This is my FAVOURITE LeAnn Album to date!
A bold statement I know, but I love LeAnn’s voice, and I LOVE traditional Country Music and this is both!

Made up of mostly covers of LeAnn’s favourite country songs, this album is a real treat for ANY Country Music fan.
Some of the more note able covers are John Conlee’s – Rose Colored Glasses,  Waylon and Willie’s – A Good Hearted Woman, Vince Gill’s – When I Call Your Name and the legendary He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones.

One of my favourites on the album is her haunting version of Kris Kristofferson’s Help Me Make It Through The Night, her emotional and almost desperate vocals accompanied by a slow, cold piano makes the song sound so raw and sad.
I also LOVE her cover of the upbeat tune Swingin‘ by John Anderson.

All in all this is one of the best albums I’ve heard this year, from production (tracks 1-11 where produced by Vince Gill) to the outstanding vocals, this is absolutely one that will be added to my list of favourites!

1. Swingin’
2. Wasted Days And Wasted Nights
3. The Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line
4. I Can’t Be Myself
5. 16 Tons
6. Help Me Make It Through The Night
7. Rose Colored Glasses
8. A Good Hearted Woman
9. When I Call Your Name
10. He Stopped Loving Her Today
11. Blue
12. The Bottle Let Me Down
13. Crazy Women
14. Give

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In sotres now! 

I’m a Country Music fan who grew up LOVING country in the early 90s…which means I LOVE RANDY TRAVIS. My dad would play his cassettes until the tape was all waving and distorted and we’d be off to the store to buy it again.

Randy Travis changed the face of Country Music when he came onto the music scene with his young face and deep baritone voice. You can hear his influence in the voices of tons of artists currently on the radio and he’s one of only a handful of artists who still, 25 years later, is releasing new music.

I think I speak for many country fans when I say that Randy Travis’ music has been part of so many of memories over the years. I can remember hearing songs like ‘1982’ and ‘Diggin’ Up Bones’ on the radio, cranking them up and singing along. It also reminds me of the first Randy concert I went to with my dad and how we sang so loud neither of us had a voice the next day.

This ‘Anniversary Celebration’ album from Randy is a fantastic collection of some of Randy’s favourite songs as well as collaborations with some of Randy’s fellow country artists. In many ways this is not just Randy celebrating his 25 years in Country Music, but people remembering how much they loved his music and how it’s been a huge part of their lives for the past 25 years!

 Track Listing
1. “Everything and All,” featuring Brad Paisley
2. “A Few Ole Country Boys,” featuring Jamey Johnson
3. “Forever and Ever, Amen,” featuring Zac Brown Band
4. “He Walked On Water,” featuring Kenny Chesney
5. “T.I.M.E.,” featuring Josh Turner
6. “Love Looks Good On You featuring Kristin Chenoweth
7. “Better Class of Losers”/”She’s Got The Rhythm (And I Got The Blues),” medley featuring Alan Jackson
8. “More Life,” featuring Don Henley
9. “Can’t Hurt A Man,” featuring Tim McGraw
10. “Promises,” featuring Shelby Lynne
11. “Is it Still Over?,” featuring Carrie Underwood
12. “Road To Surrender,” featuring Kris Kristofferson & Willie Nelson
13. “Diggin’ Up Bones,” featuring John Anderson
14. “Someone You Never Knew,” featuring Eamonn McCrystal
15. “Too Much,” featuring James Otto
16. “Didn’t We Shine,” featuring George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Price, Connie Smith, Joe Stampley and Gene Watson

-Amanda

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 In stores now.

The first solo album from Ronnie Dunn since his 25 year career in Country Music as half of the iconic country duo Brooks & Dunn.

This album contains the powerful vocals that we heard on B&D tunes like ‘Believe’.Ronnie wrote/co-wrote all but one song on the project and produced it too.

As a big fan of Ronnie I was really looking forward to this album and was not disappointed.

Track Listing:
1. Singer in a Cowboy Band
2. I Don’t Dance
3. Your Kind of Love
4. How Far to Waco
5. Once
6. Cost of Livin
7. Bleed Red
8. Last Love I’m Tryin
9. Let the Cowboy Rock
10. I Can’t Help Myself
11. I Just Get Lonely
12. Love Owes Me One

-Amanda

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In Stores Now! 

