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Live Blogging Country Radio, Part XIV

C.M. Wilcox — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:30:41 +0000

Turn on the radio and see what happens…

12:51: And we’re off! Want to bet there will be no mention of the recent passings of Ferlin Husky and Ralph Mooney?
12:51: “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” is playing now.
12:51: I think I might be the only one not particularly taken by that line about holding yourself together like a pair of bookends. As a metaphor, it doesn’t do much for me. It’s a little too, uh, clinical? I don’t know.
12:52: Now it’s “Kiss a Girl”
12:53: Honestly can’t usually tell one Keith Urban song from the next until he hits a chorus. And even then, only slightly.
12:55: I still say this is a weird sentiment coming from a guy who’s in his 40s.
12:56: Rain, wind, flooding on the way. So the DJ is playing “Colder Weather.” I see what he did there.
12:56: Love the harmony parts on this song.
12:58: Did I read somewhere that they’ll perform with James Taylor on the ACMs? I think I did.
12:58: That oughta be interesting. Better than Cher, at least.
1:00: It’s surprising that this song has done as well as it has. Very restrained by radio standards.
1:00: Oh gosh. Now it’s “19 Somethin’”
1:01: Hit of the summer ONE YEAR and now they think we still want to hear it ALL THE TIME.
1:01: Why not “Jacob’s Ladder,” radio gods?
1:02: Because radio’s memory doesn’t extend past about 2002, save for bits of Garth and Shania.
1:03: I’ve seen Mark Wills live twice. Without even trying. Both times within about 15 miles of home. One of them was at the county fair, the other was at that Golf & Guitars charity event.
1:04: “I Won’t Let Go” by Rascal Flatts now. One of their better vocal performances.
1:06: Usually lyrics this bland would sink a song for me, but I guess it’s what I’ve come to expect from them. I’m just pleasantly surprised to hear them singing this well and showing this much restraint in the production. Sometimes I’m not that hard to please.
1:07: “Lover Lover” by Jerrod Niemann. His album would’ve been one of the best mainstream ones of last year but for all those alleged ‘jokes’ between songs.
1:09: I like his voice.
1:10: Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Lee Brice are all on the Country Throwdown Tour this year. Wonder why not Jerrod? They don’t treat him no good no more.
1:10: The radio station is hosting a private show with Little Big Town. Can’t even buy tickets for it. The only way to get in is to listen to the station religiously. Probably not worth pain involved.
1:11: Kenny Chesney is singing about how he should “Live a Little.”
1:12: I never caught “Somewhere With You” fever. I think I like this better, even though it’s nothing he hasn’t done 20 times before. At least the sound of it doesn’t bug me.
1:13: Apparently, Sugarland will be on American Idol tomorrow night. Those of you with TVs might be interested. I hope Kristian is in good voice.
1:14: They’re on commercials now.
1:15: Advertisers: hospital, casino, Silverado trucks…
1:16: … a grocery store’s support of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure…
1:17: … check cashing service…
1:18: … Motorola smartphone…
1:19: … buying mattresses on credit…
1:19: … Netflix…
1:20: … our local line-dancing bar…
1:20: Back from commercials with “Baby Girl” by Sugarland.
1:21: Wow, this song still gets played a lot. I spent a few hours listening to the car radio over the weekend (visiting family in a car without a hole to plug my MP3 player into) and heard it 3 or 4 times. Only about half as many times as I heard “Back to December,” but still…
1:21: Time’s up. See you next time?

