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Archive for the ‘New Music Weekend’ Category

LEAP and the Net Will Appear – Jeremy McComb

Posted by Country Girl on February 5th, 2012

Jeremy McComb

A young Jeremy spent 7 years in stalled record deals and felt like his writing was getting him nowhere at one time.  Then in 2011 he decided not to write anymore and put his life and career where it needed to be – in his hands and in the hands of his fans.  Thanks to his fans and Kickstarter.com, a place where fans can fund an artist, he decided to produce his first debut CD “My Side of Town”.  For the first time Jeremy felt like his path was once again his own, not one designed by large labels and producers. He has taken the reins once again with this new album and is forging ahead on his own, taking his own risks, reaping his own rewards and living his life the way he intended it. “LEAP” really means taking the plunge in anything one does in life – taking the risk and just doing it and waiting for the net to appear!

Jeremy McComb can be found in Nashville mostly at The Wheel on Lower Broadway and the next time I’m in Nashville I will be looking for him!  His new venture, “Leap and the Net Will Appear”, available now on iTunes, is a collection of his works in a 7-song CD.

The CD opens with a rift of Bluegrass and fun, then breaks into “Unstable” – a collective song of instabilities within himself.  He calls himself a “helluva good time when the whiskey tastes right”.  He talks about getting wild, running hot then cold, and being like the dirt in California earthquakes.  He sounds like a good time to me – a little bit of a crazy musical artist!!

“5 to Midnight” is a ballad about breaking up and losing love.  It’s about what goes wrong in relationships.  Did we let love die? Sometimes it takes the kind of mess people make to open up their eyes.  It’s a good look into serious relationships and how things go wrong and maybe making one more try.  This song is thought-provoking for anyone in any kind of a relationship – the ones going bad and trying to save it, and the good ones  – making sure you don’t make a mess of it. Good song!

The album included “She Doesn’t Sing”, “Time”, “Sugar Cane”, “Easy as Breathin’” and “What A Daddy’s Gonna Say”.  Jeremy can be found on iTunes, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and MySpace as well as his own page at http://www.jeremymccomb.com/. If you are close to Nashville or in town, stop in at the Wheel when he is there and enjoy the show!

Calamity Annie, CMTT Music Contributor
CalamityAnnie1 on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace

Posted in Jeremy McComb, New Album Review, New Music Weekend Tags: Jeremy McComb, My Side of Town No Comments »

Thirteen by Jimmy Lehoux – New Music Weekend

Posted by Country Girl on January 29th, 2012

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Although Jimmy Lehoux is known as an artist with not only style but substance, he is one whose life is steeped in the old and honored traditions of country. His music though is completely his own style, honoring the past but not living in it. He’s a cowboy from New Hampshire who lives life on his own terms and he and the Lehousiana Boys pack clubs with their emotional grass roots music.

They have opened for Alabama, Charlie Daniels, Pam Tillis, Marshall Tucker, Molly Hatchet and Little Feat to name a few. They took the time to record 13 new tracks – thus the album title “Thirteen” and they are all great country listening!

“Twenty Toes in the Sand” is a Jimmy Buffet inspired song about……well, putting your twenty toes in the sand!!! The opening of this song will take you immediately to a beach, somewhere, with somebody, with the perfect view, Margaritas in hand, steel drums playing — well you get the picture! It’s a vacation inspired song that will take you from the cold shores of wherever you are to a suite for two over the ocean with the warm breezes blowing! Enjoy the thought!! Or just let this song inspire you to book an ocean suite with someone, put your twenty toes in the sand and count your blessings!!

“What I Live For” is a ballad about love and life. He has a job, friends and family but what he lives for is the one he’d die for and what he dreams of every waking moment. It’s a heartfelt love song written from the heart about pictures in a wallet, ring on the hand with her initials on it and having huge hopes for the future.

“I Remember When” is a catchy tune remembering drive in movies late at night, convertibles and wind through her hair while chasing dreams. It’s a cute love song about looking at his love and remembering the fun times they’ve had! Wild and free – young and in love – and holding all those wonderful memories close. Now – can you remember when too?

The CD rounds out with “The Way Things Are”, Even When It Rains”, “Close to Me”, Discovering You”, “Waiting Room”, “Turn Off My Heart”, “Leave It Alone”, “Days of Sand and Shovels”, “I’m Taking It Back” and “Gone For Good”.

This CD is a good mixture of country songs with some heartfelt ballads and happy songs to get you up and moving, or just relaxing and thinking back with your own thoughts. Jimmy Lehoux is up and coming – follow him on his own website www.jimmylehoux.net, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Reverbnation and his own YouTube channel. Pick up the CD and sit back for a wonderful musical ride!

Calamity Annie, CMTT Music Contributor
CalamityAnnie1 on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace

Posted in New Album Review, New Music Weekend Tags: Alabama, Charlie Daniels, country music reviews, Jimmy Lehoux, Marshall Tucker, Molly Hatchet, Pam Tillis No Comments »

Ronnie Milsap brings us “Country Again” in Latest Release

Posted by Country Girl on January 22nd, 2012

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As a 17 year old music reviewer, I had no idea what to expect when I began listening to the latest Ronnie Milsap release. Unlike the artists that are just getting their starts, Ronnie did not write any of the tracks on the disc, but there is a sort of magic behind the songs picked for this release. With the title being “Country Again,” you expect everything that this CD brings; tears, love, and sarcasm all brought together to provide a record that is 100% country.

“A Better Word For Love” starts the CD on a lull. The song itself is great – a melodic ballad that brings out the great Ronnie Milsap voice that we all know. Although the song is a great song to be included on the CD, it isn’t the start that I was hoping for.

