Rolling Country 2023

Yeah, he's pretty reliable for including country and country-adjacent stuff and has been for a good long while. Also delighted to see his high ranking for the Willie Nelson album. And, fwiw xp, he included Amanda Shires in his t20 but also didn't go for Lainey Wilson.

Yeah, he's been useful re country since early 70s (pro tip for Consumer Guide look-ups: they Merle Haggard *and* Merle Haggard and the Strangers: maybe duh, but took me a while). He's being pretty obtuse about Lainey, though.
I can see why your friends are divided on Shires: good songs, and I think I got basically the right idea before finally checking lyrics, but then I saw lots of important detail that weren't coming through. There are exceptions, esp. that one time she adds a little echo and then goes to double-tracking: THANK YOU JESUS. If she only would (more than could) deal with her vocal limits as well as she does everything else here.

He's okay on country; as usual he prefers sexually aggressive women. If they code as "genteel" for him, he's out the door.

Lee Ann Womack's recorded some of the best albums of the last 20 years by anybody but he doesn't care.

Oh yeah he's ridic on her.

deal with her vocal limits as well as she does everything else here. Well sometimes the weak link voice does seem like evidence of brave vulnerability, "Here I am..." But the most striking moments tend to pass, and she's still singing. On the other hand, I've listened to it more than any other album in 2022 or early '23---and not hate-listened, but it's----maddening at times.

most striking moments re vocals, that is; otherwise, the tracks can thrive. I'm learning, being taught, to listen around the voice, as with some ancient Tom Waits and Henry Rollins albums.

I mean sometimes it works anyway, or the voice even does its bit all the way through: one for my Singles/Tracks list will be "Empty Cups," referring to her hands. I picture them as red solo cups, and think also of the Toby Keith song.

Will prob put it in Honorable Mentions---the singing is the one thing that keeps me from full acceptance/enjoyment.

So it's got me in semi-detached art appreciation, like this year's Charley Crockett.

2022's Charley Crockett, that is.

xp Xgau

as usual he prefers sexually aggressive women. If they code as "genteel" for him, he's out the door.

Alfred's spot on here.

It's why, in addition to Womack, he completely missed the boat on the genre's mainstream women in the 90s and aughts. Rarely gave the time of day to anyone on the Yearwood/Loveless/Tillis/Wynonna/Rimes axis and ends up with massive blind spots because of it. Was weirdly dismissive of a lot of the women of the 90s alt-country boom other than Lucinda and Iris, too.

But hey, he quoted me by name in a review once for being over-the-top in my praise for Miranda Lambert in the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, so what do I know.

Speaking of Iris: Two new singles out in advance of her new album. Both are fantastic.

Can't wait

I don't usually post in the rolling country thread but wanted to alert yall of this new Esther Rose album https://www.brooklynvegan.com/esther-rose-announces-new-album-safe-to-run-for-new-west-shares-chet-baker/

Never heard of her before but a friend of mine hosted a camping trip a few months ago which had a bunch of different musicians playing etc. she ended up playing a set along the Rio Grande and it was probably the highlight of the whole thing for me. Completely blew me away. Nice to see her getting some recognition on BV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDXRedvaIK4

Thanks!
Willie won Grammys for A Beautiful Time and "Live Forever," title track of that good xpost Billy Joe Shaver trib----new album out next month:

Amongst the nearly 150 albums that Willie Nelson has released, he has a number of amazing full-album tributes to songwriters from Kris Kristofferson and George Gershwin to Ray Price and Cindy Walker. Adding to that list is a new studio album dedicated to songwriting legend Harlen Howard who has scores of country hits including a number that crossed over to pop and even R&B charts. A member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Howard wrote hits for Ray Charles (“Busted”), Buck Owens (“I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail”), Conway Twitty (the title track), Bobby Bare (“The Streets Of Baltimore”) and so many more. Produced by longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon and featuring a murderers’ row of crack Nashville musicians, I Don’t Know A Thing About Love is an amazing addition to Willie’s unparalleled catalog.

Featuring cover art by Micah Nelson (Willie's son), I Don't Know A Thing About Love was produced by longtime musical collaborator Buddy Cannon and debuts 10 studio performances. The band on the album includes Willie Nelson (Trigger, lead vocals), Larry Paxton (bass, tic tac bass), Lonnie Wilson (drums), Bobby Terry (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), James Mitchell (electric guitar), Mike Johnson (steel guitar), Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Jim "Moose" Brown (piano, synthesizer, B3 organ, Wurlitzer), Wyatt Beard (background vocals), and Melonie Cannon (background vocals).

