CountryChart #1 for Country Music Charts

Plain and simple, Kyle Park can sing. This country boy's new album "Anywhere In Texas" is just as irreverent and powerful as his mischievous Texas grin and confident posture on the album's cover suggest it will be. Indeed, Park's second album "Anywhere In Texas" boldly announces a new Texas music star vying for dominance with the likes of Jason Boland, Randy Rogers and Stoney LaRue. That's good company. Kyle Park is first and foremost a brilliant songwriter, and he has written or co-written all 12 songs on the album. Park's tunes are universally melodic with bold, yet personal lyrics. Hard working men and country women can easily identify with his songs. For instance, "Cold In Colorado" shows Kyle Park in top form, and the chorus has a killer hook. Kyle Park's current Texas Music Chart hit single, "Don't Look," is a memorable song that deserves all of the accolades it has received. But the best song on the album...

The Amarillo, Texas boys that make up the Tommy Gallagher Band are an easy-going group of guys who have managed to create an album that honors the tradition of Tommy's legendary grandfather (honky-tonk hero Tommy Allen) while still pushing the envelope of contemporary Texas country music. This is no easy feat. And that's why the Tommy Gallagher Band will probably soon join the ranks of the top Texas country acts, such as the Randy Rogers Band, Stoney LaRue and Wade Bowen. The album, expertly produced by Mike McClure, starts strong with the title track "Always Something." And the Tommy Gallagher Band - or TGB as they are affectionately known by longtime fans - have crafted a unique sound on the title track that will make them instantly recognizable to country radio audiences. The song "Always Something" is the band's first single and is already a big hit on the Texas Music Chart. The track "Smile" is another laid-back, Texas country-style so...

The four members of The Cody Gill Band hit the bullseye with "King Of Your Hometown," the upbeat and confident sophomore release from one of the most talked about new bands on the red dirt music scene. And these small town, country boys from Stephenville, Texas deliver eleven terrific songs that are genuine, real-life narratives put to music. In 2007, The Cody Gill Band had a pretty good year. The band released its debut, full-length album, "Boxcars." Similarly, the single "Can't Let Her Go" was a fixture on the Texas charts and announced the band as a major force in Texas music. Formed in 2004, The Cody Gill Band started out playing at their local bar in Stephenville. Since then, they've criss-crossed America, and all of the band's hard work is more than evident on their stellar new album, "King Of Your Hometown." Nine of the eleven songs on "King Of Your Hometown" were written by band members. The Cody Gill Band...

The debut album "Rich Man's Gold" by Texas native Bo Cox is a confident blend of Texas country, blues and Americana. Surprisingly, this bold album introduces a young singer and guitarist who has the skills of a veteran country act in his prime. In short, Bo Cox's "Rich Man's Gold" is a winner. Bo Cox's musical skills come naturally, because this country boy grew up in a family-owned, homegrown Opry House. While family connections can open a few doors in the music industry, it's a musician's talent and work ethic that produces a sustainable country career. So Bo Cox constantly honed his guitar and vocal skills as a young man. He sang and brought his guitar everywhere he found a microphone and even places without one, like living rooms and holiday social gatherings. The tenacity of Bo Cox paid off in a big way, and his hard work shows in each of the 11, self-penned tracks on "Rich Man's Gold." Produced by the legendary Mike M...

Fans of New Braunfels, Texas band Zack Walther And The Cronkites are fired up, and they have every reason to be. ZWC's new album "Ambition" fully lives up to its lofty title. This is one Texas country band whose star is on the rise. "Ambition" puts all the top Texas music band's on notice: Step up your game or move over for Zack Walther And The Cronkites. ZWC's current single "Georgia Cane" is a Texas music triumph that slowly builds momentum leading into the powerful chorus. "Georgia Cane" boasts memorable lyrics and a confident vocal performance by Zack Walther. It is followed by the equally pleasing "Tumbleweed" which blends traditional country melodies with Texas music themes. Zack Walther And The Cronkites are unique in the Texas music marketplace. The band is essentially a combination of Red Dirt and southern rock. This is a winning formula for success in both the Texas country and mainstream country markets. Ind...

