Author Archives: ChuckDauphin

LeAnn Rimes – Spitfire

Posted on May 22, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been seventeen years since LeAnn Rimes first dazzled us with her magnificent vocal range on the Bill Mack-written “Blue.” Since then, Rimes has undergone many personal and career changes over the years. And, to be truthful, why wouldn’t she? After all, she was just thirteen when she made her debut in front of the public eye, and has lived her life in front of the tabloids ever since. How would you have held up if…
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Steve Martin & Edie Brickell – Love Has Come From You

Posted on May 21, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Thanks to his award-winning collaborations with The Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Martin’s skills as a musician have been in the limelight as much as his acting over the past few years. While his banjo prowess on such songs as “King Tut” have been a part of his act for years, make no mistake – he’s not acting on these records. Musically, he is the real deal. If he wasn’t, these cuts would not have received the attention they have gotten. He’s back…
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Mark Newton & Steve Thomas – Reborn

Posted on May 20, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Collectively, the duet of Mark Newton and Steve Thomas have played behind some of the top performers in music – such as Lee Ann Womack, Tony Rice, the Osborne Brothers, and Kenny Chesney. With a musical career like that, it’s no wonder that the two have put together quite a musical collection – one that takes from Traditional Country as well as Classic Bluegrass, but also represents their own sound. The two start off…
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Jason Boland & The Stragglers – Dark & Dirty Mile

Posted on May 17, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Trying to define the term “Red Dirt Music” can be as confusing and puzzling as trying to write the definition of Americana Music. One man’s progressive sounds might very well be someone else’s traditional slant. The same could be said for Jason Boland & The Stragglers. Listening to their music, I personally am taken back in time to the great Country sounds coming off of stations like WSM-AM in the early 1980s. The first two cuts – the title and…
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The Rankin Twins – Moonshine & Maybes

Posted on May 15, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
To say that twin sisters Amy & April Rankin have the vocal synergy together would be putting it mildly. At times, it seems they complement each other so well that it would be tough to tell where one ends and the other begins. But, that’s a very good thing, as this set qualifies as one of the top independent albums I have heard all year so far. On cuts like “Jezebel” and “Wake Up,” the sisters exude personality and charisma…
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Lonestar – Life As We Know It

Posted on May 15, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
For well over a decade, Lonestar was one of the hottest bands in Country Music. Then, in 2008, longtime lead singer Richie McDonald felt the itch to go solo. While he released a fine solo effort, and the band continued to record with new lead singer Cody Collins, there was no mistake that there was magic between the two entities. So, five years later, the band is “Together Again,” and sounding possibly better than ever. More than…
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Don Rigsby – Doctor’s Orders: A Tribute To Ralph Stanley

Posted on May 12, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Among Bluegrass musicians of the past twenty years, there may not be a musician any more influential than Ralph Stanley. With all due respect to Bill Monroe, Stanley has continued to create new music that has touched across today’s generation – and his old music, showcased in O’Brother has received a lot of attention as well. So, it’s no surprise that the great Don Rigsby has chosen to salute the singer with an album that…
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Kenny Chesney – Life On A Rock

Posted on May 11, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Over the years, Kenny Chesney has made no secret of his love for the islands. Though it has filled several of his albums, and inspired his 2005 disc Be As You Are (Songs From An Old Blue Chair), I’ve got to admit that on this disc, I get it. It’s not just the fact that Chesney might or might not be a fan of Jimmy Buffett. He actually does take this music seriously. This album – along with the still stunning Hemingway’s Whiskey might be the…
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Styx – Rockin’ Again!

Posted on May 3, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
It’s shaping up to be a classic night of Rock and Roll this Sunday night in Atlanta, as the “The Midwest Rock ‘n Roll Express” tour makes a stop at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. The bill features legendary rockers Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, and Styx. MNN caught up with longtime Styx member Ricky Phillips, who admitted he was surprised the tour was making another round. “It’s kind of crazy, isn’t it? I don’t think that any of us…
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Nell Robinson & Jim Nunally – House & Garden

Posted on May 3, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Music is something that causes a natural reaction – just like the same emotion and feeling that people have for nature. On this album, veteran performers Nell Robinson and Jim Nunally demonstrate their love of both, tying their feelings into such warm and inviting tracks as “Life In The Garden” and “The Gardener.” There’s an earthiness to these cuts that will almost make you think you are listening to some alternate cuts from a Carter…
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The Boxcars – It’s Just A Road

