Hayes, Swift lead charts
Thursday, February 21, 2013 – Hunter Hayes is first on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with Wanted, while Taylor Swift's "Red" lies atop the Top Country Albums chart for the week ending March 2.
Swift took back the top spot from Tim McGraw's "Two Lanes of Freedom," which slipped to second. Hayes was third with his self-titled debut. Gary Allan was fourth with "Set You Free." Little Big Town was fifth with "Tornado."
Connor Christian & Southern Gothic debuted at 17 with "New Hometown." Kenny Chesney held the 20th spot with "Welcome to the Fishbowl," up 4. Pistol Annies were 24th with "Hell on Heels," up 4. Dierks Bentley's "Home was up 4 to 25. Chris Young was 37th with "Neon," up 3. Jake Owen had a big mover with "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" jumping from 37 to 28. Couple Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison debuted at 29 with "Cheater's Game." Hayes also was on the chart at 30th with his "Live" EP, up 32. The Time Jumpers jumped from 54 to 38 with its self-titled disc.
Blake Shelton moved up to second on the songs chart with Sure Be Cool If You Did, while The Band Perry's Better Dig Two was third. Carrie Underwood jumped from eighth to fourth with Two Black Cadillacs. McGraw rounded out the top five with One of Those Nights.
Swift and Underwood jumped back into the top 10 with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and Blown Away respectively. The songs had been 14th and 19th with both performers benefitting from face time at the Grammys.
Lady Antebellum's new single, Downtown, fell from 6th to 12th. Swift also was 15th on the chart with Begin Again up 6. Miranda Lambert registered a similar gain withMama's Broken Heart. Florida Georgia Line have a second hit on their hands with Get Your Shine On at 20, up 3.
George Strait stood at 22nd with Give It All We Got Tonight, up 3. Eric Church was 29th with Like Jesus Does, up 3.
On the bluegrass chart, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out led with "Timeless Hits From the Past: Bluegrassed" again. Yo-Yo Ma/Stuart Duncan/Edgar Meyer/Chris Thile were second with "The Goat Rodeo Sessions." Last week's number one, "Hammer Down" by The SteelDrivers was third. Old Crow Medicine Show was fourth with "Carry Me Back." Punch Brothers were fifth with "Who's Feeling Young Now?"
On the overall top 200 Swift was 4th, McGraw 12th, Hayes 17th, Allan 24th and Little Big Town 25th.
More news
CD reviews
Hunter Hayes Live
There is one reason why a Hunter Hayes live album is a bad idea. It's not because of his music, which is pop-country with a severe emphasis on "pop," but very catchy. It's not because of his vocals, which are reminiscent of Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox after inhaling helium but pleasant nonetheless. It's because of the audience.
If you love the sound of hundreds of teenage girls screaming in unison, this is a must-buy for you. They scream at the beginning and ending of every song. »»» |
Journey to Fearless DVD
Part Behind The Music style documentary and part concert film, Taylor Swift's new Blu-ray release offers an interesting hybrid approach to the typical live performance video - an approach that hits more than it misses. "Journey To Fearless" focuses on Swift's meteoric rise from aspiring grade-school singer/songwriter to award-winning country and pop megastar while sprinkling in live performances. Hardcore Swift fans will find a lot to love on this single-disc set (which is also »»» |
Hunter Hayes
Read the album liner notes and you ca,n't help but to be blown away by newcomer Hunter Hayes' credentials. The Louisiana native plays every instrument on his self-titled major-label debut. He's listed as lead or co-writer on every cut. And he co-produces the record with Dann Huff - heady stuff indeed for a 20-year-old on his initial offering.
Yet, that's where Hayes's impressive debut mostly ends. For one so young, there's nothing daring, innovative or even »»» |
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: Size doesn't matter to Winslow-King –
Luke Winslow-King may have a fine new CD out ("The Coming Tide") on a long respected indie country/roots label (Bloodshot), but that didn't mean the throngs were going to fill the club. In fact, in a second night of shows in the Boston area, Winslow-King drew a handful of people. Well, make that literally two handfuls of people.
As in 10 people.... »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left –
Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
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Some folks listening to Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison's new duet album, "Cheaters Game," may well exclaim, 'Well, it's about time!' after finally hearing these two talented country singer/songwriters recording music as a pair for the first time. Willis has built quite a following for her independently-minded feminine perspective, while Robison has written hits for the Dixie Chicks ( Travelin' Soldier) and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ( Angry All the Time), as well as penning the ultimate Willie Nelson tribute, What Would Willie Do? and recording it as a solo act.
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Wilderness
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Love Is Everything
George Strait may have reached his seventh decade, but he shows zero signs of slowing down. In fact, Strait seems to be getting even more consistent as he gets older. Strait doesn't stray all that far from the formula that has resulted in superstar status. First and foremost, that means his sonorous voice is mixed far above the music, a very good thing. »»» |
Dark Dirty Mile
Jason Boland and the Stragglers have released a new country album that sounds old. This isn't to imply that the sound is aged in a negative way; they have a classic country maturity that isn't heard too much these days with the exception of Jamey Johnson. For those not familiar with the music of Boland, the first track is a great way to decide whether this is your kind of country music. The title track is a mid tempo country song reminiscent of the late Waylon Jennings. »»» |
Golden
Lady Antebellum probably needed a change in direction after "Own the Night" dropped in 2011. The material was overly geared towards taking dead aim at the radio jugular. That isn't the case this time out on the trio's fifth release because most of the songs veer away from being obviously radio fodder (except for the current single Downtown with its soulful beginning and strong vocals from Hillary Scott), but that also doesn't man that this was the right change. »»» |
Annie Up
For those who thought "Hell on Heels" was a one-off side project for Miranda Lambert (along with sidekicks Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe), think again. The Annies, aka "Lonestar Annie" (Lambert), "Hippie Annie" (Monroe), and "Holler Annie" (Presley), are no novelty act. Instead, they tackle material that you just are unlikely to hear on mainstream country radio both in subject matter and sonics. »»» |
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