Jason Aldean - Night Train

Label: Broken Bow
Genre: Country
Year: 2012
Recommended by: Jillian Veenhuis

I still don't like country. I like that Jason Aldean is signed to an independent Country music label in Broken Bow. It still sounds like the rest of the country landscape.

Jason Aldean is a decent enough songwriter and his performance throughout the album is strong. It doesn't resonate with me at all. 

For example, "Take a Little Ride" starts by talking about baling hay. I'm going to guess that Aldean has only done slightly more hail bailing than myself. It's weird. "Drink One for Me" is a song I may be able to get into if the arrangement was a little bit different. It tries to go semi-ballad, when I think it would sound better if it was more upbeat and excited. But, I don't sell millions of Country albums so I know nothing.

Keith Urban - Be Here

Label: Capitol Nashville
Genre: Country
Year: 2004
Recommended by: Megan Keith

Keith Urban was one of the biggest country acts in the world in the mid-2000's and has parlayed that into a judge spot on AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!

It is pretty strongly implied by previous reviews that genre of country just is not for me. Keith Urban's entry into the project hasn't really changed that fact at all. However, it was not a chore to go through this album. It is pop focused with country leanings. It seems it was right before the time that country went to a straight pop sound, so the New Zealand man kept a separate sound.

I'm actually surprised that I was unfamiliar with every song on the album, considering it was a huge hit, but the songwriting is a bit stronger than the other country album's I have listened to so far, and for that I must respect it.

Houndmouth - From the Hills Below the City

Label: Rough Trade
Year: 2013
Genre: Alt Country, Americana, Folk Rock
Recommending Person: Todd Tompkins

I wish this was what country was all the time. It's a bit of southern rock, some folk rock, some kick ass guitar licks, and a story. 

It seems more of a testament to country than any of the current pop country phenomena going on throughout the scene currently. They still sing with the familiar country affectation, but it seems more natural and reminds me of the great The Band. Mighty praise for a band I hadn't yet heard before this journey. 

I hope they get huge. Bigger than big. Because then country will lean towards this fantastic sound and I want more of it.
 

Brett Eldredge - Bring You Back

Label: Atlantic Nashville
Year: 2013
Genre: Country
Recommending Person: Viki Arias

Country has been under attack recently for repeating the same song over and over again. I felt some of the same with Brett Eldredge's debut album. Now he isn't part of the current Frat Country of sitting on beaches and drinking beer, he is aiming directly at a young female market with about 11 of the 12 songs about how he is a big romantic, and he wants nothing more than just his lady. 

I was about to go out on a diatribe how every song seems to have an affectation into the singing, but that happens just as often in punk rock, indie, and every genre on the planet. To me this album lacked any sort of emotional core that was believable. Everything was face value, each emotion was one note, and every song felt contrived. I've never been big on Country to begin with, but nothing about this record made me feel differently about the genre in general. Everything seems like a put on, but unlike the current pop country it lacks any attempt at fun. It seems content with being chipper.  Even the label seems to be pandering, Atlantic Nashville?  The appeal is still lost on me for the most part, but I will keep trying.