“Country Again” seems as if was written for Colt Ford to me. Over half the song is spoken with the chorus being a beautiful duet between Ronnie and the backing vocals. If the whole song sounded as amazing as the chorus, this would have easily been one of my favorite songs ever recorded, but unfortunately the almost “rapping” was just unneeded in my opinion.

Starting at “Cry Cry Darling,” my opinion of the album changed. The rest of the album was full of the classic country feel that I was expecting with the release. The Jimmie C. Newman remake provides the soulful aspect of Ronnie. There are few artists today that are able to get emotions moving like can be done by these traditional artists.

Other stand-out tracks include “Oh Linda” and “Fireworks.” The first, an upbeat track with a soulful vibe that tells the tale of a classic southern love tale. A love so true that the only thing you feel like doing is yell “Oh Linda”. “Fireworks” is just one of those songs that make you want to get up and dance! The basis is a love that makes you feel the fireworks no matter when or where, the love is just out of control.

After listening to the full album, I found that Ronnie has released yet another great album. Although some of the songs are remakes, it is just great to hear this voice yet again. With a tour starting next month, this CD just proves that Ronnie is not ready to stop anytime soon.

Scotty B.
@stupidkid2150
cmttreviewer@yahoo.com

Posted in New Album Review, New Music Weekend, Ronnie Milsap Tags: Ronnie Milsap No Comments »

Mark Cooke’s “Living For The Weekend” with New EP – New Music Review

Posted by Country Girl on January 15th, 2012

Born in East Texas, Mark Cooke joined the Navy right out of high school. In his spare time, Mark would constantly perfect his singing skills. By 1997, his time was done in the Navy and he decided to make music his priority. Soon after, he had created a band in Texas that opened for acts like Miranda Lambert and John Rich. After heading towards Nashville, Cooke signed with CVR and released the six-song “Living For The Weekend” EP with hopes of a full album in 2012.

With 2 of the 6 songs just missing the Top 40 on Music Row charts, this EP is a good start to Cooke’s career. The hardest thing for a new artist is finding that one song that will put them above the rest. With “I Love It” and “Can’t Cheat in a Small Town” – which are both great songs – not making that mark, Cooke is hoping that “Anyway The Wind Blows” will be that song. The song is able to show off his strong vocals in addition to his ability to pick greats songs. The song’s basis is that he will be with a love interest “anyway the wind blows.”

Being a sucker for songs with a slower tempo, “Stay With Me Tonight” is my top pick for the EP. I could see this song at the top of the charts one day. The raw emotions that are brought out in the song provide a different side of Cooke.

An overall strong release, I can’t wait to see what Mark Cooke will do with a full album next year. I highly recommend heading over to iTunes and downloading a track or two with those gift cards you got over the holidays. If you would prefer to wait for the full release, be sure to keep up with Mark on his website (markcooke.com), twitter (@MarkCookeMusic), or facebook (facebook.com/markcookemusic).

Scotty B.
@stupidkid2150
cmttreviewer@yahoo.com

Posted in New Album Review, New Music Weekend Tags: Living For The Weekend, mark cooke 1 Comment »

Sonia Leigh “1978 December” – New Music Review

Posted by Country Girl on January 8th, 2012

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The last few years, country music has been making a split between the more traditional singers and those that are more pop oriented. Sonia Leigh decided not to take either road when making “1978 December.” This album is 100% her and 100% title free. She was picked for Zac Brown’s Southern Ground record label and I found throughout the CD that there is definitely a Zac Brown Band feel to the album.

Sonia has independently released four previous records (one produced by John Hopkins of the ZBB). That means she is not new to the recording process. The record still exerts Sonia’s gravelly voice and impeccable songwriting skills. What is different about this release is the support behind the album. Southern Ground is not just a record label – it is a family. Zac Brown lends his voice and guitar skills on a couple tracks as well as other Southern Ground artists such as Levi Lowrey, Nic Cowen, and Oliver Wood lending vocals or instrumentals on the album.

With so many 12/13 song CD’s laced with filler songs being released recently, Sonia released a 10 song CD that left me wanting those extra couple of songs (I guess I just have to wait for the next release). Every song has its fit on the album providing a different aspect of Sonia. She wrote every song on the CD along with a few co-writes with Zac Brown himself.

The first single, “My Name Is Money,” shows one part of the unique songwriting skills that this artist possesses. Sonia puts money in the first person here. Written based on her own struggle as an up and coming artist, the catchy tune shows just how powerful a face on paper can be. “I can show you who your friends are/I can show you who they are not” and other similar quirky one liners about the power of money fill the song with a new way to look at money. This is a must have track off of the album.

For all you Zac Brown fans, you may have heard “Bar” off of the ZBB’s “Pass the Jar” DVD/2CD pack. This is the drinking song that every traditional country album has to have. The fiddle is the main instrumentation for most of this drinking-away-the-pain song.

“Roaming” is her attempt at a reggae song w/ Zac Brown. There are other stand-outs such as “Ain’t Dead Yet” or the title track “1978 December” -an acoustic track that was written for her parents about how her life has developed in the last 30-or-so years.

Overall, I think this record is a great first album on a label. Be sure to look for Sonia on the road if you want a great show. Check her tour dates at SoniaLeigh.com or keep up with her on twitter (@SoniaLeigh).

Scotty B.
@stupidkid2150
cmttreviewer@yahoo.com

Posted in New Album Review, New Music Weekend Tags: 1978 December, Sonia Leigh, Zac Brown Band 1 Comment »
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