These recent Today Show performers aren't doing much for me.
Other than some CMT approval and some occasional mandolin, these guys are on a Fray/Third Eye Blind/Vanessa Carlton tip. I'm all about rock crossover (hello, Darius), but this track sounds like the work of a marketing team, not the type of homegrown crossover that Kenny Chesney works up on anthemic fist-pumpers like "Young."
Point being, fuck this. The breakdown in the middle, the reverse-video plot, I can't hang. There are small Nashville-style details, such as violin plucks and some high-end banjo sparkle, but tracks like "Don't Wake Me" feel like a label's attempt to salvage what would have been a mall-punk band, if focus groups still showed mall-punk bands sold records. I guarantee you, Love and Theft sounded exactly like Simple Plan until 2008.
This is part of the bigger trend of pop and rock stars like Jessica Simpson and Kid Rock looking to sell some albums by country-ing it up -- and in the case of Love and Theft, there's a huge glossy sincerity that can only be the result of a team of producers turning up the schmaltz knob.
Mostly, I can't get behind any band whose career aims are to be as big as Daughtry.
Fuck this.
Love, BFMH.
Showing posts with label CMT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMT. Show all posts
Monday, August 24, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Big Timing In A Small Town, 1991 - 2009
Peanut butter and jelly.
Baseball and hot dogs.
Cold beers and Friday nights.
BROOKS and motherfucking DUNN.
Sadly, one great American pairing decided to part ways over the last few months, and BFMH can't help but comment on the passing of a great contemporary country duo.
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn could be counted on for badass videos and nostalgia-filled slow jams, often paired with Reba McEntire, as on the showstopper "Cowgirls Don't Cry." Formed in the first contemporary country Golden Era of 1991, the duo managed to snag a CMT Vocal Duo of the Year for 4 years running from 1992 to 2006, except for the fluke year when Montgomery Gentry took it in 2000 -- and let's face it, they're no B&D.
Alongside a giant single-handed contribution to the world of line dancing with "Boot Scootin' Boogie," B&D could be counted on for beer-raisin' jams from the start, like the classic "Hard Working Man" from 1992, complete with slow-mo rodeo shots. (Subquestion: is this early video of a working man trying to hold on to the metaphoric bull analagous to the entire career of working men Brooks and Dunn????)
"I'm all business from 9 til 5"
Brooks & Dunn - Hard Workin' Man (Official Music Video) - For more amazing video clips, click here
Also, let's note Dunn's killer flame-decorated shirt. Eat that shit, Billy Ray Cyrus.
More recently, B&D have broken down the mind of the country man with songs like "Hillbilly Deluxe," which pairs monster trucks and small-town images with a stronger pop flavor; B&D both got more country and more pop at the same time, like some sort of two-headed CMA-devouring American flag-waving no-shit-taking Top 40 leviathan. Brooks lists off the shit he likes over a country-rock-pop pastiche track (note the banjo), and has no problem getting real stoked on name-checking motherfucking Tastee Freeze.
"Put on a smell good, put on some Skynyrd"
The pop sheen on this track is balanced by a higher percentage of monster truck shots and white girl T&A, a move that Brooks and Dunn may not have invented, but certainly perfected.
I really don't know how to end this post other than with one more B&D jam, the aptly titled "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone," featuring lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn. We certainly will, friends, we certainly will.
Baseball and hot dogs.
Cold beers and Friday nights.
BROOKS and motherfucking DUNN.
Sadly, one great American pairing decided to part ways over the last few months, and BFMH can't help but comment on the passing of a great contemporary country duo.
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn could be counted on for badass videos and nostalgia-filled slow jams, often paired with Reba McEntire, as on the showstopper "Cowgirls Don't Cry." Formed in the first contemporary country Golden Era of 1991, the duo managed to snag a CMT Vocal Duo of the Year for 4 years running from 1992 to 2006, except for the fluke year when Montgomery Gentry took it in 2000 -- and let's face it, they're no B&D.
Alongside a giant single-handed contribution to the world of line dancing with "Boot Scootin' Boogie," B&D could be counted on for beer-raisin' jams from the start, like the classic "Hard Working Man" from 1992, complete with slow-mo rodeo shots. (Subquestion: is this early video of a working man trying to hold on to the metaphoric bull analagous to the entire career of working men Brooks and Dunn????)
"I'm all business from 9 til 5"
Brooks & Dunn - Hard Workin' Man (Official Music Video) - For more amazing video clips, click here
Also, let's note Dunn's killer flame-decorated shirt. Eat that shit, Billy Ray Cyrus.
More recently, B&D have broken down the mind of the country man with songs like "Hillbilly Deluxe," which pairs monster trucks and small-town images with a stronger pop flavor; B&D both got more country and more pop at the same time, like some sort of two-headed CMA-devouring American flag-waving no-shit-taking Top 40 leviathan. Brooks lists off the shit he likes over a country-rock-pop pastiche track (note the banjo), and has no problem getting real stoked on name-checking motherfucking Tastee Freeze.
