Our Country is a remarkable statement of Marks’ rightful place at the fore of modern country music. In the mid-2000s, Miko Marks recorded a couple of albums of straight-down-the-middle mainstream country that came and went with minimal notice and even less industry support. As…
My Savior is not just an impressive work of gospel, but is Carrie Underwood’s best record to date. At no point in her career has Carrie Underwood hidden her Christian faith; after American Idol, and the coronation single that followed, both ran their course,…
Lynn’s latest, unfortunately, is another instance of her merely repeating herself without much beyond her legacy to justify its existence. In referencing one of her signature hits for the title and opening track of her latest album, Loretta Lynn tips her hand: Still Woman…
Aaron Lee Tasjan’s latest is a confident, audacious work that earns all of its explanation points. Because he’s found a home on the New West label and has generally adopted a retro-minded style, Aaron Lee Tasjan has been characterized as an Americana act. But…
Shovel & Rope’s kid-friendly latest covers album has its heart in the right place, but is an absolute sonic disaster. Americana duo Shovels & Rope have settled into a predictable pattern with their album releases, alternating between new studio projects and entries in their…
The BrOs’ attempt to move the needle back in the direction of commerciality isn’t their sharpest effort but does reposition them at the fore of radio country. For a brief moment, Brothers Osborne landed in that rare sweet spot between commercial impact and critical…
The Way It Feels bears some undeniable deadweight, but also positions Maddie & Tae well to regain their status as queens of country. With “Die from a Broken Heart,” the second single from The Way It Feels, Maddie & Tae set a dubious record at…
D’orjay thrillingly embraces the country genre without any of the historical limitations, biases, and white supremacism. Much of the discourse about country music in 2020 centered on inclusion and the genre’s deeply entrenched — and deeply problematic — white supremacism. D’orjay the Singing Shaman’s…
The two volumes of Cuttin’ Grass succeed at the difficult task of making retrospective work feel both new and essential. The concept of the “greatest hits” set moved toward obsolescence in the file-sharing era and has been made all but extinct in the streaming era. Leave…
Cam remains a talent worth following, but The Otherside doesn’t make it clear where she’s going. Since releasing her well-regarded debut, Untamed, in 2015, Cam has released new music in fits and starts: Single “Diane” earned raves all the way back in 2017, “Road to Happiness”…
