Dierks Bentley pays homage to the age-old adage of “home is where the heart is” on his sixth album release entitled “Home.” Dierks makes a return to the mainstream country-rock influenced sound of his previous albums and gives his fans plenty of reason to clap, stomp their boots, raise their bottles and really enjoy the party. This release, especially after the critically acclaimed bluegrass tome, “Up on the Ridge,” (an album NOT to be missed if you are any kind of music lover) is all very easy and matter-of-fact in its presentation and production. It seems as if this kind of music just pours out of him like the perspiration on a sunny day in the hot desert of his home state of Arizona. He is a gifted crafter of music and words that resonate easily and purposefully with all fans of music.

The first single “Am I the Only One” provides us with a great launch into up tempo and energized guitar-riff sounds that pick up right where his past work leaves off. Everyone deserves a cold one after a hard forty plus hour work-week and deserves to hit the saloon and “Tip it on Back.” The novelty song has been a staple of country music throughout its history and Mr. Bentley gives us his version with “Diamonds Make Babies.” “Home” is simply that; we all have ours and there is none other like it in our world. He enlists Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild on the “Weve-been-friends-for-so-long-lets-take-the-next-step” mid-range track “When You Gonna Come Around.” The give and take in the story is expertly crafted, the instrumentation (listen for that steel guitar) is orchestrated impeccably and their smoky, sultry vocal styles seduce you with great emotion. Mr. Bentley even enlists the voice of a very special guest on the last track, “Thinking of You,” which gives it a twist that will tug at every heartstring in your body.

“Home” by Dierks Bentley gives us a little bit of everything in its structure and content as a country album. His vocals are crisp and the writing is as solid as any country record on the market today. The production value of this album is certainly worthy of praise as well. The mixing of the instruments compliments the vocals in an effortless fashion. Dierks Bentley has another album chalk full of hits that are guaranteed to keep the home fires burning throughout the remainder of the winter and into the rest of the year no matter where it is that you hang your hat.

In Latin, the translation of the word sophomore roughly equates to “wise fool.” David Nail has released a sophomore record in The Sound of a Million Dreams that you, the listener, would be wise to purchase and considered a fool or foolish if you fail to complete the purchase task. There is so much to hear, feel and see on this record. From the production quality, the fusion of instrumentation to the depth of the lyrics and their corresponding emotional connection with the listener, this album has rightly landed on many 2011 end-of-year “best of” lists. This record brings Mr. Nail a seat at the table of Nashville’s best and brightest country music stars of today. Listening to this album from top-to-bottom, you are painlessly bombarded with the sounds, the emotions, and the passion of an artist in relentless pursuit of that “thing” which drives all artists to the very depths of their soul. The good ones never attain their “thing” and continue effortlessly and passionately, to provide us the sweet and delectable fruits of their labors for years to come. Good thing for us selfish fools who could not create art if our life depended on it.

Mr. Nail is a gifted songwriter in his own right, however, country music is like one big family and he has included excellent material on this record by some of his “brothers” of country. Notably, Keith Urban, Phil Vassar and the men from Lady A. Vocally, not to be missed are the additions of Lee Ann Womack (husband Frank Liddell co-produced the album) and Sarah Buxton…which seems odd on the surface. Ms. Buxton is a native Kansan. Mr. Nail is a native Missourian. In these here parts, Jayhawks and Tigers do not mix…and Will Hoge lending their voices to enrich the material.

It is not as if the usual subjects of country music are not hit upon here. Quite the opposite, however, the beauty of this album lies in the sounds and emotions evoked from Mr. Nail’s musical influences and those artists who have influenced his band members. There is guitar artistry reminiscent of U2’s The Edge. Stevie Ray Vaughn blues. The romantic piano sounds of Jim Brickman. Poetry by the likes of Springsteen (Half Mile Hill is as memorable and vivid as a little ditty called The River), Jackson Browne (The Sound of a Million Dreams has the brutal honesty of his Load Out) and John Mellencamp (Songs for Sale.)

There are country sounds and feels that take us away too. A Vince Gill quality in his vocals (That’s How I’ll Remember You) along with the fullness and richness reminiscent of “back in the day” group, Restless Heart, i.e. Desiree…the tempo change comes out of nowhere and is dead, solid perfect! Mr. Nail even channels Skynrd too with the up-tempo, southern rock tome, Grandpa’s Farm. Even the track simply entitled Catherine (his wife’s name) gives us a full wall of gospel, bluesy sound. The track is chalk full of emotions that gush out of the guitar like blood pumping through ones veins.

Congratulations to David Nail for giving us an album full of life, energy, passion and brutal honesty straight from the heart. It is aptly entitled The Sound of a Million Dreams; each track is chalk full of sound upon which dreams are made…and realized.

This is not your sisters’ country music! Texas/Red Dirt music is pure country and nothing like you hear coming out of Nashville…even though this album was produced and recorded in Nashville over a three-year time period. It is a nice change of pace to hear something different. It is raw while being poetic all at the same time. The focus is on the music; its melody; its structure; its layers; its breath. These folks make music simply for the joy of making music. Picture yourself seated around a big, campfire; autumn; on a beach; river or creek bank. Where the whiskey pours straight, the people are real, the guitars are plentiful and music plays constantly with no pretense. Put away that three-and-a-half-minute-solve-all-the-problems-of-the-world song. This is real music and real life.

