Country Reviews Letter M
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Artist
: Tim McGraw Album: Number One Hits
Release Date: 30 November 2010
Review:
Here is the fourth compilation of this artist and I must say that for once I am amazed. Okay there are 2 CD, which means that you left for the evening, but the choice of titles is very well done. It’s a real treat. No surprise, but only happiness in perspective. The whole is more mix which gives a certain charm. So if now Curb Records release it, I'm ok. Nothing to say, except that you must have it.
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Artist
: Reba
McEntireAlbum: All The Women I Am
Release Date: 09 November 2010
Review:
It’s her 26th CD, probably one of the albums that’ll play in loop this year. We begins with Turn On Your Radio, a powerful voice with electric guitars but the artist doesn’t forget slower tricks like If I Were A Boy. This title is a slap if I may say, the lyrics are really beautiful, she looks at love from a male point of view. Reba surprises us by changing tempos every time at the beginning of the album. I was surprised by the violin under The Bridge You Burn, but what comes to m mind when listening to this album, it's the resemblance to Carrie Underwood on the musical style. As you can see, this CD has a powerful sound, very new country. Reba proves once again that she’s still not distanced despite her 55 years. The album is like If I Were A Boy, a collection of feelings, experiences, that Reba gives us. So if I didn’t hook to all the tunes, I must recognize that this opus, co-produced by the artist, offers a lot of good time. There is even a version with a DVD bonus filled with videos, then yes, it’ll be hard not to love this All The Women I Am.
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Artist:
The
McClymonts
Album: Wrapped Up Good
Release Date: 15 January 2010
Review:
After the disappointment of their previous album, I wondered if I was going to find what had impressed us at the beginning: their vocal harmonies and rhythms. The least we can say is that it took them three years to prepare this album. And what a change !. From the beginning we find a powerful sound in Kick It Up and Wrapped Up Good. Then we keep the pace and found beautiful vocal harmonies on He Used to Love Me. Nothing to do with their previous Chaos Bright Lights, The McClymonts that we loved are back. After it was the turn of soft ballads with beautiful vocal harmonies that they achieve us, as on Take It Back, A Woman Is a Flame, Hearts on Fire and I Could Be a Cowboy. Their themes are pretty much the same, always centered on a woman who is trying to keep a relationship, to look for one or lose. But in any case they are always present in the composition and make us a comeback. This is an Australian band that should be able to come to festivals in France, I am just saying ...
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
The
McClymonts
Album: Chaos Bright Lights
Release Date: 12 November 2007
Review:
Sequel to the trio that I liked their demos. We start with some very pop sound on My Life Again and Save Yourself. We must wait the very rhythmic Settle Down, and then the sweet ballad Way Too Late to find the beautiful vocal harmonies of their previous album. But is it too late? Then we have You Were Right that gives us the powerful sound that we loved, followed by the sweet Til You Love Me. And the CD is finished. I feel a sharp decline from their The McClymonts. More pop, the whole is certainly country, but the vocal harmonies are less successful. Yet they wrote their texts. This time even helped by the cream of Nashville and Australia, composers such as Monty Powell, Eric Silver, Trey Bruce, Nathan Chapman, Steve Diamond and Frank Myers. Only great people !. The album is good, but we were expected so much more from these three beautiful Australian. So I am disappointed but it remains an album that I would enjoy coming back.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
The
McClymonts
Album: The McClymonts
Release Date: 05 June 2006
Review:
I remember watching a dvd with the best Australian country artist in 2007 published by CMC (Country Music Channel), several tracks were so catchy, one of the McClymonts sisters. Delayed the day when I’ll ask their manager to send me one of their album to review it, now it’s done. This first CD is more a demo. From the start the three pretty sisters set tone, it’ll be country pop. All is going pretty well. We enjoy from the start with the hit Something That My Heart Does, then we fall on the lovely ballad Beyond Tomorrow. The other three tracks Baby's Gone Home, Love You Like That and Jack are quite rhythmic, which’ll please line dancers as much as country fans. In addition all compositions were written by Brooke, Samantha and Mollie McClymonts. The vocal harmonies are beautiful. This is a promising start for a CD that I wanted to hear for quite some time. I suggest you to get it and follow the trio that comes from Australia, because for quite some time now, a lot of good bands come from this country. A good discovery.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Kathy
Mattea
Album: Coal
Release Date: 01 April 2008
Review:
If you like some sweet bluegrass melodies, I think that this album is for you. Kathy's voice is beautiful, musically it’s successful. I admit that I want to fall asleep because we are really talking about slow tempos. But if that's your style, go for it !. For once her bluegrass release goes better than her previous Right Out Of Nowhere. I would suggest you to go your way or try your luck with an older album, certainly quite different in style but there must be something for everyone. For sweet bluegrass fans.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Kathy
Mattea
Album: Right Out Of Nowhere
Release Date: 27 September 2005
Review:
Kathy Mattea is a singer with rather important past when we start talking about country music. I remember many of these albums. The least I can say is that I won’t remember it. Certainly the religious and very soft side is nice at first. But the whole is too linear for my taste, there is a tendency to fall asleep. The vocal harmonies are pretty but we would have liked a bit more variation with the tempos. Aside from Down On The Corner and Wade In The Water that put a bit of pace with their gospel style, everything feels the same. Musically it’s nice but I struggled to finish listening it, so I don’t think I'm going to listen it again, I think I’ll rather choose another one of her albums. A disappointment.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Allison
Moorer
Album: Crows
Release Date: 09 February 2010
Review:
This album is a sweet alternative folk than pure country. So This is not what will blow your speakers, or dance, except if you want to dance slowly. The singer wrote all the songs, which is impressive. We like tracks like The Broken Girl and When You Wake Up Feeling Bad. But we must recognize that a deep desire takes you to fall asleep while listening to the album. Her voice is soft, but the melodies are too slow. So if you enjoy slow tempos in folk style, go for it, if not go your way.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Kathy
Mattea
Album: Willow In The Wind
Release Date: 25 October 1990
Review:
I recently received her fifth CD. Certainly it dates but we must note that Katty Mattea is a safe bet in country. We found her voice, beautiful melodies. The compositions are quite sweet and romantic. The Katty’s style is present and it’s not a surprise if I say we take pleasure to listen or listen again to these songs. So yes for those oldies tunes. If you're a fan, I think you‘ll need to get this album, if it’s not already done. We really love her Hills of Alabam.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Kathy
Mattea
Album: Joy For Christmas Day
Release Date: 30 September 2003
Review:
