Rascal Flatts are set to release a new album on their still new relationship with Big Machine Records.

The new project will feature the lead single “Banjo” already a hit at country radio.
The new album will be titled “Changed” and is set for an April 3rd release.  It is the follow up to Nothing Like This by Rascal Flatts.

Tim McGraw and his longtime record label have been squabbling for quite a while on the release of his final studio album for the label.   McGraw has said in interviews that he handed off the finished product to Curb back in 2010 but had been sitting on it.  In fact Tim conducted his entire Emotional Traffic Tour waiting for the release.  He’s already moved on to a new Tour with Kenny Chesney.

In November 2011 a court lifted an injunction on McGraw freeing him to record elsewhere… prompting Curb to finally release the album “Emotional Traffic” Produced by Byron Gallimore (and McGraw) January 24th 2012.

Interesting to see early copies of the CD stickered with the Tim quote, “My Best Album Ever.”

Is it his best ever? Probably not.  But he once again completed a solid piece of work. Country fans will be happy to finally get their hands on the number one “Felt Good On My Lips” and a new radio single “Better Than I Used to Be.” “Better Than I Used to Be” is probably the strongest real country song in a while from McGraw who has a knack for working in a pop vibe in most of this album.  In fact Ne-Yo makes an appearance on one track.

Still can’t accuse him of trying to cross over.    Similar to earlier McGraw Album “Let It Go” there’s plenty of steel and country perspective in songs like “Die By My Own Hand” and the just silly enough “Touchdown Jesus.”  In fact, after a few listens “Touchdown” is quicly becoming a favorite.

“Right Back Atcha Babe” ventures into a different and jazzy vibe and “One Part Two Part” brings background vocals from Faith for a warm beachy sound.

Tim has a writing credit only on the track “I Will Not Fall Down” along with the Warren Brothers and Martina McBride.   It’s one of the most powerful songs in the collection.

Overall, “Emotional Traffic” will be an album McGraw fans will want to have although it’s not likely to get the kind of new release publicity without Tim playing along.

Grade: B

Download: “Hey Now” another jazzy fun hit with crossover potential

Delete:  ”Right Back Atcha Babe”  for a bit too much cheese.

Emotional Traffic Track Lising:

Emotional Traffic - Curb Records

1. “Halo”   4:57
2. “Right Back Atcha Babe”  4:51
3. “One Part Two Part”   3:32
4. “I Will Not Fall Down”  4:35
5. “The One”   3:52
6. “Better Than I Used to Be” 3:22
7. “Touchdown Jesus”  4:04
8. “The One That Got Away” 4:44
9. “Felt Good on My Lips”  4:08
10. “Hey Now”   4:15
11. “Only Human (feat. Ne-Yo)”  3:52
12. “Die By My Own Hand”   5:07

Mercury Records singer/songwriter Canaan Smith will release his debut single, “We Got Us,” to radio on January 9. Just in time for the single to hit radio, Country Weekly has named Canaan as one of twelve artists to watch in 2012.

The story of “We Got Us” is a couple in love who take a leap of faith and set out on their own fueled by only their affection for one another.

CAUSE WE GOT NO MONEY
NOTHING OF OUR OWN HONEY
GOT YOUR DADDY ALL WORRIED CAUSE TIMES ARE TOUGH
BUT WE GOT LOVE BABY
DON’T SOUND LIKE MUCH MAYBE
BUT THERE AINT NO WAY THAT’S NOT ENOUGH
WE GOT US

“Getting to be the voice for this song is a feeling like no other,” Canaan says. “It felt special when we wrote it, and I’m stoked to see the positive early feedback at radio! Thanks for all the support!”

Canaan Smith / Mercury

Canaan performed “We Got Us” to an audience for the first time at the Universal Music Group Nashville CRS luncheon held at the historic Ryman Auditorium last March.

Canaan’s debut album will release later this year, but fans can now purchase “We Got Us” via iTunes

“This album is my life 3-and-a-half minutes at a time. I wrote what I was feeling, and we cut it like we wanted it to sound. Getting to work with my longtime heroes (producers Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten) has been everything I hoped it would be. I can’t wait to share my stories.”

Dierks Bentley is back to his fighting weight with country radio as “Am I the Only One” and “Home” prove themselves as big chart hits.  Next up he’ll release his first full mainstream country albumin years and he has released the official track list. The new release – titled Home after the bells ringin’ inspirational – custom made to synch with this year’s fireworks on the 4th of july –  follows Bentley’s 2010 bluegrass effort Up on the Ridge.