 Velvet is Stoney LaRue’s first studio album release in six years. While not completely familiar with all of his music, I know the name and my gut tells me that a more authentic red dirt music artist will be difficult to unearth. His voice has just enough edge, roughness and twang to fuel that authenticity from beginning to end. I have a definite affinity towards lyrics, however, I found myself completely enthralled by the music created on this album as well. Lyrically, the album does not disappoint either. The words are exactly what I look for; honesty, passion, depth, meaning, contemplation; all things that touch the human condition. One major difference I noticed was that I was able to hear and differentiate each instrument on the record; a feat difficult to achieve in most commercial projects. From the acoustic guitars, to the piano, even to the flute (yes, I said flute. Jethro Tull fans will be pleased) on one of the tracks. The production quality is beyond anything I have heard come out of Nashville in many years. Producer Frank Liddell created an environment where the music melted together from each instrument and each musician’s individual artistry.

 Stoney LaRue was born into a musical family in Texas. However, he spent many nights playing the clubs and honky tonks of Stillwater, Oklahoma. He gained a solid reputation as a passionate live performer and it is typical for him and his band to play well over 250 shows per year. Velvet comes at a time where he has lived a lot of life and heard/played a lot of music. Always searching for the underside; the nuance behind the music and lyrics, Velvet delivers that underbelly extremely well. It provides a deep look into a man’s search and yearning for something and how that quest affects the other inhabitants of his life. Velvet is poetic, earthy, honest and gives off a sense of calm all at the same time; calming in the sense that the journey is part of life for all of us and that the best part of life is that journey.

 Dresses – A Tom Petty-esque opener that tells us she has decided to let him go because he is a runner; a wanderer whose soul needs to roam; she is tired of trying any longer. She is not perfect either but it is a woman’s world and once the woman decides, there is (usually) no turning back. Sarah Buxton lends her vocals to give it an ever-so-slight edge of darkness.

 Wiregrass – This is a great melody with an almost perfect mix of instruments and vocals! Life is all about hard work and there is no such thing as a free lunch. Keep your nose to the grindstone and good things will come. I do not recall hearing a flute…especially on a country music record…since the days of Jethro Tull; Ian Andersen would be so proud! You can sense a lot of Skynrd as well.

 Look At Me Fly – I loved the Irish sound created with the opening fiddle sequence. It then moves into a Mellencamp-esque flavor; something along the lines of “Paper & Fire.” The drifter who has the road in his soul takes us on a journey to where, in the end, we reap what we sow.

 Travelin Kind – Another fine example of melody that keeps playing in your head. There is an all-around sweetness to this song at its core. However, we hear the pangs of judgment and of living life in a “bubble” where our antagonist spews forth with her thoughts but they are thoughts without substance. The background vocal of Lee Ann Womack adds a rich, full sound and gives us more believability.

 Sharecropper – An infectious beat that asks the question what do you do when you have burned all of your bridges in this life. You are most likely going to be left standing around with all the others who burned their bridges. This song conjures up the sound and attitude of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

 Sirens – What do you do when the warning signs of a restless life are closing in around you? These sirens play in each of us everyday and in all different circumstances. The key is how you react to what they mean. If you listen closely, you will hear the slightest overtones of Skynrd’s “Freebird” with the exceptional guitar work at the end of the song. Save the best for last and keep ‘em wanting more.

 Te Amos Mas Que La Vida ( I Love You More Than Life Itself) – Tells us the pain of having a lost love come back to haunt us. Not much matters other than the hurt of losing that love.

 Has Been – Grabs you with the first chords of the acoustic guitar and makes you sit up and take notice. Very nice melody that ebbs and flows easily on the ear. Love never dies and in this instance, it has all been tried before but that hope of a fulfilling chance at love keeps you coming back for another chance.

 Way Too Long – A little zydeco infused sound on this song with the B-3 organ taking the lead. We all grow and (hopefully) change; in essence, an old dog can be taught new tricks in order to make a new chance at love work.

 Velvet – More solid melody; a soft, touching sound of love/hope/support found in the throes of a dismal life echo throughout the lyrics as the steel guitar gives us a rainy day vision. There are even shades of Eric Clapton’s lyrical fingering that accentuate this song. I even heard a little James Taylor in the acoustic measures. Sarah Buxton adds more softness and depth in the background.

Special thanks to my on-air colleague, Justin Neighbor, host of Kansas City Limits heard every Sunday night from 9pm-12m for sharing this album with me. This is an album full of music that is worthy of airplay on any country music station across America. It has depth; it has soul, it has incredible honesty and it is chalk full of heart. If you are new to Texas/Red Dirt music, I highly recommend that you allow Stoney LaRue and Velvet to introduce you not only to their music but also their way of life. They do things a little differently down in Texas.

Well, call me impressed! I had the opportunity to meet this young man earlier this year when he came by on a station visit. Record companies send artists out to radio stations across the country where they are introduced, play their music on an acoustic guitar for the Program Director and on-air staff in attempts to get the artist’s first or current single in the airplay rotation. On this day, there was more than a guitar case in his hand. He literally transformed the cafeteria into his own private studio where he played several instruments and demonstrated to us how he single-handedly produced a song. It was mind-blowing! Recording studios are nothing new to me, however, one young man doing the work that takes numerous producers, engineers and audiphiles of all types was beyond comprehension.

 Prodigy is usually a term bandied about in the classical music genre; violinists, pianists, etc are prodigies. That misnomer changes as of today, my friends. Let me introduce you to the first country music artist prodigy I can recall in the genre: Hunter Hayes! Make no mistake, he is not your typical 20-year old. His talent is beyond anything seen thus far in country music. Graced with the ability to pick up and play any instrument put in front of him, he also has the technical savvy to combine all the elements of those instruments into a song. Oh. And he sings those songs too; very, very well I might add. The comparisons to Gary Levox are completely warranted. I am a tenor but no man should be able to sing that high and that powerfully. Ok, I was wrong. No TWO men should be able to sing that high and that powerfully! I shake my head every time I think there is no way to sing those notes; and then they both hit them effortlessly. The only explanation is that God touched their vocal chords and said “you are a singer.”

