Underwood, Lady Antebellum go number one
Thursday, November 19, 2009 – Country albums experienced a big jump in sales thanks to the Country Music Association Awards last week. Carrie Understood stayed first on the Billboard country album chart for the week ending Nov. 28 with "Play On." She sold 128,000 units, down 60 percent from her debut week, the previous week. On the song chart, Lady Antebellum made it to number one with Need You Now, the title track of their second disc. They took over for Underwood's Cowboy Casanova, which slipped to second.
On the album chart, Taylor Swift remained second with "Fearless," selling 91,000, up 60 percent in part no doubt to her big wins oat the CMAs. Lady Antebellum rode their biggest sales week ever to move from fifth to third with their self-titled debut. Tim McGraw was down one to fourth with "Southern Voice." Zac Brown Band's "The Foundation" was down one to fifth.
Darius Rucker was a big beneficiary of the CMAs with "Learn to Live" up from 11 to 6. Sugarland's holiday disc, "Gold And Green" was at 10, moving up 4 spots. The biggest mover was Jamey Johnson's "That Lonesome Song," shooting from 32 to 12. Johnson won two awards last week. Sugarland's "Love on the Inside" was at 13, up 10.
Keith Urban moved from 18 to 15 with "Defying Gravity." Brad Paisley, who co-hosted the CMAs was up 6 to 19 with "American Saturday Night." The compilation disc, "NOW That's What I Call A Country" stood at 22, up 6. Sugarland's third album on the chart, "LIVE on the Inside," climbed 6 to 28. Dolly Parton debuted at 36 with "Live From London."
On the song chart, Luke Bryan stayed third with Do I. Reba McEntire was up one to fourth with Consider Me Gone, switching places with Toes by Zac Brown Band. Craig Morgan was a big mover, up four to sixth with Bonfire. Dierks Bentley made it into the top 10 - at 9 - with I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes up 2. David Nail is at 10, up 2, with Red Light.
McGraw's title track of his new album, Southern Voice was up 2 to 11. Rucker climbed three spots with History in the Making at 12. Miranda Lambert similarly moved up 3 to 13 with White Liar. Jason Aldean's The Truth stood at 15, up 2. Jake Owen had a big change with Eight Second Ride, moving to 16, up 5. George Strait's Twang was at 17, up 3. Josh Turner was at 20, moving 3 places, with Why Don't We Just Dance. Newcomer Easton Corbin jumped 4 spots to 25 with A Little More Country Than That. Paisley skyrocketed from 41 to 30 with American Saturday Night.
On the overall top 200 album chart, Underwood fell from first to third. Swift was 5th, Lady Antebellum 11th, up 13, McGraw 14 and Zac Brown Band 15.
More news for Carrie Underwood
CD reviews for Carrie Underwood
Play On
Through three releases, the one constant about Carrie Underwood is her big voice. It's an instrument in and of itself no matter whether going for somewhat of a country sound, a pure pop bent or a tougher, rocking edge. She can add the right touch to sad songs such as Temporary Home in part about a young boy who has to shuffle from home to home or the tough sounding Quitter.
Underwood would not be accused of being heavy-duty country. She actually displayed more signs of that on her last CD, »»» |
Carnival Ride
Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" debut sold 6 million, yielded 5 smash singles and was the fastest-selling debut by any country artist ever. If that weren't enough, she even passed Kelly Clarkson to be the lead-selling engine on the American Idol gravy train. So, who in their right mind would tamper with the soup?
Underwood's handlers, not about to let their franchise suffer a sophomore jinx, have assembled an airtight collection of pure country-pop from elite »»» |
Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
If anyone saw the Super Bowl – what a great great game that was – they would have heard American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem. Underwood did with her voice what Kelly Clarkson did last week with her written words – give it to Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records,, who tried defending Taylor Swift by knocking American Idol performers. »»»
Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
As Martina McBride pointed out, the pairing of the country singer with Trace Adkins on their current jaunt was surprising. After all, she's of diva-quality voice, petite, non-controversial unless you call singing songs that empower women controversial. Adkins, on the other hand, has not been afraid to speak his mind with a kick butt attitude.... »»»
Concert Review: Eilen Jewell wears her musical hats well –
Eilen Jewell wears a lot of musical hats. The Idaho native, who now lives in Boston, fronts the Eilen (ee-lin) Jewell Band, a pretty much traditional country band. She's a member the Sacred Shakers, an octet doing gospel country with a country beat. And she has yet another project, Butcher Holler, covering Loretta Lynn songs.... »»»
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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.... »»»
Haywire
There are two versions of Josh Turner's fourth CD - standard and deluxe. The deluxe has the same 11 tracks as the standard, plus (among other goodies) live versions of previously released songs Long Black Train and Your Man . But don't spend more money than you have to; if it's redundancy you're looking for, there's plenty to be had on the standard version. »»» |
Somewhere in Time
If Rascal Flatts is country music's clean cut, commercially palatable Beatles, then Reckless Kelly is the genre's Rolling Stones; grittier, more authentically influenced, rawer at the core even when their output is every bit as polished. The brainchild of Idaho brothers Willy and Cody Braun, Reckless Kelly was crowned Austin's Best Country Band in the city's 2008 music awards, an incredible honor. »»» |
As He Wanders
Fans of country - and we're using a definition starting just west of real country and stopping a bit south of alt.-country - who aren't sold on Austin's Texas Sapphires four songs in can be suspected of unnecessary stubbornness. Just look what that first third offers. You get both male and female voices: Billy Brent Malkus' is handsome yet tough and wiry enough for a bar fight, and Rebecca Lucille Cannon's is lovely yet, well, tough and wiry enough for a bar fight. »»» |
Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers
In the 60's through '80's, the Statler Brothers, Don and Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, Jimmy Fortune and the late Lew Dewitt, were the hottest thing going. They set the standard for modern country vocal groups. Bluegrassers Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent do a great job of honoring their idols, covering classics like "Flowers On The Wall," "Bed of Roses," "Thank You World" and "Class of '57." »»» |
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