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Chart Roundup – Week of May 25th, 2013

Not a lot has changed at the top since last week, as Florida Georgia Line seem to have a pretty stable monopoly at #1 across Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay and Country Digital Songs, with their hit singles ‘Cruise’ (plus the remix featuring Nelly) and ‘Get Your Shine On’. They’re also occupying #5 on Hot Country Songs, #7 on Country Digital Songs and #6 on Top Country Albums, making them virtually impossible to avoid in country music these days. Also remaining static on the charts is Darius Rucker with ‘Wagon Wheel’, close behind at #2 on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay and #3 on Country Digital Songs. To add to this little rivalry at the top, Blake Shelton (featuring Pistol Annies and friends) is at #3 on Hot Country Songs with ‘Boys Round Here’, and #2 on Country Digital Songs, while he has yet to climb past #7 on Country Airplay. Blake’s 2013 album ‘Based On A True Story…’ drops to #4.

Tim McGraw is also enjoying the rising popularity of his collaboration single with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, ‘Highway Don’t Care’. It’s at #4 on Hot Country Songs, #5 on Country Airplay, and #4 on Country Digital Songs. As you can probably tell, each chart reflects a fairly similar story this week. Good news for Lady Antebellum fans, as their fourth album ‘Golden’ has debuted in at #1 this week, with their lead single ‘Downtown’ still performing well across the charts, #8 on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay and #10 on Country Digital Songs. Kenny Chesney is also enjoying success with ‘Pirate Flag’, reaching #3 on Country Airplay, #11 on Country Digital Songs and #7 on Hot Country Songs. His brand new album, ‘Life On A Rock’, drops to #3 this week.

In addition, Miranda Lambert is retaining her presence with ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’, at #4 on Country Airplay and #6 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, although there are signs things are starting to drop off. This is not the case for Luke Bryan, whose lead single from his upcoming fourth record ‘Crash My Party’ is gaining momentum, reaching #5 on Country Digital Songs, #9 on Hot Country Songs and #14 on Country Airplay.

As for new releases, well there are plenty. The Pistol Annies’ ‘Annie Up’ came in at #2 on Top Country Albums, and its release date partner ABC’s ‘Nashville Soundtrack Volume 2’ came in at #5. This aided the gaining of 5 places for Volume 1. Another compilation makes it at #10, ‘Now That’s What I Call A Country Party’, and Craig Campbell’s ‘Never Forget’ debuted at #27, while Lenny Cooper is at #34 with ‘Mud Dynasty’. Dailey & Vincent just make the chart with ‘Brothers of The Highway’ at #40. But it’s not just about albums. Other new releases include Danielle Bradbery’s ‘Maybe It Was Memphis’ (#9 on Country Digital Songs and #25 on Hot Country Songs) and Lauren Alaina’s ‘Barefoot And Buckwild’ (#25 on Country Digital Songs).

Honorable mentions this week go to George Strait, Eric Church, Brad Paisley, Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean and Jake Owen.

Check back next Thursday for another chart roundup!

Pistol Annies "Annie Up" Album Review (Guest Post)

As if Miranda Lambert didn’t have enough going on with her red-hot solo career and her marriage to Blake Shelton, somehow she finds time for cool little side projects, like her group, the Pistol Annies. The trio is comprised of Miranda Lambert (Lone Star Annie), Ashley Monroe (Hippie Annie) and Angaleena Presley (Holler Annie). Their 2011 “Hell on Heels” was a critically acclaimed (although not embraced by radio) debut. Perhaps the folks at those big awards shows (CMAs, ACMs, Grammys) were confused by the Annies and their alter egos. Maybe they thought the gals made the album as a farce? I can’t think of any other explanation as to why they weren’t nominated for Best Album, Best New Artist or Best Group. Yeah, the record was THAT good, and if you, as a country music fan, don’t own it, your collection is incomplete.