Live Blogging Country Radio, Part XIII

C.M. Wilcox — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:29:05 +0000

9:40: We’re live!
9:41: Beginning with “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” The version with Kenny and Tim.
9:41: Ever the contrarian, I prefer the Tracy Lawrence solo version.
9:42: Especially with how clumsy Chesney’s vocal sounds next to Tracy’s… and even Tim’s.
9:43: They’re talking about Tracy deep-frying turkeys for Thanksgiving.
9:44: Now talking about the Giants. Did something happen with them recently?
9:44: Commercial time, but not before a teaser for upcoming songs by Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts. Personally, I can’t wait!
9:46: Commercials for doctors, grocery stores…
9:46: Whatever happened to non-annoying radio commercials? They find people with the worst voices.
9:47: Laser-assisted body contouring! That’s the ticket. But why’s it called “laser-assisted” if a laser zaps fat off of you? That sounds like more than an assist. In fact, it sounds like the laser is doing the grunt work. They should call it person-assisted body contouring.
9:47: “Say goodbye to your love handles or bra roll.” Bra roll? Hmm.
9:48: I guess I can’t complain about ads for becoming a Secret Santa to foster kids.
9:50: Carl’s Jr. (aka Hardee’s, for you unlucky non-westerners) chicken tenders get their own ad. When you’re not in the mood for beef, try chicken. Not in the mood for beef OR chicken? Socialist.
9:50: Whew, back to music.
9:51: It’s Darius Rucker with the grammatically dubious “Alright.”
9:51: Things I Wonder About: If he says he don’t got no Dom Pérignon… but pronounces its name correctly… how does that affect his everyman credibility?
9:52: (Not actually sure he pronounced it correctly, but it sounded right.)
9:53: I’m glad poor Darius finds such contentment in simple things.
9:55: Rascal Flatts song introduced by Gary. He pronounces his last name La Vocks? I assumed it was Le Vo. La Vocks is sure an inelegant way of pronouncing a fancy-pants name.
9:55: Anyway, the song is “Unstoppable.”
9:55: Much as I wish it weren’t. Ba dum bum.
9:56: Have they concluded their never-ending celebration of their 10th anniversary yet? Too much back-slapping.
9:57: I think it’ll end soon… the song, I mean. Or possibly my will to live. Something’s gotta give.
9:58: Brad Paisley now. “Anything Like Me.”
9:58: He’s gonna be on Letterman tonight, they tell me.
9:59: I remember when I was pretty keen on Paisley’s sense of humor. Then it started getting tiresome.
9:59: Case in point: The naming of his just-released hits collection and upcoming book. Hits Alive? The Diary of a Player? We get it. You think you’re pretty clever. Ease up a bit, pal.
9:59: But I digress. This song is decent enough.
10:00: Certainly better than “Water,” anyway.
10:02: “Mississippi Girl” now. Haven’t heard this one in a while.
10:03: Turns out, “Mississippi Girl” or not, Faith Hill is unable to sustain our interest for any length of time.
10:03: Somewhat of a shame. Wanted to see “Dearly Beloved” off of this album released to radio.
10:04: Ugh, just remembered that John Rich was involved with this one. That does sour it a bit.
10:05: Is John Rich still having hits, or cuts, as a songwriter?
10:05: He’s been pretty quiet lately. Even through an election season… very unlike him.
10:05: For a while there, everyone was singing his songs.
10:06: Justin Moore and “How I Got to Be This Way.” About half of his songs seem to bug me, but I saw him live… at Golf & Guitars, shout-out to That Nashville Sound… and he’s a pretty dynamic performer.
10:08: Why so much music?
10:08: Now it’s…
10:09: “Mama’s Song” by Carrie Underwood.
10:09: OMG, Taylor is gonna flip.
10:10: I think I heard a steel guitar way back there somewhere. Possibly just my imagination.
10:11: Moderately disappointed by lack of radio release for “Someday When I Stop Loving You.” Only moderately because I have trouble getting too worked up over anything Carrie-related.
10:11: Okay, that’s 30 minutes. I did my time.
10:12: Let’s call it a live blog.

Live Blogging Country Radio, Part XII

C.M. Wilcox — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:12:44 +0000

11:17: Ready, set… radio on!
11:17: Aaand screeching halt. We’re in the middle of a commercial block. But the good news is Dwight Yoakam’s coming to the area, jeans and all.
11:18: Weather report. In the mid and high 90s over the weekend. Good thing I don’t go outside.
11:19: It’s Lady Antebellum with… uh, this song. Which one is it?
11:19: Oh, “Our Kind of Love.” Sure, that’s the one. They all sort of sound the same.
11:20: I guess they’re kind of a big deal. Final performance on the CMT Awards.
11:22: I hope Dave Haywood doesn’t let it go to his head. Wonder if he ever got to hang out with the Jonas Brothers?
11:22: Now it’s “The River” by Garth.
11:23: He’s the Jimmie Rodgers to Lady Antebellum’s Fleetwood Mac.
11:25: The excitement about Garth performing in Vegas sure died down quickly, didn’t it?
11:25: Everyone stopped talking about it as soon as he had performed his first show.
11:26: New song starting. Blake Shelton and “All About Tonight.”
11:27: This song is so good I juiced a gerbil and gargled Cledus T. Judd’s bath water.
11:28: Actually, it’s not that good.
11:28: His next EP… I mean, Six Pak… comes out August 10. Mark your calendars now. (My birthday is August 4. Might as well mark that too while you’re on the page.)
11:29: Song over, now they’re calling bingo numbers.
11:30: “Jesus Take the Wheel” now.
11:31: I was thinking about this the other day…
11:31: I think I like Underwood’s first album best, but not because it was especially good.
11:32: No, because it dared to be just okay. She didn’t reach all that high, but she didn’t go all that low either. It lacks the spectacular failures like “Undo It,” so it’s at least listenable all the way through.
11:33: Anyway, not sure how much sense that makes.
11:33: Now it’s Easton Corbin and “Roll With It.”
11:34: I shouldn’t like this song, but I kind of do.
11:35: I’m usually immune to catchy summer songs. Damn you, Easton Corbin.
11:37: This station is playing a lot of music. Wonder if something’s wrong?
11:37: Now it’s “Sideways” by Dierks Bentley. Blech.
11:37: The fact that I like Up on the Ridge (the album, not the song) even more than I expected to just makes me even more disappointed in Bentley for recording crap like this.
11:38: He can do better and he knows it. Now he’s rightly getting credit for a bold move, but why’d he have to subject us to 2 or 3 disappointing albums before laying it on us?
11:40: Calling bingo numbers again.
11:40: Ahh, there are my commercials.
11:40: For hardware stores…
11:40: Safeway…
11:41: The Zune HD player…
11:41: Gun safes…
11:42: Dodge Challenger…
11:43: (“It’s not just a car, it’s a way of life.” Sorry, I just need a car…)
11:44: Comcast internet/digital cable…
11:44: NASCAR Sprint Cup series…
11:46: Subway sandwiches…
11:46: Pet supply store…
11:47: Dwight Yoakam concert ad again…
11:47: Well, that’s time.
11:47: Let’s see what the next song was going to be…
11:48: “Something More” by Sugarland.
11:48: No more for me, thanks. Over ‘n’ out!