I didn’t notice it at the time of its release, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this album. One finds all Katty’s vocal power on a magic song like Christmas Collage. She delights us with her Angels We Have Heard On High and surprises us with her Baby King. She varies the genres and that’s successful. So it’s not the best Christmas album that I have ever listened, but she has the merit to really focus on the religious side, the child Jesus. So notice to all fans of Christian music and country, you found the right combination.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim
McGraw
Album: Let It Go
Release Date: 27 March 2007
Review:
Here again an album in half shade from the hand of this great singer. If we start very strong with a tune written by Big Kenny with Last Dollar (Fly Away), it doesn’t take off. Between a version of Suspicions by Eddie Rabbitt who is just good, Between the River and Me that I find really bad, I am disappointed. Of course, there are good melodies like Let It Go and Train # 10. There's even two duets with his wife, even if on the second she does only the choirs. I Need You is successful, but Shotgun Rider is bland, even Faith Hill can’t do anything. So if the album is still good because we talk about Tim Mcgraw, I remain disappointed overall. I think we are far from his actual level.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim
McGraw
Album: Tim Mcgraw & The Dancehall Doctors
Release Date: 26 November 2002
Review:
If this is his 8th CD, it’s the first where his The Dancehall Doctors band is associated to an album. This gives a more rock style with great tracks] like Who Are They, Real Good Man. On the contrary he loses his sensitivity that made his charm for the past few albums. He tries to found it back on the average Tickin' Away or I Know How to Love You Well but I feel a net decline from these previous albums. Not that it’s a bad CD, but other than Red Ragtop and Real Good Man, I find that there's nothing to compete with his previous Set This Circus Down. So if I agree to acknowledge that he should try his fate and try new formulas to find his way. Why change a style of who was working so well?. A good album but still a net decline compared to what we were used to.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim McGrawAlbum: Set This Circus Down
Release Date: 24 April 2001
Review:
Seventh album by Tim McGraw, Set This Circus Down lays the foundations that have made him successful for the past two albums. He plays on sensuality in his own way and that affects you. From the start there are powerful hits as The Cowboy in Me and Telluride. You can only listen to them repeatedly. Then Things Change is interesting both musically and lyricaly. This is truly a masterpiece, speaking of criticism, life-changing. But he doesn’t stop there with Angel Boy, he adds a little religious side, he repented of his past, wondering How much sin will god forgive ?. Forget About Us is slow and powerful at the same time, his voice works miracles. His sensitivity hits you on tracks such as Set This Circus Down and Grown Men Do not Cry. There are also the beautiful Angry All the Time in chorus with Faith Hill. The warm atmosphere of Let Me Love You ‘ll stretch more than one. The album has a very rich, and with no waste. Surely you have to like his style but it’s a real treat. The album is very well built and you really have a good time.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim
McGraw
Album: Greatest Hits
Release Date: 21 November 2000
Review:
This is the first Greatest Hits compilation by Tim McGraw. With all the hits he gave us, it was about time. No need to list the 15 tracks on the album, all are successful and they’ll remind you of good time. I know we can never please everyone with this kind of compilation, but why forget Everywhere ?. No new with this album, except that for the first time, the duo Let's Make Love with Faith Hill will be on Tim album. It was recorded on the Faith Breath CD. This album is a great opportunity if you want to discover this so talented artist, and if you're a fan, I didn’t need to draw you a picture, go !. Over an hour of happiness.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim
McGraw
Album: A Place In The Sun
Release Date: 04 May 1999
Review:
Tim McGraw has become indispensable in country, and he is back with this fifth album. This opus shows some musical sensitivity that he had begun to show in his previous Everywhere. If I liked tacks like Seventeen and Something Like That, unless there is rhythm. Not that the rest is bad, on the contrary, but he plays more on his romantic side, very calm. Just listen to Somebody Must Be Prayin' for Me and My Best Friend, two slow and sweet songs are sublime. I was surprised by the lyrics in Señorita Margarita, he leaves his range but it's pretty good. Then he continue with his quiet side and we get the beautiful Please Remember Me and Carry On. The lyrics are very neat and his voice is enhanced as never before. We continue in the same range with My Next Thirty Years and Eyes of a Woman. Concerning songwritting, we got great country names as Deryl Dodd, Rodney Crowell, Will Jennings and Phil Vassar, nothing else. The album is quite successful, we fell relaxed. His style and Tim McGraw’s voice have its effect. While this isn’t my favorite album of the singer, I can only recommend it.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim McGraw
Album: Everywhere
Release Date: 03 June 1997
Review:
This fourth opus marks a turning point in his career. Having made a name in this business, he shows us a different facet, or at least a major development. After a powerful start that will remind you of his previous All I Want; Where the Green Grass Grows leaves me speechless. Lyrically we feel that this is his first CD since his marriage to Faith Hill. We continue with the magical For a Little While, then he achieves us on It's Your Love, a duet with his beloved. Everything is sublime. At that time we think: either we saw everything and begin to fear for the rest of the album, or we still holds a gem. In fact later we feel like a healing from Tim, the melodies are all successful. He put on a quicker pace with Ain't That the Way It Always Ends. But where he surprised me, it was under One of These Days. A song certainly quite slow but it’s necessary to listen repeatedly to be aware of this little gem. The lyrics are beautiful. Then Everywhere is a very good example of the new Tim Mcgraw, and I love it. You can’t stop to listening it in loop. A romantic desire and above all a hit. We continue gently with You Just Get Better All the Time. This new album confirms a singer who just continues to prevail. His marriage had an impact in his music and I must admit that the result is quite successful. This is an album that’ll please all country fans. Tim Mcgraw has once again succeeded showing us his talent, offering us a beautiful album.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim McGraw
Album: All I Want
Release Date: 19 September 1995
Review:
This third album by Tim McGraw releases after first two very good albums. The opus marks a rise of the singer. From the start he achieves us with the very catchy All I Want Is a Life. We couldn’t ask for more as a start. After the songs are slow and soft, it allows him to highlight his romantic side and at the same time his voice. Just like in She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart, the whole is very successful. He doesn’t forget to add some pace with Renegade and I Like It, I Love It. At that time, I think we just have his best album her, as it’s sublime. Then between The Great Divide, You Got the Wrong Man and That's Just Me written by Deryl Dodd, he confirmed and signed. There is nothing to forget on this CD. The melodies are all very beautiful, the lyrics are sublime like All I Want Is a Life. His voice is enhanced as never before, this gives an album that any country fans should possess. But after all this is only my opinion.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim McGraw
Album: Not A Moment Too Soon
Release Date: 22 March 1994
Review:
