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My Country Music Top 5 – August 2015!

This has been a somewhat dreary, less-than-impressive month for country music for me. I’ve heard more cheeze-pop and cross-over crap than I’ve ever heard before and I, for one, don’t like it! I’d mention the ones that I really hate but I don’t want to give them any more recognition than they’ve already been given. That being said (rant over), there have been a few really good releases out there that have stirred the soul and continued the tradition of thoughtful, well-crafted production that is the hallmark of country music – at least for me it is.

1. “Smokin’ and Drinkin’ by Miranda Lambert has been my anthem for the month of August! What a powerful song that has really reached out to me in terms of reviving memories of the past and looking back at better, simpler times. This song has been an emotional reflective song for me. I love the way she weaves in the lyric “Hangin’ with friends, goin’ against our upbringin’, smokin’ and drinkin’.” Her vocals and the harmonies with Little Big Town are haunting, just like the memories it has stirred. The guitar work and bass are amazing – truly a song worth putting on repeat!

2. “Run Away With You” by Big & Rich has really grown on me over the last month. It’s got great lyrics and a powerful guitar body of sound to it – it has all the right punches in all the right places. It’s somewhat ironic that this song is in my #1 spot as it has one of the worst, least country videos ever made lol – I was going to downgrade it just based on the lack of creativity that went into it. However, the song is really good! Great guitar work and a full sound that I can just crank up when I’m driving!

3. “Burning House” by Cam is a really thoughtful song. I love the lyrics and the picture of pain and hope that the writers brought to this song. Cam’s vocals are sweet and endearing as the guitar riffs around her voice singing to us about “trying to take what’s lost and broke and make it right.” I just love this song! It is a beautifully crafted ballad.

4. “I Got The Boy” by Jana Kramer is a song full of lyrical twists in the best country songwriting tradition. She really belts out her powerful voice on this song while gently entwining the listener with lyrics about love and regret, about how love has grown, surpassed its time, and moved on into the future.

5. “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools” by Tim McGraw is, well, country music! Another song on my list that is not of recent vintage but for whatever reason, stands out this month. Life just made this song relevant again for me. The harmonies are superb: they crash your gut and lift your spirits at the same time! This song should stand among country music’s greatest hist of all time for me.