Tag Archives: Texas Music Chart

Reviews

Album Review: Turnpike Troubadours Make Oklahoma Proud With Their Self-Titled Album

4 Comments

Rating: 10/10

If you are not very familiar with the Red Dirt scene, allow me to introduce the Turnpike Troubadours, a Red Dirt band from my home state of Oklahoma. Their new, self-titled album, released Friday (September 18th), is their first release since 2012’s Goodbye Normal Street, and it was well worth the wait. This is an excellent place to start with the Turnpike Troubadours and with the Red Dirt scene in general.

The album opens with “The Bird Hunters,” which unashamedly features a fiddle for much of its five minutes. In fact, I’ll go ahead and say it now–I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a concentrated amount of fiddle on any other album. If you had a shortage of fiddle in your life, I suggest you purchase this album immediately…but I digress. Aside from that piece of awesomeness, the song itself is beautifully written, describing two friends hunting in Cherokee County; the narrator hunts, but his mind is on a woman whom he left in Tulsa after deciding not to marry her. It seems that this narrator was not cut out for city life, but he still misses, or at least thinks about, the woman he left behind. This is a fantastic opener and sets the tone of the album perfectly. “The Mercury” is my early favorite; here, frontman Evan Felker sings of the wild nights and women at Tulsa’s Mercury Lounge. “It’s 1 A.M., and wild and loud, like sittin’ in the middle of a funnel cloud,” pretty much sums this up. The instrumentation in this song is great, the perfect blend of fiddles and rock guitars. Next is “Down Here,” the current single, which sits at #4 on the
Texas Music Chart. This is a nice, somewhat lighthearted song in which the narrator is trying to offer a friend some encouragement during a hard time. It was a good choice for a single, and it will certainly get to #1–it hit #10 after only five weeks on the chart. It’s probably my least favorite song on the album, but when my least favorite is a solid song and a perfect single choice, I really can’t complain.

“Time of Day” is another lighthearted track about a man promising to give a woman all he has if “you give me just a minute of your time of day.” It’s a catchy song that would make a good future single. “Ringing in the Year” features some more of that great Red Dirt sound found in “The Mercury”; here, a man is missing a woman and wondering if she ever thinks about him. There’s an honesty in this song that can really connect with you if you listen to the lyrics–“Won’t you miss your whiskey in the wintertime, my dear, the way I’ve been missin’ you this fall, And cheap champagne don’t dull the pain of ringing in the year, wonderin’ if you think of me at all.” “A Little Song” is just that–an acoustic “little tune” written for a woman whom the narrator has apparently wronged, and “I wrote a little rhyme to make it right.” It’s very much a case of less is more–a simple little song that nevertheless leaves its mark on the listener. It’s more of that raw honesty from “Ringing in the Year.”

“Long Drive Home” is a musically excellent song saturated with fiddles and rock guitars. But if you think instrumentation is this ban’ds only strength, think again–the line “You still can’t forgive the times that I wish I could forget” is brilliant, perfectly capturing the narrator’s thoughts on the broken relationship described in this song. It’s another one of my favorites on this album. Now, I’ve heard a lot of fiddle, but not very much steel guitar–but just when I was wondering where I might find it, I am treated to an excellent re-recording of “Easton and Main.” This song was on their first album and tells us how the man “left my heart in Tulsa, on the corner of Easton & Main, on the Cain’s Ballroom floor, soaking up a bourbon stain.” Okay, so I found the steel guitar, and on “7 Oaks,” I pretty much find everything else. From the excellent keyboards to more of those great fiddles to a harmonica, this is just fun to listen to. The song itself tells of the hard times on a farm–“There ain’t no silver left in these pockets, and there ain’t no cornbread, and there ain’t no wine, that train don’t stop around here anymore, it done moved on down the line.” They are singing about being bankrupt and yet this is far more entertaining and fun to listen to than any tailgate party song I have ever come across. It would be incredible to hear live, as would “Doreen,” a song that tells the story of Doreen, who seems to be cheating on the narrator while he is on the road. At this point, I have no words sufficient for the instrumentation; everyone here should make it their goal to hear this band live. I can’t do it justice in writing, and I have a great feeling that this album can’t do the live versions justice either.

