Country Reviews Letter D
-
Artist:
Whitney
Duncan
Release
Date: 20 April 2010
Review:
After
the two video clips When I Said I Would and
Skinny Dippin’, I was expecting this album.
After so much delay and a quiet release, so
here I am, finally with this opus. After
listening it again and again, I must admit
some disappointment. Certainly the singer is
lovely and has a beautiful voice, but this is
not always enough. The two songs mentioned
above are the flagship tracks of the album,
and after that there is no longer anything.
The album is fun to listen as Right Road Now
and Open Road. But we expected a lot more of
this young singer with a powerful voice. She
makes me think about Shania Twain on her So
Sorry Mama. So it's a good country album with
nice songs but it could have been better. We
expect the next one because I'm sure this is
not the last we heard f her.
Rating
: 
Artist:
Sarah
Darling
Release
Date: 15 February 2011
Review:
Sarah undeniably has a
lovely voice and this opus shows a more
mature artist with a much more sophisticated
sounds than her previous Every Monday
Morning. This time we feel her much more
confident, even if she tries to follow the
footsteps of Taylor Swift, but she surprises
me. She uses a concept launched in 2010 by
Jamey Johnson with his The Guitar Song. She
gives us a double CD, the first one named
Devils consists of 7 tracks, the second one
of 5 tracks named Angels. Then of course
there are fewer songs than on Jamey
Johnson’s CD, but taking this concept is
quite original. She shows her two facets.
Everything is very pop and is without a
doubt for new country fans. She shows us
beautiful vocal harmonies and some good
tunes like Thank You, Something to Do With
Your Hands (present in both version, we
prefer the second). She doesn’t forget to
give us a nice ballad in The Boy Never Stays
or a good duet with Vince Gill in I Found In
You. We appreciate the rise of this young
artist since her last album, she has marked
a decisive turning-point in her career.
Rating
: 
Artist:
Sarah
Darling
Release
Date: 28 July 2009
Review:
Sarah Darling is one of
many new country artists who attempt to
play on the phenomenon of Taylor Swift.
The melodies are sweet, the voice is
beautiful, it’s for the new country fans.
The only problem is that there is no track
that really stand out, no hits. The CD is
pleasant to listen but I don’t see why
going back on it at a time where the
released are so numerous. We feels more
comfortable on soft ballads, although we
are constantly waiting for a composition
or a melody that will come off the lot.
All You've Got’ll please Christian music
fans, but we need more so this young
artist can succeed in the world of country
music. So we wait for her next album to
get a better idea.
Rating
:
Artist:
Dixie
Chicks
Release
Date: 27 August 2002
Review:
Here
is their sixth album, it’s a bit of a classic,
a CD that you can’t miss. We should call it
what it is, A mix that creates the best
effect: a touch of mellow in a world of noise.
this is a masterpiece. After opinions may
differ on this, we want more. We start very
strong with Long Time Gone, and then we
continue with the very committed and soft
Travelin‘ Soldier. Natalie Maine’s voice is
perfectly highlighted on this album. The vocal
harmonies are perfect and musically, like
White Trash Wedding it’s perfect. We fall
under their spell on the beautiful and the
sublime More Love I Believe in Love. And the
last 4 tracks allow us to finish the album
very softly. Whether in writing or
interpretation, the Dixie Chicks make us a
real demonstration of their skills. So don’t
deprive yourself of this album. To consume
without moderation, a classic in the world of
country music.
Rating
: 
Artist:
Dixie
Chicks
Release
Date: 27 January 1998
Review:
This
is probably one of their most popular album
you listen, you understand why. All
compositions are very successful and vocal
harmonies are great as always. We enjoy from
the start with catchy tracks like There's Your
Trouble, Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt
This Way?), But it’s with the hymn Wide Open
Spaces that we feel pure perfection. The soft
and slow Loving Arms just finish us. The Dixie
Chicks vary the tempos, proving us their great
talent. No matter what the rhythm, they
delight us. Then this CD is a must-have, and
this isn’t time for arguing!. This album is
timeless.
Rating
:
Artist:
Dixie
Chicks
Release
Date: 01 May 1992
Review:
The
album presents a different face of the Dixie
Chicks. Before the arrival of Natalie Maines,
the lead singer was Robin Lynn Macy. The trio
here was a quartet. A more traditional sound
some might say, even if it’s much more
contemporary than the bluegrass from their
beginning. This is the latest opus with this
singer besides, who found that the group went
a bit astray. We find a lot of covers on the
album, such as A Road Is Just a Road by Mary
Chapin Carpenter, Past the Point of Rescue by
Hal Ketchum; Hallelujah, I Love Him So by Ray
Charles (lyrics). We like these songs even if
we prefer the originals. After, a few
compositions are nice to listen, such as Irish
Medley, You Send Me (another cover by Sam
Cooke), or the so jazzy Pink Toenails. A CD to
have if you're a fan of the band because it’s
not a great album, but it’s fun to listen.
