It’s a surprisingly grassroots fan-building strategy for an act signed to a major label like Warner Bros. Nashville. After all, it wasn’t but a few years ago that Sony was devising elaborate copy-protection schemes (rootkits and all) to prevent honestly-purchased from being shared beyond its intended listener. Or, in many cases, from being heard by its rightful owner: the copy-protected CDs would crash some computers and refuse to play in some CD players.

So, for Warner to be giving away tens of thousands of CDs, in this era of extreme cost-cutting and attention to the bottom line, says a lot about their faith in the band’s music. Which, as it happens, is actually a pretty excellent assimilation of Haggard and Springsteen influences, all presented with outlaw swagger and radio-friendly polish. If people hear this stuff, they’ll probably like it. The label is betting on that hunch.

(It bears pointing out that the “Give Blood” strategy would be untenable for most young indie touring acts, who rely more heavily on merchandise sales to keep the whole enterprise afloat. But you do see many independent artists and labels giving away free song downloads, which have less overhead.)

Check out the video below and weigh in with your thoughts on giving away music as a promotional strategy. Have you discovered any favorite acts, been inspired to attend any concerts, or made any purchases based on free song downloads or CD giveaways?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of This Is My Blood for his or her own collection.

For more on The Dirt Drifters, visit their website.

First, favorite albums so far. What new releases have you been enjoying the most? If you had to recommend one recent release to a friend, what would it be?

While these things are always wildly in flux with me, I’ve managed to throw together an unranked Top 10 that looks pretty good at the moment. Ask again tomorrow and I might make a couple minor swaps, but the bulk of the list would probably stay intact.

• Alison Krauss & Union Station – Paper Airplane
• Charlie Sizemore – Heartache Looking for a Home
• Chris Thile and Michael Daves – Sleep With One Eye Open
• Gene Watson & Rhonda Vincent – Your Money and My Good Looks
• Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)
• Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Here We Rest
• Justin Haigh – People Like Me
• Matraca Berg – The Dreaming Fields
• Randy Travis – Anniversary Celebration
• Various Artists – I’ll Take Love (From the Pen of Louisa Branscomb)

There, that wasn’t too bad. Let me know what I’m missing.

Now, for the rest of the year. Here’s a reasonably thorough roundup of the coming weeks and months:

July 19
Suzy Bogguss – American Folk Songbook (Cracker Barrel exclusive)
Ricky Skaggs – Country Hits Bluegrass Style
Dirt Drifters – This Is My Blood
Angela Easterling – Beguiler

July 26
Jason Michael Carroll – Numbers (Cracker Barrel exclusive)
Eric Church – Chief
Terri Clark – Roots and Wings
Randy Montana – Randy Montana
Ronnie Milsap – Country Again

August 2
Trace Adkins – Proud to Be Here
Deep Dark Woods – The Place I Left Behind

August 9
Luke Bryan – Tailgates & Tanlines
David Serby – Poor Man’s Poem
Riders in the Sky – Land Beyond the Sun
Kevin Fowler – Chippin’ Away

August 16
Jeff Bridges – Jeff Bridges
Wagons – Rumble, Shake & Tumble
Various Artists – O Brother, Where Art Thou? Deluxe Edition
Guy Clark – Songs and Stories
Eli Young Band – Life at Best

August 23
Connie Smith – Long Line of Heartaches
Pistol Annies – Hell on Heels
Sunny Sweeney – Concrete

August 30
Robert Earl Keen – Ready for Confetti
Jake Owen – Barefoot Blue Jean Night
Girls, Guns and Glory – Sweet Nothings
Glen Campbell – Ghost on the Canvas
Various Artists – Reggae’s Gone Country

September 6
Slaid Cleaves – Sorrow and Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge
George Strait – Here for a Good Time
Hank Williams III – Ghost to a Ghost/Guttertown

September 13
Lady Antebellum – Own the Night

September 27
Sarah Siskind – Novel
Various Artists – Note of Hope: A Celebration of Woody Guthrie

November 1
Various Artists – This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark
Miranda Lambert – Four the Record

Glen Campbell, George Strait, Sunny Sweeney, Connie Smith, Guy Clark, Jeff Bridges, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Ronnie Milsap, Terri Clark… that’s a lot of music. If you twisted my arm, I’d probably have to go with Pistol Annies and the Guy Clark tribute as my two most anticipated releases. Then I’d probably ask you to untwist my arm.

What are you most looking forward to?

Frightening, summer-themed Kenny Chesney screengrab.

Here at Country California headquarters, we’re welcoming summer in the customary manner: by catching some rays and firing up the grill hiding indoors from the 100-plus degree heat, praying the air conditioner doesn’t quit. It’ll be safe to step outside again sometime in September.

Until then, we have lots and lots of good music to keep us occupied. Ancient iTunes folklore suggests that the first 20 randomly-selected songs of the season set the tone for the months ahead. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but you should probably set your media player to ‘shuffle’ and record the results below just in case. Who knows what you might find out?

With several thousand songs in circulation, here’s my own summer forecast.

