Personal Top 10 Country Albums

I asked a friend to compile her list of top 10 books ever. In return, she asked for my top 10 country albums I thought she should have. Ten is all?! So hard. But here's what I came up with-


Without further ado,
10 (+) Country Albums You Must Have:

1. Deana Carter, The Chain.
A very cool album which consists completely of covers- all music her dad, who is/was a studio guitarist and producer, had a hand in in the original stages. Also includes much collaboration with many of the original artists. Fresh sound. SO COOL.

2. Lori McKenna, Unglamorous.
There's just something about this woman. She was "discovered" by Faith Hill and has tracks recorded by Faith, Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, among man others. Still, the songs are way better when she sings them herself. The last track on this album kills me every time.

3. Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors.
I'm always surprised at how much Tim McGraw music I actually own because I don't consider myself one of his biggest fans or anything, but this particular album has a really organic sound for such a commercial artist. The songs are good, and as a whole it feels timeless. I've owned this one for four or five years and it's a go-to when I don't know what else I want to listen to.

4. Phil Vassar, Shaken Not Stirred.
I DO consider myself a big Phil Vassar fan- he's a great songwriter, lyricist, pianist, and performer. This album is the most cohesive and I prefer the sound of this one to his others. Another to check out might be his Greatest Hits, though. He rerecorded some of the hits he's had as a songwriter for other artists (like Jo Dee Messina's "Bye Bye") and they're really simple, nice recordings.

5. Sugarland, Love on the Inside.
Their music just keeps getting better. I love this one because Kristian does a lot more singing and their arrangements don't feel like stuffy commercial country. Very vocal, very organic. The deluxe fan edition has some awesome stuff at the end like a live Matt Nathanson cover, and that track alone is worth the extra two dollars or whatever it is.

6. Nickel Creek, Reasons Why: The Very Best.
I saw these guys live and never expected any four people (counting the bass player) to be able to make THAT MUCH SOUND come out of those little acoustic instruments. They're perfect in nearly every way and the subject matter isn't so typical, which is refreshing.

7. Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
This girl does real country music up right. She's got attitude and songwriting chops and is not afraid of a good old-fashioned steel guitar.

8. Reba McEntire, It's Your Call.
You have no idea how hard it was for me to pick just ONE Reba album. Pretty much any of her '90s albums, especially the early '90s, are The Tops in my book. Even so, I own almost everything she's done since 1986. Maybe even since before that. No. I'm serious. It's Your Call is full of reasons I really fell in love with her, though. Take It Back, He Wants to Get Married... it's a good album.

9. Brad Paisley, 5th Gear.
Some people just don't get it, but I find Brad Paisley HILARIOUS. He's got a way with melody, too, and can play guitar like a dreeeeeeam. It's traditional with a twist, and I'm all about country sounding like country. Plus, "Online" is a little too appropriate, I think.

10. Sara Evans, Restless.
Girl can SING, and this is probably her best collection of songs as a whole. "Otis Redding" is still my favorite- just paints a lighthearted, romantic little picture.



Honorable mentions go to Dierks Bentley, only because I absolutely could not decide which of his albums you should have. I love them all equally, in different ways, and so just couldn't make the decision. I couldn't even give you a Dierks playlist and pick favorite tracks because I seriously love THEM ALL.

Also to Bethany Dick, whose latest is only 4 tracks long BUT you can download it for free (www.myspace.com/bethanydick)! She's originally a Montana girl like I am, and she and my friend Fiddler actually know each other, so it's kinda cool.




What do you think, country fans? What did I leave out? Anything you wouldn't have included? Which Dierks album would you have chosen?

Some Things Never Change

I've had my iTunes library on shuffle the past few days. That's something I don't normally do, because I have the tendency to hit the "next" button more often than not, as I have a wide variety of music and have to be in a certain mood to listen to most of it. I've loved the shuffle lately, though, as it's reminding me how much I love certain artists.

Earlier today I was reminded of my love for Gentry Morris, who, since I checked up on his myspace today, seems to have moved from Tennessee to Ireland. This bums me out, as I am hopefully headed for Tennessee soon, and would have loved to see him live. If you like well-written, soulfully sung folk/indie rock, you'll like Gentry. Plus, the boy is hot.

Just now, Bethany Dick's song "Some Things Never Change" started playing. That is the song that truly made me fall in love with her as an artist, and she's only gotten better. She's bluegrass/traditional country, with a voice like Alison Krauss, songwriting chops, and incredible musicians to back her up.