One year after his first CD, this second album amazed me by the richness and the variety its rhythms and styles. A powerful voice and sound, Tim McGraw already offers us a album that won’t leave you indifferent. Between the very romantic Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way and Not a Moment Too Soon with his beauty lyrics, we believed that the singer’ll remain in the style which succeeded him well enough yet, well think twice. His voice is probably what makes his greatest strength, and he shows us that with tracks like Refried Dreams and 40 Days and 40 Nights. We also like Down on the Farm that’ll make you dance, where we said we heard everything, and once again he’ll prove otherwise. With tracks like Indian Outlaw quite rhythmic, sad and very moving Don't Take the Girl, we have only one desire, to listen to the album again and again. For all country fans.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Tim McGraw
Album: Tim McGraw
Release Date: 20 April 1993
Review:
This album made me smile, it’s the first Tim McGraw CD. If there are some good tracks like What She Left Behind, Ain't No Angels or the most famous songs at the time as Welcome to the Club, Two Steppin' Mind, Memory Lane; this album is designed primarily for Tim’s fans. There is really no hits or songs that stand out, that's the main problem. Buy I was amazed with The Only Thing That I Have Left and its lyrics, moreover his interpretation is successful. This CD already makes us aware of his voice and his peculiar style that you can see a little bit. Anyway the album’ll find its place on your shelf if you are a fan, but who isn’t?. A good album that remains nice to listen.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Heather
Myles
Album: In the Wind
Release Date: 23 October 2009
Review:
Heather Myles is a Honky Tonk in a Bakersfield sound, do you remember someone? She always makes me think to Dwight Yoakam. The album was released in the independent circuit and is for the fans who love this musical style. Between Broke And Broken Hearted, Pretty Poison and Smokin', Drinkin', Dancin, you actually enjoy listening to the album. We have some rhythmic tracks and some slower, and the singer shows us her knowledge. In addition there is a duet with Willie Nelson on Don't Call Me, it seems she has decided to have some fun. Between a tribute to her mother Mama's A Star, a song with Mexican sound that hits the target on Vaya Condios, we are pleasantly surprised by the album. We end with a superb My Baby's Good To Me where she shows us a good vocal mastery. Here is a very good Honky Tonk album, we'd like to have some more often.
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By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
![Something To Be Proud Of -The Best Of [1999-2005]](../../old/Nouveau%20dossier/site/images/mggh.jpg)
Artist
: Montgomery
GentryAlbum: Carrying On
Release Date: 2005
Review:
The duo managed to get us a Best Of just gorgeous. The hits keep coming, normal you say? The list gives you the chills: 13 titles. If I would liked to have such CD with their first beginnings, which for me are beautiful, I won’t complain. Maybe it’s not possible due to their frequently change of producer. Whether you are a die-hard fans who want to save time by avoiding changing albums or that you didn’t know this duo, this album is for all the world. This is an excellent opportunity to discover this country band with a southern ambiance. Put the album, close your eyes and voila! You're on a Harley with a large Confederate flag attached to the back, on your side, none other than Montgomery Gentry. So let's ride!.
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Artist
: Montgomery
GentryAlbum: Carrying On
Release Date: 2001
Review:
Since their start I was very impressed by them. This sequel presents 12 tracks, only one song written by the band, there is a lot of cover song. The sound is good but we are far below their stunning first Tatoo & Scars. Although it was difficult to do better, you feel a loss of power, all lacking some construction or at least we are not hook as we would have liked. Songs She Couldn't Change Me and Lucky To Be Here, remind us what the band is really capable of. The album is not bad either, it's just that we would have liked so much more. But their style remains unchanged, with a tone may be a little more aggressive this time. We hope to see the Kentucky duo in an upcoming album to be better structured and especially who looks more like them.
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Artist
:
Montgomery
GentryAlbum: My Town
Release Date: 2002
Review:
With the superb Tatoo & Scars, we said that the Kentucky duo had produced their best album. With this third CD, they did it again because it’s in my opinion, one of their best albums. Unlike others, we feel a more important role musically played by the singer Troy Gentry with three magnificent titles: Scarecrow (which recall me an Garth Brook album) with his banjo, Why Do I Feel Like Running, Lie Before You Leave. The last is a warm and charming ballad. This CD is full of surprises. It Includes rhythmic tempos who made the two men popular with Speed, Hell Yeah. Also note For the Money and My Town that hooks us with their great lyrics. Montgomery Gentry is defined by a unique blend of southern rock and country with a simple passion for America, raw and free. A unique sound for a duo that is not less.
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Artist
:
Montgomery
GentryAlbum: Tatoo & Scars
Release Date: 1999
Review:
An album that’ll make you dance, move, as we like it. The country rock duo produced with this opus one, if not their best album. An CD excellent, musically it gives the chills, tracks keep coming. We love Lonely and Gone, the very slow: If a Broken Heart Could Kill, Tattoos and Scars and the beautiful All Night Long. A very successful mix of rhythms, the band proves their talent, mixing quite slow ballads to rock songs altogether. In short we are surprised and we want more. A must-have in your country collection.
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Artist
:
Album: Little Bit Of Life
Release Date: 31 October 2006
Review:
This fourth album confirmed him in his place as the regular guy, Mr everyman. His voice is nice but not exceptional to listen, the compositions are quite successful. We have a strong start with tracks like Little Bit Of Life, International Harvestor. It makes you wonder why we still don’t hear about it or at least not as we should. His strength comes from his incredible ballads with these great texts that carry you as The Ballad Of Mr. Jenkins, My Kind Of Woman. Enormous potential, no doubt you must obtain this album and talk to your friend about this singer who deserves to be recognized. A modern yet traditional sound, a good mix of rhythms, what more could I want?.
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Artist
:
Album: Unmistakable Love
Release Date: 27 April 2010
Review:
After 5 years of absence, some record company problems, Jo Dee Messina finally released this album. If I had waited so long I have to say I am a little disappointed. And yes first there are only 9 songs, including two cover, which is not so much for such artist. All for this? 5 years anyway. What surprises me on this album is her total change in style, it’s far from her previous albums, and yes the beautiful has found the man of her life and founded a family, we can feel it. She talks about her experience and also a lot of god, which wasn’t her style. But don’t be too hard, I liked her in Welcome To The Rest Of My Life. Other tracks are rather successful as Welcome To The Rest Of My Life, I Think About Us and Always Have, Always Will. Both cover songs are acoustic versions of Because You Love Me and Stand Beside Me. The last one is sublime. While it’s far from what she used to give us. We are little disappointed but we hope this isn’t goodbye but simply a new start for Jo and we’ll wait her next album, if possible in less than 5 years.