Please prefer albums with the trio that we
will know later, if you wish to discover this
band.
Rating
:
Artist:
Dixie
Chicks
Release
Date: 01 December 1990
Review:
This
is the first CD of the quartet composed of
Robin Lynn Macy, Laura Lynch, Martie Emily and
Erwin Erwin. Expect a series of covers of
country classics and a little jazz. In Brief a
mood album but alas it brings nothing new,
there is nothing much to expect from it. After
I must admit that I liked the vocal harmonies
on Bring It On Home to Me. But hey, there's
not much that makes us want to stop on such an
album, and that's a shame.
Rating
: 
Artist:
Dailey
and
Vincent
Album:
Sing
the
Statler
Brothers
Release
Date: 2010
Review:
Dailey
and Vincent is one of the most legendary bluegrass
band, so imagine my surprise when on this album, I
realized they made a tribute to the Statler
Brothers, another legendary bluegrass band. I am
impressed by the beauty of the voices,
instruments, everything is magnificent beauty.
It’s simply a masterpiece whether you like the
bluegrass style or not, 13 tracks, 13 germs. Let
yourself be lulled by this album, because there is
no waste, hats off. We love Class of 57, Hello
Mary Lou, Susan When She Cried. To listen to and
to listen again.
Rating
:
Artist:
Deryl
Dodd
Album: Together
Again
Release
Date: 25 August 2009
Review:
After
several years of absence, this Honky Tonk is
back with this album that leaves me perplexed.
If the beginning is in his style, we love
songs like Together Again, Back To The Honky
Tonks and Things You Don't Know, the album is
mixed. If I was surprised by the shifted track
Beer And The Belly, from the middle of the
album the sound becomes more contemporary,
which doesn’t look anything like the artist.
So if his voice is good on some songs like It
Don't Take Much and Lost Highway, we didn’t
him on this register. A good surprise comes
with the covers I'll Fly Away and Odly by John
The Revelator. This mix genres and you lose a
little what we like about Deryl, we can’t
have everything. He even interpret a Christmas
song. The album is a good CD, fun to listen
to, it’s not his best, prefer his live at
Billy Bob's Texas. Surprised, a little
disappointed, it’s good but you could expect
something better.
Rating
:
Artist:
Deryl
Dodd
Album: Live
at Billy Bob's Texas
Release
Date: 05 August 2003
Review:
Ce
Honky Tonk dans l'âme nous offre non seulement
un superbe live mais en plus au Billy Bob's
Texas. Bon d'accord, lorsqu'on connait son
style musical, cela nous surprend guère. En
tout cas cet opus est sans doute l'un des
meilleurs qu'il m'ait été donné d'écouter de
ce chanteur. Tout se qui fait sa force se
trouve décuplé sur cette galette. On
aime retrouver des chansons comme A Man
Can't Help What He's Thinkin', That's
How I Got to Memphis ou encore Friends
Don't Drive Friends. Si
vous voulez savoir qui est vraiment Deryl
Dodd, alors écoutez: Things Are
Fixin' to Get Real Good. Voilà un
chanteur vrai qui loin de suivre les sentiers
battus, fait la musique qu'il aime, même s'il
n'est pas le plus populaire, cela n'a point
d'importance car il fait ce qu'il aime. Mais
là où j'ai été impressionné, ce sont sur les
superbes versions live et lentes des chansons
One Ride in Vegas et A Bitter End.
Un album chargé en émotion pour ce Honky
Tonk. On enchaine ensuite avec Drinkin'
'Bout You et ce ne sera pas une
surprise, un titre nommé That's Just Me.
On finit en beauté avec le très romantique Only
Thing That I Have Left qui est tout
simplement sublime. Un CD live comme celui-ci
se consomme sans modération.
Rating
:
Artist:
Deryl
Dodd
Album: One
Ride In Vegas
Release
Date: 08
October 1996
Review:
Although
this album is somewhat dated, I wanted to come
back to the "oldies". Deryl Dodd wrote the
vast majority of these tracks, and we must
admit that these compositions are always well
balanced. By that I mean he writes what he
feels, and especially by listening, we get
strong emotions. A lot of important messages
on this album as with Friends Don't Drive
Friends ... and That's How I Got To Memphis. I
admit that I really enjoyed listening to the
slower songs and especially some sad songs
like This Ol' World (Keeps Turning On Me), One
Ride In Vegas; remembering me a record that we
had trouble finding these days. Sentimentally,
we really feel that the songwriter has to get
something off his chest, and he takes
advantage of this CD to do it. And although
the world of country music has evolved since,
it nevertheless remains a good album to listen
to again and again. For nostalgic.