That having been said, I had high expectations for their sophomore CD, “Annie Up.” The twelve tracks were all co-written by Lambert, Monroe and Presley. Here’s my track-by-track review.

I Feel a Sin Comin’ On, the opening track, is a bluesy sultry number. that starts out acapella, with finger snaps. “You can see it all over my face, sweet temptation all over the place, give me tall, dark and handsome, mix it up with something strong. I feel a sin comin’ on.”

Chart Roundup – Week of May 18th, 2013

Hey guys, my chart roundup is back after a month out! I hope you missed me.

Hot Country Songs remains oddly static at the top, with Florida Georgia Line continuing their successful run at #1 with ‘Cruise’, which also holds onto #1 on Country Digital Songs. What’s more, their most recent single ‘Get Your Shine On’, has the top spot on Country Airplay, #7 on Country Digital Songs and #5 on Hot Country Songs. Is there any chart this duo can’t dominate? Turns out that chart is Top Country Albums, as Kenny Chesney’s ‘Life On A Rock’ debuts at #1, while ‘Here’s To The Good Times’ trails at #5. The lead single from Kenny’s new record, ‘Pirate Flag’, is at #8 on Hot Country Songs and #4 on Country Airplay, nearing the top ten with #12 on Country Digital Songs.

Darius Rucker is also doing well, his hit ‘Wagon Wheel’ remaining at #2 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, and #3 on Country Airplay. The same goes for Blake Shelton, hot on his heels with ‘Boys Round Here’ (featuring Pistol Annies and friends) at #3 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs. He moves up to #9 on Country Airplay at a steady rise, while his album ‘Based On A True Story…’ drops to #2 this week. His wife, Miranda Lambert, sees ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ retain its position at #4 on Hot Country Songs, #5 on Country Digital Songs, and move up to the anticipation-filled #2 spot on Country Airplay. Will she top the chart next week?

Tim McGraw is also a key player on the charts, as his collaboration with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, ‘Highway Don’t Care’, holds onto #6 on Hot Country Songs, while it sits at #4 on Country Digital Songs and #6 on Country Airplay. ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’, Tim’s latest album, is at #14. Luke Bryan is also rising up the charts with ‘Crash My Party’, at #6 on Country Digital Songs, moving up to #9 on Hot Country Songs, and #17 on Country Airplay. In addition, Hunter Hayes’ ‘I Want Crazy’ is right behind him, reaching #10 on Hot Country Songs, #8 on Country Digital Songs and #21 on Country Airplay. Also of note, Lady Antebellum’s ‘Downtown’ is hanging on in there in the top ten, at #7 on Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs, and dropping down to #10 on Country Digital Songs. Their fourth album, ‘Golden’, has just been released this week and will impact the chart from next week. Also to impact next week include the Pistol Annies with ‘Annie Up’, and ABC’s ‘Nashville’ soundtrack, volume 2.

New releases include ‘Hey Girl’ from Billy Currington, at #9 on Country Digital Songs, as well as ‘Trouble’ the new album from Randy Rogers Band at #3, and ‘Rose Queen’ by William Clark Green, #34 on Top Country Albums. After George Jones’ passing, his album ‘The Great LOST Hits’ jumps 16 places to #35. There is a re-entry from Carrie Underwood’s new single ‘See You Again’, which being so new is struggling to match the chart power of her previous singles.

Honorable mentions go to Thompson Square, George Strait, Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift.

Come by next Thursday for another instalment of my Billboard chart roundup.

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

Stop what you're doing and look at this awesome Pistol Annies caricature

Look at this awesome Annie artwork! Just look at it!

This caricature should definitely have been the new artwork for the Pistol Annies' upcoming album "Annie Up." Total missed opportunity. 

Anyway, the Pistol Annies have a new interactive novel for fans. Read all about it after the jump ...