"Put on a smell good, put on some Skynyrd"
The pop sheen on this track is balanced by a higher percentage of monster truck shots and white girl T&A, a move that Brooks and Dunn may not have invented, but certainly perfected.
I really don't know how to end this post other than with one more B&D jam, the aptly titled "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone," featuring lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn. We certainly will, friends, we certainly will.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Viral Video Visionaries: Lady Antebellum
Wow okay so I know I've slacked a bit this last week on Blog For My Horses, but gimme a break. I've been saying that the July 4th holiday should be *at least* a week long anyway. So pardon me while I take the time to chant "U.S.A." for a few days longer than others.
Shit though, I'm back, and I'm COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS to the big Sun City Carnival Tour stop in San Francisco featuring Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, and Miranda Lambert. How fucking sick is that line up?? Seriously. Fuck Lollapalooza, fuck the PItchfork Festival, fuck Bonnaroo (although their line ups are usually pretty awesome). This is like the Woodstock motherlode of country tours.
Obviously I'm excited for Chesney. Who wouldn't be? I've already explored Sugarland a bit here on BFMH, but this week I wanted to bring my attention to another artist on the up: Lady Antebellum.
And what do you know what? Once again that the Washington Post's anti-country, beyond offensive stereotype of country music fans in their recent article to be 100% off base. Why don't you click around the web a little bit more next time, Washington Post? Maybe you would have noticed that Lady Antebellum is already on EPISODE #64 of their virally awesome Webisode Wednesday series!
And as you can see, shit gets NUTS when Lady Antebellum is backstage at the Sun City Carnival Tour when it hits Philadelphia:
Haha, nice one guys. There's just FRUIT in the juicer, hmm? Yea right. I can smell the moonshine from here, ya crazy drunks!
Another favorite episode of mine is EPISODE #62, as it demonstrates just how fucking hardcore country fans can get for their favorite bands:
AWESOME. Nothing really shows how much you love your favorite band like a fake tattoo with a sharpie. You can bet I'll be rolling *at least* this deep when I hit the Sun City Carnival Tour on Saturday.
Check out the smooth video for "Run To You":
And let's not forget... stealing the show at 2009 CMT Music Awards:
In all seriousness though... why isn't Lady Antebellum bigger? Rascal Flatts, I think you've just met your metrosexual mainstream country nemesis. Best put a little more gel in that hair, and make that eyeliner just a little bit thicker.
Shit though, I'm back, and I'm COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS to the big Sun City Carnival Tour stop in San Francisco featuring Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, and Miranda Lambert. How fucking sick is that line up?? Seriously. Fuck Lollapalooza, fuck the PItchfork Festival, fuck Bonnaroo (although their line ups are usually pretty awesome). This is like the Woodstock motherlode of country tours.
Obviously I'm excited for Chesney. Who wouldn't be? I've already explored Sugarland a bit here on BFMH, but this week I wanted to bring my attention to another artist on the up: Lady Antebellum.
And what do you know what? Once again that the Washington Post's anti-country, beyond offensive stereotype of country music fans in their recent article to be 100% off base. Why don't you click around the web a little bit more next time, Washington Post? Maybe you would have noticed that Lady Antebellum is already on EPISODE #64 of their virally awesome Webisode Wednesday series!
And as you can see, shit gets NUTS when Lady Antebellum is backstage at the Sun City Carnival Tour when it hits Philadelphia:
Haha, nice one guys. There's just FRUIT in the juicer, hmm? Yea right. I can smell the moonshine from here, ya crazy drunks!
Another favorite episode of mine is EPISODE #62, as it demonstrates just how fucking hardcore country fans can get for their favorite bands:
AWESOME. Nothing really shows how much you love your favorite band like a fake tattoo with a sharpie. You can bet I'll be rolling *at least* this deep when I hit the Sun City Carnival Tour on Saturday.
Check out the smooth video for "Run To You":
And let's not forget... stealing the show at 2009 CMT Music Awards:
In all seriousness though... why isn't Lady Antebellum bigger? Rascal Flatts, I think you've just met your metrosexual mainstream country nemesis. Best put a little more gel in that hair, and make that eyeliner just a little bit thicker.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
And motherfucker has a Twitter.
Remember our response to the Washington Post?
Well here's another reminder that it's not just Stephen Colbert fans creating viral content online:
Brad fuckin Paisley, hosting a green screen video contest. Alongside his insightful video for "Online", Paisley moves to the front of the pack of the internet-savvy country stars. There are some really weird replies to the video challenge, and clearly, Brad has invigorated the country fans who *get* the internet, as the Post might say.