Over the last 10 years, Roger Creager has established himself as one of the top acts in Texas country music by consistently providing talked-about live shows, popular radio chart hits and some great albums. With "Here It Is," Roger Creager has reached a career milestone with an album that is his best yet. Roger Creager is known for his full, rich country voice that will warm the coldest of hearts. Creager's vocal talent is brilliantly displayed on the melancholy ballad "I Loved You When." This is followed by the excellent "Tangle Me In You" with a memorable and melodic chorus along with superb instrumentation. Crowds love Roger Creager's live shows because they're a lot of fun. The #1 Texas radio hit "I'm From The Beer Joint" showcases Roger Creager's playful side most convincingly . This huge hit has helped draw new fans to Creager who later discover a more thoughtful side of his personality with songs like "A Good...

Take a little Bonnie Raitt, throw in a heaping handful of Janis Joplin along with a dash of Wynonna Judd and you've got Carolyn Wonderland, the amazingly talented Austin, Texas-based singer who has created a country, rock, soul and blues masterpiece with "Miss Understood." Carolyn Wonderland is a musical genius. The powerful intensity of her vocal performance is without equal in the music business today, and her confident proficiency on the guitar is a revelation of musical bliss. To top it all off, Carolyn Wonderland has another unique talent - she can whistle with perfect pitch. Yes, Carolyn Wonderland aims to use every ounce of the musical talent God bestowed on her. The best song on "Miss Understood" is the passionate country ballad "Bad Girl Blues." It is here that Wonderland allows listeners to glimpse the deep feelings from her soul. Her vocal performance is flawless, and this song deserves to be a major country music chart hit. Moreover, ...

Trent Willmon is an optimistic, country storyteller who has created one heck of an album with the terrific "Broken In." For his third studio album, Trent Willmon focuses our attention more closely on his excellent songwriting talent and spot-on country vocal skill. In short, this country boy has chops. Trent Willmon wrote the Montgomery Gentry hit "Back When I Knew It All." And on "Broken In," Willmon records some of his own songs that offer glimpses of his past and remind listeners to embrace their country heritage. Indeed, Willmon is at his best when performing his own music. Two of the finest songs on the album are "Dry County" and the unforgettable "The Good Ol' Days Are Gone" (where he is joined by Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager). But it is the stirring anthem "How A Cowboy Lives" that illustrates Trent Willmon's vocal talent the most. The rousing, rockin' "Little Set Of Horns," which is Willmo...

Brandon Jenkins is already a well-known singer and accomplished guitarist with 8 albums under his belt. But "Faster Than A Stone" is the artist's finest album to date. That's saying a lot since Jenkins has also produced creative gems like "Unmended," "VII" and "Down in Flames." Brandon Jenkins is not an artist that can easily be pigeonholed. For instance, this album offers great blues with "Big Mama's Kitchen," southern rock with "Faster Than A Stone" and red dirt with "Just Like California." And that's just the first third of the album. The musical talent on display in the album "Faster Than A Stone" is amazing. Jenkins songs and vocals are perfectly complemented by the artist's mastery of the guitar. Likewise, the other musicians on the record, including backgrounds by Stoney Larue on four songs, are also top-notch. One of the best songs on the album is the final track "Got ...

The boys in the Charlie Shafter Band don't take themselves too seriously. But when it comes to their music, these guys are awful hard workers. All the proof you need is in their album "17 th And Chicago" and their new single "Not My Girl" which mixes Texas country with a little Goo Goo Dolls/ Lifehouse style. This combination is infectious - in a good way. "Not My Girl" is a contemporary country song that fits well on radio and showcases the band's laid back style. The music is upbeat and the lyrics are reflective without trying to be too deep. In short, it's a perfect, catchy country radio tune. Since Charlie Shafter and drummer Joel Dreistadt hail from Illinois, the band doesn't classify itself as Texas country. The Charlie Shafter Band's music crosses genres and can be appreciated by fans of both Bob Dylan and Ricky Skaggs . Indeed, the first single "Big City Baby" has a great Marc Cohn -goes-country vibe that ma...

