Brand New Country Songs For The Summer: Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith

"TWO BLACK CADILLACS"   CARRIE UNDERWOOD

Sounding like the follow-up to "Before He Cheats", this new song has MAJOR hit potential.  Carrie's theme of vengeance for cheating gets doubled when a man's wife and mistress meet at his grave.  "It was the first and last time they saw each other face to face, they shared a crimson smile and just walked away".

"NO HURRY"   ZAC BROWN BAND

July 10th is the scheduled release date for the new Zac Brown Band CD, "Uncaged".    I've been loving this band for years before they hit it big and look forward to see what direction they're heading with the new material.  The lead single is this perfect laid-back summer song.   "Heaven knows I ain't perfect, I've raised a little cain, and I plan to raise a whole lot more before I hear the angels sing".

"SING 'EM GOOD MY FRIEND"  KENNY CHESNEY
Early running for my favorite CD of 2012 is the new Kenny Chesney CD, Life In A Fishbowl.   "Sing Em Good My Friend" is INCREDIBLE!   It's a contender for the greatest song Kenny has recorded.  The "do do do" intro reminds me of Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side".   The lyrics remind me of "Don't Blink" and "I Go Back", tender words about cherished memories of the love of your life.  Some funerals turn into festive parties of the great memories, this song conjures up those images.
                                                                                  

"HER LIFE'S A SONG"  ALAN JACKSON

Traditional country will never go out style while artists like Alan Jackson are still around.  "Her Life's A Song" is 1990's AJ with a style similar to his biggest hits "Gone Country" and "Chattahoochee".    The new song is about a woman who loves great music whether it's hip hop, country, rock, or tunes that make her dance all night long.    

"BEERS AGO"   TOBY KEITH

Another great summer jam, Toby's back with a fast paced rocker.   "Beers Ago" is from his Clancy's Tavern CD and it's the perfect country song to crank up the volume, roll down the windows, and get the party started!   "Had me a hand me down ride painted rattle can red, second hand tires with poor boy tread" going to get his girl "the second runner up in the 4H pageant"!     FUN summer jam!

New Music Tuesday : Gym Class Heroes, Safetysuit, Grace Potter, and Alan Jackson

"ASS LIKE THAT"        GYM CLASS HEROES with NEON HITCH

Following up "Stereo Hearts" with Adam Levine, Travie McCoy is back with a more rock infused track for the second hit single off their new CD.   Featured here, the recurrent theme of an artist on the road and distance taking a toll on a relationship.  UK singer / songwriter, Neon Hitch, shines in the video as Travie's love interest and sings the memorable hook, "Get your ass back home!"   

"SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOVE ME ANYMORE"  ALAN JACKSON

Alan Jackson is the master of singing songs that cut to the emotional heart.   Whether it's songs of 9/11, tributes to legends like Hank Williams Sr, memories of the start of a new love, to this raw, sensitive track about ending a relationship.  The guitar solo perfectly blends with Alan's lyrics of broken hearts and opportunities lost.  Tear in your beer country music songs have been around for years and it's great to hear Alan Jackson keeping "real" country alive and well.

 


"THESE TIMES"              SAFETYSUIT

Great video!  Christian rock artist, Safetysuit, debuts a relevant new anthem about although life can be tough and current economic times are depressing and hitting so many hard, "these times will pass".  Everyone has their own issues crippling them at times (as the video demonstrates) but the hopeful conclusion to the video shares an uplifting, enduring message of recovery.  Think of when you were at the lowest moment of your life, then think of NOW, those bad times do pass.   

"DEAR PRUDENCE"                   GRACE POTTER

From her iTunes session live, Grace performed her bluesy hits like "Paris"  but also took on the challenge of covering two of the biggest musical artists of all-time, The Beatles and Madonna.  Her "Like A Prayer" rocks harder but on the White Album classic, Dear Prudence, Grace treats the classic with reverence and adds her feminine touch to the Beatles masterpiece.   Love the simple line:  "the sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you, dear prudence, won't you come out and play"!

She's Got Legs and Knows How To Use Them: Brantley Gilbert, ZZ Top, Alan Jackson, James Otto

"REMEMBER WHEN"                    ALAN JACKSON

This one is a tear-jerker.    Alan Jackson continues to carry on the old-school country style and his songwriting is so personal and open.   This song and especially the video feels like we're peeking into his diary.   His slow dance with his wife, their engagement, pictures of his kids growing up through the years, it's a beautiful song in so many ways.    All of reminscing though makes me feel older as time gets passing by, hopefully my future continues to create vivid memories like Alan.

"COUNTRY MUST BE COUNTRY WIDE"       BRANTLEY GILBERT

Brantley is best known for his songwriting including writing the recent #1 hit, Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean.     Brantley hit it big this fall with this outlaw country rocker.   If you're a rocker, you've got to love the big guitars and attitude here.   If you're a country traditionalist, you have to admire his commitment to the legends but bringing it full circle to modern times.   Great lyrics about how the rebel C&W attitude has spread to even the big cities like NYC and LA.


I was gasin' up the other day
An old boy pulled up with a license plate
From Ohio; thought "Oh, good Lord, he's lost"


From his Wranglers to his boots
He reminded me of Chris LeDoux
And that Copenhagen smile
Yeah, country must be country wide


In every state, there's a station
Playin' Cash, Hank, Willie, and Waylon
In foreign cars and four-wheel drives
There's cowboys and hillbillies
From farm towns to big cities
There ain't no doubt in my mind
Country must be country wide

"GROOVY LITTLE SUMMER SONG"        JAMES OTTO

"Feels like summertime to me", definitely a true statement living in Florida where I spent another Christmas on the beach in 80 degree weather.   James Otto is part of the MuzicMafia posse with Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson.    He has a soulful rich voice, records consistently catchy songs but hasn't exploded onto the charts yet.   He's currently shopping for a new record label.    This song has such a laid-back tropical feel, perfect song for chillin' with a cold one relaxing in the sun.

"TUSH"                   ZZ TOP

Long legs, high heels, short skirts, hmmmm, wonder why their "Legs" video holds such vivid memories of growing up in the 80's?   You've got to give ZZ Top credit.   They are a Hall Of Fame Southern rock band with serious music talent.   They didn't fit the MTV mold, they aren't pretty boys in makeup, they're older than the hair bands, and they've got crazy long beards.   But their creative videos featuring outrageous cars, pretty girls, and a funny twist in their videos made them huge MTV stars.     Fun fact:  the only ZZ Top member who doesn't have a beard, drummer Frank Beard!