I Don't Know A Thing About Love will be released March 3, 2023

I've been catching up with the 2022 digital debuts of quite a few Roger Miller albums, but I'll start the mentions with a prequel I just now listened to: the 2020 Early Recordings (1957-1962, where I was immediately struck by the early tracks' unabashedly twangy, forthrightly honky-tonk settings for the post-Hank blue verve of his ballad singing--and even sometimes interspersed with well-timed bit of Milleized(more falsetto, in little leaps) Jimmie Rodgers blue yodel---all of which is eventually followed by a few lint tufts of more discreet, post-Eddy Arnold sadness, which Miller has no particular knack for, as is proven again and again on some of the 2022 reissues (even when his ballad-writing is on point, with crisp "Invitation To The Blues" and "Tall Tall Trees," which was a Top Ten hit for Alan Jackson in the 90s---could def see AJ doing a good Miller tribute.)
(The Bear Family import edition of this collection adds a disc of covers, which I haven't heard, so could be that Miller's writing was already ahead of his singing, re drinkin' & cryin' vehicles on the slow side of life.)
There are also quite a few with rowdy Roger appeal, often Louisiana-flavored country with persistent Jerry Lee-type piano punctuation, leading through New Orleansian party favors at times--with a different kind of refreshment, even on a ballad, provided a few times by Roger and acoustic guitar, that's all. My current fave is a perky version of mountain classick "I Traced Her Little Footprints in the Snow." She left in summer with no footprints, but he found her by cracky, and "now she's playing in that angel band," where he hopes to join her someday--but what's really cool to him, sounds like, is that he traced her!

Back to 2022: Roger and Out(1964) and The Return of Roger Miller(1965), largely from the same sessions, are poptastic realness, calling on all creative resources to jitter and jolt and josh and clown himself through all manner of country and Roger sadness, anxiety, ritual guilt trips x pity parties, a lot of it just barely drive-by noticeable, but close enough. Also, for instance, "John Q.," with veteran Roger marching again through whut-whut, even gnarling over drums like pirate ancestor of the Pogues.
These one-two hitz-laden punchbowl punches are his most peaky and tweaky---as in olde term "tweaker," speed-enthusiast; he was taking regular doses of Vitamin A then---also with some from those same sessions, The Third Time Around(1965) and Words and Music(1966), especially, are not quite as good, but certainly have their keepers.
Then the title track of Walkin' In The Sunshine has a 1967 buzz of surprise, shows he's keeping up with the pop possibilities, as he turns out to have a Roger way with Jamacoid, Johnny Nash-in-Nashvile sing-along, bounce-along, not-too-cuteness, and most of the rest is okay, esp. in afterglow of the hit.
Waterhole # 3 (The Code of the West)(1967) is a skippable soundtrack he didn't write, and his singing lacks conviction at best.
A Tender Look At Love(1968) is as bad as you might suspect from title: all ballads, and all covers, I think (I don't want to think about it).
Roger Miller(1969) lets fly with the Sir Dougadelic "Shame Bird" (RM ain't one!)
Roger Miller 1970 sucks except for the Tommy James and The Shondells-worthy picnic vision ov "Crystal Day," wheee.
Ken Tucker really liked the long-lost commercial flop A Trip To The Country (1970), and you can hear why in his archived Fresh Air coverage, but I think it's mostly pretty boring (here is where Miller under-undersells "Invitation to the Blues").
Making A Name For Myself(1979) is appropriately, self-assuredly, expertly ambitious, kicking off with "The Hat," in which a Miller prime time street personage admires and would like to have your hat (for a start?), pass it over and he'll tell you why---ok? He's cheerful and serious.
Then, with input from some Steely associates, he makes himself at home in actually sexy (heretofore not a Roger-associated attribute, that I've noticed) mid-to-late 70s R&B lanes, like Aretha and Al Green might approve, but still sounding just like himself--then my favorite, "Pleasing The Crowd," I'd swear is an Allen Toussaint-Dr. John visit, though still Roger as hell, as the jaded old showman sez tough shit kid and then rallies whomever, including himself, judging by the ever-building reluctant intensity. (My favorite reissue, next to the '64 and '65 joints)
Roger Miller (1985) is most notable for openers and closers from his Huck Finn musical, Big River: real good, and I'll have to check out the Original Cast Recording for the whole thing, though he's not on it (he did perform in it live for several months after John Goodman split).

could def see AJ doing a good Miller tribute album, I meant.