This new album from Brad Paisley is by far my most favourite BP CD.
There is a song for every emotion, every mood and every person! There are the standard Brad tongue-in-cheek tunes like ‘Working On A Tan’ and ‘Camouflage’, and then there are the more serious, in-depth life lessons like ‘One of Those Lives’ and ‘A Man Don’t Have to Die’. There are special guests like Alabama, Don Henley, and Marty Stuart.

My favourite song is ‘Remind Me’ featuring the angelic harmonies of Carrie Underwood. The song is about remember how exciting and steamy relationships can be in the beginning and how it’s important to Remind each other not only of those times but that those feelings still exists. The harmonies are enchanting and then there is an epic sounding guitar riff in the bridge and ending of the song.

‘Remind Me’ is my pick for one of the big hits that will come off this new Brad Paisley album!

Track Listing:
1. This Is Country Music
2. Old Alabama (with Alabama)
3. A Man Don’t Have to Die
4. Camouflage  
5. Remind Me (with Carrie Underwood)
7. Love Her Like She’s Leavin (with Don Henley)
8. One of Those Lives
9. Toothbrush
10. Be the Lake
11. Eastwood (with Clint Eastwood, William “Huck” Paisley and Jasper Paisley)
12. New Favorite Memory
13. Don’t Drink the Water (with Blake Shelton)
14. I Do Now
15. Life’s Railway to Heaven (with Marty Stuart, Sheryl Crow and Carl Jackson)

-Amanda

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Give Me Tonight
Royalty Records

1. Heart Like A Stone
2. Leavings Not An Option
3. Give Me Tonight
4. Welcome Back
5. Till I See You Smile
6. For The Music
7. The Favorites
8. Looking for A Sign
9. Lucy Got Lucky
10. Welcome Back

A few cool points about ‘Give Me Tonight’

You’ll find the tune Lucy Got Lucky which was a top 10 hit from 2004. It was a song that was on the Greatest Hits album released by Warner Bros. Nashville label.  With that package now out of print, Chris decided to add a new version of the song to this album to satisfy the fans who request it both at live shows and on radio.

You will find 2 different versions of the song Welcome Back on this album…the oringal song that was done as part of a project with the city of Saint John, New Brunswick in 2008 and a country version.
Welcome Back was written by John Sebastian and was made famous as the theme song for the 70’s hit TV show “Welcome Back, Kotter.”   You can see the video for the song on Chris’s website or YouTube.

To find the lyrics to the songs on this album or more info on Chris and his upcoming shows…visit chriscummings.ca

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Tim McGraw – Number One Hits
Curb Records

As one of Country Music’s best male artists, selling over 40 million albums since the release of his debut album in 1993, you know that Tim will have so many of your favourite songs as part of this new collection.
You’ll find 22 of Tim’s hits on this collection as well and a dance mix version of Indian Outlaw and his new single Felt Good On My Lips

Disc 1:
1: Live Like You Were Dying
2. Don’t Take The Girl
3. It’s Your Love
4. Just To See You Smile
5. Something Like That
6. My Next Thirty Years
7. The Cowboy In Me
8. She Never Lets It Go To Her Heart
9. I Like It, I Love It
10. Watch The Wind Blow By
11. Please Remember Me
12. Real Good Man

Disc 2:
1. Southern Voice
2. My Best Friend
3. Everywhere
4. Grown Men Don’t Cry
5. Back When
6. Angry All The Time
7. Last Dollar (Fly Away)
8. Unbroken
9. Where The Green Grass Grows
10. Not A Moment Too Soon
11. Indian Outlaw (Dance Mix)
12. Felt Good On My Lips