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Artist
:
Album: You Do Your Things
Release Date: 18 May 2004
Review:
This group is so popular, we recently decided to review albums dating back a bit. If I am a fan of this band, this album is not their best attempt. We still have their raw country rock side, some intense emotions, a larger than life duo. But this time I am a bit disappointed, yet many stars have collaborated to this opus, Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson, to name a few. There is a good cover of If it's the last thing I do by Brooks & Dunn and 3 beautiful songs like Something To Be Proud Of, If you Ever Stop Loving Me, Gone that you’ll listen in loop. After I'm a little disappointed, or at least the album is good but it’s far from their true potential.
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Artist:
MatchRiver
Album: Honky Tonking'Haze
Release Date: 2008
Review:
How to say it, I feel that I’ll bring the wrath of the group and the French country music world , but hey I have to be honest. I was shocked by such an album, and I choose my words carefully. A compilation of covers, we have Terri Clark, with 4 songs in a row if I remember correctly, and also Sugarland. Why do this? In addition if the singer is American, her voice doesn’t stick at all to the music, she evens sings out of tune. So I don’t mind being called what you want, I don’t think I'm the cream of the French country music, but just listen to albums of Terri Clark and Sugarland to understand the difference. I don’t question the French environment that has many talented artists like Vicky Layne, Marie Dazzler, Mary and Co, Matis to name a few. So next time, please write your own songs.
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Artist:
Justin
Moore
Album: Justin Moore
Release Date: 11 August 2009
Review:
Newcomer to the country music scene, Justin offers us a first mixed album. This former rodeo champion impress us on tracks such as How I Got To Be This Way, Small Town USA, Back That Thing Up, The Only Place That I Call Home or Hank It. We would have liked a bit more pace on Good Ole American Way. Everything is very rock, he reminds us of Jason Aldean at times but less rhythmic. We would have liked more speed, but the album was successful, rich and varied in his compositions, only his voice shows us some limits at times. In any case it’s a good discovery, moreover Justin wrote most of his texts, everything is done so you can have a good time. An artist to follow as we might soon talk about him.
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Artist:
Malibu
Storm
Album: Malibu Storm
Release Date: 10 August 2004
Review:
This album was released a long time ago but I recently came back to it. So I took the opportunity to reviewed it. Malibu Storm is a trio of sisters and a singer. The three play and sing. I remember to have felt a sense of sweetness listening to their album, and this is still the case. Sure they can’t be compare to what we can hear today, it doesn’t add much to country, and it's true but Malibu Storm is one of those groups, that with no real intension, will affect you with their simplicity and honesty. Just go to the US to understand this, some band who’ll entertain you without claiming to be perfect. We love songs like The Bird Song, Photograph (sing beautifully by Taylor Swift after that), Long Way to Fall, Old Hickory Lake, Takin' the Wheel. If the two singers are pretty nice, Malibu Storm’ll make you have a good time, unpretentious, giving you a certain innocence in their music and it's so rare these days.
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Artist:
Tim McGraw
Album: Southern Voice
Release Date: 20 October 2009
Review:
This chronic asked me longer than I thought it would. This artist is one of the important voice in country music, he always accustomed us to a style and impeccable quality. I must say that this album disappointed me, and not a little. The album is not bad in itself, but I found myself falling asleep on some tracks. We feel that the singer has calmed down, he lost his enthusiasm, just like Keith Urban but unlike this one, the magic doesn’t fit. Some tracks like Good Girls, I Didn't Know It At The Time are just good, It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You is a bit more rhythmic, reminds us some of his old songs. Certainly I liked the single Southern Voice but others like Seventeen Forever aren’t up to the artist. Tim McGraw has accustomed us to the very high level, both lyrically, musically, and here it’s clear that he is far from it. Then it only remains for us to listen to one of his three Greatest Hits or his previous album Like You Were Dying.
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Artist:
Megan
Munroe
Album: One More Broken String
Release Date: 11 November 2008
Review:
Some beautiful compositions for this singer, though my opinion is rather mixed. If her voice is pleasant, at times it seems that she has trouble using it, or at least her vocal power is limited. We feel her limits with the tracks Moonshine. The CD offers us nice songs like Pennies in the ocean, Angel on fire, Good Fight, Perfect Stone but remains unsatisfied. Not original enough, too common, it’s what emerges from the album. As this is a first record, Megan has all the time to prepare a second album because we must recognize that we have a great desire to discover this young artist. Megan Munroe gets closer by the time to Christian music, we feel a faith in her, a desire to finish what she started, so we said goodbye.
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Artist:
Reba McEntireAlbum: Keep On Loving You
Release Date: 18 August 2009
Review:
No need to introduce Reba, she is just has one of the best female country music singer. Thirty years she makes us dance. This new album Keep on loving You is no exception to the rule. If it’s not one of my favorite artists we must recognize that her style hit the target with the audience. Her songs often tell stories where women face difficult choices, Reba has always found strong support from the female, but not only. Her voice and her energy are infectious. I really liked tracks like Consider Me Gone, Pink Guitar and I'll Have What She's Having. Besides the album offers us a bonus, the Strange’s music video and a live from CMT. Good times in perspective.
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Artist:
Martina
McBride
Album: Shine
Release Date: 24 March 2009
Review:
One of the most beautiful voice in country music is back with this new album. From the Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong we find our National Martina and I must say she has lost nothing of her talent, charm elsewhere. Between Sunny Side Up who’ll give you the chills in the morning, I'm Trying slower but gentle, her voice does wonders; Don't Cost A Dime & Ride with its lyrics and the beautiful ballad Lies, where she unleashes her voice. Despite hers many albums of this artist, it’s simply the most successful. This is an album that speaks to everyone. The queen of country pop proves that Martina McBride is still indispensable.
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Artist: Craig Morgan
Album: Thats Why
Release Date: 21 October 2008
Review:
The former military, special forces and more, returns with this album. If this singer is not my favorite, we must recognize his originality and especially his voice. His own style, we recognize it, you'll see. After I don’t think this is his best album nor the single Thats Why is particularly successful, but this is a nice job and the track It Took A Woman is splendid. If you like beautiful ballads, this singer’ll please you. He lacks something who’ll distinguishes him from others, which really stands out of the countless artists that come to us. The fight is very hard but Craig Morgan has many qualities, after all with his special forces training, he should be alright.