Red Dirt fans have an extra reason to celebrate with the single release of Mark McKinney's Texas Music anthem " Stompin ' Ground." This track just hit the Top 5 and is from Mark McKinney's widely acclaimed debut album "Get It On." McKinney had already charted an impressive 3 singles on the Texas Music Chart. And, now, he's taking a victory lap with his fourth hit, which is a rowdy, meat and potatoes country masterpiece. As usual with Mark McKinney, " Stompin ' Ground" is a well-written song with a memorable hook. But this track is special. The lyrics and hard-driving beat take the listener back in time and allow us to relive the best moments of our past. He sings: "This is where I discovered love...where I was young and crazy. This is where I became a man. I faced those demons and I took my stand...This is where it all went down. This is my old stompin g ground." The single is authentic and wears well with repeated liste...

Very few artist's have the stamina and simple country charm of Texas country star and Carthage, Texas native Brandon Rhyder. Now, fans have a special 4-disc "Live At Billy Bob's Texas" set (2 CDs & 2 DVDs) that sizzles with excitement and smolders with Red Dirt intensity. The 24 songs on the 2 CDs clock in at a beefy time of almost two hours. The festivities begin with the terrific "You Burn Me" which is followed by "It's What I Do" which slowly builds to a rousing crescendo. It also must be noted that Brandon Rhyder's true country talent is startling as he belts out song after song with solid vocal performances. Indeed, Rhyder has the kind of pure country voice that could draw in outsiders to the Texas country fold. That's no easy feat. Brandon Rhyder wanted to give his fans everything he could on this 4-disc set, and he even includes eight never-recorded songs, which is almost unheard of on a live album. The current single ...

Changing musical directions can sometimes lead to a burst of creative energy. This holds true for Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward in their new album - the stripped down "Live In The Living Room." Parker's fame comes largely from his stellar reputation in Texas country/Red Dirt music, but this acoustic set proves that the band could draw just as many fans from Americana and roots music. Creating an atmospheric live album that does justice to a songwriter's music and a band's long hours of practice is no easy feat, but Rodney Parker makes it look easy on the first cut "Firelight." Likewise, the easy-going "Highway Blues" is perfectly performed. So fire up the subwoofer, close your eyes and pretend that you're in the living room with Parker, 50 Peso Reward and about two dozen friends in Corinth, Texas where the album was recorded. The project really comes into its own with the track "Guitars," which slowly builds to a memora...

Texas country aficionados rejoice, because the world's best Red Dirt band is bringing fans "Good Luck & True Love" with a new album. Reckless Kelly carefully planned every detail on the project, including one of the best CD packages of any country album this year. Great cover art is important, but it's the music that matters most to Reckless Kelly, and the album begins with the mid-tempo, Red Dirt anthem "Give It A Try." However, the cut "Save Me From Myself" really kickstarts the album, and the song with the melodic chorus is certain to be another #1 hit for Reckless Kelly. "Guarded Heart" is a classic country love song and features angst-ridden vocals and superb instrumentation. Indeed, it proves to be the perfect intro for the album's biggest surprise, the hard-rockin' "She Likes Money, He Likes Love," which will please concertgoers and radio program managers looking for an upbeat country hit. The traditi...

The evolution of the music industry over the last few decades has caused a blurred vision of country music that now seems to include music that used to be classified as 'pop.' However, there is no mistaking the hard-edged sound of The New Black 7 on their superb new 5-song CD titled "The Old Becomes New." The album begins with an anthemic tribute to small town life in "Small Town Song," and the cut offers a winning country rock track with a memorable chorus. The next cut "Kick The Tires" is a cool retro-tribute that seems reminiscent of a mixture of the melodic vocal blend of Alabama and and the fire and passion of Waylon Jennings. Love is in the air on the next track "That Ain't Love," which is the album's best cut by a mile. This Red Dirt-inspired song offers laid-back vocals and a confident vocal delivery. The New Black 7 (or NB7 as fans affectionately call them) should consider releasing this track to radio. It could be ...