Bentley recently revealed that he will celebrate the album’s release with a show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on February 2:

“My home is in Nashville with my family, my home is on the road with our fans and my home is definitely in country music.”  Bentley also said of the new album, which marks his seventh studio release:

“This album is more than a year’s worth of writing, recording and testing out material on the road in front of our hardcore fans. The end result is an album that runs through all the types of country songs and sounds I enjoy singing and playing.”

Here’s the track by Track:

1. “Am I The Only One”

2. “Gonna Die Young”

3. “Tip It On Back”

4. “Home”

5. “Diamonds Make Babies”

6. “In My Head”

7. “Breathe You In”

8. “The Woods”

9. “When You Gonna Come Around”

10. “5-1-5-0″

11. “Heart of a Lonely Girl”

12. “Thinking of You”

Lambert Enjoying The Spotlight

Miranda Lambert seems to be the youngest “veteran” in any genre of music.   Lambert cut her teeth with one of the first reality TV talent contests – “Nashville Star.”    She came in third behind a forgettable singer named Buddy Jewell, but there were a lot of fans and others that couldn’t forget Miranda.  That was 2003.  Flash forward to now and in the last year she has become one of the most celebrated women in country music.

Billboard Magazing recently called her “the coolest girl in country music,” and her press is better than ever.

Her new Album “Four The Record” is a blend of mainstram country meets Miranda alt-pop.  In fact a few tunes in the disc could work on pop radio despite her proud twang.  Her record label will have to get things pulled together (she’s bounced from Sony-owned to now defunct Epic and then Columbia Records).  She has just landed on the legendary RCA Nashville.

There’s a lot for country radio and fans to like here too.    Lambert has found her groove and her confidence is heard in songs like the lead single “Baggage Claim.”   (Did you realize those Hammond organ rund are performed by Steve Windwood?!- I didn’t either.)   New sounds for country music – but she pulls it off swiftly.  Er…  maybe Lambert-ly.

Fans who have been following Miranda will get into her new level of sass and some very modern production values.  The ensuing media blitz and round of awards will surely bring in some new followers too.

Despite 2009′s stellar performance of “Revolution” Taylor Swift may have had the most face time of the last few years but there’s a new 20-something blonde that’s ready to take the spotlight among the other hot country acts like Zac Brown and Lady A.  Four The Record is a Hit.

Overall Grade:  A

Don’t miss: The retro-yet-modern “Easy Living” and the edgy “Fine Tune” (time to try a pop crossover?)

Scotty McCreery

When was the last time country music had a teenage boy that had a shot at making hits?   Billy Gilman din’t have a shot like Scotty McCreery, and McCreery has delivered a super easy to listen to debut album that will please Idol fan base and SHOULD be mainstream enough to deserve substantial radio play.

McCreery has already proven himself as a draw.  So much so that he’s already inked a deal to open Brad Paisley’s tour in 2012.      On Idol it was clear to show producers from early on that Scotty had a massive following and it translated to higher Idol ratings.  On the Idol arena tour there was a good degree of Scotty mania with sold out arenas after the previous year’s lackluster attendance.     As the reigning Idol winner McCreery had an extra long set list on the tour and he sold the most merch at the tables.  He’s proving himself as more than normal teen back at school too.

With his debut album, Clear As Day, McCreery combines his surprisingly rich country pipes to some quality Nashville songwriting and producing with JUST ENOUGH High School perspective.   His voice is unique too.  Perhaps more versatile than Josh Turner or Trace Adkins.   Taylor Swift has been successful providing the voice for that age group – but there has never been a charismatic boy (a jock too!) that has had this kind of shot.

Clear As Day is a sweet slice of southern life.  Obviously handpicked by Scotty, the songs revolve around girls, mama, trucks and High School.    A breath of fresh air for Nashville.

McCreery shines on flirty fun pop country nuggets like “Write Your Number On My Hand” and “You Make That Look Good” but also soars with super vocals on the current single “The Trouble With Girls.”    The songs stand up solidly next to anything on country radio.  Do radio programmers hear it or will they need to play catch up after he drops jaws with what could be blockbuster first week sales?

Clear As Day – Track List

Clear As Day / Mecury Records

1. Out of Summertime
2. I Love You This Big
3. Clear as Day
4. The Trouble With Girls
5. Water Tower Town
6. Walk in the Country
7. Better Than That
8. Write My Number on Your Hand
9. Dirty Dishes
10. You Make That Look Good
11. Back on the Ground
12. That Old King James

Overall Grade:  A

Don’t Miss:  ”You Make That Look Good” – fun for all and sure to make his teenybopper fans swoon.  Also “Walk In The Country” an old Keith Urban and  the Ranch song gets new life.

