CountryChart #1 for Country Music Charts

Special Consensus marks the band's thirty-fifth year in bluegrass music with the stellar new recording " 35 ." And Special C (as the band is affectionately known) have produced twelve remarkable tracks that should enhance the band's already sterling musical reputation. Founded in 1975, Special Consensus is a bluegrass music institution with a long list of talented members and former members. "35" prominently features band founder Greg Cahill (banjo and vocals), and the album begins with six new songs and ends with six classic favorites. "Dusk 'Til Dawn" starts the album off with a bang, and the harmonization is pitch-perfect. The project really comes into its own with the sincere "Used To These Old Blues" the instrumental "Danny's Dance" and the acappella/gospel-flavored "Land Up In The Air." However, the best country song on the album (and the best chance for a mainstream country chart hit) is the terri...

Until now, there was little argument that the masterpiece of Chris Knight's five-album career was his debut self-titled offering "Chris Knight." Although his first album probably still comes out on top due to its piercing lyrics and haunting melodies, any Chris Knight fan or reviewer could make a compelling case that "Heart of Stone" is the best record of his career. As a songwriter, Chris Knight is truly without many equals in country music, but he is still one of the country's best kept secrets. While Knight is from Kentucky, he is a star on the vibrant Texas music scene. But most mainstream country fans probably know him more for his songwriting with songs like "It Ain't Easy Being Me." Even though he was once almost always compared with Steve Earle, Chris Knight has moved past these comparisons and crafted a true work of art that he painstakingly and passionately presents in "Heart of Stone." Although Knight's first alb...

Charlie Haden is known as one of the greatest jazz bassists in music, but he returns to the folk and bluegrass music of his childhood in his new Americana gem which is aptly titled "Rambling Boy." This album shines a bright light on Haden's musical heritage and is reminiscent of the sound and feel of the "O Brother Where Art Thou" projects. Like the aforementioned albums, "Rambling Boy" also brings to the forefront his illustrious set of friends, including Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs , Elvis Costello, Pat Metheny and Bruce Hornsby along with members of his prominent family such as The Decemberists ' Petra Haden and Tanya Hade and her husband, actor Jack Black. The album starts out strong with an irresistibly toe-tapping cut titled "Single Girl, Married Girl" and ends with one of the best versions of "Oh Shenandoah " ever recorded. Of course, with Haden's vast access to the world's best musical talent, the producti...

We were pleasantly surprised to find a copy of Jamie Richards' fine 2007 release "Drive" waiting for us in the office mail last week. So, of course, we listened to the D Records release most of the day and were thrilled to hear that the third single from the album, "Back To Bein' Me," has been released to radio. This comes on the heels of Jamie's success with his title track,"Drive," which vaulted to Number One on the Texas Music Chart and the Texas Regional Radio Report earlier this year. As many of you know, Jamie Richards is an Oklahoma boy who grew up working on a dairy farm. We can't think of any finer upbringing for a future Texas country star who eventually found his way to Curb Records as a staff writer. Like the title from one of Jamie's songs, his life was a "Country Song Waiting To Happen." Jamie Richards is a traditional country artist who confidently sings the lyrics he writes while rejecting pop-influenced c...

Singer-songwriter Matthew Ballard offers up a heaping pile of honky- tonk magic in his sterling sophomore release - "Midnight Drive." The album is a polished mixture of the best Americana and Alt-Country. Plus, "Midnight Drive" is one self-produced album that could be mistaken for a major label release. Ballard wrote all 11 songs on the album. The project starts out strong with the song "Run Away With Me" that should be getting major spins on Texas radio. But the best track on the album is titled "Chains." Any Chris Knight fan will immediately warm to this outstanding cut which blends a real-life story with a great melody and good vocals. The album itself is laid back and almost never over-reaches. But the real key to Ballard's success on "Midnight Drive" is that almost every cut has a memorable hook. For instance "Clear Blue Skies" would be instantly welcomed by any fan of the Randy Rogers Band or Wade Bowen. ...

Old Crow Medicine Show have relentlessly toured and made their name as a hardworking folk and old time-style country band with musicians who were influenced by the MTV generation. While "Tennessee Pusher" is a very good album, Old Crow Medicine Show's grueling tour schedule probably kept this album from actually being great. Although it didn't reach a level of greatness, the news is not all bad - quite the contrary. Famed producer Don Was (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) ensures that OCMS shines brightly, and the performances rendered are often reminiscent of the band's very famous and rollicking live shows. However, the tight production may have taken away some of the spontaneity of the band's previous albums. Nevertheless, "Tennessee Pusher" is a very good album indeed, and the band's influences of 1980s and 1990s radio is readily evident - and even surprising at times. Old Crow Medicine Show is not your dad's folk or country band. Songs ...

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...