A couple more things: even in the early 60s, scat-singing flipster Roger wants to make it even clearer that he isn't just for hipsters: he points out that it takes all kinds, including squares---several years before Merle's great line, "A place where even squares can have a ball!" Roger's talking about boring, necessary jobs, but with no push-back topicality---indeed, talking about what it takes to make the world go round leads him yet into another whirl.
Much later, a song about "Arkansas,", which sounds like it's gonna be rhymed with "Yee-haw!", but never quite does, is nonetheless a celebration of a place he ain't never been, but maybe he is about to, finally! Like his Granpaw always said they would. Relatable.

Oh yeah, the only way I've found The Return of Roger Miller is via this person's playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLasAIHkjrlj_9FpkyGg1T7W8J_qtNqsmm Which is missing a couple of tracks on the reissue, but they can be rounded up on YouTube.

Oh wow, I didn’t know all those albums were streaming now. I only know Miller via comps so I’m happy to check out the albums. Will compare my notes against yours, dow

Yeah, and don't sleep on xpost Early Recordings (1957-1962); the aforementioned Bear Family edition, with the added disc of cover versions, is titled The Early Years 1957-1962, and lacks some good tracks on ER, but Amazon's got for $15.99 (haven't yet checked for streams), and dig the cover artists:

27 Love Love Love - Eddie Bond
28 Happy Child - Jimmy Dean
29 Tall, Tall Trees - George Jones
30 Half a Mind - Ernest Tubb*
31 Billy Bayou - Jim Reeves
32 Invitation to the Blues - Ray Price
33 Nothing Can Stop My Love - George Jones
34 Knock Knock Rattle - Rex Allen
35 That's the Way I Feel - Faron Young
36 When Your House Is Not a Home - Little Jimmy Dickens*
37 If Heartache Is the Fashion - Jim Reeves*
38 Home - Jim Reeves*
39 Last Night at a Party - Faron Young
40 Big Harlan Taylor - George Jones
41 Trouble on the Turnpike - Gordon Terry
42 A World I Can't Live in - Jan Howard
43 Where Your Arms Used to Be - Billy Strange
44 Wish I Hadn't Called Home - Dale Hawkins
45 My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About) - Claude Gray
46 If You Want Me to - George Hamilton IV
47 Private John Q - Hank Cochran
48 Don't We All Have the Right (To Be Wrong) - James O'Gwynn and the Merry Melody Singers
49 You Know Me Much Too Well - Ray Peterson
50 When Two Worlds Collide - Margie Singleton and George Jones
51 The Moon Is High and So Am I - Johnnie and Jack*
52 The Swiss Maid - Del Shannon

Uh-oh---putting the finishing touches on my belated 2022 best-of & blog-bound comments---but just now saw this:

As noted throughout 2022, Bandcamp Daily’s Best of Country column prefers a big-tent definition of “country” that includes folk, bluegrass, Americana, roots rock, Western swing, and beyond. All of the above and more are represented in our list of the 12 best country (and country-adjacent) albums of 2022. Enjoy, and let’s do it again next year!

Real quick, last tweet: I’m giving Crownover the reigns and I’ll queue some posts up sometimes to promote stuff. Removed the app, no interest in participating here anymore.

The Bijou is a wonderful venue & have been good pals. The Tennessee Tourism board too- real friends.

— Adeem the Transist (@AdeemTheArtist) February 20, 2023

h/t to tipsy's Compass rundown on this

Akeem-related themes & appeal can be found on Willi Calisle's Peculiar, Missouri---title track, a long, sometimes mumble-y talkin' blues-to-monologue, seems overloaded so far, but that's a complete anomaly. Otherwise, he's a small combo country folkie who never cloys, got the intense, well-thought-out story-songs & check-ins, funny and other, aboard equally personalized trad & and maybe original tunes--if they're all trad, he's drawn quite selectively from a deep record shelf---also one entire cover I recognize, Utah Phillips' "Goodnight-Loving Trail, " which fits perfectly---hope he's got some more of the underexposed Utah on the three previous albums to have been Bandcamped so far: https://willicarlisle.bandcamp.com/album/peculiar-missouri

And they're touring together as we speak, I believe.