For more information about Tim or the new album visit www.timmcgraw.com

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Artist: Lady Antebellum
Album: Need You Now
Label: Capital Records Nashville
Lady Antebellum have outdone them selves with their sophomore album ‘Need You Now’! Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood create the perfect combination of beautiful music, meaningful songs and sweet harmonies.
I was very excited to hear what Lady Antebellum had in store for us after such a terrific first album, I was unsure that they would come out with a collection that would stand up to the hype…only because how can they have the time and energy to as their careers have sky rocketed, and they have been on the road a large chunk of the past year. Well, I was most definitely impressed after just one listen of the new CD.
The album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s 200 albums chart selling 481,000 copies*. It’s the best for a country album since Taylor Swift’s ‘Fearless’ opened at #1 in November 2008, and the first single which is the title track of the album has become the group’s second number one hit.
I absolutely fell in love with the sound of the album after the first spin. The songs are refreshing and extremely well written. The lead vocals and harmonies are captivating, and the music ship and arrangements are intricate and beautiful.
There are a few songs in particular that caught my attention. ‘Hello World’ is an emotion filled song, the lead is sung beautifully by Charles Kelley, and the instrumental interlude in the song is mesmerizing.
My favourite duet style song is ‘When You Got A Good Thing’. It’s a song that paints a picture of a perfect love and the lyrics are so descriptive, you can just picture the sunlight on the faces of those in love in the song.
There are also a few upbeat-feel tunes that are perfect for cranking up and singing along to, like ‘Love This Pain’ and ‘Stars Tonight’.
If I had to pick out the one thing I like best about this album it would be the way that both Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley sing with conviction. Every song is sung with pure and true emotion and is delivered perfectly so that the songs are not only meaningful but real.
In conclusion, this is an album that I will listen to repeatedly and it would be a great addition to anyone’s collection.
(*according to Nielsen SoundScan)

Need You Now – Track Listing

01. Need You Now
02. Our Kind of Love
03. American Honey
04. Hello World
05. Perfect Day
06. Love This Pain
07. When You Got A Good Thing
08. Stars Tonight
09. If I Knew Then
10. Something ‘Bout A Woman
11. Ready To Love Again

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Artist: Blue Rodeo
Album: The Things We Left Behind
Label: Warner

Blue Rodeo has been travelling the country and playing for fans for over twenty five years now and still producing excellent music their fans can continue to be excited about. The concept of this album is unlike anything that I have heard. For a vinyl junkie like me it`s a real treat to see a band design an album that is meant to be played on vinyl. This project comes complete with double gate-fold sleeves, 12×12 covers and two albums, each of the four sides with its own sound! Of course you can buy this album on CD as well so you don`t have to worry about trying to find your old turn table and dusting it off. Those interested in purchasing this album on vinyl can visit www.bluerodeo.com.

One of my favourite songs is ‘One Night Left In Heaven`. The story of a troubled relationship is sung with heart-filled emotion and I found the music completely captivating. From start to finish this album is full of character and mood. The way the four different `sides` where put together is perfect, in some cases it seems as if the songs where written in the order the play on the album. With sixteen quality tracks on this album there is most definitely a song that you will relate to.

It`s a testament to the talent of the band, that after twelve albums they are still releasing music that is refreshing and inspiring, and what blows me away is that all the songs are written by Blue Rodeo front men, Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy…and just when you think the talent stops there, the band also mixed and produced this collection.

Blue Rodeo has sold over 4 million records and have a full trophy case including 5 Juno awards as Group of the Year, a place on Canada`s Walk of Fame, and for most when you think of Canadian music, you think Blue Rodeo!

Don`t forget Y101 listeners that you can catch Blue Rodeo live at the ScotiaBank Place on February 14. Tickets are on sale now through capitaltickets.ca and you can find all the concert details through Y101.fm

The Things We Left Behind Track Listing:
1. All The Things That Are Left Behind     
2. One More Night     
3. Waiting For The World     
4. Never Look Back     
5. Sheba     
6. One Light Left In Heaven     
7. Million Miles     
8. Gossip     
9. Don’t Let The Darkness In Your Head     
10. Arizona Dust     
11. In My Bones     
12. Candice     
13. Wasted     
14. You Said     
15. And When You Wake Up     
16. Venus Rising

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Artist:Carrie Underwood
Album:Play On
Label:SONY Music

The highly anticipated ‘Play On’, Carrie Underwood’s third studio album is on track to being her bestselling album yet…and if the success of her first single ‘Cowboy Casanova’ is any indication on the quality of the project, things are looking good!

Carrie has earned the fasted #1 single of her career and 2009’s fastest climbing #1 by a female country artist with ‘Cowboy Casanova’ as it hits the top of the charts in 10 short weeks. The single was co-written by Carrie along with songwriters Mike Elizondo and Brett James, just one of the 7 tracks that Carrie helped pen on the album.