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Artist: Matis
Album: Encore
Release Date: 2006
Review:
The Matis full band is back for a new album entitled "Still," it falls pretty well when we remember the previous "beautiful life". Already one can admire the work that was done for the cover of the album, in fact, very neat. After having listened to the album I remained speechless, 14 tracks on the album and only one cover with The Carpet Crawlers. Thirteen band compositions and not least please, with Entre nous (Between us) with its percussions and its beautiful violin, a beautiful cover from their previous album with Irish land, we start with a good foundation. But then I remained speechless with On peut tout imaginer (We can imagine everything) and its important lyrics, then the very successful The Eyes Of Age and Pense que j’y suis passée avant toi (Think I’ve been there before you). What strikes me the most is the talent of both the singer and the group, their alchemy, voices, guitars, percussion and violin, ha the talented violinist. Some fans of dance floors may complain that the album is not made for dancing, but country music is primarily a music that needs to be listen, if the country comes from the heart then this album is a very good example.
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Artist:
Mahogany
SpiritAlbum: Soulmates
Release Date: 2002
Review:
Imagine an album uniting artists with the same vision of music, sharing a love of acoustic music. What can I say when I learned that it’s Marie Dazzler, Bruno Liger and Vicky Layne, three regulars of the French country scene, a panel rather attractive?. And yes you read it correctly, the trio gives us 14 tracks, 5 compositions, which are also very successful. Between the beautiful Just to stay alive (written by B.Liger) and I Was the rock, the trio impresses us with their songwriting skills. Admirable! We are amazed with the classics I Wanna Be a Cowboy Sweetheart, Loving Arms and Back where we belong. Vocally, the artists show us they know very well how to use their voice, the music is very neat, the folder is a nice work too. It even forms a mini poster for the fans, well done. In summary a good album that shows that the French scene is worth being listened to with a little more attention. Soulmates appears as a very good country composition made in France, bringing together three mesmerizing artists.
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Artist: Tim McGraw
Album: Greatest Hits 3
Release Date: 07 October 2008
Review:
The most romantic cowboy is back in this 3rd greatest hit and yes finally Volume 3. It’s a real pleasure to see Tim McGraw, one of my favorite artists, so I warn you, this is a must-haves with good hits like Last Dollar (Fly Away), Angry All The Time, Find Out Who Your Friends are, Let It Go. Some ‘ll argue that the volume 3 could have wait a bit, but at the same time the quality is there, so take advantage of it.
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Artist: John Michael Montgomery
Album: Time Flies
Release Date: 14 October 2008
Review:
And now with all the news we received before the New Year holiday period, it was necessary that I come across an album that annoys me, well I found it. It annoys me to receive such an album as we know the potential of the artist. Only With My Shirt On, Fly On woke me while listening to this album, flat with almost no consistency. I'm disappointed, a little bit hard, but his latest album Letters From Home was so successful that it’s incomprehensible. I need someone to explain this to me.
Rating:
Artist: John Michael Montgomery
Album: Letters From Home
Release Date: 20 April 2004
Review:
Usually I'm not very motivated to listen to this singer, I found that despite enormous potential, his albums are always fickle, he fails to produce a homogeneous whole and especially stable quality throughout the album. In the vast majority we like half of the album and that's it. But with this album nay, the singer made a small balance on his life and having a wife and children has changed him and he tells us that. It’s simply his best album, at least in my case. From the beginning with Good Ground on we are captured by his music. After the tracks keep coming: That's What I'm Talking About, Cool, It Rocked, Break This Chain. Even the end is odd, let me explain, the latest songs looks more like Shania Twain and her Man! I Feel Like A Woman! that Montgomery style. Unusual .after we like it or not, in any case a more than successful album for a singer that could attract a larger number of individual this time.
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Artist: Craig Morgan
Album: Greatest Hits
Release Date: 30 September 2008
Review:
This singer songwriter and producer ceases to amaze me. It’s probably one of the most productive in recent years. It’s with pleasure that I discovered this album. His unique style is indescribable, you listen to his music, and you think "That's it, that’s Craig Morgan." We gladly listen once again tracks like Little Bit of Life, I Love It, I Am. To discover and above all to share.
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Artist: Mary & Co
Album: Scène1
Release Date: February 2003
Review:
I get to review a new album whose folder picture a nice pretty face ? Come on a French artist!. A nice intro with Happiness from the beginning we know that the singer has a beautiful voice. A very good version of Those Word We Said, a nice touch of harmonica, a very pretty voice again. Followed by a promising interpretation of Anything and Everything. All going pretty well I think. The three best songs that fully deserve the CD purchase, are the three compositions in French please. Her soft voice literally enchants us on beautiful lyrics. An important point which suggests a good future for this group. We can only listen in loop the song Photo and the sublime Même Si (Even if) with great lyrics. A gentle madness take us with Crazy allowing us to admire her beautiful voice. This feeling comes back with the love song Pour lui (For Him). What can we learn from such album ? First, the singer is very young, she looks sweet but has a beautiful voice, and she knows how to use it. Then we discover with wonder, 3 tunes in French, which are really great and are all written by a Christian Labonne, a talented person. That’s enough to convince me to buy this CD. A first successful try for Mary & Co, so we wait their next scene 2!
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Artist: Montgomery Gentry
Album: Back When I Knew It All
Release Date: 10 June 2008
Review:
Sequel to the now legendary Montgomery Gentry, and behold a hit that unfortunately difficult to convince, or at least not like their previous album. From the beginning we feel a little decline with The Big Revival who could have been so much better. But everything was there to hit the target, except the cover song of Kevin Fowler, Long Line Of Losers fails the comparison, fortunately tracks like Back When I Knew It All, One In Every Crowd, Look Some More saved the album. But no nothing happens, even the duet with Toby Keith, I Pick My Parties leaves a sense of unfinished business. This is not a bad album, but just good, down from the previous, may be we expected too much from them. Anyway the album is a good one, not great or beautiful but just good. I hope this group’ll still offer us successful albums like they used to do, next time.
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Artist: Mindy McCready
Album: All For You
Release Date: 14 August 2007
Review:
First, I am not responsible for the cover, a beautiful luscious blonde, I have nothing to do. It's not that I don’t like blondes, on the contrary but is it a good sign ?, is it pop or country? In fact it’s very country pop, or even pop with a little country. The album contains many already famous songs, a lot of originals and only a few new titles and yet it’s not a compilation, I need to ask why ?. After I must admit that I get bored listening to this album, except for I've Got a Feeling, For a Good Time Call that stand out, I'm disappointed. It's not a bad CD, it's just that we received so many great album and there are so many good artists that surprise us with their debut album and others who constantly confirm their talents, I am surprised by this one, Humm I perplex. It doesn’t contribute to her career, and especially adds nothing to Country Music.