 Young Mr. Hayes’ effort with his self-titled debut album is nothing short of remarkable. He co-produced (with legendary producer Dan Huff) co-wrote (with a couple of impressive names; Rivers Rutherford and Katrina Elam) all twelve tracks and played EVERY instrument on every track! Make sure you re-read that last statement again and think of the different sounding instruments you hear on a record. I cannot recall another artist who has achieved as much. He has taken the phrase “hands on” to an entirely new level.

 As for the album itself, it is a good mix of tempos and subject matter. Good melodies combined with solid lyrics that will leave you tapping out the beats on your steering wheel while stopped at the red light on your way to work in the morning. The ballads contain relatable, rich and raw emotions to cry your eyes out with at that same stop light. Be sure to have plenty of Kleenex to wipe the running mascara that you just applied at the last stop light. All told, this is a remarkable album from a technical standpoint and an extremely enjoyable album from a listening standpoint.

 Storm Warning – On the first single released we hear the reverse angle to the “bad boy” that all women want and desire. Now we have a boy who runs into a “bad girl” (“..keeps you up at night hangin’ on the edge of a kiss”)and it is not going to end well. Fellas, she is bad for a reason and much like a zebra, she cannot change her stripes. Get out of her storm path before she lays waste to you, your heart and soul with nary a care.

 Wanted – Takes us on a journey of the heart to discover and explore the depths of true, real and genuine love. He leaves the usual physical, outside beauty alone (“…your beauty’s deeper than the make-up”) in this ballad. He wants her to know there is so much more depth and meaning in his love for her than just the superficial and transparent.

 If You Told Me To – A mid-tempo song that does not wish to control his lover but only to enhance and build a stronger relationship because of who they are as two separate individuals. A good reminder that love takes two; and those two bring separate and distinct qualities to the relationship.

 Love Makes Me – We all get a bigger spring in our step, a bigger smile on our face and a more positive and easy approach to life when we have found love. Thus the proclamation in this up tempo number about the girl of his dreams.

 Faith to Fall Back On – When the one you love has left you behind, the dismal after affects seem to obliterate all the good things in your life. All you can do is wonder why. Like an investment, putting your eggs all in one basket is disastrous. Now, putting all the eggs in one basket in matters of the heart is the only option for love to grow and breathe. Never apologize for falling in love; just be aware that there are good consequences and not so good consequences in that love.

 Somebody’s Heartbreak – I hear a lot of Adam Levine led Maroon 5 on this song where he asks for her love no matter what conditions she puts on him. He has decided to take the chance on a love that could leave him tomorrow based on her conditions. It takes courage to let go of your own sense of self and dive in head first. Hopefully, it turns out well for all parties involved.

 Rainy Season – We get a nice melody her in a bluesy track that gives us the euphemism for all the troubles that eventually rock all relationships. Is it just a trickle or a full blown down pour? He is certain it is the former and that the solution is at hand if given enough time. This track is enhanced with some very impressive guitar work that adds more black to the picture being painted in this ballad.

 Cry With You – Everyone needs that one person in their life that will not quit, leave or give up on you no matter the circumstance. One hopes and prays it is your soul mate; the one person who knows you better than you know yourself; the one person you allow deeper inside of you than you ever thought possible. By allowing for this vulnerability, you are opening yourself up to a fulfilling life without pretense.

 Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me – A quirky little melody that posits that there is nothing worse than being couple-less in a couple filled world. Hate is too strong of a word but one is definitely envious of the companionship and love others have found in each other, especially when that companionship is “out there” fully on display. For all the couples out there who believe being single is wonderful and fulfilling. Pay heed to my advice; do not fall prey to the self-delusional. Stay together. Being single is anathema to humanity itself. Humans are not meant to be alone; we are at our best when we are part of something; part of someone, greater than ourselves.

 What You Gonna Do – Quite simple; you wanted out. You tossed aside the best part of your life and now you are left with what? It is a great question to ask yourself BEFORE taking drastic measures. Being single and alone, while alluring with visions of partying and countless men and women filling your life sounds great, consider the down time. Nobody can live the “party” lifestyle twenty-four hours a day and after awhile, there is no more fulfillment. Then what?

 More Than I Should – Solid rocker about the poor selfless soul who gave all of his love, unconditionally, and she took his heart, ripped it out of his chest, tossed it onto the floor and stomped on it with all her might, all the while laughing uproariously at her achievement. Love is important but trust is even more important. Be careful of who you give your heart to; lies and deceit await around every corner and they could care less about your feelings.

 All You Ever – Loving another requires honesty and vulnerability in order to survive. We spend an inordinate amount of time putting up walls and defense mechanisms to keep everyone at arms length from our true self. Hurt is part of life; get used to that fact. No one is immune to being hurt or hurting someone, especially the ones who purport to love us. When you decide to hide your true self from the one you love, you will end up alone and very unhappy. We all need to be vulnerable and trust our love with EVERYTHING that lies inside our heart, soul and mind. Leave nothing to chance. Put it all on the table honestly, carefully and respectfully. The greater the risk; the greater the reward.

 Listen to this record. Hear this record. Take the time to digest the super-human effort this young man took upon himself simply to realize his dream of making music. Revel in the fact that he is so young…20…and hope (and pray) there are many more like him out there ready to take on all the coming challenges of our world; and not just in the realm of music. Prodigies do not come around every day.

The pride of Sharon, Kansas is back with new management, a new record company and a new album. With her eleventh studio album release, aptly titled Eleven, Martina McBride has returned to the airwaves with an album that has just enough different sounds to make it interesting but also contains her trademark, country-rooted ballads with that voice as big, resonate and awe-inspiring as the Kansas prairie! I am a true believer in the KISS theory…I am also a true believer in kissing but that is a story for another blog entry…Keep It Simple Stupid. With the release of Eleven, Ms. McBride provides for us a simple yet very effective collection of music that will be very pleasing to your ears.

