Currently at the CST blogs
- Portland, Or, February 25, 2010
- Faith Hill has no worries
- Are The Living Sisters super?
- San Francisco, CA, February 24, 2010
- Electoral politics and Luke Bryan
- Just another day at the awards shows
- San Diego, CA, February 21, 2010
- Ho hum, Luke Bryan gets a little crazy on his Spring Break
Easton Corbin –
You may not always be able to judge a book by its cover. But the image of a north Florida country boy playing a guitar and sitting next to a dog on a front porch perfectly describes what the mood of the 11 songs will be. Corbin recalls George Strait on several songs, but none more than the hit A Little More Country Than That. »»»
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Six Pack –
Blake Shelton has always been known for fun, tongue-in-cheeks songs with some good ballads thrown in as well. This six-song EP that accurately reflects the normal balance of selection on most of his full-length albums. Shelton goes straight for the country dance club crowd with Hillbilly Bone, on which Trace Adkins added his vocal talents. »»»
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The Open Ride –
John Hiatt has been roots rocking long enough that it bears remembering his folk/pop beginnings in the early '70s and his tough/tender new wave angle into the '80s. But like any decent gunslinger, Hiatt never forgets how many bullets he has left and his chambers are full on the 19th studio album of his storied career. »»»
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Before and After –
Much like those of Kate Campbell and Meg Hutchison, Carrie Newcomer's coffeehouse folk, late-'70s songwriter-influenced sounds refuse to serve as background music. This is folk roots impressionism mixing spirituality, questioning and vision without obviousness or a hint of sanctimoniousness; through her words, the singer encourages reflection and personal efficacy. »»»
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American VI: Ain't No Grave –
To say that this is the death knell from Johnny Cash would be an understatement. That was made clear by the aging, withering Man in Black when he recorded the title track with the opening words "There ain't no grave that can hold my body down." This CD surfaces seven years after the death of Cash and is said to be the final of a series of six CDs he recorded with ace producer Rick Rubin. »»»
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Concert Review: Justin Townes Earle learns his lessons well –
It certainly can't be easy living in the shadows of a well-known musical father, especially when his name is Steve Earle. The obvious questions for Justin Townes Earle - like any offspring in a similar position - was whether he was cashing in on his father's fame or deserving in his own right?
The younger Earle is on a roll and easily... »»»
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Country News
CD Reviews
 CST
 CST
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Album: And there was Dust
CST's Take: Students of country classicism and celebrators of the rugged stories central to it (albeit with those tales reshaped by leader Kevin Wolfe's personal travels) and purveyors of bruised-and-boozed rockin' country
Saving Appalachia from mining one song at a time –
Daniel Martin Moore and Ben Sollee have each made a significant impact on the folk/bluegrass scene over the past few years. Sollee is a classically trained cellist and a member of Abigail Washburn's Sparrow Quartet, and his acclaimed 2008 solo debut, "Learning to Bend," was an amazing blend of bluegrass, folk and jazz. Moore returned from a Peace Corps stint three years ago and sent an unsolicited demo of his Nick Drake-like songs to Sub Pop »»»
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Blue Highway takes 15 years for "Some Day" –
Blue Highway's banjo player Jason Burleson acknowledges that their 1995 debut album "It's A Long, Long Road" turned out to be prophetic. It has been quite a journey for the Tennessee-based band that has become one of the "gold standards" of bluegrass, with 8 more "signpost" albums along the way, the latest being their newly-released 15th Anniversary collection on Rounder, "Some Day." »»»
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Elvis Presley: at 75, I still care –
Elvis Aron Presley, had he not collapsed face first into a shag carpet in his Graceland bathroom on Aug. 16, 1977, would have been 75-years-old Friday. Yet, somehow, his birthday seems all the more important because he is not actually here while others feast at his table. Graceland - a greater cultural icon and more milkable cash cow than even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - is being remodeled for future generations to come, gawk and breathe in a few scant molecules of the King's essence. Do the new overseers really care about Elvis? »»»
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Best CD of 2009 –
Here it is the top 30 for 2009. This isn't authoritative in case you thought otherwise. It's just one man's opinion about his favorite CDs of the year, which seemed a cut above everything else. It was incredibly hard figuring out a number one CD for the year between the Avett Brothers, Brad Paisley and George Strait. All three were great albums from different perspectives of country and roots music, and at any one time over the past few days, each was my favorite. Come back in a few days, and who knows? Maybe the order will change. »»»
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Lyle Lovett takes nothing for granted on "Natural Forces" (or anywhere else) –
To say that Lyle Lovett has a great new album in "Natural Forces" is a newsflash akin to announcing that oxygen is now available for mass consumption at no charge. Lovett's musical quality is as automatic as a politician's promise and infinitely more trustworthy, which might lead one to believe that, at a certain level, the Texas singer/songwriter has become slightly jaded by the consistent accolades thrown his way. One would be very mistaken. »»»
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Patty Loveless brings her "Mountain Soul" again –
When "Mountain Soul" became a critical success, it wasn't long before fans began requesting a follow-up from Patty Loveless. "They were questioning last year when I was ever going to do another record such as the first 'Mountain Soul,'" Loveless says. "So, Saguaro Records came to me about doing another record with them, and we suggested doing one to coincide with the popularity of what the first one did." »»»
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