Pistol Annies Are Back With Explosive New ‘Hush Hush’

I’m a big fan of the Pistol Annies, and absolutely adore their 2011 release ‘Hell On Heels’. So expectations for me (and countless others) were high when going to listen to their first single from new album ‘Annie Up’ (which drops May 7^th). ‘Hush Hush’ is like nothing I would have expected, but I love a band that keeps me guessing. At the heart of things it is 12-bar blues, with punchy overdriven guitar driving the song, and giving the girls a huge heaping of energy. The drums are also hard-hitting, rough and unpolished, and remind me of much of Miranda’s solo recordings, as well as a wealth of blues rock from the 1970s. That doesn’t hinder the twang, however, as you couldn’t find a more country melody on the airwaves right now, and the solo is akin to some of Brad Paisley’s.

Lyrically, it is a masterpiece. Telling the honest truth of so many families across the US and globally, the chorus runs “hush hush don’t you dare say a word, hush hush don’t you know the truth hurts, hush hush when push comes to shove, it’s best to keep it hush hush”. That tendency we all know too well to try and keep quiet all the little embarrassing secrets and the elephant in the room, to save face in front of company. It reminds me somewhat of Miranda’s latest single ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ in this respect, particularly the bridge, “hide your tattoo, put on your Sunday best, pretend you’re not a mess, be the happy family in the front pew”. I’m sure we can all relate to this in some way, and when considering this I realized there’s really very few songs about right now on the truths of life in this way. In the same way observational comedy finds a common occurrence and pokes fun at it for our own realization and enjoyment. I think that is one of country music’s best traits and one that it is sorely neglecting of this moment in time.

Certain lyrics such as “well cheers to the vodka mama’s been sneaking, let’s all gather around and pray” are definitely amusing, and very visual, and pulls back the curtain on the secret mess of the ‘perfect’ suburban family. The main narrative focuses around a family Christmas gathering with significantly a brother returning from rehab, and the numerous other demons that accompany the various members of the family. I like it’s attention to one storyline yet towards the end incorporating a number of other examples, and ultimately delivering the message that we should ‘let it all hang out’ so to speak.

Sound advice, and a strong track, that is bound to see the girls some success. It is not their best work, but it’s witty, intelligent, and hugely singalong, with a catchy chorus that could easily become an earworm. I can’t wait to hear more.

‘Annie Up’, the Pistol Annies’ sophomore record, will be released May 7^th.

You can listen to ‘Hush Hush’ here:

 

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

Pistol Annies to release new album, Annie Up, May 7

Exciting news, Pistol Annies fans, the trio has announced that their sophomore album "Annie Up" will hit stores May 7. 

From the announcement on their website: 

What started as a late night phone call between Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, materialized into the Pistol Annies. The unorthodox, sassy trio, released their debut album in August of 2011, return with their up album, Annie Up, set to release May 7.

“We laid it on the line with Hell On Heels and we wanted to bring it again on this album,” said Miranda. “We put all our musical chips on the table, so we thought ‘Annie Up’ was a good title,” added Ashley.” “The goal of our music is to have people feel like they’re having a conversation with us,” said Miranda.  “We never tried to sit down and write a song. When we’re together, we’re always just writing,” said Angaleena.

In fact, the trio wrote “Unhappily Married” last June at the CMA Music Fest while in hair and makeup. “We can’t, not write,” added Ashley. Fans get a taste of the new album with the debut single, “Hush, Hush” which shipped to radio yesterday. “After we came back from the holidays we were talking about how horrible it was,” laughed Miranda as she described the inspiration for the song. “So we took a little bit of truth from each of our family experiences and wrote this song,” said Ashley. “It’s about the truth.  The truth is so much easier than lie on top of lie on top of secrets,” said Angaleena. “The truth will set you free.” 

Fans can keep up with all of the latest Pistol Annies news at their website,  www.pistolannies.com including information on how to unlock additional music and more!

Fans can head to PistolAnnies.com to sign up to hear music from the studio. 

So What Of The New Music Of 2013?