Live Blogging Country Radio, Part XI

C.M. Wilcox — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:00:17 +0000

The resurrection of Jesus is the plot twist that takes me by surprise every year. We missed a Quotable this past Sunday, so we’ll make up for it by going big next week. For now, let’s ease back into the music with 30 minutes of country radio:

10:38 AM: Second live blog attempt. Had to quit first one when the station couldn’t even hold my attention well enough to make fun of it. Got distracted and started looking at the fake country Twitter accounts.
10:38 AM: Let’s see if this one’s any better.
10:39 AM: Starting off in the middle of a commercial for OnStar.
10:40 AM: “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes” by Jake’s dad, Dierks Bentley
10:41 AM: Disappointed that his planned bluegrass and country albums are getting folded into one project… i.e. he’s giving up all pretense of even trying to record a bluegrass album
10:42 AM: Still, should be an improvement over his last album. (Talk about damning with faint praise.)
10:43 AM: Anyhow, this song’s boring.
10:44 AM: Trisha Yearwood was on Good Morning America talking about how much Garth loves big breakfasts, according to radio lady. Shocking news, obviously.
10:45 AM: Now it’s Garth singing “Much Too Young…”
10:45 AM: The best song we’ll hear in this stretch? Possibly.
10:46 AM: I thought Garth was a sellout at the time, but he might as well be Jimmie Rodgers now. That’ll teach me to keep musical changes in perspective.
10:47 AM: Steel Magnolia with “Keep On Loving You.” Guess this song must be doing pretty well, since this station never takes a chance on anything that isn’t. I wonder if they’ll have more hits.
10:48 AM: Or get to put out an album.
10:49 AM: “50 minutes of commercial-free fresh country rolls on.” Doubt it.
10:50 AM: “Only You Can Love Me This Way” by Keith Urban
10:51 AM: Like this better than that “Anything But Mine” knockoff, but it’s still boring.
10:52 AM: Ho hum.
10:53 AM: Now it’s “The Man I Want to Be” by Chris Young.
10:53 AM: My failure to love this song got me in trouble with Chris Young fans a few months ago.
10:54 AM: But voice aside, I still say it’s one of the weaker songs on the album.
10:56 AM: They should release “Rose in Paradise” with Willie. That’s a good one.
10:56 AM: Now it’s “It’s America”
10:57 AM: A country singer professing his love for Springsteen. What a novel idea!
10:58 AM: As suggested by the ‘town torn apart by a twister’ example, people in other countries never help each other out in the case of natural disasters. What jerks.
10:59 AM: Only in America could a guy like Rodney Atkins have 4 consecutive #1s, so I can understand why he’s so appreciative. Radio seems to have cooled to his newer songs, though.
11:00 AM: Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow with “Picture”
11:00 AM: I swear, this song just popped up in my first live blog attempt on the other station.
11:00 AM: The apparent promotional push for “Picture” is a tad belated.
11:01 AM: I was guessing about this being the Sheryl Crow version, but it is. She just came in. It could’ve been the Allison Moorer version.
11:01 AM: Uh… right? (cough)
11:02 AM: Kid Rock is aka White Snoop in my world… and incidentally, between this and “My Medicine,” Rock and Snoop have both released better country songs than Gloriana.
11:04 AM: George Strait and “I Gotta Get to You”
11:05 AM: Nice to hear him sing anything, but nobody would mistake this for a classic Strait song. It’ll be forgotten as soon as its run is over.
11:07 AM: Time for one more song.
11:07 AM: Tim McGraw, “I Like It, I Love It”
11:07 AM: They’ve played an unusually large number of recurrents this time.
11:08 AM: A tacit admission that the current stuff is about as exciting as Week 493 of Jimmy Wayne’s cross-country walk/ride? Probably.
11:09 AM: Well, that was a hoot. See you next time.