Rating
:
Artist:
Emerson Drive
Album:
Believe
Release
Date: 31
August 1999
Review:
After
a bad year, a change of label, the death of
their former bassist, this album who was
unfortunately released only in Canada at the
moment, proves that this country is full of good
bands. A powerful sound that stand out from the
start, I have to say quite pop, but it goes
pretty well. Tracks like That Kind of Beautiful
and Believe are really catchy. We just have to
wish a release in the US, which will boost the
career of one of the most popular Canadian
country band. For pop country fans.
Rating:
Artist:
Dixie Chicks
Album:
Fly
Release
Date: 31 August 1999
Review:
It’s
sometimes good to go back on albums that have
left a mark in country. This review is one of
those moments where we go back easily into a
wonderful world, the Dixie Chicks. This album
mixes the rhythms between some powerful and
sublime ballads, some others a bit softer,
lyrics that are breathtaking, the trio gave us a
very good album. Tracks like Ready To Run and
Cowboy Take Me Away are sublime, once finished
listening to this album, you'll want to start
over. Magnificent musical parts, perfect voice,
a singer Natalie Maines that captivates us with
her warm and powerful voice, so let's fly with
them.
Rating:
Album:
Country & Western Songs
Release
Date: non connu
Review:
This
artist was a pleasant discovery for me, I
listened to it for the first time in a festival
in France, surprised from the very start by his
voice. His voice, a rather typic country voice
of the old generation, one that takes you to the
guts and can’t leave you indifferent. I am
telling you this, you may like it or not at all.
Far from wanting to venture on slippery
surfaces, to try things he can’t do, Dan Dickson
pays his tribute to a Johnny Cash style, then of
course you have to love this period, but well at
the same time who doesn’t ?. An eleven tracks’s
album with six really goods songs, as King of
the Road, Detroit City, Rawhide, Riders in the
Sky, Achy breaky heart, Take me home. This
reminds me of those singers that are found in a
bar, the music that under fairly simple tunes,
surprise us by their quality, in short, a good
point for him. So let's go country!
Rating:
Album:
Cowgirl Deluxe
Release
Date: 24 October 2008
Review:
Member
of Mahogany Spirit, she has decided to release
her first Country music album. Humm a French
artist. One thing certain with this album, it’ll
give you the chills, rhythmic, rich, musically
varied, it’s a success for our pretty brunette.
But don’t stop at his cheeky style, listen to
her, she has a nice voice’s tone, and she know
how to sing in English, a rare thing. You are in
heaven from the beginning with Carry Me Home and
her intro so well known, and great songs keeps
coming, such as Cowgirl Deluxe and her tribute
to Patsy Montana, Hay Que, the magnificent
Missing, Why Do I, Faster so good musically,
Goodbye My Loneliness. It ends with a funny note
on Qui T’a Dit, track which is also the only
French one and that’ll make you smile I am sure.
The only complaint is that we would have liked a
few more songs in French, but hey the big plus
is that she wrote everyone of them, not a single
cover songs if I am not mistaken, not bad. Ha I
forget, once you have the album, you'll stop
wanting to take a shower but a bath, if you want
to understand why, simply purchase the album.
Rating:
Album:
Let Them Be Little
Release
Date: 29 March 2005
Review:
After
an 10-years absence, this singer is back with a
real country album. I was really surprised by
the quality of this album, either in writing,
musically or her voice, everything is country.
There is a small crazy side of the mafia music
with Race You To The Bottom, but also a very
beautiful Thank God I'm A Country Boy. In short,
a good surprise to share with everyone.
Rating:
Album:
Emerson Drive
Release
Date: 08 January 2007
Review:
The
Canadian group is back with a new CD, the
onslaught of America. Who would have thought?
Frankly I really tried to love their style but
unfortunately no I can’t. I know they have a
lot of success whatsoever with the CMA or the
public, but if this album is nicer than the
others, it’s too pop-oriented. It's not
country music anymore, or at least it’s too
diluted, we can even hear a little R&B, so
I like Rascal Flatts but Emerson Drive I still
can’t. Maybe it’s because I am not their
target. I liked very few songs, in fact they
are only 3: Say My Name, I Should Be Sleeping,
Light Of Day. They are truly successful, but I
confess that with the last 2 tracks, all my
hopes are gone. The country has a rich and
diverse style, there must be something for
everyone but I've reached my limit. For those
who love the genre boy band or fans of the
previous volumes, go there with confidence you
won’t be disappointed, others get yourself a
good old album of a band down-home, the
American band Rascal Flatts.
