Robbie Fulks 16 Bob Dylan Street Legal
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A review of ’16’ by Robbie Fulks

ByDarren O

I recently found out that Robbie Fulks, the guy who blew out my brains twenty-plus years ago when I caught him on Austin City Limits, was releasing a passion-project, full-cover, vinyl-only release entitled 16 featuring his take on all the songs from my all-time favorite album, Bob Dylan’s Street Legal. I couldn’t believe it. Now…

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A look back: George Jones’ “Cold Hard Truth” 15 years later

ByDarren O

In 1999 George Jones made the decision to return his focus to the traditional country sound that defined his earlier work and made him a living legend with the album Cold Hard Truth. The result was an instant classic and a must have for any Jones record collection. Take a stroll with us down memory lane as we remember this killer release including Alan Jackson’s unforgettably defiant tribute during the CMA Awards.

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We are alive: Thoughts on Wrecking Ball by Bruce Springsteen

ByDarren O

“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.”

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A look back: Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers ‘At the Ryman’ 20 years later

ByDarren O

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.

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A look back: Robbie Fulks’ ‘Country Love Songs’ 15 years later

ByDarren O

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.

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A look back: Buck Owens and His Buckaroos’ Roll Out the Red Carpet 45 years later

ByDarren O

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.

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A look back: Willie Nelson’s ‘Spirit’ 15 years later

ByDarren O

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.

A look back: Merle Haggard’s “Back to the Barrooms” 30 years later
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A look back: Merle Haggard’s “Back to the Barrooms” 30 years later

ByDarren O

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.

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A look back: Dwight Yoakam’s ‘If There Was A Way’ 20 years later

ByDarren O

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.”

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REVIEW: John Mellencamp releases ‘No Better Than This’

ByDarren O

On the liner notes for John Mellencamp’s 25th record No Better Than This it lists the musicians and something immediately stands out. There is only one man on the whole 13 song set listed at vocals and that man is the one who wrote all the songs and gave ’em life, John Mellencamp.

Read our review and see a great performance of the opening track “Some Time To Dream.”

MUSIC VIDEO – Eminem and Rihanna’s domestic violence song burns hard with Megan Fox
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MUSIC VIDEO – Eminem and Rihanna’s domestic violence song burns hard with Megan Fox

ByStarcasm Staff

After some disappointing music from Rihanna, whose voice can often be grating, she’s back with a perfect collaboration with Eminem. “Love the Way You Lie,” which premiered last night right before Jersey Shore,  is a song about domestic violence, something Rihanna and Eminem have experienced on different sides; and the raw honesty really shines through….

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MUSIC REVIEW – Janelle Monae’s “Emotion Picture” debut album ArchAndroid features Cindi Mayweather

ByStarcasm Staff

Janelle Monae’s new release The ArchAndroid (Atlantic Record) isn’t just an album, it’s an event, an “emotion picture,” if you will, a journey through time. With it’s extremely wide variety of influence and sounds, it tells an epic story. All the songs have disperate sounds ranging from classical overtures, to glam rock, funk, 50’s doo-wop,…

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Music Review: Landon Pigg’s “The Boy Who Never” – Plus watch Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop Video

ByStarcasm Staff

Landon Pigg hit the big screen as Ellen Page’s droolworthy love interest in Drew Barrymore’s Whip It, but he’s more than just a cute boy. Pigg is the singer-songwriter behind the perfectly infectious song featured in De Beers and AT&T commercials “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop,” and recently released his sophmore album, The Boy Who Never, featuring…