Tea Time

GENRE: country My first impression is how solid of a duo this is. They share the lines so well together. I love the back and forth, especially when their voices are almost polar opposites. His voice has a sultry, smooth charm to it. Meanwhile, Loretta has such a bright tone. The combination reminds me of salted caramel. Also, I don't think I've had a fiddle be such an integral part of the song. It brings about a different dimension of authenticity to the whole piece. Alongside the fiddle, the cadence of the lyrics is incredibly jumpy. Honestly, it's as if their accent affects the way they sing their songs (which is researched well I'm quite sure).  I'm also a believer in the message they sing about. Conway Twitty is quite the romantic, isn't he? Rating: 8/10 

GENRE: country I swear I've heard this song somewhere before, and sung by a woman too. I'll have to look into it later, but I have a feeling this is the original. Either way, it's a cute little song about the open road and the common niceties that go along with it. Instrumentation is simple as ever, but you can't deny that the melody is really unforgettable. Something about the interval between "Trailers" and "Rooms" within the same line is so memorable (is it just a half-step down?). It's also a fusion of both swing and country, combining Southern charm and themes with cool, fun swagger (just listen to those finger snaps). Realistically, the song just a bunch of choruses strung together. I don't even think I can remember the verses, if you can even call them that. I'm not against it though. The song certainly does its job. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: country Ah yes, bring it back around to that old-time soulful country style. This one just breaks my heart. The lyrics are written SO well, and they tell a captivating, poignant story. The phrasing is structured so nicely too, being easy to follow and catchy as a consequence. Plus, the energy is just exactly the one I need when sitting around a campfire. It gives me that Blue Eyes Cryin'  vibe almost. To be fair, it's just another love song. To its benefit, in my opinion, is its simplicity. The lyrics don't tell a straightforward story, and instead lay out a finer detail associated with breakups. Plus, it's in a nice register for singing if you're into singing along. Short and sweet—although maybe not so lovey-dovey from the perspective of the singer. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: country  Well, we were bound to come across something more stereotypical of rednecks as we journey through the canon of country music. But, this piece is quite the kicker. You've got wicked guitar work on par with any guitar virtuoso. You've got the heavy accent of Jerry Reed. And last but not least, you've got a rant against growing technology. I wonder if you could see it as a satire nowadays. It's fun nonetheless to sing along with! I want to meet the drummer that played on this, because he's surely having quite a ball too. The lyrics are quite a hoot too. He sings pretty fast so, tune up your ears and keep up. It's not quite exactly my type of country song, but he's definitely a character and has a talent for lyrics! Rating: 7/10

GENRE: country Oh my god, what a catchy tune! I was lovestruck from merely the first words. The southern hospitality is just palpable. He's got a slight Elton John youthfulness to his voice. Just, such a clean and clear voice. The instrumentals are old-timey as well. That bright piano, and that lively bass is truly something nostalgic and beholden to simpler times. You know, it almost feels like an earlier Beatles song too now that I think about it, with the exception of that old banjo. Given the time period, it's entirely possible there were some influences here and there in the writing the song. The lyrics aren't deep, but simple and poignant. Concise, clear, and meaningful to the source material. Wow, I don't know. I am just totally drawn to this song. I only hope to find more like it. Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: country  As much as I want country to be about the people and the soul of Middle America, there's no getting away from the political ideologies that have come to be associated with country music and citizens. This song is quite hilarious. It's so obviously  targeted. Merle Haggard has actually gone public in saying that he regrets writing this song. It is a reflection of his closeted, narrow-minded self back when he was young. There are many viewpoints, but I like to see it as a satire of the conservative views of people like him. It makes the song so much better, almost like a one-up on the people that have racked our nation. The song itself is pretty catchy, and the lyrics are paced well without sounding too forced. Merle Haggard's voice is charming as ever; it's unfortunate it had to be used in an ignorant song such as this. In a way, it's also enlightening. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: country Yes, I like country, but only a very specific subset of country. Namely, country ballads that speak to the heart and soul of a different part of America. I was never swept away by those more upbeats songs in the country spectrum. However, this one's a little different. It's a pretty old song, based on the slightly fuzzy, dusty quality I'm hearing. That alone adds to its charm. In fact, I feel like there's a lot of overlap and blending between the stylings of the oldies. It's honestly the choice of instruments that differentiate between them. It's a love song from an American sweetheart. That's just not a thing nowadays. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: country Ah yes, my favorite style of country. It's that "sit around the campfire and contemplate" sort of song. The lyrics are heartbreaking, and the honesty of the instrumentals is palpable. I think that slide guitar is so representative of this style of country. I'm not sure if it's overused, but I listen to so little country that it's always a welcome element of a song. Don't you just wanna dance and just sway to song? The chords are quite simple yes, but within that constraint they are incredibly emotional. This sort of tempo and style reminds me of one of Dolly Parton's slower songs. Of course, I really like that one too. So, no surprise here. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: rap, country Well, I guess it was inevitable. When you first think of it as a fusion of rap and country, you probably wouldn't expect it to be one of the hottest hits of the year. More than that, Lil Nas has been riding this train and getting a lot of mileage out of it, quickly booming onto the mainstream. Regarding the quality of the song itself, there's no denying that it is catchy and gets stuck in your head so easily. One hypothesis I have is that the general lower register of the song is something that's ostensibly more uncommon in today's pop music. It's like finding a new favorite snack. Plus, the topic itself is unfamiliar territory, almost stereotypical, from most people's points of view. I think it all blends together to be both a funny and pleasurable hit piece. With the uncanny inclusion of Billy Ray, there's no doubt that you'd get an interesting song given that no one knows what he's been up to for the past decade. Rating: 8...

  genre: country-ish, folk  snack: pineapples Lately I've been traversing an entirely different spectrum of music, as compared to what I have typically listened to. Not only has it expanded my music interests, but I've come to appreciate a wider scope of musical elements and nuances. Faye Webster is both a photographer and a musician. It's easier to just call her an artist. Her taste shines through in her unique blend of folk, jazz, and country. The tiny elements of country (i.e. the slides and instrumentation) give it a grounded, honest, feel. As for her singing, she's got an interesting tone and accent. Some singers' tones can really take some time to appreciate, but Faye's is easy to digest and listen to. Nothing intense about the background instruments other than room-filling chords and swells from the guitar. The synths add a little flair and accent to the mood. Again, saxophones have something to add without overpowering the sound. If you really listen...

genre: country Delving further into the small puddle that is my knowledge of old, classic country music, we arrive at Emmylou Harris, close colleague to the equally famous, if not more, Dolly Parton. The subtleties between their voices are many, but for the most part, the sentiments are the same. Of all the kinds of country songs, it's the heartfelt, sorrowful ones that are the most striking and captivating. Lucky me, because Emmylou has plenty of those. Boulder to Birmingham  serves an additional entry to that, what with its soothing vocals, gentle electric guitars, and the particular, and delightful shrill/vibrato of the Emmylou on top of that. Rating: 7/10