The Whittmore Sisters' Ghost Stories is not that Southern Gothicky, although they do float though and around non-hyped images of selves and others---as the Bandcamp copy says,

the loss of family, friends, ex-boyfriends and — on the title track — people who died by police violence...

do float *through*

So xpost Bandcamp Best of 2022 Country's Mariel Buckley take, though meant in a positive way, had me expecting depression, but was curious about actual sound (not mentioned), and then producer's credits on album's BC page incl. Arcade Fire, whom I've never gotten into, but also The National and The Weather Station, both seeming kinda good in my ltd. experience, so thinking Canadiana adjacent etc---but no: title track and a few others I so far associate with early Rosanne/Pretenders New Wave country, but most of it is slower, unafraid to build in note-by-note arcs, with internal dynamics, but staying pretty level-eyed even when singing about going around and around inside and out:A

In the town where I was born
Right across from that old church
Used to keep my eye on Mary
While she’d shine behind the birds

Now the moon is in her window
And the glow has hit you right
Like a cigarette stuck in my pocket
Waiting for a chance to light

When the lights come on
And the sun goes down
I’m gonna lay you down
In the backseat of whatever I’m driving
Driving around

Up ahead is the old skate park
Where i used to run around
Couldn’t ride for shit to save my life
I’d pretend if you were around

Now the dogs are getting called to
And the kids are running up the drive
Honey we got nowhere else to be
At least not for tonight
Call me old fashioned
But how did I never think of this until now
This house is all we’ve seen for days and days
Why don’t we go and drive around

Cause when the lights come on
As the sun goes down
I’m gonna lay you down
In the backseat of whatever we’re driving
Driving around

When I get to the gates of heaven
Is there a long list of sins and your name
Do I ride into hell on a horse named--nuthin
If I’m going down for my sins all the same

Going through pictures
Of coffee cups and couch cushion stains
I guess somehow, now we’re even
Or even to you, anyway

I’ve been keeping up late with your picture
Tore the back right off of the frame

Point I meant to make is that the slower stuff, which is most of it, is country as hell---ditto the faster, but the slower is pulling me in further, so far.

re: ILM Ballot Polls for 2020 and beyond -- the ordering, timing, "I would have voted if I'd known about it," etc

Would anyone here be interested in voting in this poll?

If someone can walk me through what the process bc I've not voted in one of those polls on here before, then definitely yes.

The first post in the thread will have instructions. Usually an email address or a google poll where you send your votes. Very easy!

i’m down! narrowing down my ballot will break me but i’m willing to give it a red hot go

yasss queen! congrats! cant wait to hear to hear what yall rhymed with nigger. 🥹🤩🥰💓 https://t.co/P4GS3nqIBQ

— adia victoria (@adiavictoria) February 28, 2023

From Relix:

Willie Nelson has announced the return of the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. The impending concert series will see the torchbearer welcome a star-studded lineup of musicians who will join him at select locations throughout the summer months.

On tour, Nelson’s will seek musical company from leading industry players such as Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers, John Fogerty, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Whiskey Myers, Gov’t Mule, and more, at select stops.

The “On The Road Again” singer will also welcome accompaniment from Marcus King, Margo Price, Trampled By Turtles, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Kathleen Edwards, Flatland Cavalry, Kurt Vile and The Violators, Brittney Spencer and Particle Kid.

https://relix.com/news/detail/willie-nelsons-outlaw-music-festival-tour-to-return-with-robert-plant-alison-krauss-the-avett-brothers-and-more/

"Rock & Roll" closer to late night honky lounge in this case---good live Willie duet partner of yore:

NEW EDITION OF

LEON RUSSELL’S INTIMATE GREATEST HITS COLLECTION SIGNATURE SONGS

OUT NOW VIA DARK HORSE RECORDS

LONG OUT-OF-PRINT GREATEST HITS COLLECTION OF SOLO PIANO AND VOCAL RECORDINGS AVAILABLE ON CD, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AND FIRST-EVER VINYL PRESSING

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE FAVORITE SONGS FROM ACROSS

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER’S WIDE-RANGING CATALOG,

INCLUDING STRIPPED-DOWN VERSIONS OF “A SONG FOR YOU,” “TIGHT ROPE,” “STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND,” “THIS MASQUERADE,” “LADY BLUE,” AND MORE

Tracklist:

