The 2024 Backlog: mid May
The Backlog continues… Nine albums.
Some nice variety here. The overall country landscape is in middle of a diverse sonic moment. These albums mostly reflect that.
As a reminder of the subgenre numbering system
1- Traditional Country
2- Country Rock
3- Modern Country
4- Pop Country
5- Southern Pop
Enjoy!
Zach Top- Cold Beer & Country Music
An honest to goodness 90s styled record that doesn't ape the time, rather it lives the era in all facets. Top is built for this. The synergy shows. The voice is perfectly suited for the style. It would border on pastiche for most others, but not here.
Tracks: 12 songs
Time: 40 min
Subgenre: Traditional Country (1), 90s
Favorite:
Dirt Turns To Gold, Bad Luck, Use Me
Least Favorite:
Sounds Like The Radio
HIXTAPE: Vol. 3.: DIFFTAPE
Tracks: 17
Time: 58 min.
Subgenre- Tribute, Modern Country (3), Traditional Country (1), Neotraditional, 90s
I didn't know all of the originals. Based in the ones I knew, the reproduction seemed faithful. The premise of Hixtape always has been more appealing the the result. Even with the dramatically different focus this time around, that still holds true. The best moments come when the artists are stretched, but that is rare. My favorites listed here are not judged by the songs original content, but instead the execution. Hopefully, this introduces a new generation to Diffie’s music.
Favorite:
Ships That Don't Come In, Bigger Than The Beatles, Night to Remember
Least Favorite:
Pickup Man, John Deere Green
Wonder Women Of Country- Willis, Carper, Leigh
Tracks: 6
Time: 17 min
Subgenre: Traditional (1)
Move over Highwomen, this super group of independent female country acts has surpassed you. Next up, the Trio! Unclear if this was a one off, or if further collaboration is expected. The strengths of each artist is emphasized all throughout. Hard to do, but it was done.
Favorite:
Fly Ya To Hawaii, A Thousand Ways
Least Favorite:
Another Broken Heart
My Black Country: The Songs Of Alice Russell
Tracks: 10
Time: 36 min
Subgenre: Tribute, Americana,
Both a simple tribute to a world class songwriter, and a strong step towards carving out a space for the overlooked. Well executed twists on originals done with a clear understanding of the originals. The tightness and cohesion compares favorably to the all over the place mess of Difftape. Take note of you are looking to make a tribute project. Do it this way.
Favorite:
The Ballad Of Sally- Anne, Who’s Minding The Garden, I'll Cry For Yours (Will You Cry For Mine)
Least Favorite:
XXX’s and OOO’s
Tyler Hubbard- Strong
Tracks: 13
Time: 40 min.
Subgenre- Pop Country (4), Modern Country (3), Bro Country, Boyfriend Country
Just about what you'd expect. Surprisingly inoffensive. Unsurprisingly bland. Slightly less programmed then earlier material, but only barely. Pop percussion, country instruments mostly used in harmony roles, scattered songwriting details occasionally pierce through the broad platitudes.
Favorite:
Summer Talkin, ‘73 Beetle
Least Favorite:
BNA, Vegas, American Mellencamp
George Birge- Cowboy Songs
Tracks: 7
Time: 22 min.
Subgenre: Modern Country (3), Pop Country (4)
Programmed drums and steel guitar. Birge has been aiming for the mainstream for longer than you realize. This aims for the midpoint between trendier percussion-forward TikTok country and the smooth and full production preferred in Nashville. Middling overall, but some detail and moments allow it to not be instantly forgotten.
Favorite:
Cowboy Songs, It Ain't Austin
Least Favorite:
Hard On The Bottle
Wyatt Flores- Half Life
Tracks: 8
Time: 26 min.
Subgenre: Country Rock (2), Pop Country (4), Alt Country, Folk Pop
A slight honing in his sound relative to past projects. Some would call it intense, some would call it melodramatic. Effective framing and execution of an alt-country-meets-modern-folk-pop sound in a way that furthers Flores from the Zach Bryan shadow, but does not release him entirely.
Favorite:
Running Out Of Time, Milwaukee, How To Save A Life
Least Favorite:
Wish I Could Stay
Anne Wilson- REBEL
Tracks: 16
Time: 53 min.
Subgenre: Pop Country (4), Contemporary Christian
As Gabby Barrett moves towards the Christian market, and Anne Wilson moves toward the country market, we see the middle ground getting rapidly full. The album is neither here nor there, similar to Barrett, and it is most satisfying when it picks one lane and sticks to it. Pop country shares a fondness for shallow bombastic production with contemporary Christian music so it is a surprisingly smooth and fluid crossover.
Favorite:
Praying Women, My Father's Daughter, Country Gold, Southern Gospel
Least Favorite:
Rain In The Rearview, Songs About Whiskey
A bonus oldie album:
Lloyd Green- Shades Of Steel (1973)
Tracks: 12
Time: 30 min.
Subgenre: Instrumental, Country, Folk, misc.
Late era member of the Nashville A-Team put out an instrumental record about 50 years ago. It was devoted to demonstrating the diverse and flexible nature of the steel guitar. It bends, shimmers and shines all throughout a 30 minute exhibition of instrumental mastery. Relaxing and mellow in parts, plaintive in others. Upbeat in moments and folksy in others. A proper musicians record that can still appeal to the regular listener. Like most instrumental projects, the individual songs aren't the highlight. Instead, the album shines as a whole.
Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment with anything you've enjoyed listening to recently.
Joe