How Bad Do You Want It?

This video doesn't have anything to do with country music, but it is a great motivational video that I came across that I wanted to share with all of yall.  It really makes you think and is definitely worth 6minutes of your time.  For me, this is exactly how I feel about music...

THROWBACK-- Trace Adkins "I Can't Outrun You"

This is one of my all time favorite country songs and it was more than time to make sure everyone else has heard it too.  Full disclosure warning: this song is my number one procrastination tool and has resulted multiple times in me not being able to take it off repeat.  If you have something important to do I recommend waiting til later to play it because the emotional rawness of this song completely takes you over.  Trace Adkins sings this song with such honesty, in a broken down, hopelessly tired voice that seems to have given up trying to move on.   The chorus is incredibly powerful, and the final words of the song are haunting when we realize that through all this regret he was the one that choose to walk away but later realized he never really could.

Spotify link:Trace Adkins – I Can't Outrun You

Ninety-five down the interstate

Mile high on a jet plane

Desert road or a downtown train

It's all the same

I can't outrun you

Now I can move to another town

And nobody to ask where you are now

LA or Mexico

No matter where I go

I can't outrun you

You're in my heart

You're in my mind

Everywhere ahead

Everywhere behind

Every turn I take

You're right around the bend

It's like your ghost is chasing me

When I'm awake

When I'm asleep

There's a part of you in every part of me

And I can't outrun you

I can't outrun you

Now I've had chances with a girl or two

But all I ever saw was you

Holdin' my hand

Kissin' my face

I guess some pictures never fade

You're in my heart

You're in my mind

Everywhere ahead

Everywhere behind

Every turn I take

You're right around the bend

It's like your ghost is chasing me

When I'm awake

When I'm asleep

There's a part of you

In every part of me

I can't outrun you. No.

I can't outrun you. No.

I can't outrun

Thought there might just come a time

Wouldn't regret tellin' you goodbye

But lookin' back

Should'a realized

I can't outrun you

I can't outrun you

I can't outrun you 

Country's Newest Star-- Hunter Hayes

20-year-old Hunter Hayes is country music’s latest up and coming star, and is all the talk in Nashville at the moment.  The promotional effort for this kid is insane; you can’t walk down music row without passing at least a few benches with his name plastered on them.  He looks like a country version of Jesse McCartney and sounds identical to Rascal Flatts’ head singer, Gary LeVox.  At first, this was a huge turn off to me because it just sounded like a young kid trying to impersonate one of their favorite artist—I did not recognize it was not LeVox singing until I was asked ‘What do you think of Hunter?’  I’m still not particularly keen on his voice, but he does show a lot of talent and promise.  Initially I was shocked that he was signed to Atlantic Records because he sounded so much like another popular artist and you only need one—radio hosts had said they would not play Scotty McCreary because they didn’t need a Josh Turner imitator.  Then I learned how personally invested he was in his self-titled debut album.  Hayes plays every instrument on the album, played a part in the writing of every song, and co-produced it with Dann Huff.  That’s impressive.  You know he is doing something right if his label trust him with that much on the album.  I have never heard of an artist getting that much creative control (writing all the songs) on an album.  Not even Taylor Swift got to write most of the songs on her debut album.  Hayes is no stranger to the industry though.  At age 4—yes age 4—he was sharing the stage with country legend Hank Williams Jr, playing the accordion and singing ‘Jambalaya.’  Check out this adorable video…

He also co-wrote Rascal Flatts’, “Play” in 2010, which made me a little more forgiving on the fact that he is so similar to Rascal Flatts.  His first single from his album, “Storm Warning” was a fun upbeat song, and his debut album released October 11.  Still haven’t made up my mind on if I like him or not, only time will tell.  He is growing on me though.  Have a listen to these two songs from the album and y’all decide for yourselves!

Hunter Hayes – Wanted

Hunter Hayes – Rainy Season (my personal favorite from the album)

Josh Gracin-- Redemption

Josh Gracin’s newest album, Redemption, hit the charts a few days ago on November 8^th, and I am really enjoying what I’m hearing!  Gracin co-wrote 16 of the 17 songs on the album (exception is a cover of the John Mayer song, “Edge of Desire”); something of which gains him a lot of respect in my book.  This album is a huge step for him in that his past albums he has only co-written about 3 of the songs.  This is probably due not only to his improving song-writing abilities, but largely to a switch in record labels from Lyric Street Record to Average Joe’s Entertainment.  Gracin also co-produced the album.  Everything about this album sets high expectations of honest and real music, and I believe every word he sings.  He definitely is keeping powerful country ballads alive in Nashville. 

The main problem with this album is that the music on it is almost too broad.  Gracin has country-country, bluegrass-country, and pop-country songs on the same album.  Variety is great, but to an extent.  I think Gracin needs to find what type of country is “him” (where he true voice is; not trying to be somebody else) and really hone in on that. 

One of my favorite attributes of this album is that Gracin brought in a full string orchestra on a couple of the songs.  I love this idea—one he probably got from Brett James’ incredible version of Gracin’s past single, “Brass Bed” (James is the writer of the song).  Gracin has personally stated that “Enough” is the song on the album that is his proudest effort.  A song about regrets a lover has, he has also mentioned that this is the song that hits closest to home.  My favorite part of the song is the instrumental pick up to the first chorus.  With lyrics like this I can see why he’s proud…

“What kind of man takes all they have

And still don’t feel like he has Enough.”

