There are new albums coming out all the time. We've picked several of the best country releases from June 2003.
1. Time Flies - Billy Ray Cyrus
With "Time Flies," Billy Ray returns to that soothing style of real country music he does so well. His whiskey-smooth velvet deep tenor caresses lyrics at some times with the tenderness of a lover, at others with the gentle affection of a father. He can belt out rockabilly like Elvis, and he can deliver Countrypolitan crooning with as much style as Don Williams.
2. Swing - Suzy Bogguss
Swing isn't a traditional country album, as the CD title suggests, but an appealing mix of swing and jazz songs with some western swing thrown in for good measure. Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel co-produced the CD with Suzy and it features a couple of traditional Jazz/swing pieces from artists like Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington while also containing mostly new stuff.
3. Population Me - Dwight Yoakam
"Population Me" is a relatively short disc, a mere ten tracks; but put together with Yoakam's sure-fire style and produced by long-time side man Pete Anderson, (also lead guitar), it doesn't come up short on entertainment value.4. Greatest Hits - From There To Here - Lonestar
Seven years is a long time to go before having a Greatest Hits CD. Most artists nowadays seem to produce one within four or five years, however they're usually just 10 tracks. We definitely benefited from Lonestar waiting this long as this release has a total of 17 tracks, three of which are brand new.5. Dusty Drake - Dusty Drake
Dusty Drake has it all, a cool name, a great voice, and the ability to not only write a good song but pick 'em as well. He may have written six of the songs here but he also picked five others including "One Last Time." The production by Paul Worley, Clark Schleicher, and Billy Crain, shows that Dusty knows how to select a team to make a winning collection of songs.6. Jimmy Wayne - Jimmy Wayne
Jimmy Wayne's self titled debut album really shows the promise of his singing and songwriting abilities. Out of the thirteen tracks, he co-wrote eight along with some help from the likes of Marv Green, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, and D. Vincent Williams. The knack he has for conveying tender emotion just blows me away, especially on first single, "Stay Gone."7. Honkytonkville - George Strait
"Honkytonkville" is a CD that has material so strong that it could go four or five singles deep. George Strait has had a long and successful career and I have no doubt that this CD, his best in at least 10 years, will continue that streak. Fans of all types of country music will really enjoy this new release from a legend.8. Beyond Time - Ray Benson
Many country fans know that Ray Benson is the voice of Asleep At The Wheel, which is a group that has won multiple Grammy and other awards, yet know he has his very own debut album in the form of an eclectic mixture of sounds ranging from jazzy to what most know him for - swing. Despite his country sounding voice, he does the other types of songs with ease.