Each year, country music puts out some outstanding albums. AboutCountry reviewer Kathy Coleman gives us her choices for the Top 10 Albums for 2004.
In the underground world of real country music, honky-tonk and Americana, Dale Watson reigns supreme. He reaches out and grabs the gold coin with this newest release. There's not a singer alive who can do it better than Dale.
When you put together two incredible songwriters, you just can’t help but emerge with some songs that are really worth listening to. You throw in some pretty awesome performing talent, and you find yourself with an album that’s as spectacular as “You Can’t Save Everybody.” These American boys have come out huge in Australia, where their 2000 release, “Live in Melbourne,” blew audiences away. Their newest studio release will, likewise, knock your socks off.
The guy with one name really knows his roots. With a simple, stripped-down sound that comes out solid, crisp, and classy, this is some pretty danged high-quality music. A little folksy, a little rockin', a little country, this is one of those impossible-to-box-in genre busters that gets put under the tag of Americana, but it doesn't matter what you call it. It's nothing short of exceptional.
With a bare ten tracks on the debut disc, Moot Davis proves himself. Pete Anderson himself plays lead guitar, and his expert production doesn't take away from Moot's voice, which has the right redneck hiccup and cryin'-in-your-beer sound that make us love real country music
Last year in a review I drew a comparison between Jesse Dayton and Brad
Paisley. Both are handsome young men who kick butt on guitar and have great singing voices,
but for some reason, one is mainstream and the other, perhaps the better, is not. I still can't
figure it. Jesse Dayton is easily one of the most talented singers in Texas country, laying down
hardcore roots music with a sharp, edgy quality that ought to be in the mainstream, ought to be
on the radio, and ought to be heard.
This quirky, fresh, completely original individual is probably too "way out" for most folks; still, that he got as far as he did in the Nashville Star competition says that, maybe, there's a lot more people out here who want quirky and fresh than the suits would have one think.
Randy has a lonesome growl in the low tenor voice, a cry in the Telecaster, a plaintive quality to the lyrics and a country-blues beat that just feels like Waylon. Randy Thompson presents his music without excuses, he simply sings his songs.
Country music's queen is back in solid form, trying new directions and proving that age does not stop anyone from making hot new country music. Loretta's talents haven't dimmed one bit.
Hard-hitting country-folk with a heart and vibrant emotion, tremendous Americana with a powerful bite. Chris Richards is a true voice and a phenomenal songwriter, with as awesome backup band. This guy is real stuff.
You may not know his name, but you should get acquainted with his sound. Folksy, plain, and simple, with a stunning elegance and economy of sound that pours straight from the heart. Brine has a powerful, pure roots-sound that absolutely must be heard.
