When you think of Carrie Underwood nowadays, do you think “American Idol” or do you think “country superstar”? Half the time, I don’t even remember the fact that she’s an Idol winner because she’s become a huge star in her own right. After listening to Kate & Kacey’s debut album, “Crossroad,” I feel the same way. They got their start on CMT’s “Can You Duet?” in 2008, but they are so much more than “those twins from that CMT show.” Kate and Kacey Coppola sound like seasoned pros on this record.

The album’s first single, “Gypsy Soul (You Again),” is a fun, upbeat song that’ll get your foot tappin’. If country radio gives these girls a chance, this song ought to get plenty of spins. Call up your radio station and ask if they have it. If not, tell them to get it.

“Whole Lotta Gone” is a song that appeared on their EP as an acoustic track. Hearing it with an electric guitar, bass, and drums really livens it up. My favorite line? “Jesus may love you and God knows I tried, but I’ve finally seen the light. You ain’t got a prayer tonight.” Word of advice: don’t piss these girls off. The album continues its party vibe with an anthem for honkytonk goers everywhere, “Honkytonk Party Song.” I guarantee this will be a fan favorite in their live shows.

The album’s true masterpiece is a song called “Weak.” Don’t let the title confuse you, as the song is anything but weak. It’s a big power ballad that shows off a softer, more vulnerable side of the girls. The vocals are absolutely flawless. Every lyric conveys genuine, heartfelt emotion. There is nothing remotely contrived about it.

To quote their song “Once”…

“Breathe it in. Soak it up … But don’t forget, this only happens once.”

It’s rare to come across a debut album that is this solid from start to finish. It “only happens once” in a blue moon.

There is currently no release date set in stone, but look for “Crossroad” to be released on iTunes in the near future. Hard copies will also be available via Kate & Kacey’s online merchandise store. In the meantime, make sure you download “Gypsy Soul (You Again)” on iTunes and/or request it at your local radio station.

Kristi Olson
CMTT New Music Contributor

Ruth Collins was born in Western NY and was raised on a 13 acre grape farm that has been in her family for over 200 years. She is the youngest of four girls who were all raised as musicians but she was the only one of her four siblings who really loved and fell in love with her music. She sings, plays piano and learned the violin beginning at the tender age of three! She was a true child prodigy who later added the guitar to her repertoire.

She left home at the age of 18 and moved to Boston where she attended Berklee College of Music for 3 1/2 years before moving to Nashville in 2006 to become a songwriter.

You may recognize Ruth from televisions “Can You Duet” where she and a friend, Victoria Gibson, sang as a duo named “Wild Honey” where they made it to 6th place on the show. After leaving “Wild Honey” Ruth has been focusing on her solo career of writing and singing. She has had the good fortune to work with some amazing talent including songwriters who have written for Taylor Swift, George Strait, Rascal Flatts and Big and Rich. A plethora of talent to draw from for a talented young lady new to Nashville!

She has an amazing voice with a wonderful range and clarity to it that is easy to listen to and begs to be heard. Her song “Disappear” is a ballad of truth about many relationships and speaks of a hopefully easier way to breakup when “someone stays too long” and says they didn’t “build this bridge to burn it down”. The lyrics are so close to anyone’s heart about two people who just need to not be together anymore and is sung w/the accompaniment of her guitar. I really loved the song – tender and the lilting notes of her voice are so touching.

“Lesson Learned” is a soft swaying melody about falling in love the first time and the lessons we learn during life in romance – “We live and we learn and we crash and we burn.” She has a wonderful handle on new ways to express what we have all lived through and felt about life and her voice has just a slight raspy edge that gives the listener a picture of a combination of an innocent but slightly seasoned young lady singing about life. It’s an interesting combination and very pleasant listening.

“Chasing the Rain” is another ballad with piano accompaniment that showcases her amazing voice as she sings about being a fool that goes “chasing the rain calling out your name” and “praying for the wind to knock them down again”. It’s a song that parallels a love gone wrong with rainstorms and the fool she is that still wants to chase it anyway. Something many of us have done, huh? But she has the words to put it to music and actually make it sound interesting!

She is an amazing talent that should you certainly should be hearing a lot more from soon! To listen to her music please visit her at www.myspace.com/ruthcollins and you can follow her on Twitter and Facebook as well. A delightful young lady who also gives of her valuable time to charity – she is definitely worth your time!

Calamity Annie
CMTT Music Contributor
www.myspace.com/calamityannie1
www.twitter.com/calamityannie1

CMT’s Can You Duet  winners, Steel Magnolia, made their debut at the Grand Ole Opry debut…check it out.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale?  Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

Check out Steel Magnolia’s debut “Keep on Lovin You.” What do y’all think of the latest Can You Duet Winners??

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

Joey and Rory are joined by their dog Rufus in their latest Overstock.com television commercial. These two are so cute, I can hardly get enough. You can also catch them on July 25th when they return to CMT’s Can You Duet.

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Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

CMT’s Can You Duet is filming it’s second season, and they want YOU to be in the audience.  The event is free.  Join host Lance Smith and judge Naomi Judd to watch duos battle it out.

When: 

April 18th (doors open at 5:30 and filming starts at 8pm)

April 21st (doors open at 5:30 and filming starts at 8pm)

Joey and Rory will be performing on the 21st, so if you’re in the Nashville area-CHECK IT OUT!

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale?  Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

I rooted for Caitlin & Will for so long on Can you Duet, then they just disappeared.  Well, they are back in a big way….We posted last week about their new video “Even Now.”  Well, we’ve also been hearing a lot of buzz about their newest song “Address in the Stars.”  Caitlin wrote the song about her aunt who’d passed away after battling breast cancer.

About the process of the writing the song, Caitlin said, “It’s hard for me to talk about it sometimes but it was an important thing to get out there because I’ve always wanted to write a song about my aunt and the emotions I was feeling. Writing the song allowed me to pour my heart.” Duo partner Will Snyder added, “When I heard the demo of the song, I had chills, and I had to hold back the tears, and I can tell you that listening to a song, if it hits you that hard from a demo, you know it’s powerful.”

It’s a really beautiful song, and it’s getting a lot of support from fans who are healed by the words.

“Absolutely love this song. As an Army wife, I’ve been blessed to have my husband come home safe from over there but I know quite a few that didn’t have that honor. This song hits so close to the heart that you had me in tears,” was just one of the responses found on Caitlin & Will’s official YouTube page.

I think these two are really going somewhere….They have stunning vocals and a real mature writing style.  Caitlin & Will really combine traditional and contemporary country music.

Got some country gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale?  Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com