The album slows down for “Fall out of Love,” a brilliantly written song reflecting on why people fall out of love. Evan Felker sings of a broken relationship with more of that raw honesty, and if you’re not blown away by the line, “You bet your heart on a diamond, and I played the clubs in spades,” then I don’t know what will impress you–and credit to R.C. Edwards for crafting such a line, making a rare but valuable contribution on the album with this song. The album concludes with a re-recording of “Bossier City,” a fun, upbeat song about going to Bossier City to party and gamble, without the girlfriend’s knowledge. It features the fiddles with which this album so boldly began, closing the album excellently and appropriately.

In case you have not figured it out, the Turnpike Troubadours have given us a fantastic album. It was certainly worth the wait and is one of the best albums of 2015. they continue to make great country music and have made Oklahoma and Red Dirt proud. I highly recommend this album.

Listen to album

Reviews

Album Review: The Statesboro Revue–Jukehouse Revival

2 Comments

Rating: 8.5/10

Stewart Mann, the lead singer and chief songwriter for the Texas-based band known as The Statesboro Revue, says he has ” always strived to create a sound that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; merely merge the little idiosyncrasies of all my influences and shape them in a manner that might someday be looked upon as my own unique sound.” It seems he and the band are well on their way; they have found their home in the Texas country scene, but their sound is far removed from that of many of their fellow Texas country artists, mixing country, rock, and blues into a style all their own. Their third album, Jukehouse Revival, just released in August, is a great showcase of the sound and is seeing success on both the Americana and
Texas charts.

The album opens with “Bedroom Floor,” a catchy, mid-tempo song in which Mann talks about how he likes to “smoke and drink” and “hammer down,” but now, as he gets older, it has caught up to him, and “now I always wind up down on the bedroom floor.” In my opinion, a big part of an album’s appeal comes from track placement, especially an opener. I have reviewed better albums, but this one has one of the best openers I have ever heard, in terms of setting the mood of the album perfectly and and capturing my attention. Also, if this is your first time with the band–it was mine–this is a great song to keep you listening. “Every Town” sees Mann spending the night with various women after each show; “there’s one of you in every town.” He wakes up enjoying the fact that he can leave, but she’ll have to stay and deal with the rumors. I’m not sure if I should like this song so much as a woman, but the country rock production makes it simply catchy and hard not to enjoy. The current single, “Undone,” currently at #17 on the Texas Music Chart, is simply about a man who likes to let go and party on the weekends. The difference between this and any bro country anthem? This narrator “got a family that depends on me” and works hard all week, using the weekend to “come undone” and forget about the pressures of life. The correct use of the banjo is also a glaring difference.

“Tallahassee” is an upbeat song where I pay more attention to the excellent country instrumentation–fiddles and keyboards–than the lyrics. The actual song is about trying to get home and thinking of someone back in Tallahassee, but I had to make myself focus on these lyrics after several listens because I was focused on the music. The keyboards show up again in “Roll on Mama,” in which Mann tries to convince the women in the bars to “take a late night chance” on him. “Count On Me” is a nice love song about how he will be there for his woman through hard times; she can always count on him. This was a nice serious moment in the lighthearted album, but it stood out more for good placement than for anything in the song. “Like the Sound” is basically a bro country song, complete with a river and a name-drop of Johnny Cash; it’s better than its bro country counterparts because of the country rock production, but it was still completely unnecessary. Next is “Honkytonkin,” a song that is simply about this: going “honkytonkin” with his woman. It’s got great country rock instrumentation and more of these awesome keyboards, but lyrically, it’s nothing special. Still, it works well on this album, which I’m finding out more and more is very aptly named.