Posted on May 2, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Bluegrass group The Boxcars have carved out one of the most successful careers in the format as of late. Thanks to their impeccable musicianship, and pristine clean-cut harmonies, they have become one of regular winners at the IBMA Awards – currently holding the prize for Instrumental Group of the Year They put both of those talents to good use on their new collection, which is a taste of what the guys do…
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Kate Earl – Stronger

Posted on May 1, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
How do you describe the music of Alaska native Kate Earl? It’s one of the most unique musical blends that I have heard in quite some time. It’s a little bit of Country, a little bit of Pop, a dash of Jazz, and at some points, the swagger of good old fashioned Rock & Roll. At the heart of Stronger is some fine writing from Earl and her collaborators. She demonstrates a strong ability to turn a phrase, like she does with the incredible title…
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Tom Keifer – Taking A Solo Flight!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Tom Keifer is bringing his show to Buford, Ga on May 22. The stop is part of his concert tour to promote his highly anticipated solo record entitled The Way Life Goes. The album hits stores today, and the longtime Cinderella member is excited about treading on some new ground musically. “It feels good,” Keifer told MNN. “The record has been in the making for a long time. It felt good to really let that go, and get out on the road. The first…
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Tate Stevens – Self Titled

Posted on April 29, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
What a whirlwind the past few months have been for Tate Stevens. Fresh from his win on NBC’s “The X-Factor,” Stevens gets a chance to show Country audience the talent he has had for years on his debut album. The momentum that he has enjoyed since his win continues with a very well-produced debut effort that should keep his name on the lips of fans everywhere. On this disc, Stevens demonstrates an ability to move between uptempo…
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Neverwonder – Really Let It Out

Posted on April 26, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Sometimes, a change can bring about a bit of creative energy. When it comes to Los Angeles-based Neverwonder, that sentence definitely applies. After a well-received 2010 debut, the band has switched lead singers for their new EP, with Alima Soul joining the group. What does she bring to the band? Actually, a lot! Soul shimmers through the tracks on this disc with all the confidence and sultriness of a Rock & Roll vixen, particularly on…
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Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver – Roads Well Traveled

Posted on April 24, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
In the course of Bluegrass history, there are few male vocalists as revered as the incomparable Doyle Lawson. That distinction was proven by his recent induction into the IBMA Hall of Honor. But, the thing about awards and plaques is that they just tend to gather dust. They look nice in a history book, but the true mark of an artist is to keep on creating, and that’s what Lawson and Co. continue to do. Quicksilver – now consisting of Joe…
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Della Mae – This World Oft Can Be

Posted on April 23, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Based out of Boston, I was very surprised when I took a listen to the Rounder debut for the five-woman group Della Mae. Their talent speaks for themselves, as they have developed one of the top reputations in the business for their melodic work. But, how do you combine the influences of the ladies – ranging from straight-ahead Bluegrass to Blues to even, (at times), a bit an international flavor into a cohesive musical thread? Well, how you do…
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Susan Ashton – Thief

Posted on April 21, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
In the 1990s, Susan Ashton was on top of the Contemporary Christian world with nine number one records. Her success in that field led to her being included on Garth Brooks’ 1994 world tour, and a Country deal with Capitol Records. Though she did hit the top-40 with “You’re Lucky I Love You,” success outside CCM never truly materialized. Then, after her marriage ended, Ashton did (according to some) the unthinkable. She walked…
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Dailey & Vincent – Brothers Of The Highway

Posted on April 20, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Over the past half-decade or so, the duo of Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have become the gold standard of Bluegrass Music. When they are “on” – which is 24-7-365 (or 366 with a couple of leap years included in that span), there is nobody doing what they do any better. For their first Rounder album since 2009’s Brothers From Different Mothers, they don’t stray from the formula that has brought them success – whether for Rounder or their…
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Bobby Dean – Double Wide

Posted on April 19, 2013 by ChuckDauphin
Just because you might not hear a lot of traditional sounding, old-school Country Music on the air of mainstream radio anymore doesn’t mean that it’s not there. You simply have to do a little bit of digging around for it. As a truck driver, Bobby Dean spent hours upon hours with those eighteen wheels a’rollin, listening to music with a high dose of twang. Now that he’s on the other side of the stereo, it’s symbolic that he has chosen to…
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