Shelton may need a six pack thanks to his debut
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 – Blake Shelton may celebrate with a six pack today as his new album, "Hillbilly Bone," debuts at number 3 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, making it this week's highest charting debut album and his highest debut of his career on the all-genre chart. The new six-song disc also came in second on the Top Country Albums Chart, selling 71,009. "Hillbilly Bone" was released on March 2 and includes the title track, the fastest rising single of his career, featuring friend Trace Adkins.
The new album includes five new tracks from Shelton. "Hillbilly Bone" is produced by Scott Hendricks.
More news for Blake Shelton
CD reviews for Blake Shelton
All About Tonight
Blake Shelton was successful in March with "Six Pack," which his label said wasn't an EP, but at six tracks, you judge. Whatever. His new disc is similar in length. The emphasis is on uptempo, rocking songs with touches of Brad Paisley-styled guitar twang. Shelton sings with vigor from the get go with the title song. At the same time, releasing music more frequently doesn't mean that there are a lot of great songs - none of which Shelton had a hand in writing - here. »»» |
Hillbilly Bone
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. The song is about a New Yorker who heads down south and realizes that country music and honky-tonkin' appeal to him. It's a nice storyline, but »»» |
Startin' Fires
After four albums of neo-traditional country, or what passes for such now days, Blake Shelton returned to the number one spot with a faithful cover of Michael Buble's Home, a pure pop song wrapped up for the country audience. One would think the inevitable path would be to then produce an album of slick pop-country singles. While Shelton slides closer to pop here, it's not necessarily the new fad of pop-country.
With songs like Good At Startin' Fires, She Wouldn't Be Gone, »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Cherryholmes comes together –
For a bluegrass band like Cherryholmes, the setting - the courtyard of one of the grandest museums in the entire U.S. was atypical. So without a "typical" audience there to lend support, one could argue that the sextet was up against it. No matter, though, because the family band showed why it is one of the best out there.... »»»
Concert Review: Ray LaMontagne demands attention –
Ray LaMontagne should have had a lot to celebrate, but you certainly could not tell from his demeanor on this tour with British singer David Gray.
Interestingly enough, the first of two shows before full houses also marked the same day that both artists released new discs. LaMontagne is going in a different direction with "God Willin' & The... »»»
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