“Satisfied” is another love song–here the narrator is doing everything he can to win a “pretty little girl from Arkansas,” promising to give her everything he can and saying, “I’ll keep you satisfied.” I can’t help but compare this to “Count on Me,” and this is much better lyrically. “Go Down Slow” is the serious counterpart to “Undone.” In “undone,” the man wanted to just let go and party–here, after the hard week, he is praying the alcohol will “go down slow.” “I’d rather feel some pain than nothing at all” captures the desperation in this song better than anything I could write. The steel guitars add to the sadness here to make this a raw, seemingly brutally honest song that stands out harshly and beautifully on the lighthearted album. Jukehouse Revival closes with “Last Ramble,” one of my personal favorites; here, death is compared to a man’s “last ramble” and looked on as a journey to heaven and God, not something to be sorrowful over. This is told from the point of view of the dying man; it’s a peaceful, comforting song and a good way to end the album.

The aptly named Jukehouse Revival is, for the most part, an excellent album. There are some lyrical weak points, and “Like the Sound” was unnecessary in my opinion, but the unique sound that Stewart Mann seeks makes this album a standout. I have reviewed albums with better songwriting, but this album is simply fun and enjoyable to listen to. If you enjoy country rock, you will definitely like Jukehouse Revival.

Listen to Album

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BefMeqdL4p4

charts

Texas Music From Oklahoma: A Look at the Texas Music Chart (September 14th)

2 Comments

Texas Music Chart

1. Cody Canada and the Departed–“Easy” (up 1)
2. Cory Morrow–“Old With You” (up 2)
3. Pat Green–“While I Was Away” (down 2)
4. Turnpike Troubadours–“Down Here” (up 1)
5. Matt Kimbrow–“Livin’ the Good Life” (down 2)
6. Reckless Kelly–“Real Cool Hand”
7. Curtis Grimes–“Smile That Smile” (up 3)
8. Bart Crow–“Life Comes at You Fast” (up 4)
9. Whiskey Myers–“Shelter From the Rain”
10. Kyle Park–“What Goes Around Comes Around” (up 1)
11. Wade Bowen–“Sun Shines on a Dreamer” (down 3)
12. Kevin Fowler & Deryl Dodd–“Damn This Ol’ Honky Tonk Dream” (up 1)
13. Granger Smith–“Back Road Song” (down 6)
14. Miles Williams–“Teasin’ Me” (up 2)
15. JB and the Moonshine Band–“Shotgun, Rifle, and a .45” (up 2)
16. Casey Donahew Band–“Loser” (up 7)
17. The Statesboro Revue–“Undone” (up 1)
18. Mike Ryan–“Girls I Date” (up 1)
19. Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen–“Lady Bug” (up 5)
20. Stoney LaRue–“Easy She Comes” (up 1)
21. Josh Grider–“You Dream I’ll Drive” (down 1)
22. Rich O’Toole–“Talk About the Weather” (down 7)
23. Uncle Lucius–“Don’t Own the Right” (down 1)
24. TJ Broscoff–“Phone Calls” (up 2)
25. Aaron Einhouse–“I Could Fall” (up 2)
26. Saints Eleven–“I Don’t” (up 3)
27. Zane Williams–“She Is” (up 9) [biggest gainer]
28. Mario Flores–“Beer Time” (up 3)
29. Chance Anderson Band–“245 Miles” (up 6)
30. Jason James–“I’ve Been Drinkin’ More” (up 2)
31. Prophets and Outlaws–“Texas Home” (down 17) [biggest loser]
32. Josh Ward–“Highway” (down 7)
33. Tori Martin–“Woman Up” (down 3)
34. Luke Robinson–“Roses on the Radio” (up 5)
35. Dalton Domino–“Jesus & Handbags” (up 2)
36. Casey Berry–“Blood of the Lamb” (up 8)
37. Jon Wolfe–“Don’t It Feel Good” (up 1)
38. Caleb McIntire–“Ozark Mountain Stomp” (down 4)
39. Ray Johnston Band–“Small Town Square” (up 9)
40. American Aquarium–“Losing Side of Twenty-Five” (up 2)
41. Paul Thorn–“Everybody Needs Somebody” (re-entering top 50)
42. The Damn Quails–“Just a Little While” (entering top 50)
43. Cody Johnson–“Proud” (up 7)
44. Roger Creager & Cody Johnson–“If You Had to Choose” (entering top 50)
45. Breelan Angel–“She Made Your Bed” (up 4)
46. Bri Bagwell–“My Boots” (down 3)
47. Cody Jinks–“Loud and Heavy” (down 1)
48. Cody Joe Hodges–“One More Drink” (down 1)
49. Judson Cole Band–“Time to Run” (down 9)
50. Blue Water Highway Band–“Medicine Man” (entering top 50)