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Artist: Mary
& CoAlbum: Folk-Rock et bien plus encore
Release Date: 2008
Review:
New cover, new style for a new cd? This third album marks a turning point for the band and singer. First there aren’t any covers, which is good news when it comes to a French group. Only their compositions, we must also recognize the writing skills of Christian Labonne and Julien Deschamps. Even our little Mary gets started with the help of Julien Deschamps on Confessions d’une addiction (Confessions of an addiction). From the first track we are stunned by the difference in tone with the previous two albums. More mature more adult, for this third album, the singer is a young woman now, we feels it. We got proof on tracks like Petite annonce, déménagement ( little ad, moving)t. Songs we couldn’t have before. The singer pleasantly surprises us with Confession of an addiction and her peculiar way of interpreting it. But she doesn’t stop there, she continues to delight us on songs such as My home is Where You Are, Strawberry Pie. But she achieves us with Trois River (Three rivers) ... Worth listening. First report, the group has finally understood how to move country music in France. When too many bands just play some cover songs, they do otherwise, taking risk and we lie that. We had already Vicky Layne but Mary hit the target. So it’s a very good album that didn’t cease to impress me. Hopefully they will continue like that and ‘ll inspire others. Thank you Mary & Co.
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Artist: Mary
& CoAlbum: Scène 2: un peu d’insouciance
Release Date: Unknown
Review:
And here I am pleased to review their second CD. The first one really surprised me so it’s with pleasure that I start this review. I must say that this album is as good as it’s different from the previous one. The themes are adults. The album is also richer in style than scene 1. First we have a very good cover of Breaking the habit that allow us to hear her beautiful voice. Mary shows us the extent of her talent and her voice fits perfectly on the background on It's only love and Loving her this time. I also particularly liked songs like No way you can guess, Alison, Blue scarf and then I saw Stars (very New Orleans). If there are a lot cover songs, they are very well interpreted by the band. The surprise is the presence of many songs in French which is rather good news. So to summarize, this album is successful, the singer’s voice is more enjoyable, we even note a change of volume, tone in the texts, that’s life. I invite everyone to look at the second page of the booklet and the left central page.
Artist: Jo Dee Messina
Album:Jo Dee Messina
Release Date: 26 March 1996
Review:
A good first album for the beautiful brunette. A good mix of fast tracks and other slower where her powerful voice does wonders. This is a good album, certainly not as good as the very beautiful I'm alright but it's still a good CD. You’ll discover a good country music certainly it has aged a bit due to the explosion of the quality of this music nowadays. We love You're Not In Kansas Anymore; Heads Carolina, Tails California. Negative point, there are only 10 tracks on this album, it's a bit short.
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Artist: Album:
Release Date: 17 March 1998
Review:
If you enjoys singers like Sara Evans or Martina McBride then this album is for you. The artist offers us one of her finest album, with hits like I'm Alright, Stand Beside Me, Bye-Bye, Silver Thunderbird. A good rhythmic album that allows her to show us some good performances with her so beautiful voice. A very good album by Jo Dee Messina.
NRating:
Artist: Jo Dee Messina Album: A Joyful Noise
Release Date: 29 October 2002
Review:
Like any artist with her talent, she has to produce either a gospel album or a Christmas one. This will be the second option chosen by the miss. Her voice is of so beautiful, as her interpretations of I'll Be Home For Christmas, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow !, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, O Holy Night. A good album to spend some quality time with your family during the holiday period.
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Artist: Jo Dee Messina
Album: Burn
Release Date: 01 August 2000
Review:
Here's a full album of catchy melodies sing by Jo Dee Messina. As rhythmic as That's The Way, Burn. A good album but there is fomenting missing, at the same time we are talking about Jo Dee Messina, so we always wait her around the corner. In any case this is a good album that’ll make you have a good time, although I must admit that I prefer her first CD, but hey that's just my opinion.
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Artist: Jo Dee Messina
Album: Greatest Hits
Release Date: 20 May 2003
Review:
Here is a very good compilation on one of the biggest stars in country music. Take a beautiful voice, catchy melodies, Jo Dee Messina is one of those singers who manages to make you dance even against you ... We have pleasure to find her successful Was That My Life, I'm Alright, Bye-Bye, That's The Way, You're Not In Kansas Anymore, You Belong In The Sun. Enjoy this album to discover an artist who like Sara Evans and Martina McBride has a splendid voice, for our greater pleasure. Rating:
Artist: Montgomery Gentry Album: Some People Chang
Release Date: 24 October 2006
Review
One of the most mind-blowing country music band returns with this album. If there is less rhythm than before, the duo through this album review their experience. And they have learned many things with age. Anyway this album is successful, because you can see a new side of Montgomery Gentry, that we have barely seen so far. The duo offers us hits like Some People Change, Your Tears Are Comin', Redder Than That who reminds us the rhythmic music of their previous albums.
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Artist: Martina McBride Album: Wild Angels
Release Date: 26 September 1995
Review:
It was with great surprise that I get this old album of Martina McBride. Her third to be exact. And how happy I am, I am amazed by so much talent. Yet this CD is more than 10 years old, but she already knew to produce real country music. A desire for renewal, to not complain about her fate and move forward is felt in from the album, what force. We enjoy Wild Angels, Safe In The Arms Of Love, Phones Are Ringin’ All Over Town, Two More Bottles Of Wine, You've Been Driving All The Time, all the tracks are successful. Her voice is perfect, the lyrics are perfect as usual with her, and in addition I suggest you listen to all the songs because the artist has put here and there, some small original bonuses. A big crush, in a few words, it’s perfect.
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Artist: Martina McBride
Album: The Way I Am
Release Date: 14 September 1993
Review:
The artist offers us a good second album with melodies that’ll stay in your head. So you’ll enjoy tracks like My Baby Loves Me, Independence Day, Ashes. As always the album is neat, the lyrics too, the quality is always waiting for you, at the same time it’s Martina McBride. If this isn’t her best album, it's still a good opus.
Album: The Time Has Come
Release Date: 1992
Review:
Welcome to her first CD, and yes we go back to a time when she did the first part of a certain Garth Brooks. We especially love songs like True Blue Fool, Walk That Line, When You Are Old. Even at that time, she has a huge potential. It remains a first successful challenge for the beautiful, far from what she can do now of course, but her voice is there and the melodies are catchy. So why do without it?