Live Blogging Country Radio, Part X

C.M. Wilcox — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:26:47 +0000

10:47 AM: With country’s strong showing at the Grammys last night, it’s conceivable that some will be tuning into a country station for the first time today. In my area, here’s what they’ll hear.
10:47 AM: We begin in the thick of Gretchen Wilson’s “Here for the Party.”
10:48 AM: It’ll be interesting to see what, if any, kind of a comeback she’ll be able to manage on her own Redneck Records.
10:49 AM: Weird thing about Gretchen Wilson songs: it creeps me out that, as she’s singing them, I can often imagine John Rich’s voice superimposed over hers, because of the style of the material.
10:49 AM: And that’s disturbing for someone who tries to think of John Rich as little as possible, for the sake of maintaining his own sanity. (That’s me, by the way.)
10:50 AM: The party ends abruptly, right into Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye.”
10:50 AM: In these wussified heartbreak songs, I can never help feeling that the melodramatic reading might have something to do with why the girl’s leaving.
10:51 AM: It’s more of what a woman would want to think a man was feeling, rather than a man’s perspective, you know. He’s probably just worried she’ll take his golf clubs.
10:52 AM: Ah, gender stereotypes. Gotta love ‘em.
10:54 AM: DJ comes on after song: “That was ‘Here Comes Goodbye,’ by Taylor… no, not Taylor. Rascal Flatts.” See, even he can’t tell the difference. Swift on the brain.
10:54 AM: We’re on commercials now.
10:55 AM: For approximately 7 minutes.
10:55 AM: George Jones is coming to this area!
10:55 AM: February 12. Who wants to buy me tickets?
10:56 AM: I should see him before he loses even more of his voice. That “Why Baby Why” clip on the Opry Youtube made me a little sad.
10:57 AM: Commercial for one-day bathroom remodels. Hmm. If we’re gonna do a remodel, I think I might feel better about one that took more than a day to complete, actually.
10:58 AM: Although if they’re coming anyway, might as well have them stay over and do the entire rest of the house on Day 2. Preferably at an impossibly low price.
10:58 AM: Commercial for buying cars with bad credit, which you might have to do after your entire house collapses around you.
11:00 AM: Unrelated thought: I wonder who Bucky Covington’s mustache idol is. Who set him down that path, you know? There must have been someone. Maybe a cool mustachioed uncle or something.
11:00 AM: We might be back to music now.
11:01 AM: Yes… and it’s Collin Raye with “Little Red Rodeo.”
11:01 AM: It’s weird how they play the same few older songs so often (the subject of an old editorial).
11:02 AM: I mean, this didn’t even top the charts. (research) It was #3 thirteen years ago.
11:03 AM: Yet there are probably #1s from five years ago you never hear anymore. Probably.
11:04 AM: Can’t help but feel it has something to do with Raye and/or Vassar being in league with the devil. Uh, but you didn’t hear that from me, naturally.
11:04 AM: Now it’s Alan Jackson with “It’s Just That Way.”
11:05 AM: I haven’t seen anyone else mention it, but this reminds me a whole lot of a Don Williams song.
11:05 AM: Not a particular one, but just the gentle baritone-y style of a lot of them.
11:06 AM: Also, the fact that it’s a little boring. (Apologies to the Don Williams faithful.)
11:07 AM: I hope we’re not heading for a time when it’s either this or the goofy ones like “Good Time” from Alan. He’s best in the middle.
11:07 AM: Now it’s “Southern Voice” by Will Faulkner… sorry, I mean Tim McGraw.
11:08 AM: Can we just not talk about it?
11:09 AM: Broken record: They need to release “You Had to Be There” off of his current album.
11:11 AM: Ah! “Time Marches On,” a big hit (no pun intended) for Tracy Lawrence.
11:12 AM: I wouldn’t mind our imaginary country-unfamiliar Grammy viewer tuning in right about now.
11:13 AM: Isn’t this a Bobby Braddock song? I think I remember that.
11:13 AM: Ahh. That was much too short.
11:14 AM: Probably time for one more song.
11:14 AM: Keith Urban and “Til Summer Comes Around”
11:15 AM: I haven’t listened to the words of this one very closely yet, so I’ll do that now. Shh.