A Song for You

One More Love Song

Tight Rope

Stranger in a Strange Land

Hummingbird

Back to the Island

Out in the Woods

Lady Blue

Delta Lady

Magic Mirror

This Masquerade

# # #

FOR MORE INFORMATION

LEONRUSSELL.COM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

DARKHORSERECORDS.COM

Press contact:
Jim Merlis, Big Hassle Media
jim at bighassle dot com

Since I live in Montana now, I tried listening to an "outlaw country" radio station today. I heard Montgomery Gentry's "She Couldn't Change Me" (I searched on YouTube later to find out what the song was and who performed it) and could feel the life draining out of me.

lol! idk i kinda like that one - i think the colors, maybe? painting the walls blue, buying pink chablis, dyed her blonde hair brown, her blue eyes turned green etc

she seems fun he’s a grump imp

i forgot that troy gentry died!

*imo

xxp where in Montana, un?

Speed listen on the Stones comp (meaning hop n skip rather than playing through everything). Thought "Honky Tonk Women" was the boringest choice Brooks & Dunn could've made, so haven't even taken in whether they do it well or not. Would've liked Ronnie Dunn to try his vox on "We Love You" or "Emotional Rescue." The three potential keepers so far are Brothers Osborne, War, Treaty "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" a song from a couple of years after the Stones stopped infusing everything they did with uneasiness and subversion so the fact that it's just a solid groove for a country band doesn't lose anything, in fact that deep voice at the start (Mr. Osborne, perhaps? or Mr. War?) is a BIG uneasy. The vocals from there are respectable enough and though deep uneasiness never returns the thing grooves along reminding me that this is actually a good song – BUT what grabs me are the guitars, which about 3 minutes in make an effort to jump free and join a hair metal band. Not for long enough, but I like that solo. Never heard of either of these acts.

Another keeper is Elvie Shane's "Sympathy For The Devil." Never heard of him either, and who is anybody to think they could cover "Sympathy For The Devil," esp. this sincere-voiced normie? The band really kicks, while the vocals seem to think they're doing a sorrowful song, even when the voice is throwing its fist in the air (if voices can do that), Bob Seger-like, and then, falsetto seems actually maniacal. Kept my attention, anyway.

Eric Church "Gimme Shelter." Doesn't come close to achieving the eeriness of the Stones' version, but captures the doggedness of the Grand Funk version. Turns it into a grind-it-out pounder. Helps that it's a good song, of course, and they let the instruments mass together towards the end.

Not sure those are keepers after all, but I liked some of the adventure they attempted or stumbled into. Wouldn't mind them at a party. Or the next two:

Ashley McBryde on "Satisfaction" sounds like any good singer, Tina Turner or Bonnie Bramlett or someone, trying the song, and the original is inimitable and uncoverable (even by the Stones), so in a sense there's an immediate "who cares?" about any cover version that isn't Britney or Devo, but maybe I'll come back to it as itself, a good voice on a song that just happens to share words and melody with "Satisfaction."

Jimmie Allen has a nonemphatic voice, but his "Miss You" immediately made me smile. Not sure his soul embellishments and melisma work, but they make me smile too. So does the harmonica. Never heard of Jimmie Allen and I'm enjoying this like I enjoyed the Elvie Shane: who's this guy to think he can sing this song? And good for him.

Honorable mention: I groaned at the idea of someone doing "Wild Horses," but Little Big Town are good singers so this isn't bad. Was listening to "Little White Church" the other day. Wish LBT'd try Billy Idol's "White Wedding." White Wedding: country stars' tribute to the music of Billy Idol, Adam Ant, The Pet Shop Boys, and Kajagoogoo.

I mentioned her above. But this new one is really great. features Hurray for the Riff Raff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7R4B1mr-PQ

she seems fun he's a grump imp

I like the idea of Eddie Montgomery as a grumpy imp, "a small, mischievous devil or sprite." Kinda cuts the legs out from under his massive self-seriousness.

very enjoyable tune, thanks

The new Doug Paisley is wonderful, might be my favorite one of his yet.

Not only did Lainey Wilson sing “Heart Like a Truck” on the CMT Awards last night, but they showed 5 times a Ram truck commercial that uses the song , . I think she won an award too. I kinda like the song although her delivery is a bit too melodramatic for me.

