Dan Fogelberg 1951-2007
December 17, 2007
And his song is in my soul.
Archive for December, 2007
Album Review: Trisha Yearwood Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love
December 6, 2007
Female country vocalists who bleed into Adult Contemporary territory are responsible for some of the worst country music, behind only faux cowboys and emo crooners. But after hearing Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, Trisha Yearwood’s new album from Big Machine Records, you’ll have sympathy for those hackneyed songbirds: this album was what they were shooting for, what they came so far from achieving.
Not only is this album stunningly beautiful, it reminds us that singers can be artists, not just the face for a talented producer or the name to sell perfume. Like Bettye Lavette, Trisha Yearwood doesn’t just sing songs, she interprets them, she makes them her own even if she didn’t write them. Hitting the notes is only a fraction of Yearwood’s singing talent.
Trisha Yearwood is a storyteller on this album taking us from a women who have given up on love in “This Is Me You’re Talking To” and “Let the Wind Chase You” to a lover with a secret in “Nothin’ ‘Bout Memphis.” Yearwood seems to act as well as sing. Even fun songs like “Cowboys Are My Weakness” seem true and clear, not the posturing of so many country artists who sing of Western themes like they have something to prove.
The album’s best track, however, is the haunting “The Dreaming Fields”which is about a family farm long gone with thetouching yet slightly creepy refrain, “what will be my harvest now?” There are a lot of country songs in “loning for times gone by” category but this one speaks of real economic and emotional consequences, birthed from the reality of so many modern Americans.
Yearwood outdoes herself with this album and makes you feel sorry for her imitators: it ain’t gonna happen songbirds, so stop trying.
****
Grammy Noms are In!
December 6, 2007
Well, it’s time for the Grammy nominations once again and while it seems country music won’t own the event like last year, there is some modest representation. If you’re interested…
In the major categories, Vince Gill scores a nominations for Album of the Year, Taylor Swift is nominated for Best New Artist and Carrie Underwood’s unstoppable “Before He Cheats” is nominated for Song of the Year.
The Country Nominees are…
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
- Simple Love
Alison Krauss
Track from: A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection - Famous In A Small Town
Miranda Lambert
Track from: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - Nothin’ Better To Do
LeAnn Rimes - Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood
Track from: Some Hearts - Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love
Trisha Yearwood
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
- Long Trip Alone
Dierks Bentley
Track from: Long Trip Alone - A Woman’s Love
Alan Jackson
Track from: Like Red On A Rose - If You’re Reading This
Tim McGraw
Track from: Let It Go - Give It Away
George Strait
Track from: It Just Comes Natural - Stupid Boy
Keith Urban
Track from: Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
- Proud Of The House We Built
Brooks & Dunn - How Long
Eagles
[Eagles Recording Co. II] - Moments
Emerson Drive
Track from: Countrified - Lucky Man
Montgomery Gentry
Track from: Some People Change - Sweet Memories
The Time Jumpers
Track from: Jumpin’ Time
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
- Days Aren’t Long Enough
Steve Earle & Allison Moorer
Track from: Washington Square Serenade - Because Of You
Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson - I Need You
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Track from: Let It Go - Lost Highway
Willie Nelson & Ray Price
Track from: Last Of The Breed - Oh Love
Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood
Track from: 5th Gear
Best Country Instrumental Performance
- Little Monk
Russ Barenberg
Track from: When At Last - Mucky The Duck
The Greencards
Track from: Viridian - Throttleneck
Brad Paisley
Track from: 5th Gear - Rawhide!
Andy Statman
Track from: East Flatbush Blues - Fidoodlin’
The Time Jumpers
Track from: Jumpin’ Time
Best Country Song
- Before He Cheats
Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Some Hearts - Give It Away
Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon & Jamey Johnson, songwriters (George Strait)
Track from: It Just Comes Natural - I Need You
Tony Lane & David Lee, songwriters (Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)
Track from: Let It Go - If You’re Reading This
Tim McGraw, Brad Warren & Brett Warren, songwriters (Tim McGraw)
Track from: Let It Go - Long Trip Alone
Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley & Steve Bogard, songwriters (Dierks Bentley)
Track from: Long Trip Alone
Best Country Album
- Long Trip Alone
Dierks Bentley - These Days
Vince Gill - Let It Go
Tim McGraw - 5th Gear
Brad Paisley - It Just Comes Natural
George Strait
Best Bluegrass Album
- Cherryholmes II Black And White
Cherryholmes - Lefty’s Old Guitar
J. D. Crowe & The New South - The Bluegrass Diaries
Jim Lauderdale - Scenechronized
Seldom Scene - Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
Tony Trischka
Who should win? Who should have been nominated?