11:16 AM: Urban is a great balladeer, but…
11:16 AM: I think “Anything but Mine” is the better summer romance song.
11:17 AM: Yeah, that’s right. I just endorsed Chesney.
11:17 AM: Time’s up!
11:18 AM: All things considered, that wasn’t too terrible. See ya next time.

Live Blogging Country Radio, Part IX

C.M. Wilcox — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:04:37 +0000

Like most God-fearing Americans, I try to be a relatively nice person for the month of December, then go back to being the same old jerk for the whole rest of the year. As the holiday season approaches its end, I figured it’d be best to ease back into my usual snarkiness with some live blogging country radio.

10:47 AM: The doctor prescribed 30 minutes of country radio to help me get over my bad case of holiday cheer.
10:47 AM: Starting off with “Hillbilly Bone” by Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins.
10:47 AM: Yep, this’ll do it. Shelton and Adkins at their worst. Impressive.
10:48 AM: I liked this much better when it had a story to it and was called “Songs About Me.”
10:49 AM: Whew, it’s over.
10:50 AM: Now it’s “Sounds Like Life to Me”
10:51 AM: Car falling apart, washer quit last week, put mama in nursing home, baby cutting teeth, lack of employment. “To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy/It sounds like life to me”
10:51 AM: Well, okay. But that is a pretty bad week. You could just hear the poor fella out.
10:52 AM: Never underestimate the ability of a song whose only message is “suck it up” to catch fire with the country audience. It’s all about the bootstraps.
10:53 AM: Now it’s Alison Krauss and “When You Say Nothing at All”
10:53 AM: They don’t play this often enough.
10:55 AM: I guess it will surprise nobody that I’d give Keith Whitley’s recording a slight edge over this tribute version, but regardless of who’s singing it, this is classic Overstreet/Schlitz.
10:56 AM: I’ll bet this is the most romantic way ever of telling someone to shut up.
10:57 AM: “River of Love” by George Strait
10:58 AM: Still just as ill-advised as ever.
10:58 AM: But darned if old George doesn’t pull it off, somehow.
11:00 AM: Now it’s “I’m Still a Guy”
11:00 AM: Paisley on differences between men and women? Surprising!
11:02 AM: “But when you say a back rub means only a back rub, then you swat my hand when I try”
11:02 AM: I’m surprised that line made it on radio, what with references to “ass” and “rolling big fat ones” proving too uncouth.
11:03 AM: Now “That’s How Country Boys Roll” by Billy Currington
11:04 AM: In case anyone forgot how cool it is to be from a rural area.
11:04 AM: e.g. if you haven’t listened to radio at all in the past ten years
11:06 AM: Why are they casting their reels on old country roads?
11:06 AM: Probably won’t catch much on a roadway.
11:06 AM: I’d recommend heading to a water-like area of some sort.
11:06 AM: Ah, mama and Jesus and Jones. The Trinity, country style.
11:07 AM: Classic country time!
11:07 AM: By which I mean Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California”
11:08 AM: It’s amazing how stuff I wasn’t even that fond of at the time of its release sounds so refreshing compared to the stuff playing today.
11:09 AM: Even Shania sounds pretty country compared to, say, Swift.
11:10 AM: Anyway, I wonder who wrote “Heads Carolina…” It’s a pretty catchy hook.
11:11 AM: Continuing with the classic country, it’s “My Next Thirty Years” by McGraw.
11:11 AM: I think I like Phil Vassar songs best when they’re sung by someone other than Phil Vassar.
11:13 AM: They’re sure playing some oldies.
11:13 AM: At this rate, they’ll be spinning Haggard by… never.
11:13 AM: There’s time for one more song.
11:13 AM: Or a couple minutes of idle chatter.
11:13 AM: Which will it be?
11:14 AM: It’s “Consider Me Gone” by Reba
11:15 AM: I do like this song. Sounds like classic Reba.
11:16 AM: Best tracks on Reba’s latest album: “Maggie Creek Road,” “I’ll Have What She’s Having,” and this. So I’m hoping one of the other two will be the next single.
11:17 AM: Oh, thirty minutes is up.
11:17 AM: And just in time. DJs are talking now.
11:17 AM: Over ‘n’ out.

