A review of Sing the Delta by Iris DeMent. After a 16-year gap in original releases DeMent returns with an instant classic that reveals an artist further along the road of mastering her craft.

“I’ve had my own opinions as each new release dropped since then and each time while I may have disagreed I could see where each side was coming from either yea or nay. But now we have Wrecking Ball and of any original release that the best guitar picker from Asbury Park, New Jersey has let out in to the world this is the one that has the power, strength and consistency to most deservedly sit at the bar and toss ‘em back with those other records of Bossman yore. Yes. I’m telling you to feel all right if you’re in a hurry and slip this new album in between Nebraska and Born in the U.S.A. While you’re out you shouldn’t feel disrespectful or bad about it.”

What if I told you that a somewhat unheralded (chart wise anyways) release from 1992 would fall unquestionably under the title of my all time favorite live country music release? Not only that, but this release features covers only and is a completely acoustic affair. Well, this is exactly what I think of the unstoppable force that is Emmylou Harris and The Nash Ramblers At the Ryman. Take a detailed look back at an underappreciated live giant in the genre of country; a release and artist heralded for reviving The Mother Church of Country Music for which the album garnishes its name.

Back in 1996 alternative country pioneer Robbie Fulks released one of the most interesting, diverse and exciting debut albums for a country music artist. Come along for a honky tonk ride as I look back at a hell of a record and one that still comes across as revolutionary and entirely new to this day.

Come along as I look back at the 1966 Buck Owens and His Buckaroos classic album Roll Out the Red Carpet. Buck and his band dominated country music for most of the 60′s and this work from that era that is absent of any charting single is in my opinion the definitive album for the band’s addictive and game changing sound.

Check out our review of Superhighway the soulful southern debut release from The New 76ers, an acoustic 3-piece band from Tallahassee, FL. Photos, video and bio information included for this impressive first release.

Check out our review of Grant Peeple’s “Okra & Ecclesiastes,” a focused and heart felt release from an extremely interesting singer songwriter from Northwest Florida. Review, photos, video and bio information included for the self described left-neck from the sunshine state.

So what if I told you that musical legend Willie Nelson released arguably his best album in 1996 to little fanfare or critical acclaim? And what if I told you that if this hidden gem were to be classified as a “country” album that it would be the very best release under that genre in the last 20 years? You would probably think, like that character in Willie’s classic song, that I’m crazy right? Well I may be crazy but this is exactly my opinion of Nelson’s masterpiece Spirit.

30 years ago country music legend Merle Haggard released the album Back to the Barrooms right on the heels of The Way I Am. The album’s theme of loss imbued with a going down to hell drinking attitude have stood the test of time leaving in its wake a generation of musicians and fans in awe of the masterpiece from the man they call The Hag. Read on for a 30-year-retrospective on the greatest drinking album ever recorded.

Hard to believe, but it’s been 20 years since Dwight Yoakam released his classic album “If There Was A Way.” Read my retrospective on the record that turned my ear to country music and my argument that it’s the best main stream country album of the last 25 years.

Bonus: Check out videos for songs from the album including “The Heart That You Own,” “You’re The One” and “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose.”