One Night – An excellent lead-off song for a new album; it catches your attention; an up tempo, catchy number with an easy to follow melody that sounds very Taylor Swift-esque in its presentation and production value. If “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery;” it is also a very smart, savvy and strategic ploy on Ms. McBride’s part.

Always Be This Way – A toe tapper, finger-snapping Reggae infused sound. Frisky is the word that keeps coming to the forefront of my mind with visions of a sun-drenched beach, waves crashing onto the shore, walking hand-in-hand with your lover/friend; I like different and this is not what you would expect from Martina McBride. Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town adds his voice to the background vocals.

I’m Gonna Love You Through It – Wow! If this song does not move you to tears then you are simply a being incapable of feeling whatsoever. No matter the circumstance (cancer, in this instance) love and support endure. “Get used to it” as I am wont to say frequently. Dr. Leo Buscaglia once said about unconditional love: “We’re missing the boat, and I think one of the reasons is this idea of ‘I will love you if…’ If everyone had just one single person in his life who says ‘I will love you no matter what. I will love you if you are stupid, if you slip and fall on your face; if you do the wrong thing, if you make mistakes…I will love you no matter.” Martina’s husband John said it best, simply, about the lyrics in the liner notes: “That’s what I would say to you.”

Marry Me – First done together as part of the CMT Crossroads special she did with musical group Train. Lead singer Pat Monahan joins her on this track and gives us a haunting and hopeful moment in the lives of two lovers. Done originally as a solo on the Train album, this song works very well as a duet, especially with the longing, yearning and desirous emotion these two gifted singers present to us in the vocals. It is as if you are sitting in the separate cafés at the table next to them, watching the gambit of emotions rise and fall on their faces as they contemplate their eternal choice. The video images jump off the page of lyrics for this track. Love is never-ending, constantly evolving and the very heart of everything we do in our lives.

Broken Umbrella – The production quality evokes images of the great sounds of the pop group Chicago from the 1970’s with the inclusion of horns in the melody. A playful, happy melody that tells us two things; never lose the kid inside and it matters not matter where “we” are as long as we are together the world is a perfect place.

You Can Get Your Love Right Here – A soulful, bluesy finger-snapping, funky number that lauds the day-to-day hustle and bustle that we all live with in our world today. Now, sometimes that crazed pace is self-inflicted on our part but at the end of the day, there is one, single, solitary, safe haven where we all return to be re-energized; the arms and shoulders of the one we love.

Whatcha Gonna Do – A very simple number that let’s the raw emotion carry the listener through the story of our protagonist. She is through with the limbo; the unknown; the questions of commitment and has drawn the line in the sand. She says it is time to “put up or shut up.” Quit with the games, the sophomoric antics and choose; the Porsche or the Yugo. It pays homage to the age-old adage of “you can’t have your cake and eat it too.” A very easy-on-the-ear melody with a hint of Natalie Imbruglia/Natasha Bedingfield/Sarah MacLachlin angst and edge that gives us a rich, soulful energy in its presentation.

Teenage Daughters – Talk about real life! The first single released from the album was only a listing on the charts for Ms. McBride due in large part to a melody that never quite gets started. Written with the Warren Brothers, who has not lived vicariously through these words? They hate us right now; love us an hour from now and then tells us to “shut up” later in the day. Chalk it up to raging hormones, pushing the boundaries, desperately seeking and needing structure but mostly it is about discovering who they are and what they want to do with their lives. If you have a teenage daughter like I do, all you can do is sit back, stay focused on giving them the tools they need to be successful, hang on and enjoy the roller coaster ride. A good bottle of red never hurt either just be careful not to spill it on the rug as the coaster leaps and bounds through space and time. Just sayin!

Summer of Love – Another simple melody about having love; losing love and the universal emotion of whether or not the love that we lost is thinking of us. Aided by Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town, the harmonies are interwoven sweetly and enhance the genuine emotion of the lyric. The beauty of this song is that it can have ANY interpretation and that interpretation is only hindered by our imagination. My mind conjures up the romance of the WWII era where our two star-crossed lovers are saying goodbye to each other in the autumn of their lives. What is your interpretation?

When You Love A Sinner – One of the best pieces of songwriting this year! There is so much depth, so much honesty, so much adversity, and so much raw emotion. “For better, for worse…” are powerful words that we have all vowed to uphold at one point…sometimes more…in our lives. But how much is TOO much? How much is one person expected to take while smiling pretty into the camera of life? Where does the breaking point finally come? They are all tough questions and questions that only you can answer for yourself. Let all who will, judge; they will no matter the circumstance but do what is right for you; for your safety, for your health…mental and physical…and what is right for YOUR life. Living for what others think of you is not living a life; it is mere puppetry and manipulation.

Long Distance Lullaby – Beautiful, simple and lush strings make this the best and sweetest melody on the entire album. Living without the one you love unconditionally, whether for a day, a week or a month is the hardest endeavor to have to endure. The phone/texts/emails only goes so far when you are an “ocean away and sharing the same full moon” when all that you truly crave is their touch; their strength; their soul.

Newcomer Brantley Gilbert’s Halfway to Haven release is as much a southern rock tome as a country album; but it works. With this southern flavor, Gilbert delivers an album full of music and lyrics that have a real sense of soul; that have depth; that have sentimentality but with an edge…slightly more edge than most country music that is being released today. From beginning to end we are along for a journey in an old pickup through the back country roads of the south where the roads are dirt and gravel, the heat and humidity cause the sweat to pour out of you as the sun comes up over the hills. Where Friday nights are spent in the stadium and Saturday’s are spent by the water where the bonfire blazes with a life full of passion and energy. The possibilities are endless. Life is damn good and you want it no other way!

