Neal McCoy gets his mug on beer can
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 – If the face on the Old Milwaukee beer can looks familiar to country music fans, it ought to becaue it's Neal McCoy. He will appear at the Country Concert in Ft. Loramie, Ohio this Sunday, and Old Milwaukee Beer has been distributing a special edition can featuring McCoy's image throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, parts of Illinois and western Pennsylvania.
This is McCoy's 10th year performing at Country Concert, more appearances than any other artist in the history of the festival, and the second year he is featured on this special edition can. Other country headliners include Trace Adkins (July 5); Big & Rich (July 6) and Toby Keith (July 7).
More news for Neal McCoy
CD reviews for Neal McCoy
That's Life
Neal McCoy debuts on his own label, and the energetic performer breaks little new ground on an album filled with ballads and novelty songs. The Texan collaborates with everyone from Gen. Tommy Franks, who gives a recitation before "Last of a Dying Breed" to the singer's mentor, Charley Pride, on the classic "You're My Jamaica."
The album ranges from the poignant in "That's a Picture" and "Jessie" to the downright silly single "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On" and "Tail on the Tailgate. »»»
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24-7-365
After a long stint on Atlantic, Neal McCoy switched record labels. That's not all that changed. Instead of cutesy, easily digestible disposable dance songs like "The Wink" and "The Shake," McCoy has grown far far more serious here. Every song of the 10 is squarely about love.
He tackles a number of ballads, showing a voice that can pull it off slower numbers ("Every Man for Himself"). At times, however, McCoy gets downright syrupy. The strings on the closing "The Key to Your Heart" drench the song. »»»
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The Life of the Party
Mirror mirror, on the wall, who's the most nostalgic of them all? Country music fans, of course, if this new Neal McCoy is any indication of what goes through the heads of marketing people. Appealing to the nostalgic tear-in-the-beer set has always been a safe hand in building empathy for a country artist, but McCoy has gone double or nothing here with this familiar old hand.
Sometimes his approach is overtly obvious, such as on "Lipstick on the Radio," which begins: "That song came out back in '62. »»»
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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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Haywire
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