1. Young and Wild – Eric Church
2. Grandma’s Hands – Sarah Jarosz
3. Don’t Let Her Get Away – Vince Gill
4. Reckless – Aaron Watson
5. Love Me, Love Me – Dean Martin
6. Whiskey Tears – Dierks Bentley
7. Long Shot – Annie Keating
8. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) – Asleep at the Wheel
9. Begging to You – Marty Robbins
10. My Generation, Pt. 2 – Todd Snider
11. Singer of Sad Songs – Vern Gosdin
12. Tears Only Run One Way – Robbie Fulks
13. Love, Love, Love – Dean Martin
14. T. Total Tommy – Mickey Newbury
15. Down in Lousianne – Joey Allcorn
16. Little Darlin’ – Buddy and Julie Miller
17. Grand Parade – Hayes Carll
18. Wishing Well Blues – Jeannie Kendall
19. Love Song – Miranda Lambert
20. Heaven in My Woman’s Eyes – Tracy Byrd

Your turn.

I know the bit about “Do you paint your toes because you bite your nails?” in “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” is such a line for many people, seeming to suggest that the object of the singer’s affection is some sort of freakish toenail-chewing contortionist. The image of her gnawing on her toenails jars you right out of the sultry ambience created by the rest of the song.

At least in “Who Are You…” the offending line is only sung once. That’s not the case with Travis Tritt’s 2002 album cut “Time to Get Crazy,” which makes sport of repeating “as bad as I hate to it’s time to get crazy” as many times as possible in the span of three minutes. The song would be about ten times better if it said “as much as I hate to” instead. As is, I find it virtually unlistenable. (In fact, I hate this one so much that I classified it as a thing that threatened my sanity in 2008… and 28 months later, here I still am.)

I’ve always been a little bothered by “Gettin’ her into the world she’s been hungryin’ for” in Kris Kristofferson and Shel Silverstein’s “The Taker” as well, particularly since “hungerin’” would have fit just as well and been a lot less distracting. In this case, they were probably attempting some wordplay; I just don’t think it was clever or necessary. As much as I like Kris and Shel (and Waylon), I’d rather have the real word.

I see that two of my examples involve grammar, but I’m never bothered by “ain’t,” which, besides offering an extra dash of working-class authenticity, seems a more forceful sort of denial than “isn’t.” With its single syllable, it’s also an easier metrical fit. I just can’t condone “as bad as I hate to” and “hungryin’ for” when the grammatically preferable alternatives would work equally well.

And I really wish the writers of “Who Are You…” had found some other rhyme for “fails.” Because I don’t want to see, or think about seeing, anyone biting their toenails. Not now, not ever.

Are there any otherwise good songs with single lines or word choices that bug you?

1. Ronnie Dunn’s other embarrassing tattoo:
2. Worst song currently on the charts:
3. Suggested song title for Justin Moore:
4. Songwriter you’d most like to see get a bunch of mainstream cuts:
5. Real reason for Carrie Underwood’s ACM Entertainer snub:
6. Single biggest problem with country music in 2011:
7. Sugarland’s next album:
8. Next legend to chart via duet with a current star:
9. Least favorite country-ish subgenre:
10. Where most of your music listening happens:
11. Thought that commonly goes through Billy Ray Cyrus’ mind:
12. Poor choice to play Garth Brooks in biopic:
13. Flash forward! Rodney Atkins in 2020:
14. Something the JaneDear Girls wouldn’t say:
15. Surprising (made-up) fact about Jamey Johnson:
16. Words of wisdom for Gretchen Wilson:
17. Best album you’ve heard this year:
18. On a scale of 1 to 10, your interest level in Brad Paisley’s next album:
19. Favorite Buck Owens song:
20. Someone whose taste in music usually matches your own:
21. If Hazel Smith and Alison Bonaguro boxed, who would win:
22. Disney/Pixar character resembled by country star:

BONUS: Suggest a good prompt for next time:

Remember, embarrassing surprises give your list character, so leave ‘em in. We promise not to laugh… too much.

1. This Train – Randy Travis
2. Guess Things Happen That Way – Johnny Cash
3. Comanche (The Brave Horse) – Johnny Horton
4. Fallin’ for You – Dierks Bentley
5. When It’s Springtime in Alaska (It’s Forty Below) – Johnny Horton
6. Working Without a Net – Waylon Jennings
7. Buy Myself a Chance – Randy Rogers Band
8. Leavin’ a Lonely Town – Easton Corbin
9. Indian Outlaw – Tim McGraw
10. Harlem River Blues Reprise – Justin Townes Earle
11. When I Get Through With You (You’ll Love Me Too) – Patsy Cline
12. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
13. On a Day Like This – Steve Gulley & Tim Stafford
14. Long Hard Lesson Learned – John Anderson
15. The Guilt Was Gone – Shawn Camp
16. It Came from San Antonio – Bruce Robison
17. Promises – Randy Travis
18. Good News Blues – Billy Joe Shaver
19. Mess Around – Ray Charles
20. New Strings – Miranda Lambert

Whew, I came out pretty clean this time. Hope you have similar luck.