From the up tempo, hard-charging, take no prisoners songs where boys will be boys to the raw, pour salt-in-the-wound devastating emotion of a life and love snuffed out in the blink of an eye, this album brings with it the trademark of all southern style albums before it; brutal honesty. Looking in the mirror is never easy but with Halfway to Heaven, Brantley Gilbert gives us permission to look into that mirror, accept what we see, and apologize to no one for the reflection that stares back. For that reflection has made us…wholly…the men and women that we are today. 

Track #1 – Hell on Wheels – sets the tone for the outlaw, southern life that runs throughout the record. “So man you think you wanna run whiskey…” evokes the days when the good ‘ol boys were running “shine” down the back roads throughout the south; the preface to what NASCAR is today. 

Track #2 – Bendin’ the Rules & Breakin the Law – reminds me of Hey Jealousy by the Gin Blossoms, but I digress. Ah, yes the rebellious teenager awakens from its slumber…”the closest thing to hell she’s ever raised…” by recounting all the things we did in our youth that we shouldn’t necessarily regret. ”…made mistakes that paved the way for the man I am today…” Everyday is a new day and we all get the opportunity to learn and grow from the haunts of our past. 

Track #3 – Back in the Day – memories of an innocent time…”a hand full of rocks and daddy’s pine ladder” where all that mattered was the freedom granted from a car…”butterflies in the backseat…” and the girl that you loved…”she was my dashboard drummer…four letters in a heart carved in a pine…” stir the romantic longing we all had inside of us at one time or another. Where did all that romance go? We need it more today than ever before. 

Track #4 – My Kinda Crazy – is pure unconditional love for the woman of your dreams…”…that’s my baby and she’s my kind of crazy.” This man knows his woman isn’t perfect; he does not want her to b, knows how to love his woman and makes no apologies or excuses for it. ”But I hear ‘wake up sleepy head and I open my eyes and its all worth the while.” A reminder that we should all love passionately; love forever and never, ever apologize for that love! 

Track #5 – Kick it in the Sticks – The most raucous track on the record and an autobiographical look at what it means to live, love and grow up in the south. “So, we hangout by the bonfire we’re just some good ‘ol boys havin a dang good time.” Sets the scene where the rules are…there are no rules; “we’ re crankin’ up AC/DC, Hank, Skynrd and George ‘Straight’.” Where everyone is invited and everyone is welcome “…with the hippies and the hicks, jocks and bikers…” Come on in, sit a spell and we’ll show you how we do it in the south. On a personal note to the editor of the liner notes, misspelling the King of Country Music’s name is a sacrilege. Strait. You’re welcome. Don’t let it happen again.  

Track #6 – Halfway to Heaven – title track and an inside look at the event that changed Brantley Gilbert’s life; a near fatal car accident. “There’s a live oak tree you can still see off ‘ol 129. You can see the scar it’s missin’ bark where it stopped my truck that night.” He recalls that instance where life hangs in the balance; “hanging on by a thread, wonderin’ which one’s your last breath” with no idea how it would end. Life doesn’t promise us anything, especially second chances…“You live your life a better man when you’ve been halfway to heaven.” Cherish your life and those in your life; it will not be here forever. I expect this to be the next single released. 

Track #7 – Saving Amy – Is my favorite track on the record; pure, raw and cutting emotion from start to finish. It continues the life is too precious to take for granted theme from the previous track. This story evokes every emotion of loss and grief. Told from a man looking down from heaven, it’s about two people whose love has been promised forever…”since that night I proposed; when I promised her forever.” Until the unthinkable happens; one life is snuffed out in the blink of an eye. When one is left holding onto the memories and the hope of a promised future, the pain is immeasurable and has no peer to ANY physical ailment known to man. “I’ve watched her losin’ her mind…screamin’ out my name.” it is his selflessness, his unconditional love for her that should make us all sit up and take notice; “Oh but God I know I can’t but you can’t let her live this way it’s too late for saving me but there’s still hope for saving Amy.” One of the people in this world that I love the most has always believed that death is not the end of life; the spirit lives on and remembers forever. May all of us and the ones we love believe in that spirit. 

Track #8 – Country Must be Country Wide – is the first release and tells us to leave judgment to the small and trite amongst us lest shame will pour down upon you and your small-mindedness…”I grew up south of the Mason Dixon…an ol boy pulled up with a license plate from Ohio I thought oh good lord he’s lost. From his wranglers to his boots he reminded me of Chris LeDoux…” The other picture this evokes is that we; you, me all of us are in this together. Let’s depend on each other to provide for each other when help is needed. “We weren’t raised to take, we were raised to give the shirt off our back to anyone in need.” Love thy neighbor. See Joplin, Missouri. See also, Alabama. 

Track #9 – Take it Outside – is on its surface just exactly that; a couple of ol’ boys being stupid in a bar…probably over a woman…and they take their endeavors outside to “prove” their manhood. “If you think you’re man enough, you really wanna knuckle up…” However, reading between the lines, one interpretation can be about man standing up for principles and what is right. “Let’s have some respect…it’s man to man, toe to toe.” Bar fights are cheap and tawdry; “fighting” over principle is an entirely different matter; it is steadfast and true. 

Track #10 – Them Boys – is all about respect…”Them boys don’t know one thing about life…” and the know-it-all attitudes of “young uns” today. “Out ridin’ like they own this town, that racket turned all the way up.” Oh. Wait a minute. Didn’t they say the same things about us back in the day? “…lookin back on the times we shared, from rock ‘n roll to these rockin chairs, the same ones our granddads sat in…about how much trouble we were in.” Yes, Virginia we have all evolved into our parents in some form. It is hell getting old! 