Jelly Roll won a male country singer award. “He sang “Son of a Sinner “

Jelly Roll did “Need a Favor” I mean

The show started off with a somber tone as country singer and co-host Kelsea Ballerini read off the names of six victims of a school shooting killed Monday in Nashville, Tennessee. She noted how she shared their pain, explaining that in 2008 she witnessed a school shooting in her hometown high school cafeteria in Knoxville and prayed for “real action” that would protect children and families. Earlier in the evening, country artists wore black ribbons on the red carpet to honor victims of the shooting

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/nation-world/cmt-music-awards-show/507-14d9bc53-6a89-421f-ba61-2af6b304ebfd

Maren Morris is pretty fearless. there are so many country musicians out there who are silent on politics, not wanting to make waves, but she’s a hero.

Observes that the "We're ashamed to be from Texas" blasphemy would not have happened if she were still the sole lead singer during Iraq War, because she and Bush were mutual admirers (and he used to catch Chicks shows), But since she evidently got dumped for not having Natalie's charisma, I suspect that they would not have been such huge, mega-Diamond-selling targets with Laura---more likely ignored by most of the media, as some other lower-profile dissenting country artists were.

such huge, mega-Diamond-selling targets with Laura-

I didn’t know the Chicks had that whole backstory, that’s interesting.

I thought had read somewhere that Laura had quit the group as she was worn out from touring , not that she was dumped by rest of group

Oops, I was wrong. She might have been tired of touring but it was a music decision by rest of group

In 1995, Lynch, then 37, was replaced by Maines, then 21. “We thought we needed to make a music decision now,” Maguire told the Dallas Morning News in November 1995, describing the change as “the passing of the baton.” “It can’t really be characterized as a resignation,” Lynch said then, acknowledging that age was a factor. She quit music and focused on raising her daughter.

The band went on to mainstream stardom with 1998’s “Wide Open Spaces,” which won best country album at the Grammy Awards.

Lynch told the Associated Press in 2003 that she didn’t regret missing out on the fame and that she had fond memories of leading the band through its hectic, hardscrabble early days.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2023/12/24/laura-lynch-dixie-chicks-death/

And now Chicks toured with Maren Morris. This article is about Morris and her distaste for Nashville industry, and about her doing a tour with the Chicks

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2023/12/21/chicks-maren-morris-country-music/

But while the Chicks’ fate has been successfully used as a fear tactic for years, it has also had the opposite effect: The band is an inspiration for a new class of outspoken country stars who don’t want to just shut up and sing. The timing of Morris’s “departure” from the genre — as well as her serving as an opening act for the Chicks on tour this summer — was a fitting, full-circle moment symbolizing how the treatment of the trio still looms over country music...She debuted “The Tree” live in concert when she opened for the Chicks in Ottawa on the day her Los Angeles Times interview published.

“Thinking about the last few shows we’ve had with the Chicks, the meaning behind this song, how I got to where I was when I wrote it, where you just burn the whole ... toxic thing down …” Morris trailed off as she introduced the song to the cheering arena. “I would not have been able to write this song or get to this place of peace if the Chicks had not been in my life to do it first.”

Luke Combs cover of Tracy Chapman “Fast Cars” is pleant enough

― curmudgeon, Sunday, June 11, 2023 3:44 AM (six months ago) bookmarkflaglink

Pleasant

― curmudgeon, Sunday, June 11, 2023 4:02 AM (six months ago) bookmarkflaglink

such a good song, it's hard to screw it up ... and he doesn't.

― alpine static, Sunday, June 11, 2023 7:31 AM (six months ago) bookmarkflaglink

late to this particular party, have to agree that this is a very decent cover and... weirdly, while it's objectively lesser in every way than the original, it's really hitting some emotional notes with me - as if the kind of... I'm looking for the word here... simplicity? that Combs brings actually elevates the song?

happy to be reminded of this masterpiece of songwriting anyway

deference, i think, is the word you're looking for. he just plays it as best he can w/o doing all sorts of shit to "make it his own" because, assuming we believe him, he just loves the song and it makes him think of his dad.

this is why it's good.

well, also because Tracy Chapman wrote an incredible song

yes! exactly

https://accidentalevolution.wordpress.com/2023/12/26/40-best-country-singles-of-2023/

Chuck Eddy's fave 2023 country songs

Long-running country blog That Nashville Sound's top albums and songs of 2023
https://thatnashvillesound.blogspot.com/2023/12/that-nashville-sounds-top-country-and_31.html
https://thatnashvillesound.blogspot.com/2023/12/that-nashville-sounds-top-country-and.html