Reviews

Tim McGraw‘s final album on Curb records was far from his best, yet the singles keep coming months after the singer was granted his release. ‘Better Than I Used to Be’ was an impressive Top 10 record — it’s difficult to gather airplay with no support from the artist — but ‘Right Back Atcha Babe’ will be lucky to crack the Top 40.

Every once in awhile, an artist like Miranda Lambert needs to remind the country music community what crazy looks like. All this talk of marriage, babies and puppy dogs could have left some (unwisely) wondering if Nashville’s most explosive firecracker had settled into life as a domestic diva. ‘Fastest Girl in Town’ is Lambert breathing fire again.

‘Crying on a Suitcase’ is one of two songs on Casey James‘ self-titled debut that the singer didn’t help write, but the song doesn’t suffer from any lack of personal connection. It’s a more straightforward, mainstream country song than his previous single ‘Let’s Don’t Call It a Night,’ which leaned more toward soul or blues. James’ delivery here is appropriately urgent.

It’s hard not to wonder if ‘More Life’ was chosen as a single from Randy Travis‘ ‘Anniversary Collection‘ album to allow the singer a chance to respond to his recent brush with infamy. The introspective ballad finds Travis asking for forgiveness from those he has hurt. Is this another case of art birthed from real life?

Honesty, a big voice and the right song are what makes a country star, and Bri Bagwell has all three with her new single ‘Whiskey.’ The New Mexico-born and Texas-aged country singer thirsts for a man drowning his sorrows in a bottle of Jack Daniels. He should be taking comfort in her arms.

The power behind the punch of Lady Antebellum‘s sophomore album has withered away to little more than a slap to the cheek with the group’s fourth single ‘Wanted You More.’ The best songs from ‘Own the Night’ have already been issued as singles, and while hope remains for a late surge (‘Cold as Stone’ or ‘Friday Night’ perhaps), this new offering is more style than substance.