2009 CMA Awards Live Blog: Pacific Edition

C.M. Wilcox — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:09:17 +0000

Also known as “the grand experiment,” it’s a potluck-style live blog in which the host himself will not actually be watching the show. Yep, pretty much a trainwreck waiting to happen.

That was the original description, but what began as a not-so-promising solo live blog attempt was ultimately saved by the surprise participation of several luminaries of the “angering Carrie Underwood fans online” world, including Matt Bjorke (Roughstock), Leeann (Country Universe), Dan (Country Universe), Brady (The 9513), Blake (The 9513, Country Universe, Roughstock, Modern Family), Trailer (Farce the Music), Baron (Twang Nation) and serial commenters Annie, KC, and AikoujOi. Thanks to all who showed up and added their voices to the mix.

I made a few minor edits for readability, but basically you should read this with the expectation that it will be a semi-disorienting chat session rather than a formal live blog. Without further ado…

7:05 PM: CountryCa Welcome to the 2009 CMA Awards Live Blog: Pacific Edition!
7:13 PM: CountryCa We’ll get started shortly before 8.
7:16 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Since I’m in the pacific timezone, I’ll be joining ya this year.
7:16 PM: CountryCa Awesome, Matt. Glad to have someone who’s actually watching the show!
7:18 PM: AikoujOi I’m gonna follow this for as long as I can
7:21 PM: CountryCa Good to have you, AikoujOi. Who do you all think will win Entertainer?
7:23 PM: AikoujOi I dunno honestly
7:23 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) So you just can’t stand Taylor twice, eh? I’ll send some RS West coast readers to here via twitter.
7:24 PM: CountryCa My money’s on David Kersh.
7:25 PM: CountryCa I’d watch the show if I could. I’m without TV for a while.
7:25 PM: CountryCa Luckily, I don’t suspect I’ll miss a whole hell of a lot.
7:25 PM: AikoujOi what are the nominations for Entertainer? I’m willing to bet Taylor Swift is one of them
7:26 PM: CountryCa Kenny, Keith, Brad, George, Taylor.
7:26 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) haha, have you tried to get some sort of feed via the computer?
7:26 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Did you see my predictions @ Roughstock?
7:26 PM: CountryCa Been looking around, but came up with nothin’ (re: feeds)
7:27 PM: AikoujOi Judging on the fanbase and the trend in Nashville, it’ll be either Keith or Taylor
7:27 PM: CountryCa I was just looking at your predictions, Matt. Slowly. Since it seems they’re spread out over about 24 posts. ;-)
7:28 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) haha, yes, 5 posts.
7:28 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) but it was designed to get people comin’ back and it works.
7:28 PM: AikoujOi I predict Sugarland will win Duo of the Yeat
7:29 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) What’s a Yeat? I kid, I kid…
7:30 PM: CountryCa I’m guessing Brooks and Dunn for duo.
7:30 PM: CountryCa Based on the timing. They’re breaking up next… yeat.
7:31 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Perfect, I will predict “of the yeat” all night now…Actually I agree CM…
7:31 PM: CountryCa Anyhow, we should talk about how the West Coast is way better than the whole rest of the country.
7:32 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) haha, we could. Seattle has 2! of the Top 15 radio stations in the country according to Country Aircheck.
7:33 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I’m feeling like writing ! like Shania! Tonight, In honor of the Seattle Mariners! resigning! Ken Griffey, Jr! again! Then again, maybe not…
7:34 PM: CountryCa I vote for not.
7:34 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I’ve ignored twitter and other sites since 5pm to not know who won CMA Awards…
7:35 PM: CountryCa Yep, gotta go on lockdown.
7:37 PM: CountryCa For those just checking in, show starts in about 23 minutes.
7:37 PM: CountryCa Feel free to propose a discussion topic to fill this time.
7:37 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) What non country tunes/artists are you diggin’ at this time…
7:38 PM: AikoujOi I have a few non country tunes
7:38 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Me personally, I’ve been enjoying the new Swell Season “Strict Joy” record and the Cage The Elephant self-titled disc…
7:38 PM: CountryCa I like Norah Jones.
7:39 PM: CountryCa I’m pretty bad about keeping up with anything that isn’t country.
7:39 PM: AikoujOi hahaha yeah
7:40 PM: AikoujOi Kinda the same way too
7:40 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) It’s a curse, I tell ya. A curse. Then again it’s a good way to listen to something that’s not about small towns and tractors from time to time
7:40 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Also, it gives me appreciation or lack thereof when artists cover rock songs. Like “Use Somebody.” That cover by a newcomer doesn’t do it for me.
7:40 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Margaret Durante
7:41 PM: AikoujOi Terri Clark is a really good country singer. She doesn’t sing about tracter and small towns or somethimg
7:41 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) If anybody is gonna cover that song, Sugarland should do it.
7:41 PM: CountryCa Sugarland can cover anything.
7:41 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) oh I know. I also have been diggin’ Steve Wariner’s Chet Atkins disc. Classy record, right there.
7:41 PM: AikoujOi Even Terri Clark? Would be interesting lol
7:42 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Yes, as long as it’s not Kristian singin’ it.
7:43 PM: CountryCa Have you heard him doing “Holly Jolly Christmas” on that holiday disc?
7:43 PM: CountryCa His enunciation is so weird.
7:44 PM: CountryCa “Have a haw-ally jaw-ally Christmas…”
7:44 PM: AikoujOi hahahaha
7:44 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Yes, it is weird but I don’t mind his voice from time to time
7:44 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I just wouldn’t want him to sing Use Somebody…
7:44 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) or Terri Clark.
7:45 PM: CountryCa 15 minutes until showtime!
7:45 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Have any of y’all heard Jace Everett’s “Red Relevations?”
7:45 PM: CountryCa Is it a communist manifesto?
7:46 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) hah, nope. good ole fashioned rockabilly record.
7:46 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) with “Bad Things” tacked on because of “True Blood” using it as the theme
7:47 PM: CountryCa I think “Bad Things” is all I’ve heard from him.
7:49 PM: CountryCa So.
7:49 PM: CountryCa Who are you guys wearing?
7:49 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Well The damn record was one of the best I’ve heard this year…
7:49 PM: AikoujOi 11 more minutes until the fun starts here lol
7:49 PM: CountryCa I should check it out, Matt.
7:50 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I was gonna wear the Jon Gosselin line until I decided I didn’t wanna look like a douche….so I decided on the Rory Feek line from Tractor Supply…
7:51 PM: CountryCa Sounds like a wise decision.
7:51 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) The Jace Everett record is on eMusic
7:51 PM: CountryCa Country Weekly was nice enough to RT my live blog announcement, so we should get a few more people yet as the show starts up.
7:52 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) that’s nice. I also posted it…
7:52 PM: AikoujOi ok cool
7:52 PM: CountryCa Thanks, Matt.
7:53 PM: AikoujOi 7 more minutes can’t wait for the humor
7:54 PM: CountryCa Now’s the time to start gathering your supplies for the three hours ahead. Water, snacks, earplugs, Dale Watson records.
7:54 PM: CountryCa Whatever you think you might need.
7:54 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Dave Serby Records work too.
7:55 PM: CountryCa Blasphemy.
7:55 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) really? you don’t like Serby?
7:55 PM: KC Hi everyone
7:55 PM: CountryCa Well, he’s not Dale Watson.
7:55 PM: CountryCa But then, neither is Chuck Norris.
7:55 PM: CountryCa Hi KC!
7:56 PM: AikoujOi Kept saying my post looked like spam, I was trying to say hi
7:57 PM: CountryCa Huh, that’s weird.
7:59 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) it’s almost ‘game time’

Live Blogging Country Radio, Part VIII

C.M. Wilcox — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:30:25 +0000

When I started doing these live blogs, I was still listening to country radio semi-regularly. Since then, I’ve become so disheartened by the stuff they’re playing that I’ve learned to stick to my own music collection most of the time, save for occasional excursions outward for the purposes of education and review (running this blog means I have to sort of know what’s happening out there, if only to better make fun of it). So these half hours are my way of checking in on what I’m missing by being such an incurable music snob. Enjoy.

