling classic country vocalists of yesterday (particularly Gene Watson), Lance Miller came out with this dandy little single in March of 2007. I never expected it to be a huge hit at country radio (its way to ‘country’ for a debut single) but I did expect the song to do marginally well. I guess country radio’s target audience didn’t like the former Nashville Star contestant’s lyrics. It basically says that the woman has stopped complaining about his messy habits at home and told him to go ahead and go out with the boys at the bar. He says “Either she really loves me or she doesn’t really love me anymore.” Humor always has a place in country and I suspect if Brad Paisley had written/recorded this gem instead of Miller it would’ve been a multi-week number one hit.

22. Lori McKenna – “I Know You”
Can be found on the album “Unglamorous“
Singe JoDee Messina made it ok for women from Massachusetts to be country artists, The family McGraw’s favorite songwriter (Tim co-produced the record), McKenna has made waves in the Nashville industry with her songwriting style. The first track off of her “debut” Nashville album, “I Know You” is a rocking reminder to men out there that their wives often know them better than they think. It’s also a warning to the same men who might consider cheating or leaving ‘for greener pastures.’ This song is as real as a song can get and that still can be a hallmark of country music if given the chance.

21. Brooks and Dunn – “God Must Be Busy“
A single released from the “Cowboy Town” album.
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have been around seventeen years now and in that time they’ve achieved almost every acknowledgment and award conceivable. Often found wasting his talents away on lighter fare, Dunn is one of the best male vocalists in any genre. He has a flexible voice that can go into falsetto as easy as anyone but it is songs like “God Must Be Busy” and “Believe” where he offers up a master class in vocals. Co-written by Dunn, the song basically says just what the title suggests; that God must not be able to respond to everything they pray to him for.

20. Eric Church – “Lightning”
From the album “Sinners Like Me.”
One of the best ‘album tracks’ of 2006 makes an appearance here due to it being released to the video outlets as a single . A simple acoustic guitar strums through the chorus as Church sings from the point of view of a death row inmate about to meet his maker. ”Lightning” finds Eric asking forgiveness from everyone and not really being sure what will happen (although the final verse does allude to redemption in heaven). It’s the strongest song on Church’s album, far from mainstream radio success and the song that he secured a publishing and album deal with.

19. Taylor Swift – “Our Song”
A single from the album “Taylor Swift.“
Currently the darling of the country music industry, the seventeen-year-old Swift has moved around two million albums on the basis of three singles and currently has a healthy cross-over career going. While her first two singles didn’t ‘grab me,’ “Our Song” has an immediate hook that will wrap any adult wrapped in nostalgia. It’s just a well-written and produced song (with great fiddle fills and a banjo and dobro driven rhythm section). It’s no surprise to me that the song is Miss Swift’s first chart-topping hit from an album that was co-written by her. A cross-over pop remix of this song is no doubt in the plans for 2008.

18. Tracy Lawrence – Find Out Who Your Friends Are
From the “For The Love” album.
Tracy Lawrence was one of 2007’s biggest surprises. He spent about 40 weeks working this single to radio and was rewarded with his First #1 hit in 10 years. One of the 1990’s biggest stars, this song also became a CMA Award winning song when the ‘trio’ version of the song won for Best Collaboration with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney. While that version is what helped make the song the big hit it was, Both versions stand on their own to support a lyric that says friends will always show their true colors when another friend is down on their luck.

17. Keith Urban – Everybody
From the “Love, Pain & the whole Crazy Thing” album while radio version can be found on the “Greatest Hits” CD.
One of three Keith Urban tracks to make my list, “Everybody” is one of those “well-duh!” kinds of songs. It is the kind of song that talks directly to the heart. It says that we don’t need to ‘go it alone’ in life and that there is always someone to talk to. It’s a great song that obviously was written from pain that Keith had in his own life before Nicole Kidman(and right before he went into rehab again). It could even be seen as a love letter to Nicole. As with all KU singles, Everybody was cut down to fit radio airplay (thus removing part of his brilliance as an artist, the solos), but it still is one of 2007’s best songs from perhaps my favorite artists.

16. Hal Ketchum – My Love Will Not Change“
From the UK release of the “One More Midnight” album.
I first heard Hal do this song a couple of years ago. A cover of the Del McCoury band’s bluegrass hit, “My Love Will Not Change” fits Hal Ketchum’s folksy vocals just right. While less’ bluegrass-y, the song still retains the rootsy nature but is instead turned into a delightful slice of Americana music that I hope will see the light of day as a release in the States.