  • new #1: “Easy”
  • next week’s #1 prediction: “Old With You”
  • two songs moved up 9 spots this week

Source: Texas Music Chart

charts

Texas Music From Oklahoma: A Look at the Texas Music Chart (September 7th)

Leave a comment

After taking a week off to move offices, the Texas Music Chart has returned…and Wade Bowen has finally been defeated.

Texas Music Chart

1. Pat Green–“While I Was Away” (up 1)
2. Cody Canada and the Departed–“Easy” (up 2)
3. Matt Kimbrow–“Livin’ the Good Life” (up 3)
4. Cory Morrow–“Old With You” (up 3)
5. Turnpike Troubadours–“Down Here” (up 4)
6. Reckless Kelly–“Real Cool Hand” (up 6)
7. Granger Smith–“Back Road Song” (down 2)
8. Wade Bowen–“Sun Shines on a Dreamer” (down 7)
9. Whiskey Myers–“Shelter From the Rain” (up 1)
10. Curtis Grimes–“Smile That Smile” (up 5)
11. Kyle Park–“What Goes Around Comes Around”
12. Bart Crow–“Life Comes at You Fast” (up 1)
13. Kevin Fowler & Deryl Dodd–“Damn This Ol’ Honky Tonk Dream” (up 3)
14. Prophets and Outlaws–“Texas Home”
15. Rich O’Toole–“Talk About the Weather” (down 7)
16. Miles Williams–“Teasin’ Me” (up 8)
17. JB and the Moonshine Band–“Shotgun, Rifle, and a .45” (up 1)
18. The Statesboro Revue–“Undone” (up 3)
19. Mike Ryan–“Girls I Date” (up 6)
20. Josh Grider–“You Dream I’ll Drive” (up 9)
21. Stoney LaRue–“Easy She Comes” (down 1)
22. Uncle Lucius–“Don’t Own the Right”
23. Casey Donahew Band–“Loser” (up 15) [biggest gainer]
24. Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen–“Lady Bug” (up 9)
25. Josh Ward–“Highway” (down 22) [biggest loser]
26. TJ Broscof–“Phone Calls” (up 5)
27. Aaron Einhouse–“I Could Fall” (down 1)
28. Callahan Divide–“Happy” (up 9)
29. Saints Eleven–“I Don’t” (up 6)
30. Tori Martin–“Woman Up”
31. Mario Flores–“Beer Time” (up 10)
32. Jason James–“I’ve Been Drinkin’ More” (up 11)
33. William Clark Green–“Sticks and Stones” (down 10)
34. Caleb McIntire–“Ozark Mountain Stomp” (up 2)
35. Chance Anderson Band–“245 Miles” (down 1)
36. Zane Williams–“She Is” (up 11)
37. Dalton Domino–“Jesus & Handbags” (up 5)
38. Jon Wolfe–“Don’t it Feel Good” (entering top 50)
39. Luke Robinson–“Roses on the Radio” (up 6)
40. Judson Cole Band–“Time to Run”
41. Scott Taylor Band–“By Now” (down 13)
42. American Aquarium–“Losing Side of Twenty-Five” (up 8)
43. Bri Bagwell–“My Boots” (entering top 50)
44. Casey Berry–“Blood of the Lamb” (entering top 50)
45. Thom Shepherd–“Little Miss Everything” (down 1)
46. Cody Jinks–“Loud and Heavy” (up 3)
47. Cody Joe Hodges–“One More Drink” (re-entering top 50)
48. Ray Johnston Band–“Small Town Square” (entering top 50)
49. Breelan Angel–“She Made Your Bed” (entering top 50)
50. Cody Johnson–“Proud” (entering top 50)