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Artist: Martina McBride Album: Evolution
Release Date: 26 August 1997
Review:
This is an old album of Martina McBride, one of the first to be exact. And you know what, it’s already excellent. At that time the artist showed she could sing, and that a good and promising future was to be expect. This is only my opinion, but I think it’s perfect at any point of view, really impressive, one of her best albums. The songs keep coming, Happy Girl, I'm Little But I'm Loud, Keeping My Distance, Still Holding On (Martina McBride duet with Clint Black), I Won't Close My Eyes, I Don't Want To See You Again, Here In My Heart, One Day You Will. There is a perfect balance of rhythm, an almost perfect harmony.
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Artist: Martina McBride
Album: Emotion
Release Date: 14 September 1999
Review:
Martina Mcbride confirms again that she’s still has a dominant position in Country Music. This album is rather rhythmic and is wonderful to listen. The artist has carefully crafted the album, as usual the lyrics and melodies keep coming to our delight. We have a plethora of hits with Anything's Better Than Feelin' 'The Blues ( I love the beat ), I Love You, Make Me Believe, Love's The Only House, I Ain't Goin' Nowhere, Anything and Everything. The lyrics of these songs are wonderful and her voice fits perfectly, that broke all records, a real treat for us. The most beautiful song is without a doubt Uncivil War. An album that confirms and reinforces her dominant position in the big names.
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Album: Martina
Release Date: 30 September 2003
Review:
Prepare to spend a pleasant musical moment, rocked by beautiful melodies, mixed with more rhythmic songs, a perfectly balanced diversity, you'll understand Martina McBride is back for our pleasure. The strength of this artist comes from her interpretation, you just have to listen to her cover Over The Rainbow (live please) to understand it. Her voice is powerful and perfectly balanced as usual. Her texts are great, the album too. Everything fits together well. She is beautiful on tracks such as She's A Butterfly, City Of Love, This One's For The Girls, Reluctant Daughter, When You Love Me, God's Will. And I'm not even talking about the sumptuous In My Daughter's Eyes. In short indulge it’s worth it.
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Artise: Martina McBride
Album: Greatest Hits
Release Date: 18 September 2001
Review:
Like all artists, Martina McBride finally has a compilation of all her greatest hits. But is it successful? For those who already know the singer, the answer is obvious. Martina is primarily a singer with a beautiful and powerful voice, she has a rare intensity in her voice, produces great lyrics and great albums, with a small religious touch. So yes it is extremely successful. A touch of feminism, some religious tone, all on country tunes, here you get Martina. This artist always surprised me, she’s one of the few who found the right mix of Country and Christian music, all of her songs have fairly deep meanings, she still manages to interpret tunes that’ll stay in your head and that’ll make you think. You don’t know her?, So listen to My Baby Loves Me, Independence Day, Safe In The Arms Of Love, Happy Girl, When God-fearin’ Women Get The Blues, Concrete Angel, Blessed. For quite some time Martina McBride is a reference in Country Music and it's well deserved.
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Artist: Martina McBride
Album: My Heart
Release Date: 2005
Review:
Yes ! Martina McBride decided to release an album especially for Valentine's Day. This is a compilation and not a new album, which are from her collection, but not only. Everything is very romantic, tender, the magic takes you, you fall in love, under her spell if it wasn’t already done. OK the CD has just 8 titles, but we find a singer with an incomparable talent. What a pleasure to have put In My Daughter's Eyes in this compilation.
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Artise: Martina McBride
Album: Timeless
Release Date: 18 October 2005
Review:
Every singer release his compilation nowadays, but McBride adds her personal touch that makes all the difference. Take some old tunes and add her so beautiful voice, and here you get this opus. This is really good, Martina McBride offers us some beautiful songs, such as I'll Be There, (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden, You Ain't Woman Enough, Once A Day. She gives us an album that doesn’t innovate but in any case, this opus is really Timeless!
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Artist: Martina McBride
Album: Waking Up Laughing
Release Date: 03 April 2007
Review:
The artist releases an album produced by herself, it’s rather tempting when we know who we are talking about. I am always struck by the positive image that she carries to young American women, she is an artist who fully participate in what she loves, and she cares to positively influence young American women. For this she mixes Christian music, country, tough lyrics that particularly affect the female and here you get Martina McBride. The lyrics are as successful I am usually disappointed overall by the lack of beat, only 2 songs are superb: Beautiful Again, Everybody Does. I'll wait for her next CD as Martina McBride’ll always remain one of the best country singers!
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Artist: Tim McGraw
Album: Great Hits Vol 2
Release Date: 28 March 2006
Review:
Tim McGraw release us the seconde volume of his best songs, and yes finally the Volume 2 is here. The album is fun to listen, we can’t say that there are surprises with the songs, we know them all. Appeared in his various albums and those of his wife Faith Hill. What a pleasure to listen again to tracks like Live Like You Were Dying, My Old Friend, The Cowboy In Me, When The Stars Go Blue. Recommended for all those who love this so talented singer and those wishing to discover him.
Rating:
Artist: Van Morrison
Album: Pay The Devil
Release Date: 07 March 2006
Review:
This album has a strong bar atmosphere, hony tonk, at the same time, this is Outlaw Country, so it's normal. The artist blend blues, Country for our greatest pleasure, certainly the outlaw style won’t please everyone, but if you like it then you won’t be disappointed. Good songs are present as Half As Much, Big Blue Diamonds, Playhouse, My Buckets Got A Hole In It. The artist offers us even a slow, romantic song with What Am I Living For. In short bring the poker set, deal the cards, prepare the bottle of Jack and let’s play!
Rating:
Artist: Jo Dee Messina
Album: Delicious Surprise
Release Date 26 April 2005
Review:
Ahhh the redhead has become a beautiful brunette !!! good now that I said it. What about this album except that I loved it. A good New Country CD that’ll put you in a good mood no doubt. Her voice fits perfectly with the music as usual. And this is just problem, we are going in a circle. The album is good, it’s a pleasure to listen, but I have the impression that the singer just stay on familiar ground. Anyway we won’t complain about listening to songs like Believe It, Life Is Good. However beware, the album is cheerful but the last song is sublime, If Heaven Was Needing a Hero, it’s also beautifully sad, as a result we are forced to listen to the album one more time to cheer up, suddenly we still falls once again on this sad gem, it’s in some ways the vicious circle of the album!
