April 2, 2013 Jon Pardi tosses a pinch of Bakersfield sound into his brand of country music. It came through more clearly on his debut single 'Missin' You Crazy,' but the follow-up, 'Up All Night,' still relies on a heavy guitar lick and Pardi's Dwight Yoakam-influenced singing style.
April 1, 2013 Paul Anka releases his new album of collaborations next week, and he's included a couple of all-time country greats. Fans and ToC readers get a first listen of his recording of 'Crazy' with Willie Nelson in this audio stream, exclusive to Taste of Country. 'Duets' is available on April 9, the same day Anka releases his memoir, 'My Way: An Autobiography.'
April 1, 2013 The setlist for the 2013 ACM Awards isn't as impressive as the top spots on the ToC Top 40 Country Songs list for April 2013. New songs from Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Hunter Hayes and Blake Shelton (twice) all find themselves inside the Top 20, but none of these cuts are No. 1. That honor goes to one of the more unique and surprising singles in quite some time.
March 31, 2013 Newcomer Weston Burt's debut single 'Lucky Sometimes' aims right down the middle and hits the mark. The upbeat, head-over-heels love song is easy to find yourself singing along with before the first spin is complete. Listen again to hear him flex a little vocal muscle in the most subtle ways.
March 31, 2013 Sugarland member Kristian Bush is trying out his solo wings. The singer-songwriter has released his first solo single, titled 'Love or Money,' in Europe, and he's looking to bring it to his fans stateside.
March 29, 2013 Brantley Gilbert just got back from his first USO tour, and the experience of performing for our troops overseas inspired him so much that he has written a new song, 'One Hell of an Amen,' even posting a preview to the demo track exclusively for his fans -- and evidently without the permission of his record company.
March 27, 2013 With 'Your Side of the Bed,' Little Big Town has released as singles the three best songs from one of the best albums of 2012. The emphatic ballad strikes a pitch that resonates deep within any couple that's been married long enough to outrun the honeymoon period. It's almost uncomfortably familiar.
March 26, 2013 There is comedy in Blake Shelton singing with Pistol Annies, as he does on his new single 'Boys 'Round Here.' One imagines a country Hugh Hefner surrounded by his beauties. In real life, the Annies likely (very likely) don't attend to his every need and agree with him at all costs, but they do on this song, and it's absolutely charming.
March 22, 2013 James Wesley has a real feel for the life and struggles of the blue-collar American. His new song 'Thank a Farmer' is similar to his previous Top 30 hit 'Real' in its honest, no-nonsense approach. The worst thing a singer can do with a song like either of these is come off as contrived. Wesley is a long way away from being accused of that.
Country duo Florida Georgia Line has seen some exciting things happen with their No. 1 hit 'Cruise,' with Taylor Swift recently adding her voice alongside of Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. Now, the band has announced a remix of their debut single with an unexpected twist, as hip-hop star Nelly will be featured on the track.