Track #11 – Fall Into Me – Fear and patience rear their heads in this ballad about finding a love too good to be true. “A whisper away from changin’ everything…girl, I’m weak in the knees…” It also requires both of us to follow our hearts; a recipe for success in all things “Let our kiss count the moments and our hearts set the pace…” we also learn that unconditional love is just that; without limits or boundaries. “Love ain’t a race, there’s no finish line.” True love endures all things and may we all find that one, single person that we can share that love for a lifetime…or the remainder of a lifetime. 

Track #12 – More Than Miles – What would you sacrifice to achieve your dreams? “…before her memory hits the brakes.” Can you put yourself and your dreams above your love of another soul; the other part of YOUR soul? “I think I just realized how much I need her…I can’t put my dreams before her.” All of us hopeless romantic types believe that above all else, love conquers all. Never quit on love. It’s reward is immeasurable. 

Track #13 – You Don’t Know Her Like I Do – Your friends can talk until they are blue in the face but when you lose real love, they have no ability to convince you otherwise…”It stops hurtin’, she ain’t worth it.” They have no idea; they haven’t walked in your shoes and felt and experienced what you have. “That girls my best friend, there’s no way you’re gonna help me, she’s the only one who can.” Friends…acquaintances…come and go. Your “best friend” never leaves your side…”through thick and thin”… and is a priceless and revered treasure. I would like to see this released as a single as well, however, I believe the record label will want the more compelling story line that comes from the title track. 

Track #14 – Hell On An Angel – Someone has come along in our lives that has reached down and pulled us from the bottom of the muddy, murky water we were wallowing in. “Yeah but I got a blessin, sent down from heaven, baby you’re my savin grace.” They’ve been able to show us the truth and beauty that we cannot see in ourselves…”to this heart I’ve kept long guarded…” and they have the uncanny ability to illustrate how to re-frame our own image.”…a dirty old hound dog, learning’ new tricks like cuddlin’ up.” They are truly sent by God above and are angels on earth. 

In some ways Halfway to Heaven has some of the same sounds as other country records, however, taken as a whole, it does contain something different. I believe it is a sound of true appreciation, excitement, love and passion for the second chance at a real, genuine and more fulfilling life emitting from a man who, for all intents and purposes, should not be alive. Maybe it is the second chance sound that gives us the cutting edge to the lyrics. Maybe it is the second chance sound that resonates in the timbre (husky…raspy…masculine) of Gilbert’s voice. Whatever the difference, do yourself a favor and listen to this record. You may not get a second chance.

CMA’s, ACM’s and the coveted Grammy award line the bookshelves of this talented trio who first hit the scene approximately five years ago with their debut hit “Love Don’t Live Here.” Btw, if you are a lover of words and lyrics like I am, that single contained one of the best lyrics since Bernie Taupin wrote “I can’t light, no more of your darkness…” for Elton John many years ago. “…and you don’t haunt my dreams…” was a lyric that solidified this group in the country music world as both writers and performers who have the uncanny ability to write equally as well from the male and female perspective; often times in the same verse of the same song. This androgynous style suits the world of country music like a well worn pair of cowboy boots.

Lady Antebellum has released their third studio album with “Own the Night.” Is the album earth-shattering? No. Is the album terribly creative? Not really. Is the album fluff? Not in the least. There is depth and meaning in all of the tracks and is as solid an effort as has been released this year in country music. With a hand in writing ten of the albums twelve tracks, this is what you come to expect from the trio of Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley; lush ballads of love gone astray for a myriad of reasons; love found along the road of life when it was least expected and mid and up tempo numbers where the night time is the foundation for some of the simple joys in life. An acquaintance of mine is wont to say that only the best things happen when the moon rises and the stars come out to play. As a self-prescribed night owl, with crime and the evil inside man’s heart aside, I am certainly one to agree with that statement. From the sounds of this album, Lady A not only agrees but jumps in with both feet and shouts it from the mountaintop for all to hear!

I must say that I do have a couple of issues with this album; annoying little pet peeves of mine, if you will. First, can you please include the lyrics in the liner notes? Why would a record label…especially a label as lucrative and large as Capitol Records Nashville…purposely NOT include the lyrics to their artists’ music? As a lover of words, I like to see the words on paper to fully enjoy the listening process. Besides, I am also a bit deaf in one ear (too many years with headphones on in the studio) and it helps me make out the words I cannot hear in the presentation of the song itself. Yes. Call me selfish but who does NOT want to see the lyrics?

Second, and I have noticed this on many albums being released these days, watch the production aspects of the music versus the singing. As a performer, I understand the delicate balance between the vocals and the music; however, not being able to hear the singers over the music defeats the purpose of singing and is a disservice to the listener who needs to hear every word in order to connect with the ebb and flow of the lyrical emotion being presented. This over-production (for lack of a better term) is especially noticeable on this record because these three singers instruments are of a more light and lyrical timbre than the edgier and fully resonating style.

Some will say this is not a country album but more of the homogenized pop sound that pervades the country radio airwaves today. They may be correct in that assertion, however, the one thing country music has always had at its core is the story; and every track on this album tells a story just like every country album that has come before this one. That being said, to a true music lover labeling does nothing more than eliminate the opportunity for music to be heard and enjoyed in its simplest sense. Let us get away from the labels of what music is or what music is not and just get back to enjoying the music for its pure pleasure.

The title track, “We Owned the Night,” leads off this album and sets the tone and theme of the night time that resonates throughout the album. The memory of a unique lover…”She was the purest beauty but not the common kind…” is forever entrenched in the heart and mind of our young man “…not knowing in that moment we’d never speak again, but it was perfect, I will never forget” who will never forget the woman of his dreams and the magical gifts of the nights they spent together.