  • new #1: “While I Was Away”
  • next week’s #1 prediction: “While I Was Away”
  • seven new songs enter the chart this week

Source: Texas Music Chart

charts

Texas Music From Oklahoma: A Look at the Texas Music Chart (August 24th)

Leave a comment

Texas Music Chart

1. Wade Bowen–“Sun Shines on a Dreamer” (fourth week at No. 1)
2. Pat Green–“While I Was Away”
3. Josh Ward–“Highway”
4. Cody Canada and the Departed–“Easy” (up 1)
5. Granger Smith–“Back Road Song” (up 1)
6. Matt Kimbrow–“Livin’ the Good Life” (up 1)
7. Cory Morrow–“Old With You” (up 2)
8. Rich O’Toole–“Talk About the Weather” (down 4)
9. Turnpike Troubadours–“Down Here” (up 1)
10. Whiskey Myers–“Shelter From the Rain” (up 2)
11. Kyle Park–“What Goes Around Comes Around”
12. Reckless Kelly–“Real Cool Hand” (up 4)
13. Bart Crow–“Life Comes at You Fast”
14. Prophets and Outlaws–“Texas Home” (up 1)
15. Curtis Grimes–“Smile That Smile” (up 3)
16. Kevin Fowler & Deryl Dodd–“Damn This Ol’ Honky Tonk Dream” (up 7)
17. Aaron Watson–“Freight Train” (down 9)
18. JB and the Moonshine Band–“Shotgun, Rifle, and a .45” (up 2)
19. Sam Riggs–“Long Shot” (down 5)
20. Stoney LaRue–“Easy She Comes” (up 4)
21. The Statesboro Revue–“Undone” (up 7)
22. Uncle Lucius–“Don’t Own the Right” (down 1)
23. William Clark Green–“Sticks and Stones” (down 6)
24. Miles Williams–“Teasin’ Me” (up 1)
25. Mike Ryan–“Girls I Date” (up 10)
26. Aaron Einhouse–“I Could Fall”
27. Sundance Head–“Darlin’ Don’t Go” (down 5)
28. Scott Taylor Band–“By Now” (up 5)
29. Josh Grider–“You Dream I’ll Drive” (up 1)
30. Tori Martin–“Woman Up” (down 1)
31. TJ Broscof–“Phone Calls” (up 9)
32. Matt Hillyer–“If These Old Bones Could Talk” (down 13)
33. Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen–“Lady Bug” (up 16) [biggest gainer]
34. Chance Anderson Band–“245 Miles” (up 5)
35. Saints Eleven–“I Don’t” (up 1)
36. Caleb McIntire–“Ozark Mountain Stomp” (up 2)
37. Callahan Divide–“Happy” (up 7)
38. Kacey Donahue Band–“Loser” (entering top 50)
39. Adrian Johnston–“Avalanche” (down 8)
40. Judson Cole Band–“Time to Run” (down 3)
41. Mario Flores–“Beer Time” (entering top 50)
42. Dalton Domino–Jesus & Handbags” (up 5)
43. Jason James–“I’ve Been Drinkin’ More” (up 2)
44. Thom Shepherd–“Little Miss Everything” (down 3)
45. Luke Robinson–“Roses on the Radio” (down 2)
46. Jeremy Steding–“Love Love Love” (down 4)
47. Zane Williams–“She Is” (entering top 50)
48. Adam Fears–“Golden Gravel Road” (down 16) [biggest loser]
49. Cody Jinks–“Loud and Heavy” (entering top 50)
50. American Aquarium–“Losing Side of Twenty-Five” (down 2)

  • Wade Bowen remains at the top for another week
  • this is the first of the four weeks that “Sun Shines on a Dreamer” has decreased in spins
  • next week’s No. 1 prediction: “While I Was Away

Source: Texas Music Chart