Another month and holiday over, and the year of 2011 is almost behind us — scary thought. November could have been a musical let down if it were not for Miranda Lambert’s Four the Record. You would have thought the month before the gift-buying Christmas season that artists would be promoting new music, but it looks like we’ll have to wait until after the New Year as December’s musical forecast is looking just as bleak.
Singles
We would have expected a better caliber of singles going into the winter season, but the only single that we’re glad to see making an impact at radio this month was Wade Bowen’s “Saturday Night.” It’s a unique spin on the (no pun intended) “Saturday Night” song, where the protagonist actually dreads the coming of another Saturday night. If you haven’t heard it yet, listen to it here.
Lost Trailers - “Underdog”
Kris Gordon - “Upside of Down”
Sugarland and Matt Nathanson - “Run”
Wade Bowen - “Saturday Night”
Faith Hill - “Come Home”
Eric Paslay - “Never Really Wanted”
Mark Wayne Glasmire - “Going Home”
Trailer Choir - “Love Me First”
Ty Herndon - “Stones”
Craig Campbell - “When I Get It”
Josh Thompson - “Comin Around”
Albums
Ever since Miranda teased Four the Record on Good Morning America this summer, we’ve been dying to hear the new material. We liked the uncensored, Youtube version of “Baggage Claim” that pushed an early release of the song to radio. The radio edit was underwhelming and featured Josh Kelley’s weak background vocals. The rest of the album however was pure Miranda. It’s not a carbon copy of her Grammy-winning Revolution, but reflects her growth in the past year and a half as a person and artist. The most unfulfilling album release was by far David Nail’s The Sound of a Million Dreams. I (Aly) own his first album and while it’s more of an adult contemporary country, it’s well done. TSOAMD however, isn’t really our style. His sophomore release is over-produced from the very first track, “Grandpa’s Farm” til the end. David Nail has great vocals, but overall the album was a disappointment.
Casey Donahew Band - Double Wide Dream
Miranda Lambert - Four The Record
Craig Morgan - This Ole Boy (EP)
The Isaacs - Why Can’t We
Jeff Allen - Jeff Allen (EP)
Josh Gracin - Redemption
Joe Nichols - It’s All Good
David Nail - The Sound of a Million Dreams
Willie Nelson - Remember Me, Volume 1
Sherrie Austin - Circus Girl
Glen Templeton - Glen Templeton (EP)
Rascal Flatts - The Best of Rascal Flatts Live
Christmas Releases
Joey+Rory - A Farmhouse Christmas (album)
Phil Vassar - Noel (album)
Sherrie Austin and Shane Stevens - “Naught or Nice” (single)
Little Big Town - “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (single)
Sunny Sweeney — “One More Christmas Beer” (single)
Music Videos
Not much for new music videos this month, other than Jake Owen’s video for “Alone With You,” which he released only a few days ago and already has 22k views. I think the fact that he is half naked during the majority of the video probably didn’t hurt. I (Beth) made a comment when he opened at Keith Urban’s show last month that this song belongs in a John Hughes movie, so I thought the Ferris Bueller-like shots of him with his hands behind his head staring up were perfect! Coincidence? You decide! There is a cameo by Eric Paslay and more importantly, Merle, his adorable bulldog! The other videos released this month? Meh.
View all videos in the player below [or YouTube Playlist]
Web Videos
Best moment in country music caught on video this month? Easy — it was when Southern gentleman Chris Young kicked out a d-bag that hit a girl at a show in Louisiana. Other videos we recommend you check out include: Luke Bryan, Ellen CMA Correspondent; Miranda performing Mama’s Broken Heart on Kimmel, Blackberry Smoke and Zac Brown perform Restless, and Dierks congrats EYB on their first #1!
View all videos in the player below [or YouTube Playlist]
Tweets
Its all puppy love for Miranda…
Lucky for us. We thank God he does!
Shows
Easton Corbin
K102 Class of 2011
Blackhawk
News
Country style icons, Junk Gypsy, debut on HGTV
Kenny and Tim back together for Brothers of the Sun Tour summer of 2012
Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl” goes Platinum
Miranda blasts Kim K’s publicity stunt marriage
The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” tops Billboard’s AC Chart
CMA Winners
Randy Houser signed to Stoney Creek
Lady Antebellum’s Own the Night certified Platinum
Sunny Sweeney drank herself hitched on 11.11.11
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles got married in the Smokies
Tim McGraw’s divorce from Curb official after 20 years
Mindy McCready needs to pull her sh*t together
To find out what is in store for next month, check out our calendar and twitter for updates for new music, upcoming concerts, and the latest in country music news.
Aly and Beth