1. Anywhere But Here – Sammy Kershaw
2. Red Letter Day – Bruce Robison
3. Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down – Willie Nelson
4. Runaway Ramp – Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
5. Out of My Mind – Vince Gill w/ Patty Loveless
6. Yesterday’s Wine – Joe Nichols w/ George Jones
7. Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey – Gary Allan
8. My Heart Is Lost to You – Brooks & Dunn
9. Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time – Vern Gosdin
10. Nightswimming/Joey – Sugarland
11. Wanted Man – Johnny Cash
12. For Cryin’ Out Loud – David Serby
13. Yuma – Justin Townes Earle
14. Grandpa Was a Carpenter – John Prine
15. What I Need to Do – Kenny Chesney
16. I’m Gonna Break Some Promises Tonight – Dallas Wayne
17. Family Tradition – Hank Williams Jr.
18. Alibis – Tracy Lawrence
19. Once a Day – Connie Smith
20. One Woman Man – George Jones w/ Marty Stuart

1. Come Sundown – Bobby Bare
2. One Microphone – Angela Easterling
3. Pancho and Lefty – Tommy Alverson
4. Blue Water – Josh Williams
5. Patches – George Jones and B.B. King
6. Little Bitty – Alan Jackson
7. Plenty Good Lovin’ – Charley Pride
8. Tennessee Tea – Joe Diffie
9. You Can Still Wear White – Matt Kennon
10. Lonesome Yodel Blues – Delmore Brothers
11. It Gets Late So Early – Lefty Frizzell
12. Blue Clear Sky – George Strait
13. Confessin’ My Love – Mark Chesnutt
14. Already Spent – Jeff Bates
15. Ballad of the Devil’s Backbone Tavern – Todd Snider
16. We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds – Vern Gosdin
17. The Angels Rejoiced – Dolly Parton and Sonya Isaacs
18. Trains Make Me Lonesome – George Strait
19. All Shook Up – Elvis Presley
20. Off the Record – Aaron Watson

If you’re so inclined, give it a try for yourself and share the results below. Most doctors agree that filling your ears with good music now will minimize the post-schlock hangover come Monday morning.

1. Mark Chesnutt – Halfway Back to Birmingham
2. Adam Carroll and Michael O’Connor – Tired of Myself
3. Bruce Robison – Go to Your Heart
4. Moot Davis – One of a Kind
5. The Maddox Brothers and Rose – Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down
6. Jeff Carson – Scars and All
7. Randy Travis – Send My Body
8. Townes Van Zandt – Talking Thunderbird Blues
9. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Jimmy Martin
10. Steve Young – Shopping for Dresses
11. Jerry Seinfeld – Chinese People
12. George Strait – One Night at a Time
13. Miss Leslie & Her Juke-Jointers – Love Will Find You
14. George Jones – It’s All In My Mind
15. Kris Kristofferson – Johnny Lobo
16. Tim McGraw – She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart
17. Montgomery Gentry – Break My Heart Again
18. Patty Loveless – (We Are All) Children of Abraham
19. Gary Allan – Don’t Leave Her Lonely Too Long
20. Alan Jackson – If You Want to Make Me Happy

That’s the question Mark Chesnutt had to consider in choosing songs for Outlaw, his upcoming cover album. Given that Chesnutt is about as fine a vocalist as anyone could rightly desire, and his Waylon-inspired 2004 album Savin’ the Honk Tonk was an absolute knockout, I’m pretty excited to hear the new project. The appropriately ’70s-centric track listing was recently posted to the singer’s Facebook page, and is reposted below.

What do you think of the song choices? If Chesnutt were to record a second installment, what other outlaw classics would you hope to see included?

1. Black Rose (Billy Joe Shaver)
Recorded by: Billy Joe Shaver, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Doug Kershaw

2. Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (Hank Williams Jr.)
Recorded by: Hank Williams Jr.

3. Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line (Ivy J. Bryant Jr.)
Recorded by: Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Roger Miller

4. A Couple More Years (with Amber Digby) (Dennis Locorriere, Shel Silverstein)
Recorded by: Waylon Jennings, Dr. Hook

5. Need A Little Time Off For Bad Behavior (David Allan Coe, Bobby Keel, Larry Latimer)
Recorded by: David Allan Coe

6. Sunday Morning Coming Down (Kris Kristofferson)
Recorded by: Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Ray Stevens, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

7. Are You Ready For The Country (Neil Young)
Recorded by: Neil Young, Waylon Jennings

8. Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) (Kris Kristofferson)
Recorded by: Kris Kristofferson, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, Tompall Glaser, Willie Nelson

9. Country State Of Mind (Roger Alan Wade, Hank Williams Jr.)
Recorded by: Hank Williams Jr.

10. Freedom To Stay (Bill Hoover)
Recorded by: Waylon Jennings

11. Bloody Mary Morning (Willie Nelson)
Recorded by: Willie Nelson

12. Desperados Waiting For A Train (Guy Clark)
Recorded by: Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Highwaymen, Willie Nelson, David Allan Coe, Waylon Jennings