10:02 AM: We’re going with a different station this time. There are two in my area.
10:03 AM: Right now it’s “Wave on Wave” by Pat Green.
10:03 AM: The song that introduced me (and a lot of other people) to Pat Green. Always liked this one.
10:04 AM: I saw him open for someone else once and found his constant calls for people to cheer louder and get up out of their seats annoying.
10:04 AM: We’ll do it ourselves if we’re into you, fella. You just focus on putting on a good show.
10:05 AM: Now it’s “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum.
10:05 AM: I don’t enjoy Kelley’s voice as much here as I usually do, but Hillary Scott sounds better.
10:07 AM: Still, “I May Hate Myself in the Morning” did this much better. I think there’s something about the stone-country sound that suits the theme better than the pop style of Lady Antebellum.
10:08 AM: (Still refuse to call them Lady A, by the way.)
10:08 AM: Oh no. It’s “Where I’m From” by Jason Michael Carroll.
10:09 AM: I thought we were done with this song.
10:09 AM: This will have to make Billboard’s year-end most played list. I’ve heard it far too often.
10:09 AM: I don’t even want to talk about it anymore, so instead…
10:10 AM: … I got nothing.
10:10 AM: The brother has cancer!
10:11 AM: I’m glad Chris Young’s single has done so well. Hope they choose a strong follow-up.
10:12 AM: (I wonder if reiterating that I don’t like “The Man I Want to Be” and “Twenty One Candles” will bring the Chris Young fans over in droves again. Really, “I wanna be a strong man/An admit-when-I-was-wrong man”? Did my cat write those lyrics?)
10:12 AM: They mercifully cut off the very end of the Carroll song.
10:12 AM: Now it’s “Yes!” by Chad Brock.
10:13 AM: He reads Country California, you know. He also threatens to beat people (who may or may not be former president Bill Clinton) up in the comments. It’s good fun.
10:14 AM: Not to take anything away from Brock, but it’s easy to imagine this being a hit in just about anyone’s hands. It’s that sort of song.
10:15 AM: I need to find me a woman who only answers in the affirmative.
10:16 AM: “Cowboy Casanova” by Carrie Underwood. I thought it was a Shania song at first.
10:17 AM: Beneath the layers of production, I think this is actually more country than many of Underwood’s other recordings. And the vocal shows some personality, which is an improvement.
10:19 AM: Now there’s talking.
10:20 AM: Bomshel and Brady Seals appearing near here soon. Sorry, should be BOMSHEL.
10:21 AM: They’re doing a contest where you can win an autographed Tim McGraw guitar. I wonder if that’s just a guitar autographed by Tim or a guitar that he has actually pretended to play onstage.
10:22 AM: Ad for declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
10:23 AM: That’ll bring you right down from your “Cowboy Casanova” high, won’t it?
10:24 AM: Get a better night’s sleep with Advil PM.
10:24 AM: Macy’s is having a Columbus Day sale.
10:24 AM: When’s Columbus Day?
10:25 AM: Oh! It’s today.
10:25 AM: Wow, I’m out of the loop.
10:25 AM: Now it’s Toby Keith with “Wish I Didn’t Know Now”
10:26 AM: ’90s Toby was pretty cool, before he got all boastful with “How Do You Like Me Now”
10:27 AM: So I guess “Wish I Didn’t Know Now” sort of summarizes my feelings about Toby’s career.
10:28 AM: What’s this song?
10:29 AM: … still not sure.
10:29 AM: “That’s what women love about country livin’”
10:30 AM: Had to Google it. Apparently it’s by Williams Riley.
10:30 AM: Whoever/whatever that is.
10:30 AM: This song does not inspire me to investigate further.
10:31 AM: Well, that was dumb.
10:31 AM: Next up…
10:32 AM: Dierks Bentley with “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes”
10:32 AM: My time is just about up. Dierks Bentley makes me yawn.
10:33 AM: Well, that’s it for me. Now I remember why I usually stick with CDs.
10:33 AM: CMW out.

Live Blogging Country Radio, Part VII

C.M. Wilcox — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:12:26 +0000

10:21 AM: Okay, radio. You’re up.
10:22 AM: Surprise! It’s “Where I’m From” by Jason Michael Carroll.
10:22 AM: Hasn’t this song’s chart run been over for a while now?
10:22 AM: This station really needs to update its playlist.
10:22 AM: And the big brother has cancer! Gets me every time.
10:23 AM: Gosh, this song is just silly.
10:24 AM: Waiting, waiting…
10:25 AM: Commercial time already.
10:25 AM: Upcoming concert will feature Billy Ray Cyrus, Little Big Town, Julianne Hough, One Flew South, Trailer Choir. That’s like five headaches for the price of one. Wouldn’t miss it for the world!
10:26 AM: Mercedes commercial on a country station?
10:27 AM: Did you know that the male seahorse has the babies?
10:27 AM: True. The aquarium commercial said so.
10:28 AM: Safeway has the freshest produce.
10:28 AM: But they still require a membership card for discounts. That’s so 1995.
10:30 AM: They’re enrolling for medical research studies.
10:31 AM: Get rid of that back pain, possibly grow an eleventh toe.
10:31 AM: Tit for tat, you know.
10:31 AM: Is this commercial break extra long? I hope you can feel my boredom, because this is the closest I can get to conveying the country radio listening experience to you.
10:32 AM: Oh, we’re back!
10:32 AM: “Barefoot and Crazy” by Jack Ingram.
10:33 AM: Anyone else see him on Conan?
10:33 AM: He didn’t have his own band. Or his own guitar.
10:33 AM: Pretty bizarre, almost like he hitched a ride there.
10:34 AM: And Jimmy Vivino did the background vocals on the song… a little too loudly.
10:34 AM: Anyhow, not such a fan of this one.
10:35 AM: But I guess he grabbed his piece of the summer anthem pie.
10:36 AM: “Good Time” by Alan Jackson now.
10:36 AM: It’s summer! Only inane songs allowed!
10:37 AM: Halfway into the 30 minutes. Weak so far.
10:38 AM: But I do like the part in the video where the old lady joins the line dance.
10:39 AM: It’s hard to dislike little old women.
10:40 AM: Wow, it’s over. What a relief.
10:40 AM: Now it’s Justin Moore with “Small Town USA.”
10:40 AM: The jury’s still out on this guy. There’s nothing new or creative about his debut album, but he does the whole hicktown shtick better than most.
10:41 AM: I hear the Aldean comparison, but his voice also reminds me of Blake Shelton at times.
10:42 AM: That part in “Small Town USA” where he inserts the station’s call letters is unforgivable.
10:43 AM: Hmm.
10:43 AM: A little Tim and Faith. “It’s Your Love”
10:44 AM: This sounds classic compared to the other stuff they’ve played so far.
10:44 AM: Nice that they throw in an oldie every so often. And by oldie, I mean circa 1997.
10:46 AM: McGraw/Hill duets tend to be pretty decent.
10:46 AM: “I Need You” is the best one, I think.
10:47 AM: “Boy Like Me” by Jessica Harp.
10:48 AM: Such a convoluted beginning. Gets your attention, I guess.
10:48 AM: Song’s okay, but I do have to say that I found the video off-putting. Her image change was too drastic from The Wreckers days, like she’s not being real with us on one side or the other.
10:49 AM: Or she’s too willing to fall in line with what’s expected of a female star.
10:50 AM: There’s the C.M. take on it for you.
10:50 AM: Couple minutes left. Another song or another commercial break?
10:51 AM: Commercial break! But before that, they preview upcoming songs, including “Chicken Fried” and “Wild at Heart.” Okay, time for me to go.
10:52 AM: Cheers.