Rodney Atkins is building a house.  Brick by brick, big hit by by hit he’s becoming a country mainstay.  It’s tricky work in the fickle world of country music where they want something different yet shun anything too different.  Atkins (nod ADkins) has generated a powerful set list.   It started back in 2003 with the top five charting Honesty (write me a list).  A few more years and a few more BIG songs like If You’re Going Through Hell, Watching You, These Are My People, It’s America, Farmer’s Daughter and now a modern sounding feel good title track “Take A Back Road.”

1. Take a Back Road
2. He’s Mine
3. Family
4. The Corner
5. She’s a Girl Ain’t She
6. She’s Rather Fight
7. Feet
8. Cabin In The Woods
9. Just Wanna Rock N’ Roll
10. Growing Up Like That
11. Tips
12. Lifelines
13. (Bonus) Farmer’s Daughter

Jake Owen Photo:Wikipedia

Jake Owen is out really working hard to promote his new country songs.    We just spotted him branding himself nicely on Good Morning America wearing Bluejeans… in bare feet.    His new single -Barefoot Blue Jean Night –  is the title track from Jake Owen’s third full album with legendary RCA Records.

Things seem to be going in the right direction.  Owen pulled in a new producer the follow up to 2009′s “Easy Does It” and there is a fresh breeze of new sounds to go along with Owen’s rich voice.
The first track, Anywhere With You, starts country cliche (double wides!) but rolls into a fun romp.
The song “Keepin it Country” is a bit vanilla and again a bit cliche but the rest of the tracks really begin to get a great vibe.

Barefoot Blue Jean Night jumps out of the speakers at the very first listen.
Apple Pie Moon Shine is a dead on fun medium tempo singalong.  If released as a single it could be Owen’s “Big Green Tractor” (multi-week number one for Jason Aldean).  Perfect for radio.
Journey of Your Life is due to end up as someone’s favorite just for the somber sentimentality and deliberate solid songwriting.
Setting the World on Fire has a nice Bob Seger vibe… and another party starter is sure to be Nobody Feelin’ No Pain as Jake relays a hotel romp that many fans can relate to.

In all, Barefoot Blue Jean Night is a sturdy representation of the new sounds in country music.    Steeped with a bit of Jake’s twangy baritone it FEELS country and the production values on the mix is really fresh sounding.

Oveall Grade:  B+   Core fans will have plenty to sing – and party – along with.

Download: The singalong title track plus Apple Pie Moonshine

Delete: Referencing country double wides in the opening track Anywhere with You.

The Soundtrack features eight new songs as well as the remakes.  Julianne, still growing her music career on Mercury records, is not featured singing in the film or soundtrack

Julianne Hough

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Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes join the album with the movie’s love theme, “Almost Paradise.” The cast for the soundtrack has new music from Big & Rich, Cee Lo Green, David Banner, Whitney Duncan, Lissie and Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band. Other classic songs featured on the album are “Holding Out For A Hero” by Ella Mae Bowen and “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Jana Kramer.

Here’s a look at the tracks:
1. Footloose – Blake Shelton
2. Where The River Goes – Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band
3. Little Lovin’ – Lissie
4. Holding Out For A Hero – Ella Mae Bowen
5. Let’s Hear It For The Boy – Jana Kramer
6. So Sorry Mama – Whitney Duncan
7. Fake I.D. – Big & Rich feat. Gretchen Wilson
8. Almost Paradise – Victoria Justice & Hunter Hayes
9. Walkin’ Blues – Cee Lo Green feat. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
10. Window Paine – The Smashing Pumpkins
11. Suicide Eyes – A Thousand Horses
12. Dance The Night Away – David Banner

Photos: Paramount Pictures

About “FOOTLOOSE”
Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment present a Dylan Sellers Zadan / Meron Weston Pictures Production of a Craig Brewer Film. Footloose stars Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Andie MacDowell and Dennis Quaid.  The film is directed by Craig Brewer from a screenplay by Dean Pitchford and Brewer and Story by Dean Pitchford.  It is produced by Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Dylan Sellers and  Brad Weston.  The executive producers are Timothy M. Bourne, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Jonathan Glickman.

 

 

Red River Blue #1 Debut

This amazing debut comes hot on the heels of a string of No. 1’s which include: Soundscan Top Current Albums chart, Soundscan Top Country Albums chart, iTunes Overall Albums Chart, iTunes Country Albums Chart and his multi-week insatiable hit “Honey Bee.” The single is the fastest-selling digital Platinum single for a male country solo artist. Red River Blue is the highest digital percentage for Shelton with almost 30% of his album sales and marks his highest selling album debut to date.  This success also comes at a time when Blake is enjoying a new marriage to Miranda Lambert and TV success on The Voice.

Chris Young also hit with his third release last week with 70 some thousand copies.  Good for second in Country.