Listen here: Josh Gracin – Enough

My personal favorite song on the album is “Over Me.”  It is such a moving and brutally honest song that hits on a very vulnerable fear and regret that I believe many people carry.  Showing more signs of a great songwriter with these lyrics…

“I never thought I’d die a little at a time.

Never thought It’d be this hard to see you on the street.

Ohh could it be,

That I’m still trying, and you’re finally over me…”

Listen to full version: Josh Gracin – Over Me

This album shows a lot of promise for Gracin both as a writer and as an artist, so I can’t wait for the next!

Faith Hill Releases First Single in Years-- Come Home

“Come Home” is the first radio single Faith Hill has released since ‘06, and is in preparation for the first album with new music that she will release in six years.  There was a lot of build up for the single’s release (mainly just for Faith Hill releasing new material), resulting in the big reveal of the song at this years’ CMAs.  The performance for the most part was pretty incredible, with the exception of a few slips off pitch.  OneRepublic actually cut “Come Home” back in 2007 on their “Dreaming Out Loud” album, but never released it as a single.  Both artists cover the song in completely different ways and I love what Faith has done with it. Personally, I’m glad to have her back and am hoping that she doesn’t plan on taking another hiatus from her music for a while!  What do y’all think of the country diva’s choice as her come back song; yay or nay?

Live Debut Performance at 2011 CMAs

Studio version:Faith Hill – Come Home

Lisa Carver-- Nashville Songwriter

Today I wanted to introduce y’all to another amazing music-row songwriter, Lisa Carver.

Check this song out: Lisa Carver – Bullets

I was first introduced to Lisa when my brother played me a song of hers he was wanting to cut and then had the pleasure to hear her music live at a songwriters circle later that day.  Adroit Records says “describing Lisa Carver to someone who has never seen her perform is like trying to describe the Grand Canyon to someone who has never seen it.”  There could not be a truer statement.  Lisa is an incredible writer, but one much watch her live to get the full experience of her music.  My main goal as an artist is to be able to tell the story of what I sing, and she does this better than anyone I have ever heard; with an honesty in her expression of the lyrics unlike any other.  Her voice is very broken down, sultry, and raspy, sounding like someone whom has endured a rough life.  Honestly, she has probably one of my favorite female voices.  What makes her stand out in the crowd of music row writers is that while she has had a very successful career as a writer, you would never know it by watching a show like the one I attended.  Lisa has written songs for country superstars Tim McGraw, Tanya Tucker, Emerson Drive, Willie Nelson, and the queen herself, Reba McEntire.  She also wrote Sugarland’s number one hit, “Everyday America.”  She never sang any of these songs at the circle, nor did she drop one name.  Normally, if you attend a songwriter circle with a big writer they will play several of there songs that become hits.  She is an exception; the moment on of her songs becomes a hit you will never hear her perform it again.  She writes songs that do not have even a hint of commercial viability.  They are her stories, her pain, her loves.  When I asked her why she never plays any of her hits she laughed and told me, “honey, those songs just pay the bills.  What you heard tonight, that’s the real deal.  That’s music.”  For this she has gained my upmost respect as an artist.  All she needs is an acoustic guitar, no bells or whistles, and she will completely submerse you in her music.  When I listened to her for the first time she started her set with “Pretty People’s Feet.”  This song is the epitome of her rebelliousness as a songwriter on music row.  Hearing this I immediately knew I was about to hear music like I’d never heard it before.  (This is on YouTube, but I don’t think it showcases her full abilities so I will not post it).   She also sang the song “Whiskey and a Gun.”  A very haunting, yet very entertaining song about murder; she has quite a few killin’ songs, I wouldn’t want to mess with her. 

 "Whiskey and A Gun"

My favorite songs by her, “This Year,” and “I Would’ve Left Me Too” are not available anywhere online, but they are simply amazing.  All the more reason to make it a point to attend a circle she is at if you’re ever in Nashville.  (“I Would’ve Left Me Too” is the song my brother wants to cut).  Phenomenal.

“Bullets,” the song included at the top, is the only song of her singing that is on Spotify.  If that song does not speak of incredible song writing talent I don’t know what does.  The lyrics are very haunting and give you a lot to think about.  She does have an album she released on New Year’s 2010 titled, “Bedtime Stories.”  The album is available for only $10 on iTunes and I highly recommend you purchase it if you want a breath of something completely fresh and void of all things commercial in today’s typically predicable music scene. 

A lyric I love from her song “Wake Up Older”….

“Found me a stranger, Cause there’s comfort in danger…

Oh the things lovers do when it’s over,

Oh the things lovers do when it’s done.

Find a cool bottle, or a warm shoulder…and wake up older.”

**You’ll have to go to iTunes to hear the full song.  Hope ya’ll enjoy her music as much as I do…I know it’s pretty out there.

Roger Creager Live in Austin Tomorrow Night!

If y'all were fans of the Roger Creager music I posted the other day I have great news!  Creager will be performing in UT west campus tomorrow night for Sigma Chi's Fight Night!  The fights start around 5:30 and Creager goes on after....my guess would be that he should be hitting the stage around 9.  Seeing as that this is a concert at a fraternity event I highly doubt we'll get to here my favorite song of his, "I Loved You When," but Creager is such a strong talent I can promise that he will not disappoint!  Don't miss out; it's sure to be a great time and a hell of a show!

Tickets: Girls-$5; Guys-$20.  Sorry boys.

Here is the link to the Facebook event: CLICK HERE! for the Facebook event