15. Jack Ingram – “Measure Of A Man”
A single released off of the fine “This Is It” album.
Jack has had a good run at radio the last year and a half or so. While people probably will always ‘hate’ him for one of two things (or for both), with them being his ’sell-out’ for radio airplay and is cover of “Lips Of An Angel,” I’ve liked Jack for a long time and don’t think he’s sold out at all. In reality, country radio just caught up to his country rock hybrid. Written by Radney Foster (Don’t be fooled, Ingram is a great writer too), “Man” is a slice of Petty heartland rock that has big sweeping hooks, strong production values and a great vocal from Ingram. While not a Top 10 hit, this song proves that radio still doesn’t always ‘get it.’

14. Rodney Atkins – “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)“
From the album “If You’re Going Through Hell.“
2007 was a year to remember for Adkins (as was 2006). Two of his songs went #1 (making it 3 in a row) and both of them were in the Top 5 country airplay songs. “Cleaning This Gun” is Rodney’s current single and it shows a side of the south where fathers are often very protective of their daughters and picky about the men they go out with. This well-written, picaresque song discusses the subject quite well. It has been a favorite of mine from the record and I’m glad Atkins and Curb Records released it.

13. Kenny Chesney – “Demons”
From the “Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates” album.
“When I’m not chasing demons, there’s demons chasing me” is the hook of the song. While there’s no memorable repeated chorus, “Demons” is one of those songs that helps remind people that Chesney is a good songwriter and song interpreter. It’s also a song that’s never going to get a shot at country radio. because of the pace and five minute and a half running time. That actually is probably a plus since Chesney’s singles seem to get played too much at radio.

12. Tim McGraw & Faith Hill – “I Need You”
From Tim McGraw’s “Let It Go” record and Faith Hill’s “Greatest Hits” album.
“I Need You like a needle needs A vein” could be the most unusual country lyric of the year yet it is the actual hook of the song. Then again Brad Paisley made a pick-up line about Ticks popular so maybe not, but I digress. Tim and Faith have recorded together quite a bit but this is one of the few true duets in their catalog. It’s a mature song performed expertly by a ‘power couple’ who truly has ‘made it’ and shows no signs of the typical ‘Hollywood” meltdowns.

11. Trace Adkins – “I Wanna Feel Something”
From both the “Dangerous Man” and “American Man: Greatest Hits 2” albums.
Criminally ignored at radio, this is the kind of song that made me a fan of Trace Adkins in the first place. He is one of the better song interpreters but all too often records silly songs like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” or “Swing.” Even if those songs sell albums to the ladies it’s songs like this one that make me a fan (and able to forget the ‘ditties’ radio gets to play). The vocal is strong, the mandolin-paced melody is nice and the lyrics highly relatable (about the want to not wander through live ‘numb’). Who hasn’t felt like that once or twice?

10. Blake Shelton – “Back There Again”
From the “Pure BS” album.
Now starting to get national exposure outside of the country music community, Blake Shelton has had a steady stream of hits on the country charts. Written by respected songwriter Tom Douglas, “Back There Again” is a slice of pure country ballad perfection. It’s a song that discusses a guy who doesn’t have the heart to go through ’slow-motion suicide’ by self-destruction. the lyric here really hits home:

9. Trisha Yearwood – “Heaven, Heartache & The Power Of Love”
From her album of the same name.
I could argue for hours, with musical evidence, that Trisha is the best female vocalist recording music today. She controls her instrument better than other like-voiced artists (Carrie Underwood for example) and knows that vocal power doesn’t need to be in a song to sell it. It’s the nuances of a lyric that the voice should show off and this song is a perfect example it.

8. Jamey Johnson – “In Color”
From the “That Lonesome Sound” album.
After having a cute little single (“The Dollar” on BNA Records, Jamey was unceremoniously let go by his label in 2006. Around that time he was gaining success as a songwriter (For songs like “Give It Away” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”). In the middle of 2007 Jamey recorded a powerful traditional country record and released it digitally. One of the standout tracks is “In Color.” It’s a slow-building lyrical gem that showcases Jamey’s strong vocal ability. That voice alone would get many a men a record deal but add in the ability to turn phrase and melody and it should be a big crime that labels screw-up with acts like Jamey Johnson.

