In this personal review of 2022, I select ten songs by ten artists that have made a particular impression on him over the last twelve months. “I realise that there are some striking omissions, like Ingrid Andress, Kelsea Ballerini, and Elles Bailey, to name but three, but the songs and artists that I’ve chosen (and … More 2022: A Personal Review in 10 Songs
Beneath the light exterior of Jess and the Bandits’ latest single is a serious message about life as a working mum. ‘Emotional Baggage’ comes from lead singer Jessica Clemmons’ own experience of trying to manage a career with two sons in tow. The result is a song that contains many scenes from the typical parent’s … More Jess and the Bandits – Emotional Baggage
It’s the sound of Beth Nielsen Chapman but not quite as we know it on her latest album ‘CrazyTown’. The acclaimed singer-songwriter has, in her own words, “let go more on this record than I ever have before”. The result sees a merry band of musicians accompanying her throughout, given the freedom to flesh out … More Beth Nielsen Chapman – CrazyTown
Absolute Radio Country has been celebrating its first birthday this month, with presenters coming together to share some of their favourite songs and highlights in a special show to mark the occasion. Since its evolution from Country Hits Radio to become part of the Absolute family twelve months ago, the station seems to have gone … More Absolute Radio Country’s 1st Anniversary
Anne Wilson is a name that may not have reached the ears of most country music fans thus far. Yet her southern upbringing and admiration for the genre runs through the core of her debut album ‘My Jesus’. The title track has already proved to be somewhat of a breakthrough hit for Wilson, recording over … More Anne Wilson – My Jesus
It doesn’t take long to listen to Tenille Townes’ new EP and realise that its title is full of irony. Far from putting on a disguise or pretending to be someone else, ‘Masquerades’ presents a new level of honesty for the Canadian singer-songwriter. She moves from observational storyteller to highly personal introspection, removing the mask … More Tenille Townes – Masquerades
Whether you’re a relative newcomer to country music or have been an avid listener for decades, Absolute Radio’s documentary series Women of Country is a must-listen. Taking a journey through the history of the genre from the female perspective, it marks the infamous milestones of the greats whilst recounting the hidden stories of those often … More Women of Country – Absolute Radio
Tenille Townes continues to bear her beautiful soul with her latest single ‘When’s It Gonna Happen’. Honesty has always been the Canadian singer-songwriter’s best policy, and here she reveals how she feels sometimes about being single. Delivered in her own inimitable style, she discloses a part of herself usually hidden behind the “laughing… smiling face” … More Tenille Townes – When’s It Gonna Happen
In this end-of-year review, one of our writers*, Gareth Williams, shares his personal favourites from 2021. Song of the Year – ‘Next Girl’ by Carly Pearce If there is one song that has been going around in my head this year, it is the insanely catchy chorus to ‘Next Girl’, part of Carly Pearce’s CMA-winning … More Country Music: 2021 in Review
It wouldn’t be a Pistol Annies album without a little bit of gospel – though the surprise here, for a Christmas album, is perhaps that ‘Leanin’ on Jesus’ contains no references to the most wonderful time of the year. Instead, it offers a diversion into the purely devotional, avoiding any mention of snow, sleighs, or … More Pistol Annies – Leanin’ on Jesus
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