"I'm Not Alright," by Sanctus Real is currently playing-- I saw them for free about a year ago, though I'd never heard of them, and even though I generally think that the entire genre of Contemporary Christian basically just rips off current music trends without ever adding anything to them, the vocals are great and the lyrics are well thought out and very honest, not contrived like a lot of CC can be.

"Hold Whatcha Got," originally a Jimmy Martin tune, was crooned at me earlier as a tribute by JD Crowe and a whole host of other bluegrass greats. It's one of my favorites off the Jimmy Martin tribute album, and Jimmy Martin's version is even better (of course).

And then I heard a voice that was more than familiar. My friend Jim Vilandre's voice came pouring out of my speakers singing, "The Heart of God." It felt like being back with some of my best friends, just for a moment.

My own (new!) song even popped into the mix tonight. It's a rough demo, but I love listening to it, because it served the purpose I wrote it for more than successfully, and it's great to revel in success, isn't it? Check out "23" at my myspace page if you're interested.

Plus, pieces of the Rent original broadway recording keep sneaking their way in. That's just pure bliss.

Music. I love it.
Some things never change.

Perfect Songs

There are some songs that just make me feel better no matter what. Songs that pop up when I've forgotten they were songs at all, and just when I need them. That happened to me today.

Yesterday, making a three hour drive with an iPod that had pooped out on me, I started searching my car for stray CDs, and I found an old WOW compilation from 2000. I popped one of the discs in the player, and though I honestly didn't even recognize any of the titles when I looked at the case, I found that I knew most of the melodies and words. It's funny how music comes back to you like that.

I popped in the second disc, but made it home before I'd listened to the whole thing. I left it in the player, as I usually do, figuring I'd either listen to the rest the next time I drove, or switch it out, depending on my mood.

I had to drive to the store really quickly today, which didn't warrant a CD change, but it did mean that I was bored with the last couple songs on the CD so I started shuffling my way through the tracks until I came to number 16. At first I had completely confused myself. I had forgotten there were 17 tracks on the disc, considering only 15 were listed. I stopped at 16 out of curiosity, and in the first beat, a feeling of relief washed over me.

The song was "I Am," by Jill Phillips. I don't know any of Jill Phillips music but this song, but sometimes I am convinced that Jill Phillips was put on this earth to make music and write that song for ME.

Oh gently lay your head upon my chest
and I will comfort you like a mother while you rest
The tide can change so fast, but I will stay
the same through past, the same in the future, the same today

I am constant
I am near
I am peace
that shatters all your secret fear
I am holy
I am wise
I'm the only one
who knows your hearts desires
your hearts desires

Oh weary, tired, and worn, let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold, 'cause mine is light
I know you through and through, there's no need to hide
I want to show you love that is deep and high and wide

I am constant
I am near
I am peace
that shatters all your secret fear
I am holy
I am wise
I'm the only one
who knows your hearts desires
your hearts desires

Oh gently lay your head upon my chest
and I will comfort you like a mother while you rest...




The funny thing is, I was listening to much of that WOW compilation, and realizing why, even as a Christian, I really never got into the Contemporary Christian music thing. The point of that music isn't to push any kind of boundaries, and I have to have real musical creativity in my music--not just carbon copies of popular music laced with Jesus-loving lyrics. While at times the lyrics can be clever, too often they're just Bible stories that aren't retold very well or another variation of a praise song. There's nothing wrong with it, but for me, it takes a really special spiritual song for me to fall in love. I can't have the contrivance. It has to feel SO GENUINE, it's like God wrote the thing himself, just through somebody else's pen.

I felt that way about this song from the moment I heard it. The aesthetic is so perfect--light and acoustic with a lovely fragile female voice on top. And I remember some time ago reading a bit about Jill Phillips and the way she'd written this song, and she said it was like it just came to her. Like maybe God had written it and blessed her with the gift of sharing it. And that holds true to me--it's what it feels like to me. And I needed to hear it today.

There are other songs that can make me feel better just like THAT, and of course I can't name them all, because they often come out of nowhere. However, I will list a few, and if you don't know them, check them out.

• Every Season by Nichole Nordeman

• Anyway by Bethany Dick

• Stand by Rascal Flatts (but by all means, DO NOT listen to the rest of the CD when you're depressed. MAN.)

Tell me what songs can always make you feel better.
I was strong today, but I may need them tomorrow.