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Artist: Tim McGraw
Album: Like You Were Dying
Release Date: 24 August 2004
Review:
Receiving a Tim McGraw album is always a special moment, no need to ask if you know him, one of the most popular country singers returns. If his style lost in pace, he calmed down or at least matured. With this album we no longer found the rock side of the previous album, Tim McGraw & The Dancehall Doctors. The lyrics are particularly successful, it shows great moral, a mix of Smallville and Christian Music. The artist shows us that he can interpret some rather slow song without make us fall asleep. We really liked tracks as How Bad Do You Want It, My Old Friend, Can't Tell Me Nothin’, Live Like You Were Dying, Back When, Open Season On My Heart Kill Myself. Tim McGraw remains an artist to listen again and again.
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Artist: Brian McComas
Album: Back Up Again
Release Date: 29 August 2006
Review:
Here is a second very successful album for McComas. I loved the first and I am not disappointed with his second. The artist varied rhythms, fast with tracks like Back Up Again, Good Good Lovin’, Let Love Lead the Way, but also a bit more sweetness with All Comes floodin' Down, Too Far Gone. A well balanced album, the voice is beautiful, when we know he wrote all his lyrics, we can only be impressed by the artist. An album to listen, listen again & again!
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Artist: Kathy Mattea
Album: Love Travels
Release Date: 04 February 1997
Review :
Here is a CD that hasn’t aged a bit, certainly not new country, but Kathy Mattea release here one of her best albums. A sweet rhythmic religious country music. So why deprive yourself? Tracks are really successful, either Love Travels, Patiently Waiting, Further And Further Away, I'm On Your Side. This CD will delight Christian music fans as it really turned to religion. Simple melodies, sweet, in short one of her best albums! To listen.
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Artist: Kathy Mattea
Album : Lonesome Standard Time
Release Date : 1992
Review :
If the artist is not prolific in the number of titles (10 for this album), the quality is there. The album is more rhythmic for her, attention it’s still quite slow but it’s Kathy Mattea, it's pretty rare. We have for the third time on an album Standing Knee Deep In A River, which starts to annoy me a little but the track is good. The album is really neat, songs are all very successful, whether Lonely At The Bottom, Last Night I Dreamed Of Loving You. The surprises come from some rhythmic songs like: Forgive And Forget, Listen To The Radio; 33, 45, 78; Amarillo. Finally the singer interprets us a song with religious influence with Seeds. A great album ! Rating:
By
Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist -
Artist: Kathy Mattea
Album : Time Passes By
Release Date : 19 March 1991
Review :
I recently plunged in the 80's country music, hence my recent reviews on one of the queens of Country Music at the time, Kathy Mattea. After listening to it, I must admit that it’s simply one of my favorite, and certainly you‘ll find the brand of the singer, soft music, slow, her beautiful voice and great lyrics. A music that is a pleasure to discover and rediscover. A kind of simplicity emerges from her work, a tinted Irish folk music, a religion sound with the violin, piano, guitar, all with a soft path. With this CD, the singer made a little stock of what has happened in her life, what could have been, what didn’t, that why her music has more pace than usual. Just listen to Whole Lotta Holes to understand. Buts Kathy Mattea also offer some soft, sumptuous melodies such as What Could Have Been, A Few Good Things Remain. Her voice enchants us on I Wear Your Love. And finally the singer offers us a splendid solo bagpipe with the sumptuous From A Distance. In short a very good Kathy Mattea, so a good country music of course!
Rating:
Artist: Kathy Mattea
Album: Ready For The Storm
Release Date: 1995
Review:
Here is a rather difficult cd to get, but the wait was worth it. This country album borrowing a religious inspiration, good moral is made of simple melodies, well-chosen words, all performed by a singer with a sweet voice. What strikes me the most is the lack of pace, but the sweetness takes us. Nobody’s Gonna Rain On Our Parade’ll make you want to take a train to the West, I Will (live)’ll cheer you up, the cover song (and God knows I'm not a big fan) Standing Knee Deep in A River is beautiful, Mary did you know is a sweetness. The CD ends with 3 very soft tunes but so pleasant to listen: A Few Good Things Remain, Summer Of My Dreams, Later In The Day. Certainly this CD isn’t to be put in all hands because you have to take time to listen it so you can enjoy its violins, pianos and guitars.
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By
Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist -
Artist: Matis
Album: Beautiful Life
Release Date: 2003
Review:
Here is a CD of French country music, and yes you read it correctly. I must say that I was initially reluctant to listen to such a CD, I'm not a big fan of country music made in France, but then I didn’t expect this. This group surprised me musically with their strong Irish accent. It's very good, the voices are beautiful and tracks like Beautiful life, Walking in Jerusalem and especially Irish Land are perfect. Some Irish country folk sang by the French, everything is possible. A miracle never comes alone, these 3 songs were composed by Matis, the violinist is from Estonia or Russia, I knew I should have learn Russian sonner. This CD is a treat as we would like to see more.
Rating:
Artist: Kathy Mattea
Album: The Innocent Years
Release Date: 16 May 2000
Review:
This CD could be a mix of Christian music and country music. Take a soft country sound, some Christian Music lyrics, mix well and you get: The Innocent Years. Listening to this CD, we can’t stop thinking about Patty Loveless, the styles are similar although Katthy Mattea is more languid. Tracks like Why Can't We ou I Have Always Loved You could have been a little more rhythmic. The songs follow one another, the voice is there, the music too. We have a slow music, a bit of pace would have boosted the opus. Anyway, the album is good, if you like pretty country ballads, Katthy Mattea add her beautiful voice and you’ll have a good time.
Rating:
-
Artist: Kathy Mattea
Album: Walking Away A Winner
Release Date: 17 May 1994
Review:
The album appears more rhythmic and Kathy Mattea’s voice is sublime in Nobody's Gonna Rain On Our Parade. But the most beautiful song is without a doubt Who's Gonna Know, who is practically worth buying the album.A good job, really beautiful musically. Walking Away A Winner is displayed as one her best CD, to listen and listen again.
Rating:
Artist: Jackson Mackay
Album: Jackson Mackay
Release Date: 26 July 2005
Review:
It’s always difficult to note a best of, obviously it brings together the best songs of an artist so it must be good you’ll say to me. So how to review a best of , release by a French artist. Rest assured Jackson MacKay, This French-Australian has only the French origin nationality, no sir he is special. Nothing distinguishes this album from a CD made in the USA. Musically it's perfect, and the voice is great ... You'll understand that this is a slap in the face and drama for me and my prejudices about Country Music made in France! Don’t expect to find some songs in French, no it's all in English. The simply invites us to leave for a trip on the Country Music Planet, lull by rock sounds, swing, ballads, slow ans blues. It's really rare to find a CD gathering so many styles, his voice is simply perfect, the musicians are amazing. What about the songs featured in this album? There are 18, 18 gems! This is really a big crush that I had for this album! A French that rises, rises!.
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