Track #2, “Just a Kiss,” the lead off single, flew to the #1 spot on the charts in a very short time. In this story (based upon actual events with regards to Charles meeting his now wife) our protagonist desires only the purest form of thought, word and deed in relation to the woman who holds his heart in her hands. “I don’t want to mess this thing up, I don’t want to push too far…no I don’t want to say goodnight, I know its time to leave but you’ll be in my dreams…” Who wants to screw up what could possibly be the one and only shot at honest, true and unadulterated love that will last a lifetime?

Track #3, “Dancin’ Away with my Heart” is all about first love; it’s idealism, it’s innocence, it’s memories…”oh you headed out to college at the end of that summer when we lost touch…” it’s wonder; “…I can’t help but wonder if you ever miss me…”

Track #4, “Friday Night,” give s us the analogy of the work week in relation to the one we adore. Don’t ever think of me as a Monday…”I don’t wanna be your Monday morning heading back to work…” but rather the fun loving, good times of a Friday night spent together. “I wanna be your Friday night sweet ride…I wanna set you free, I wanna take you high…” With every thought of “the one” a smile and a tremendous sense of warmth envelope you like being held in a set of strong, safe arms and shoulders. This track gives an entirely new meaning to TGIF!

Track #5, “When You Were Mine,” provides us with a look inside the world of one-sided love. The kind of love that flows freely and purely from one person but the return of that love is suspect at best. It leaves one with a feeling of being used and taken for granted. “Here, with me, I thought we’d be, stronger than the past, better than the ones before how did I fool myself into thinking we had it all.” Love is most assuredly blind.

Track #6, “Cold As Stone,” gives us the quintessential breakup song from the age old cliché “it’s not you; it’s me. “She said she needed to feel the sun on her face, talk it out with herself, try to get things straight.” This song plays to anyone who has ever curled up in the fetal position…”but all I know is I don’t wanna breathe…” after the door has been slammed shut on the love that you thought you shared; “Yeah, it’s gonna take forever to get over you.” We all want to be that stone that just lies there without emotion…”I wish I was as cold as stone, then I wouldn’t feel a thing…or feel so all alone…” until someone comes along, stumbles over that stone and realizes the true beauty of the stone lying in their path. The surprising interlude at the end of this number is well worth the wait.

Track #7, “Singing Me Home” has the best melody on the record and its message is one of love…”Oh my sweet love keep singing me home…” and companionship…”the sunshine shining through the windshield got a hand on her leg the other on the wheel…”in its most simplest form.

Track #8, “Wanted You More,” incorporates the lush sound of strings to expand on the theme of one-sided love, however, in this instance that love was returned for awhile and for whatever reason…”I kept waiting for a reason and a call that never came…” the hopes, dreams and plans made together all changed. For those of us who wear our heart on our sleeve, this is a reminder of how vulnerable we are…”my heart was open, exposed and hoping for you to lay it on the line…” to those who do not understand the magical and fulfilling feelings that come with that vulnerability. In the end, the one who wants it more than the other…”I guess I wanted you more and looking back now, I’m sure I wanted you more…” will most certainly fall prey to the folly of the other.

Track #9, “As You Turn Away,” uses a melodic piano and gorgeous strings to tell the story of a <gasp> personal goodbye…”standing face to face, wrapped in your embrace, don’t wanna let go but you’re already gone…this is our goodbye…” as opposed to the sub-human methods we employ today; voicemail, email or worse yet, texting. Whatever happened to courage in our world? Putting the “genie back in the bottle”…”no we can’t be friends cause I couldn’t take seeing you and knowing where we’ve been…”isn’t going to work either. What is the point? We do not need or want another “friend.” Simply put, man is not meant to be alone. We seek and desire commitment, love, passion, intimacy, and companionship with one, single person more than anyone else in the world.

Track #10, “Love I’ve Found In You,” is the song every guy wants his buddies…”well, I bet my buddies are out on the town tonight…”to hear so he doesn’t have to tell them that she fulfills his needs (get your mind out of the gutter) on a higher plane more than they ever could. A real man embraces it…“Wearin’ my old sweatshirt and your favorite pair of jeans, barefoot on the couch curled up next to me, oh I got everything I’ve ever needed” …and readily admits it…”some people search the whole world over just to find a love that’s even half as true as the love I’ve found in you.”

Track #11, “Somewhere Love Remains,” embraces the idea that love conquers all…”I know through all this pain somehow, somewhere love remains…” no matter how much instant gratification abounds in the world. In all things, especially relationships, actions speak louder than words; “…More than just a line…you told me but you never really showed me…” and there are three things that MUST be present in every relationship; love, trust and respect; “…trust takes time to tear down those fences and love remains that’s stronger than ever before so don’t (quit) and walk out that door.” The hopeless romantic in us all knows that true, real and honest love, much like honesty, works every time it is tried!

Track #12, “Heart Of The World,” illustrates from both the male and female voice; a feat Lady A has perfected…“You’ll never not be my girl…I’ll never not be your girl.”…that love is strong and can withstand all challenges it faces. We are also rewarded with a richness and depth in their writing abilities that equals that of their minor hit “Hello World” from their last album. “If fall is the soul of the engine…forgiveness the road to redemption…if grease is the soul of the kitchen…faith can still beat the odds…” In the end, love is the heart of the world and we owe it to ourselves to make every second count because we never know when that heart will stop beating.

Love is a central theme in most country albums. In this case, love the new Lady A record and “Own the Night” with them; whether at home with a roaring fire, a glass of wine, wrapped up in the arms of the one you love or in the car on the way to a lovers only getaway destination while holding hands or sensually touching each other all along the way. No matter the circumstance, you will never go wrong with the night time, music and true love!