The music business is tough, and any artist or group that manages to write, record, market and tour with eight albums has to be taken seriously. With "Eight The Hard Way," the Texas country supergroup Eleven Hundred Sprngs acknowledges this musical milestone with all the heart and soul that makes number eight - well, great. "This Ain't The First Time" starts the album off on a winning note with a strong melody and interesting lyrics. However, it is the upbeat love song "Heartstrings" that really gets the band's eighth album off to a powerful start. The most surprising track on the album is the slightly mysterious cut "Stuff You Can't Refuse," but the best song on the set is the passionate "Nobody Loves You Like Me," which deserves careful attention from radio program directors in multiple genres. "Hardcore Honytonk" will also please both fans and radio DJs across the country, and this track promises to be a...

If Red Dirt music had a "Storyteller-in-Chief" the most obvious candidate would be rule-breaking singer-songwriter Jackson Taylor, who along with his friends The Sinners are happy to "Let The Bad Times Roll" on their new album of the same name. However, listeners will soon discover that there are actually many good times to be had on this hard rockin' album which comes complete with a parental advisory sticker that is somewhat of a rarity in the Texas music genre. The ten songs on "Let The Bad Times Roll" start off with the uncompromising track "Old Henry Rifle," which highlights the frustrations of hard working country men and women across the country who are directly affected by the economic downturn and distrust bankers and politicians. The next track "No Show" offers an updated take on traditional country for which Jackson Taylor is well-renowned. No doubt Jackson Taylor & The Sinners have experience with women who lik...

Creating a unique sound is easier said than done, but Texas country band Emory Quinn has managed to make it look simple. In fact, Emory Quinn's inventive amalgamation of blues, southern rock, Texas country and Americana is perfectly showcased on the band's new album "See You At The Next Light." EQ's remarkable third studio album begins with "Hand In Hand," which offers a laid-back vibe along with an anthemic chorus. Indeed, the band's growth is illustrated in its melodic improvement over the band's 2008 effort titled "The Road Company" and 2006's "Letting Go." However, the album truly comes into its own with the rapturous guitar work on the cut "Moving On," which also features charming lyrics and a pitch-perfect vocal performance. "Heart In Your Mind" shows the softer side of Emory Quinn (EQ), but it is the "country-licious" cut titled "Finds Danger" which is the album's bi...

Old Californio is a band that defies generic musical labels. Indeed, with "Sundrunk Angels" the Pasadena, California band has meticulously crafted a melodic and hard driving album with spiffed-up lyrics and dazzling art-pop beats that will be surprisingly appealing to Americana, folk and country music audiences while also finding fans in other genres as well. For about six years, the kaleidoscopic band of old friends has been making music in various forms, and the 10 song "Sundrunk Angels" was mastered and mixed by praised engineer Alfonso Rodenas and recorded live as a five piece band at a home studio. The album begins with the easy-going "Learn To Cheat," which features bouncy lyrics and stellar production. The next track "A Cool Place In The Light" will delight fans of roots and Americana music. Country fans will also find much to love about the melodic "Better Yet." "Dark Fire" begins with a cool New Orleans vibe ...

As the saying goes... if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Red Dirt music's best brain-for-hire Hunter McKithan and his friends The Offenders have chosen to do just that with their pulsating new album "Not Broken Yet." The album begins with the title track "Not Broken Yet" that mixes Texas country with subtle rock elements reminiscent of Maroon 5 that surprisingly work. It is followed by the bluesy "Haight Street Blues" which offers a pitch-perfect vocal performance and tight lyrics. The deliciously slinky "Dirty Little War" is a radio-ready country gem that deserves to be released as a single to country radio. The slow-burning "Wasted Day" is a satisfying musical treat that will please concertgoers, but it is the hard rockin' "Elevator" that surprises the most. Hunter McKithan & The Offenders have emerged as a musical force on the Red Dirt scene, and this cut conclusively proves it to any doubters. The...