95.7 KEZJ - Southern Idaho's Best Country » Reviews

George Strait, 'Love Is Everything' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:00:37 +0000

George Strait steps back in time for his newest release, 'Love Is Everything.' In the past, the singer always found a way to add a touch of contemporary to his traditional sound. There's nothing to separate this from albums he made throughout the '80s and '90s, but that's not necessarily a criticism.

Dakota Bradley, 'Somethin' Like Somethin" – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:30:52 +0000

Dakota Bradley’s debut single ‘Somethin’ Like Somethin” is a mostly charming pop-country love song that showcases the 18-year-old’s spunky personality. He doesn’t run from his Bieber-ness. Instead, he adds just enough steel guitar to keep him on the right side of the radio. This singer will appeal to a younger country audience. One glance at [...]

Craig Campbell, 'Never Regret' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Craig Campbell does a lot of things better than average. He’s a better than average singer who has chosen better than average songs for his new album ‘Never Regret,’ yet somehow, the project ends up feeling rather ordinary. There’s no defining moment that will etch Campbell’s name into the Nashville cement. If anything, the line [...]

Lauren Alaina, 'Barefoot and Buckwild' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:59 +0000

Meet the new Lauren Alaina. With just a few weeks of her senior year of high school remaining, the singer introduces a grown-up new look, grown-up style and grown-up attitude with her latest single, 'Barefoot and Buckwild.' It's especially difficult to find songs that fit when you're short on life experience, so the one-time 'American Idol' runner-up wrote her own ...

Lady Antebellum, 'Golden' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:30:33 +0000

The best moments on Lady Antebellum's fourth album 'Golden' find Charles Kelley or Hillary Scott singing solo, with minimal help from the other on harmonies. There is no shortage of songs that act as features for the two talented vocalists. The evolution of the trio finds them becoming a dual threat super power instead of a two-headed pop-rock-country group.

Pistol Annies, 'Annie Up' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:33 +0000

Strong production keeps 'Annie Up' -- the new album from Pistol Annies -- from being something their debut effort certainly was not: boring. The women thrive among thick, bluesy guitars that moan and wail throughout the 12 cuts. It's a throwback sound that fits the trio as well as the daring outfits they've become known for wearing.

Joe Nichols, 'Sunny and 75′ – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:00:14 +0000

Joe Nichols‘ voice always has a way of putting one in a trance, and his performance on the new single ‘Sunny and 75′ is no less effective. He’s pure country gold, and when he’s paired with a great song, there are few surer things in Nashville. This is a good song. The arrangement and tempo [...]

Lady Antebellum, 'Goodbye Town' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:30:19 +0000

Charles Kelley's desperation turns to anger by the end of 'Goodbye Town,' the second single from Lady Antebellum's new 'Golden' album. The song finds the trio working their bread and butter: heartbreak and a yearning for love lost. Sonically, this song forges ahead with fresh production, but it's not quite as exciting as the lead single, 'Downtown.'

Joanna Smith, 'Girls Are Crazy' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:45:35 +0000

In general, songs that paint an entire group of people with one broad brush stroke don't fare well on country radio, but Joanna Smith is hoping to prove 'em wrong with her new single 'Girls Are Crazy.' The peppy new track is fun and flirty, and a short hop backward for women in country music.

Tate Stevens, 'Tate Stevens' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:05:18 +0000

The debut effort from Tate Stevens is about as straight-forward of a country album as you'll find. 'Tate Stevens' is an end cap-at-Walmart sort of record that proves the 'X Factor' winner can compete with the big names in Nashville.

Lee Brice, 'Parking Lot Party' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:00:23 +0000

Songs like Lee Brice‘s new single ‘Parking Lot Party’ are easy to dismiss. It doesn’t pack near as much punch as ‘I Drive Your Truck,’ but that’s far from his intent. The South Carolina-raised singer is looking to add to the tailgate soundtrack, and at this he’s successful. ‘Parking Lot Party’ is a song best [...]

Krystal Keith, 'Krystal Keith' – EP Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:06 +0000

Krystal Keith proves she has the talent to make it in Nashville, but a larger sample is needed to distinguish her as her own artist. At her best she's Bonnie Raitt for a new generation -- but at other times her style, pacing and lyrics are too heavily influenced by Toby Keith.

Willie Nelson, 'Let's Face the Music and Dance' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:30:25 +0000

'Let's Face the Music and Dance' is a great place for a young country music fan to meet Willie Nelson. It won't be his most famous, and it won't create any hit singles. This wonderfully consistent effort proves what longtime fans of the legend already know: At 79 years old (80 on April 30), Nelson is still as important and skilled a vocalist as there is in country music.

Vote to Determine the Top 10 Videos of the Week in Taste of Country's Countdown

Billy Dukes — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:30:49 +0000

Can anyone stop Carrie Underwood? 'Two Black Cadillacs' has built a house on top of the ToC Top 10 Video Countdown, but there are more than a few big bad wolves looking to blow it down. New videos from Florida Georgia Line and Taylor Swift enter the voting poll this week, in addition to returning Top-10ers from Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Toby Keith.

Luke Bryan, 'Crash My Party' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 12:00:50 +0000

Luke Bryan's new song 'Crash My Party' would fit well on his last album 'Tailgates and Tanlines.' The ballad is a continuation of themes introduced with 'I Don't Want This Night to End' and 'Drunk on You,' two No. 1 hits for the ACM Entertainer of the Year. At first listen, it's difficult to become excited about a song that's so familiar.

Carrie Underwood, 'See You Again' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:00:28 +0000

Carrie Underwood changed directions with the release of ‘See You Again’ as the fourth single from ‘Blown Away.’ The ballad is anything but dark and stormy. Instead it’s an inspirational reminder that will be especially meaningful to fans who have lost someone close recently. The album version begins with a thin piano and drum machine, both [...]

Brad Paisley, 'Wheelhouse' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:30:46 +0000

Brad Paisley's 'Wheelhouse' delivers a familiar mix of humor, life lessons and scorching guitar solos, but it does it in a way different from any of the other eight albums the 'Beat This Summer' singer has released. He took his old formula, balled it up, lit it on fire and tossed the ashes in the garbage. The result is a meaty and ambitious project that doesn't always click, but clears new ground when it does.

Maggie Rose, 'Better' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 02:30:52 +0000

'Better' is the finest ballad from Maggie Rose's new 'Cut to Impress' album. The singer is creative with her phrasing, and the performance is as raw as anything on the 10-song collection. She is still learning how to be a great storyteller, however, and with more experiences and a few years behind her, the single promises to only get... better.

Blake Shelton, 'Boys 'Round Here' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:30:44 +0000

There is comedy in Blake Shelton singing with Pistol Annies, as he does on his new single 'Boys 'Round Here.' One imagines a country Hugh Hefner surrounded by his beauties. In real life, the Annies likely (very likely) don't attend to his every need and agree with him at all costs, but they do on this song, and it's absolutely charming.

Thompson Square, 'Just Feels Good' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:00:55 +0000

The best songs on Thompson Square's new album 'Just Feels Good' sound like a conversation between the two married lovers. Early on, their back-and-forth is light and playful. Later ballads take a more somber tone, but all that find the 'If I Didn't Have You' singers sharing lead are highlights from the duo's sophomore project.