Is it possible for George Strait to ever do anything wrong as a country music artist? Is it even within the realm of possibility that he could do ANYTHING that would alienate his fan base, his peers or industry executives? Yeah. I think not either; there is not a chance of that happening in this lifetime and with the release of his 39^th studio album, “Here For a Good Time,” George Strait continues to reign as the “King of Country Music”…and that crown has not been tarnished nor is it going anywhere anytime soon.

 Like a fine wine, Mr. Strait has aged so very well with time…and I do not mean just on the eyes ladies. Yes, he is still dashingly handsome as ever; who would NOT want their daughter to walk through the door with him to meet the family? His voice has lost nothing in his 30+ year career; unmistakable, expressive, rich, vibrant, lyrical and joyous in its timbre. From his first single (“Unwound”) back in 1981 to his latest single, “Here for a Good Time,” there is no doubt that the full-bodied flavor of his music continues to be poured at the finest establishments all over the country.

 Being in his position at the top of country music royalty, Mr. Strait has the privilege of being able to pick and choose who he will work with when it comes to songwriting and song selection. His stable of writer’s include the absolute best names in the music business from Nashville and across the world of music. However, with the release of his last couple of albums, there has been a slow change in his songwriting process and selection; the introduction of his son, Bubba, into the mix. Whatever the reason for this inclusion, the change is positive, significant and forward-moving as the lyrics and subject matter have plunged to a depth that seems to be, on the surface, different from what we have come to know from Mr. Strait. Keeping it in the family, so to speak, has provided a deeper and more insightful look at the world through their writing together and his uncanny ability to make lyrics jump off the page of sheet music they are written upon.

Track #1, “Love’s Gonna Make it Alright,” is the true hopeless romantic answer to the world’s ills; no obstacle is insurmountable as long as we are together and our love provides the foundation for the solution. (“…watch the sun come up behind our bedroom door”) screams romance and the truth that love does indeed conquer all.

Track #2, “Drinkin’ Man” puts us in the shoes of a man looking deeper into the mirror of his life than ever before. In that reflection he (and many along with him) re-lives his epic battle with the bottle. (“When you’re fourteen and drunk by 10am…”) should stop every parent dead in their tracks and require them to give more thought to what is really happening in their children’s lives; it could be foreshadowing of things to come.

Track #3, “Shame on Me” is a very simple song at its core; most times the simplest turns out to be the best. It takes the old cliché, (“fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me”) and provides us with the devastating reminder of how lying and deceit take their toll on the human condition until finally giving up is the only choice left in the hopper.

Track #4, “Poison” gives us the juxtaposition of poison as both pleasure and pain (sour mash is the pleasure n this instance) (“My first sip made me gag and I thought I was gonna blow beets.”) and a woman’s purported love and affection; the pain. (“Anything can bring you pleasure, even pain…”) A story of how we mask the truth that surrounds us with the illusion of what we invent or rationalize in our mind. It is every man and woman’s dilemma; do I follow my head or my heart? The truth is there is no right answer to that question; attention must be paid to both.

Track #5, the aforementioned “Here for a Good Time,” is an upbeat and memorable number about living life to its fullest extent, everyday, without excuse and enjoying each and every day as if it is our last. Let’s drop the pretense and the façade (“To hell with the red wine, pour me some moonshine…”) and live, love and laugh. Life is far too short to do otherwise.

Track #6, “House Across the Bay” not only paints the picture of the loneliness and isolation that comes as the result of a breakup (“Gone are the days when I’d wake up with her warm body next to mine…”) but also of the search for understanding (“They say things happen for a reason but I can’t find one good reason…”) and an attempt to make the illogical, logical.

Track #7, “Lone Star Blues” is an ode to escapism, living life on the edge doing what we want to do, when we want to do it rather than what we should do in order to survive. (“Well I gassed my truck and packed my clothes, turned in my key and hit the road…”) tells us that there may be more to life than a husband/wife, a house, a yard with a white picket fence, the average 2.3 kids and a dog.

Track #8, “A Showman’s Life” bursts the bubble on what we laymen think we know about show business; the fame, the fortune, the glory. However, when the rubber meets the road as the bus rolls down the lonely two-lane highways of west <insertstatenamehere> at two in the morning headed to the next gig, nothing could be farther from the truth; (“No mention of the wear and tear on an old honky tonkers heart…”) Mr. Strait, known for his duet prowess with the women of country music; Reba and LeeAnn come to mind quickly, does not disappoint on this number as he enlists none other than Faith Hill to add authenticity and a sense of two “old souls” swapping stories on the track.

Track #9, “Three Nails and a Cross” takes us down the road of trials and tribulations to redemption and forgiveness. (“Three nails and a cross equal forgiveness…I’ve made a big mistake, can you help me out?”) Country music has never had an issue of featuring God and religion in their songs; this track is no exception to that rule. However, I believe there to be a deeper level of societal concern here that may not have been as prevalent on his earlier records; (“She was sittin’ on a bed crying crocodiles, sixteen ain’t a good age to be pregnant.”) I do not know if Mr. Strait would have tackled this issue in years past on one of his records. To know his audience has changed and that there are real problems like this within his audience displays tremendous insight, growth as both an artist and as a human being.

Track #10, “Blue Marlin Blues” is a fun number about the glory days of just fishing. However, if you read between the lines I think you can see it is more about a tale of change that hits all of us…no matter how much we try to avoid that change there is always going to be someone bigger and badder than us in the world. (“I had one swimmin’ right behind my bait…I picked up my rod I put in free spool thinking I’ll shake these blue marlin blues…he came out of the water spit the bait right back at me and disappeared back into the sea.”) The only constant in life is change.

Track #11, “I’ll Always Remember You” is his way of telling the fans thank you for all the years spent together. He never expected it to last, is sure glad it did and has no timetable as to when it will end. That, my music friends, is a damn good thing!