Live Blogging GAC Music Videos

C.M. Wilcox — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:23:24 +0000

12:29 AM: Hello! I’m writing from the wee hours of Monday morning.
12:30 AM: Backstory: We don’t get GAC, but Dish is giving us a free preview of it through July in an effort to entice us to upgrade from the 100 channel (5 I watch) plan to the 150 channel (6 I watch) plan.
12:30 AM: First video is “Boots On” by Randy Houser, in which they’ve clipped shots of Houser together with shots from that viral video of the little boy playing along in the backseat.
12:32 AM: I get that they wanted Houser to appear in his own video, but this is pretty cheesy. Would have been better to just go with the video of the kid. Which is, for the record, adorable.
12:32 AM: Kenny Chesney “Out Last Night” up next. Just to draw attention to Kenny’s age, let’s surround him with people in their teens and early twenties.
12:33 AM: Maybe he’s the chaperone. But people seem pretty unfazed by his presence.
12:34 AM: Just going about their business while he’s sitting up on his white staircase leading to nowhere.
12:36 AM: It’s interesting how the song’s about “when we went out last night,” but the video treatment has Chesney alone in the crowd, like he’s just tagging along with all these coeds, horning in on their “we.”
12:36 AM: Commercials now.
12:37 AM: Jeffrey Steele is talking about songwriting.
12:37 AM: Same clip from just about every other commercial break.
12:38 AM: U.S. Army commercial.
12:38 AM: This diabetes meter commercial looks like it was shot in 1974.
12:39 AM: Really makes you feel excited about ordering from the company.
12:39 AM: But that one lady does have an extraordinary fuzzy red hat.
12:40 AM: You should buy Xenadrine if you don’t want to be fat anymore.
12:40 AM: Who needs eating better and exercising? Pshaw. Miracle pill, please.
12:41 AM: GAC will make you tired of Nan Kelley and Storme Warren in a hurry. Overexposure.
12:41 AM: “The music network that actually plays music.” That’s a burn, CMT.
12:41 AM: “I Just Call You Mine” by Martina.
12:42 AM: Looks awfully breezy there, Martina.
12:44 AM: Not crazy about the song, but glad she has a love song out.
12:44 AM: It’s at least a slight change from the usual empowerment anthems.
12:45 AM: She did that backstroke thing with her shoulders pretty much the whole time, didn’t she?
12:46 AM: Jimmy Wayne and “I’ll Be That.” So excited.
12:47 AM: Sorry, typo. That should have read “Not excited.”
12:48 AM: I like that the video shows a more energetic side of him.
12:48 AM: They’ve usually gone with the sensitive crooner thing in the past.
12:49 AM: Still, a Jimmy Wayne concert looks to be about as interesting as…
12:49 AM: Something not very interesting.
12:49 AM: And they sweetened up that crowd response in a huge way.
12:50 AM: Sonic, GMC…
12:50 AM: (We’re on commercials now.)
12:51 AM: Conversations from the Road with Keith Urban.
12:51 AM: They show the same interview snippet during every commercial break.
12:52 AM: Also featuring Nan Kelley, of course.
12:52 AM: If they could figure out a way to slip Storme in there too, I’m sure they would.
12:52 AM: Maybe have him in the background somewhere.
12:53 AM: I thought his name was pronounced “Storm,” but he says “Stormy.”
12:53 AM: Stormy Warren, huh? If you say so. Call me Cloudy C.M.
12:54 AM: Back from commercials.
12:54 AM: “Everyday America” by Sugarland. Grocery store video.
12:54 AM: Back when Jennifer still had long hair.
12:54 AM: I really wish they had Kristian stocking shelves instead of riding a cart.
12:55 AM: That would be fantastic.
12:55 AM: I went to the grocery store earlier today and it was nothing like this.
12:56 AM: The employees did not offer to push me around the store on a dolly.
12:56 AM: Also, the produce did not look that fresh.
12:57 AM: Kristian still had the cowboy hat here.
12:57 AM: This was before he opted for the disheveled mime look.
12:58 AM: Huh, I guess that must be the end.
12:58 AM: Now there’s an infomercial for an airbrush make-up system.
12:59 AM: Pretty sure that means it’s time for me to go. Adieu.