7. Porter Wagoner – “Committed To Parkview”
From the album “Wagonmaster.”
Much like what happened with Johnny Cash and his “American Recordings” series, Porter reached critical success at the end of his life with “Wagonmaster.” the Centerpiece of the Marty Stuart-produced effort is this great Cash-penned song. Wagoner intros the song with a story about his own time at the mental hospital. Cash gave it to Porter. Simple acoustic music with an age-worn voice, “Parkview” is nonetheless one of 2007’s finest country songs.

6. Keith Urban – “Stupid Boy”
From the “Love, Pain & the whole Crazy Thing” album and the new “18 Kids: Greatest Hits” CD.
Keith Urban is an artist who has gotten better and better with every year.  He’s most certainly earned his place at the top.  While the single edit of the song is available some places, it pales in comparison to the album version of the song.   the Single barely alludes to the fact that Keith is the ’stupid boy’ whereas the album cut reveals it with a mournful guitar and vocal over the course of nearly three minutes.  Urban and his label must agree for ”Stupid Boy” is one of two ‘album cuts’ to make his recent “Greatest Hits” release. 

5. Joe Nichols – “Real Things”
From the album of the same name.
When I listen to this song I think of my family. It is one of the finest honest-to-God country songs I heard in 2007. It spills out my feelings about life and family in a way that I wish I had written it. Nichols sings over a soft dobro/mandolin/acousic guitar backed melody in his typical laid-back way (like Merle) that just feels like home. When you’re thousands of miles away from home, songs like this mean something. That’s the power of music, folks.

4. Sugarland – Stay
From the album “Enjoy The Ride“
While Trisha Yearwood is the finest female vocalist in music, Jennifer Nettles isn’t far behind. Together with her musical partner Kristian Bush, Nettles survived the sophomore slump in a big way in 2006/2007 with “Enjoy the Ride.” The mere fact that the band was confident enough to release this soft, acoustic ballad as a single is awesome but add in perhaps Nettles best vocal to date (backed simply by Bush’s guitar) and you have a potent song. Just awesome.

3. Vince Gill – “What You Give Away”
Can be found on “These Days.”
From the inspired and Grammy nominated 4 disc opus, “What You Give Away” is a song that should be a theme song for some political artist for it is the exact platform that they should be preaching from. Vince has often lived by these words: “No matter what you make, all that you can take, is what you gave away.” Add in stellar guitar solos (two different guitars), the harmony vocals of Sheryl Crow and you have what should’ve been a huge radio hit. Sadly, they didn’t think so. Still, Country’s greatest humanitarian has left us with a thought provoking song.

2. Tim McGraw – “If You’re Reading This”
From the “Let It Go” record.
With a world debut on the ACM Awards in early 2007, Tim found himself in the unexpected position of having two songs on the radio at the same time. Radio demanded the song be ‘remixed’ for airplay and after initially relenting to do so, stating that the war themed song was a special song for the show, Curb and McGraw did just that. Never officially recorded in a studio, the song drips with raw emotion as it plays out as the final will and testament of a fallen soldier. It’s probably one of the best songs Tim’s ever sang and he co-wrote it with the Warren Brothers. A superb song that that a fan of any genre can appreciate.

1. Keith Urban “I Told You So”
From the “Love, Pain & the whole Crazy Thing” album while radio version is found on the 18 Kids: Greatest Hits” CD.

Anyone who knows me well enough knows that it’s not often that a melody grabs me before the lyrics do but “I Told You So” managed to do just that. From the first time I heard it on “Love, Pain…” I was hooked. The fact that a song like this would be my favorite song from 2007 is quite a rare thing indeed. Urban has a knack for creating snappy melodies to go with his lyrics when he writes the songs but the melody made here is…inspiring. It rocks out, adds a Celtic touch in the fiddle arrangements to go with progressive rhythm, banjo (a ganjo in Urban lingo), and has killer guitar fills that sound new and fresh to me, which they most certainly are for country radio. Without a doubt Keith Urban deserves the #1 song of the year with a gem like “I Told You So.” 

While I’m sure some of you will think this list has it’s fair share of “the bad” or “the in between,” I feel these 30 songs represent most of “the good” from country music circa 2007, even if it is a heavily mainstream country leaning sort of list.  Have any songs you think I missed? Feel free to discuss.  Cheers. and Happy New Year.