iCF Single Reviews #2 (Week of June 22, 2008)

Looking at my blog, I decided that what I really need to do if I want to ensure its survival and interest, I need to post a lot more (obviously lol), and I think it is necessary to expand into other things/ideas because just doing recommendations is not enough (even though it is this blog’s specialty, I am quite aware that my monthly blog posts isn’t adequate enough to keep my readers staying around, because as a fellow blog reader, I am the same way – I need constant and consistent postings!).  So, I’m going to try to do other things on this site, but the recommendations will still, be first and foremost, the most important feature of the site and I’ll try to do them more frequently!

One feature I started some months ago was reviewing current “country” radio singles.  I noticed that I usually only review songs I like or artists I like and don’t really review ones I don’t.  I’m all for optimism but reality is, they are a lot of songs that are pure crap and need to be justifiably criticized for it lol (Rascal Flatts come to mind?).  Anyway, I’m going to review the Top 17 songs of the week based on the Radio & Records‘ website chart.  My opinions will vary and I will definitely be as honest as possible.  I will not post links to the review singles because chances are you most likely have already heard the songs and plus, I’m lazy to look them all up lol.  FYI: you should know I don’t listen to mainstream country radio a lot (well, now I am a lil bit more because I have my stereo in my room and didn’t have an iPod for a while. Otherwise, I listen to XM Radio in the car or iTunes when I’m at school), so I may not be as sick of these overplayed songs as you are, so we shall see. Here we go… (this will be a longggg post!)

01.  “Better As a Memory” – Kenny Chesney

- Surprise, surprise.  Look who’s #1 again.  The song is OK, but not worthy of #1,  The lyrics are mediocre and the vocals just the same.  I admit it’s nice that it’s not overproduced, but all in all, I don’t see what people see in him these days.  2 out of 5 stars.

02.  “Last Name” – Carrie Underwood

- Usually I don’t care for Miss Underwood’s singles because radio KILLS them with overplay (even though they’re good, country or not), but with this song, I just can’t get enough of it.  It’s catchy and fun to sing along with (I sing “I don’t know even know her last name” instead lol but it doesn’t quite make as much sense but whatever).  Musically, it reminds me of Shania’s “Honey I’m Home” with the rocking guitar, drums, and the fiddle.  This was a great choice for a summer song.  I think she is really talented and I’m liking her more, though I still think she is way overplayed.  5 out of 5 stars. Buy here!

03.  “Home” – Blake Shelton

- Blake has lately been hit-and-miss with me over the last few years.  I’m just not into him as much.  I really don’t like this song even though his vocals are nice.  Sometimes doing remakes/covers is annoying because you keep comparing it with the original or another version.  I just don’t like it.  1 out of 5 stars.

04.  “I’m Still a Guy” – Brad Paisley

- Here’s a guy who’s music I must recommend sometime in the future.  I love that he helps make traditional/real country popular with his songs and that he does it while being so cool.  This single, one of his other gimmicky haha songs is really clever, once again displaying his immense talent as a songwriter, and his ode to traditional country.  His novelty songs do get annoying though sometimes.  I should love this song, but I don’t.  I like it but for some reason, the extremely unnecessary, but short, whole baby/cradle-music thing that’s goes on the song is like chalkboard-scratching to my ears.  I think it kinda messes up the song to be honest lol (just like when children sing in songs, for example: like in  “Ain’t Nothin’ Like” on his Mud on the Tires album.  Good song until the kids get involved).  I just don’t like that.  4 out of 5 stars. Buy here!

05.  “Every Day” – Rascal Flatts

- Crap.  Annoying crap like always.  Seriously, though.  The music, though it isn’t country at all, is not too bad and the vocals are OK (but get pretty whiny several times, as expected from Gary LeVox).  This boy band continues their Murder Row Massacre once again with this song, so of course, radio can’t get enough of it.  One somewhat positive thing about it: MUCH better than their next single, “Bob That Head” (yes, I said bob that head… a title which makes you think, and considering the double entendre and who’s singing it to you, makes you just want to barf).  1.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation XXIII: Dierks Bentley w/ Sarah Buxton

…And we’re back.  My summer’s going pretty well for me so far: I’m just hoping that I can look back at it and say that I didn’t waste it like past summers.  Too many days come by when I feel I could’ve done more and done something more productive (beside working, of course).  I hope I can get outside more and spend less time online (I admit, I’m lazy and I could’ve made more posts on here lol, but I’m a to-be-junior in college, so give me a break: I could do much worse).  Alright, alright.  ‘Nuff small talk…Imma gonna get to the music!  Lately, I’ve been listening to my local alternative/independent rock station at home, and sometimes, my local country stations (but they suck, for the most part, as we all know), so I’m sticking to the rock station because it sounds better ;), but that isn’t a segue into the following paragraphs (or maybe it is?), but anyway…

My twenty-third recommendation is: Dierks Bentley’s (with Sarah Buxton) “Sweet & Wild” from his 2008 Greatest Hits – Every Mile a Memory album.  These days, Dierks is pretty well known amongst country fans because he’s gotten really big now quickly since his debut single, “What Was I Thinkin’?” came out years ago, so he’s one of the bigger, currently popular artists I’ve discussed on this site so far.  With him, I’m pretty much hit-and-miss with his music, but I really appreciate his respect towards real traditional country music and the history.  I gotta admit: I was a big fan of Dierks’s when he first came out: I loved his debut single, and then the honky-tonker, “How Am I Doin’?”, and then the Waylon-ish, “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do”, but I began to lose interest in him because it seemed like he wanted to be a rock-star sex symbol (like Kenny Chesney) or something (and also the fact that my sister is obsessed with him, contributed a lot to it haha).  My favorite song of his’ is actually “Settle for a Slowdown” because it’s just an awesome song through and through, though after that, I really didn’t like his choice of singles because they seemed to become less country-sounding (with one exception, of course) and it turned me off even more.  I didn’t care to hear his music much anymore.

Recommendation XXII: Gillian Welch

Hey.  Long time no see.  I am back again with a new post!  Right now, I’m on my summer break at home and it’s going really well.  I’m already working and just trying to save money (and get a new iPod!).  It has been a while since the last time, but I had to deal with finals and projects and everything, so it has been busy busy busy for me.  I had some time now to do a new post so here it is.

My twenty-second recommendation is: Gillian Welch’s “My First Lover” from her 2001 Time – The Revelator album.  You may or may not recognize her name, but Gillian Welch is big in the folk/americana format, and she had a duet with Alison Krauss on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack back in 2000 with the traditional, “I’ll Fly Away” (which is excellent), and that song is what introduced me to her.  Since then, I’ve been interested in her and her music, but still didn’t really check it out.  Sometimes I tend to do that for some reason with different artists, and I later find that I really like their music.  I really like her folk style and the simplicity that comes with it and the stories she tells.