Rating:
Album: Live
From Iraq
Release
Date: 26 June 2007
Review:
Here
is the live in Iraq conducted by The Charlie
Daniels Band. In addition to a CD, there is a
DVD with interviews, videos, really good. As you
can guess this artist who has nothing more to
prove can only make good music, so if you like
patriotism like Toby Keith, go ahead, because
Charlie Daniels is a true patriot. This music
from the south really makes me feel good, it's
always a pleasure to hear and meet the artist,
then in addition as it’s a special occasion, we
can only thank him and tell him God Bless
America, United We Stand!
Rating:
Album: Countrified
Release
Date: 19 September 2006
Review:
I
think this new album is more oriented New
Country (and not pop) than their previous What
If? that I didn’t really enjoy. The melodies and
texts are great. Good tracks are present on this
album as A Good Man, You Still Own Me, Lucky
Man, Countrified Soul but the gem is Boy Becomes
A Man, with perfect lyrics and music. With this
track they show us that we were wrong or they
were poorly understood or at least misunderstood
with their previous album. Against the cover
Devil Went Down To Georgia (with Charlie Daniels
please) is badly interpreted. Why giving a tone
that mimics the Godzilla soundtrack, one step
forward two steps back? Certainly not this album
is better than the last. This isn’t really a boy
band, but a real Country music band, finally
some good news about them!
Rating:
Album: What
If ?
Release
Date: 29 June 2004
Review:
With
all the releases, It was about time I was
surprised, and what a surprise !. In fact,
Emerson Drive, is in some ways a Country
boy-band. Indeed you heard a boy band, not a
group. The whole is less formatted and
commercial than what we could have heard before,
some songs are good but you know, it's between
the pop and country, not New Country. I mean, if
your heart seems to be dwindling between pop and
New Country, that you don’t listen to any other
kind of country, then this CD is for you in some
ways. Personally I am not hook, I find that
everything is too ... and not enough ... Let me
explain, this is too hard, too formatted for my
taste, this is the opposite of what I believe
country is all about. After the melodies are
good, the voices are beautiful, there are some
instruments typically Country, such as banjos
and other so it gives a little Country sound,
but hey it’s far from a good country band like
Rascal Flatt per example.
Rating:
Album: Full
Circle
Release
Date: 27 June 2006
Review:
Here
is an album of Texas Music I enjoyed listening.
Know that this album was co-written largely with
the help of a friend of Deryl Dodd, the two met
while playing for some Martina McBride (yes I
know a stranger), after if I tell you that this
friend name is Brett Beaver. Who? one of the
largest songwriter, having written extensively
for Dierks Bentley, this can only be good. I
warn you this album is entirely dedicated to
Texas Music, honky tonk. The singer delivers a
mix of slow ballads and more rhythmic pieces.
The lyrics are rather simple but it works well,
I particularly liked tracks like Thanks to the
Man, I'm Not Home, Into Outlaw, Feels Like Home
To Me, Only Cause Your Lonely. This is not the
best album of this music style but in any case
the mixture is good. You doubt it? so listen to
I'm Not Home!. A good Texas music album.
Rating
:
Album:
Taming
The Long Way
Release
Date: 23 May 2006
Review:
One
of my favorite band finally released a new
album. Well put aside the Dixie Chick’s history
and especially that of the singer who I admit
annoyed me, especially when we know that one of
my favorite songs is Courtesy Of The Red, White
And Blue (The Angry American) by Toby Keith.
Let's just say that some singer should not have
been afford to tell things or should have assume
completely (London is not part of the US I
think) and finish her thought. But good politics
and music are really two different things. What
a mess! ! ! ha I love the first song and then
flop, I didn’t understand what was happening at
the first listening of the album. I was
speechless. It’s simply a very good track, The
long way around, where we find the group but
after nothing. You tell me: “but the album is
just different, a bit like Big and Rich, you
need more times to enjoy it “ ... To those out
there I would say three things, listen to Fly ,
Wide Open Spaces, Home. After and only after you
can go to the end of your thinking. The only
thing that is beautiful in the album is the
cover and interior photos. What a
disappointment! ! ! Buy the first single,
concerning the cover I don’t know if there is a
way to have it without the album ...
Rating: 
Artist: Emerson
Drive 
Artist
Emerson
Drive
Artist: Deryl
Dodd
Artist:
Dixie
Chicks