So, I'm appointing him the Blog For My Horses Contemporary Country Ambassador to The Internet. Just because country music might just be the last genre of music to sell CDs, have a popular broadcast awards show, and actually have hits on the radio, doesn't mean that it's not an internet-friendly genre, and Mr. Paisley is the man to prove it.
Don't fuck it up, Brad! And good luck tonight at the CMTs. Twitter that shit, if you can.
Well here's another reminder that it's not just Stephen Colbert fans creating viral content online:
Brad fuckin Paisley, hosting a green screen video contest. Alongside his insightful video for "Online", Paisley moves to the front of the pack of the internet-savvy country stars. There are some really weird replies to the video challenge, and clearly, Brad has invigorated the country fans who *get* the internet, as the Post might say.
So, I'm appointing him the Blog For My Horses Contemporary Country Ambassador to The Internet. Just because country music might just be the last genre of music to sell CDs, have a popular broadcast awards show, and actually have hits on the radio, doesn't mean that it's not an internet-friendly genre, and Mr. Paisley is the man to prove it.
Don't fuck it up, Brad! And good luck tonight at the CMTs. Twitter that shit, if you can.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Def Leppard pours some sugar on white people at CMT awards
Late breaking news---Def Leppard to perform live at the CMT awards on Tuesday. WOW.
Damn, just when I thought the line up couldn't get any better.
So this begs the question... why would Def Leppard do this? Why go country? I think the greater question though is, why WOULDN'T they? White people are pretty much listening to anything but rock anymore these days, so why *not* go for the one remaining musical mainline into the hearts and minds of the non-rhythm craving whiteys everywhere. Stroke of genius really.
To celebrate this occasion, I'm offering up a pair of videos to celebrate Def Leppard's excellent decision making.
First up, some class old school Leppard from their more "rebellious" days:
And next up, some amazing new school Leppard (featuring Tim McGraw no less) that you may or may not have known existed:
Tim McGraw kinda steals the spotlight a bit, but you know what? The one armed Leppard drummer still holds it down. There. I know you were thinking it, so I had to say it.
Damn, just when I thought the line up couldn't get any better.
So this begs the question... why would Def Leppard do this? Why go country? I think the greater question though is, why WOULDN'T they? White people are pretty much listening to anything but rock anymore these days, so why *not* go for the one remaining musical mainline into the hearts and minds of the non-rhythm craving whiteys everywhere. Stroke of genius really.
To celebrate this occasion, I'm offering up a pair of videos to celebrate Def Leppard's excellent decision making.
First up, some class old school Leppard from their more "rebellious" days:
And next up, some amazing new school Leppard (featuring Tim McGraw no less) that you may or may not have known existed:
Tim McGraw kinda steals the spotlight a bit, but you know what? The one armed Leppard drummer still holds it down. There. I know you were thinking it, so I had to say it.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Zac Brown Band - robbed at the CMTs
For the life of me, I have no idea why the Zac Brown band weren't voted best new group at the CMTs this year, if only on the strength of their single "Chicken Fried."
The best thing about this song is how it continues the mold of one of today's most popular country song forms: it's pretty much just a list of shit the singer likes. If a country singer is struggling, you can pretty much guarantee he can draw lyrics looking at some stuff that he finds enjoyable.
Unlike rap, which will add a boast in there, or rock, which is usually about struggle or dissatisfaction, country singers are content to straight up lay out stuff they like. In "Chicken Fried," Zac Brown talks about beer, sweet tea, sunrises, trees in Georgia, and fitted pants. Damn right, fitted pants.
It's a format that's pretty much everywhere once you notice it: Craig Morgan's "That's What I Love About Sunday" and Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar", for example.
That said, Zac Brown did it best, including an amazing post-9/11 America-loving bridge that breaks it down emotionally before launching back into the chorus. He really takes it to the next level when he relates American struggles abroad as protection of "a little bit o' chicken fried". I couldn't agree more.
The best thing about this song is how it continues the mold of one of today's most popular country song forms: it's pretty much just a list of shit the singer likes. If a country singer is struggling, you can pretty much guarantee he can draw lyrics looking at some stuff that he finds enjoyable.
Unlike rap, which will add a boast in there, or rock, which is usually about struggle or dissatisfaction, country singers are content to straight up lay out stuff they like. In "Chicken Fried," Zac Brown talks about beer, sweet tea, sunrises, trees in Georgia, and fitted pants. Damn right, fitted pants.
It's a format that's pretty much everywhere once you notice it: Craig Morgan's "That's What I Love About Sunday" and Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar", for example.
That said, Zac Brown did it best, including an amazing post-9/11 America-loving bridge that breaks it down emotionally before launching back into the chorus. He really takes it to the next level when he relates American struggles abroad as protection of "a little bit o' chicken fried". I couldn't agree more.
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