‘Play On’ is not only an album containing a diverse group of terrific songs but it is also a window into Carrie Underwood the artist and person. You get to take a look into Carrie’s heart when listening to songs like ‘Unapologize’ and ‘Mama’s Song’, two of my favourite of those co-written by Carrie.
One thing that I love about this project is that there are no two songs alike, the rockin’ tune ‘Undo It’ is followed by the beautiful ballot ‘Someday When I Stop Loving You’. There is truly a song for everyone and every emotion.

Not only does Carrie show off her talent for song writing, but on this album is a new maturity and sense of control in her angelic voice, as well as a wider range musically in all the songs.

My favourite tracks on the collection are ‘Look At Me’, which features harmonies by none other than Vince Gill, the very intricate arrangement with the group Sons of Sylvia ‘What Can I Say’ and the emotional and heart warming track ‘Temporary Home’.  Truthfully though…there is no track that I skip over while listening to this album and let’s be honest, that is not something that you can say about every album.

I definitely recommend this album to every fan of great music; if nothing else it will get you totally pumped up for March 24, when Carrie Underwood will be playing the ScotiaBank Place. Tickets are available through capitaltickets.ca and you can find all the concert information at y101.fm.

Play On Track Listing:
1. Cowboy Casanova
2. Quitter
3. Mama’s Song
4. Change
5. Undo It
6. Someday When I Stop Loving You
7. Songs Like This
8. Temporary Home
9. This Time
10. Look At Me
11. Unapologize
12. What Can I Say
13. Play On

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Artist: Miranda Lambert
Album: Revolution
Label: SONY Music

It took me a little while to finally complete this album review, it seemed that every time I sat down to write about how much I loved the CD, I couldn’t find the right words to describe the incredible sound and emotion behind this, what I feel is the best yet, Miranda album.
I was really looking forward to the release of this CD, especially since August when I saw Miranda open for Kenny Chesney here in Ottawa. If you have seen Miranda live, you know that she is an incredible talent, not only vocally but as an entertainer!
With the release of ‘Revolution’ Miranda has become one of only 3 Country artist to have all three of her albums debut at #1 in its first week!  ‘Revolution’, sold 65,875 copies its first week, which joins her previous two releases which also debuted at the very top of Billboard’s Country Albums Chart…and after listening to this album there is no questioning why this album soared to #1!
Like I said before I was having a hard time finding the words to describe the emotion and sound you hear throughout this piece of art…and its truth. Miranda sings these songs, whether they are about buying a gun, lying about who you are, or the greatest love you can find, she relays absolute truth.
There are numerous songs on this record that I could go on about, but I will try to not go on forever…We have seen the early success of ‘Revolution’ when ‘White Liar’ and ‘Dead Flowers’ both landed on the Country Music Charts earlier this year.
My top 3 picks on this album are: ‘Making Plans’;  a beautiful love song that Miranda sings with sweetness in her voice that lets you know that she in fact knows what it’s like to be in love.  ‘The House That Build Me’;  in this song Miranda is relaying a story but the emotion in her voice makes you feel like she is opening up to her best friend. The song will draw you in and Miranda will open her heart to you in this song. My finally pick is ‘Time To Get A Gun’; although Miranda makes the situation sound a little ‘red neck’ she is singing about a subject that I feel is extremely relatable these days. It’s a song about not feeling safe in the day to day world and maybe having to step up and protect your family yourself. Although this song has a serious underlining subject, Miranda makes it sound fun and beautiful.
Miranda pours her heart and soul into each song and you can tell that this project is a part of the very talented artist.

Miranda is currently nominated as this year’s CMA Top Female Vocalist and has won ACM’s 2007 Best New Female Award and 2008 ACM Album of the Year.  I would love to see Miranda walk away from the CMA’s in November with the Top Female Vocalist hardware under her arm! Good Luck Miranda!

‘Revolution’ track listing:
1. White Liar
2. Only Prettier 
3. Dead Flowers
4. Me and Your Cigarettes  
5. Maintain the Pain  
6. Airstream Song  
7. Makin’ Plans 
8. Time to Get a Gun
9. Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go  
10. The House That Build Me  
11. Love Song  
12. Heart Like Mine  
13. Sin for a Sin
14. That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round 
15. Virginia Bluebell

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