So, as everyone’s adjusting to the idea of it being 2013, and the coming events of the new year, I thought I’d take you through some of the new artists and new releases of 2013, and what I’m most looking forward to etc (as if I’m a tastemaker, ha). Read away for the lowdown.

Albums I’m Looking Forward To:

• Ashley Monroe – Like A Rose

I began listening to Ashley back in about 2007 on MySpace, then my life moved on and I forgot about her, only to rediscover her every so often as the credited songwriter on an album sleeve, and finally when the Pistol Annies were formed. Their 2011 album, ‘Hell On Heels’ was amazing and I really hoped that Ashley would also consider making her own music again. The announcement came a few months ago when Ashley posted a new song, the title track, on her Twitter, stating that her album would be released 18^th December. I loved the new song and was excited to hear the record BUT then Ashley and Vince Gill (who happens to be her producer) wrote a new song and the release date was pushed back until 5^th March. I was gutted, but I am now counting down the days until I can finally hear this long-overdue life-affirming release from such a prolific songwriter of country music.

• Kacey Musgraves – TBA

I’ve never watched Nashville Star (occupational hazard of living in the UK) so I had never heard of Kacey Musgraves before this year, and although I had vaguely heard the name, it wasn’t until the beginning of December that I finally listened to ‘Merry Go Round’. That’s it, I was hooked, I researched her, wrote articles, bought the track and if my iPhone was counting the number of times I have played it, it without exaggeration would be in excess of 70 or 80, at least. My favorite country release of the year. Very little album information has been released so far but it does at least seem it will be this year it comes out, although that is little consolation for someone like me who absolutely cannot wait. Watch this space.

The Pistol Annies new tattoos explained

Well this is sure disappointing. The other day I had pictures that the Pistol Annies had posted of their new (and awesome) Annie-themed tattoos. 

Unfortunately, as some readers predicted, the tattoos are fake as fake can be. They were airbrushed at a fair the girls had fun at somewhere in their travels as documented in the new Henhouse video below.  

I had kind of wondered myself if they were indeed fake, but I was hoping they were real since they were so dang wonderful. 

Oh well, better luck next time. 

The Pistol Annies get Annie-themed tattoos

You know, there are some people out there who are pretty talented with a marker, but I'm kind of thinking these tattoos that appeared on the Pistol Annies' Twitter Sunday evening are real.  

The picture above appeared along with: Oops.... pic.twitter.com/06iU2JeF

Soon after, each Annie posted their own individual pictures to show off their new artwork. 

First there was Angaleena Presley -- Holler Annie -- who posted hers: 

@Miranda_Lambert @ashleymonroe Gulz! I love our band this much!!!! pic.twitter.com/mfOCKZH6

Then Miranda -- Lone Star Annie -- posted:

I love the @PistolAnnies and my state this much! pic.twitter.com/iMKvdjyA

And finally, Ashley Monroe -- Hippie Annie -- who posted: 

I love my band this much ..@Miranda_Lambert  @guitarleena pic.twitter.com/eXMtYsH8

Tattoos aren't for everyone, but there's something totally badass about a group of girls getting semi-matching tattoos to commemorate their awesomeness.

Check out the tattoo pictures below. 

 

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The Pistol Annies are doling out sage advice in The Henhouse

This is all kinds of awesome!

As I mentioned a while back, the Pistol Annies had launched a new part of their website geared towards Annie-fying their fans called The Henhouse. 

Fans can visit The Henhouse and submit photos, view exclusive pictures of the Pistol Annies, be featured Annies, and all kinds of other fun stuff. Well the girls have a section where they give advice to fans who ask for it -- kind of like Dear Abby but with Annies. 

And the girls record their answers instead of just writing a letter, which is 10 times better. 

So far there have only been three questions answered, but hopefully they'll keep up with it because it's so much fun to hear their advice to fans. 

Check out the girls' advice below to a fan who had a question about her man and his mama and then be sure to visit The Henhouse for more fun.