KIXS FM 108 » Reviews

Dakota Bradley, 'Somethin' Like Somethin" – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:39:52 +0000

Dakota Bradley’s debut single ‘Somethin’ Like Somethin” is a mostly charming pop-country love song that showcases the 18-year-old’s spunky personality. He doesn’t run from his Bieber-ness. Instead, he adds just enough steel guitar to keep him on the right side of the radio. This singer will appeal to a younger country audience. One glance at [...]

Kellie Pickler, 'Someone Somewhere Tonight' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:35:05 +0000

Kellie Pickler delivers an inspired performance with a new single called 'Someone Somewhere Tonight.' The song -- originally recorded by Kenny Rogers -- is a soaring ballad that touches a range of emotions. Few will find nothing relatable on the singer's first release from an upcoming album.

Trace Adkins, 'Love Will …' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:05:18 +0000

The idea behind Trace Adkins‘ new album ‘Love Will …’ makes so much sense you almost wonder why he hadn’t done it sooner. This collection of love songs is as obvious as the tagless T-shirt, yet for years we went without both. ‘Love Will …’ stops short of being able to melt wax on its [...]

George Strait, 'Love Is Everything' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:00:37 +0000

George Strait steps back in time for his newest release, 'Love Is Everything.' In the past, the singer always found a way to add a touch of contemporary to his traditional sound. There's nothing to separate this from albums he made throughout the '80s and '90s, but that's not necessarily a criticism.

Keith Urban, 'Little Bit of Everything' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:13:18 +0000

Perhaps it should be no surprise that after five months spent judging 'American Idol,' Keith Urban has delivered his most pop-friendly single to date in 'Little Bit of Everything.' The talented singer and guitarist uses tricks in production that a less established singer would be skewered for. The result is a delightful summer jam that's short on nutritional content.

Craig Campbell, 'Never Regret' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:05:00 +0000

Craig Campbell does a lot of things better than average. He’s a better than average singer who has chosen better than average songs for his new album ‘Never Regret,’ yet somehow, the project ends up feeling rather ordinary. There’s no defining moment that will etch Campbell’s name into the Nashville cement. If anything, the line [...]

Lauren Alaina, 'Barefoot and Buckwild' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:37:59 +0000

Meet the new Lauren Alaina. With just a few weeks of her senior year of high school remaining, the singer introduces a grown-up new look, grown-up style and grown-up attitude with her latest single, 'Barefoot and Buckwild.' It's especially difficult to find songs that fit when you're short on life experience, so the one-time 'American Idol' runner-up wrote her own ...

Lady Antebellum, 'Golden' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:35:33 +0000

The best moments on Lady Antebellum's fourth album 'Golden' find Charles Kelley or Hillary Scott singing solo, with minimal help from the other on harmonies. There is no shortage of songs that act as features for the two talented vocalists. The evolution of the trio finds them becoming a dual threat super power instead of a two-headed pop-rock-country group.

Joe Nichols, 'Sunny and 75′ – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:03:14 +0000

Joe Nichols‘ voice always has a way of putting one in a trance, and his performance on the new single ‘Sunny and 75′ is no less effective. He’s pure country gold, and when he’s paired with a great song, there are few surer things in Nashville. This is a good song. The arrangement and tempo [...]

Lady Antebellum, 'Goodbye Town' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:05:19 +0000

Charles Kelley's desperation turns to anger by the end of 'Goodbye Town,' the second single from Lady Antebellum's new 'Golden' album. The song finds the trio working their bread and butter: heartbreak and a yearning for love lost. Sonically, this song forges ahead with fresh production, but it's not quite as exciting as the lead single, 'Downtown.'

Pistol Annies, 'Annie Up' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:03:33 +0000

Strong production keeps 'Annie Up' -- the new album from Pistol Annies -- from being something their debut effort certainly was not: boring. The women thrive among thick, bluesy guitars that moan and wail throughout the 12 cuts. It's a throwback sound that fits the trio as well as the daring outfits they've become known for wearing.

Jana Kramer, 'I Hope It Rains' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:39:23 +0000

'I Hope It Rains' makes three heartbreaks in three singles for Jana Kramer. The new track from her self-titled debut album is more fun than the bittersweet 'Why Ya Wanna' and catchier than her Top 30 hit 'Whiskey.' The singer finds that sweet spot between revenge and psycho and works the vocals into a potential hit.

Eric Paslay, 'Friday Night' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:39:52 +0000

Eric Paslay‘s new single ‘Friday Night’ genuinely feels like a carefree, summertime Friday night. It’s wide-open, catchy and easy to fall in love with, even if it’s not exactly crammed full of tangible memories. Paslay puts his stamp on this uptempo pop-country cut. His performance is charming without becoming distracting. His freestyling over the banjo [...]

Thomas Rhett, 'It Goes Like This' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:39:17 +0000

‘It Goes Like This’ is the safest of the three singles Thomas Rhett has released, but he sacrifices nothing in sharp songwriting in his effort to land a hit on country radio. The charismatic songwriter is a natural storyteller, and his lyrics bounce to life with each verse and chorus. Rhett’s previous two singles didn’t realize their [...]

Kenny Chesney, 'Life on a Rock' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:03:17 +0000

Kenny Chesney's 'Life on a Rock' album is as revealing of a record as 'Be as You Are' -- more so in some ways. The songwriting isn't as sharp as the 2005 project (the most closely comparable to 'Life on a Rock' in style and substance), but the experiences are as mixed and honest.

Joanna Smith, 'Girls Are Crazy' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:45:35 +0000

In general, songs that paint an entire group of people with one broad brush stroke don't fare well on country radio, but Joanna Smith is hoping to prove 'em wrong with her new single 'Girls Are Crazy.' The peppy new track is fun and flirty, and a short hop backward for women in country music.

Tate Stevens, 'Tate Stevens' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:09:18 +0000

The debut effort from Tate Stevens is about as straight-forward of a country album as you'll find. 'Tate Stevens' is an end cap-at-Walmart sort of record that proves the 'X Factor' winner can compete with the big names in Nashville.

Granger Smith, 'Dirt Road Driveway' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:45:26 +0000

If you look back over Granger Smith's early album covers, you'll find that he presented himself as a hat act. Sonically he's come a long way since those efforts, with his latest album 'Dirt Road Driveway' falling squarely in the singer-songwriter sub-genre of country music. It's an album that would sound best at a coffee house, not a honky tonk.

Lee Brice, 'Parking Lot Party' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:05:23 +0000

Songs like Lee Brice‘s new single ‘Parking Lot Party’ are easy to dismiss. It doesn’t pack near as much punch as ‘I Drive Your Truck,’ but that’s far from his intent. The South Carolina-raised singer is looking to add to the tailgate soundtrack, and at this he’s successful. ‘Parking Lot Party’ is a song best [...]

Krystal Keith, 'Krystal Keith' – EP Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:43:06 +0000

Krystal Keith proves she has the talent to make it in Nashville, but a larger sample is needed to distinguish her as her own artist. At her best she's Bonnie Raitt for a new generation -- but at other times her style, pacing and lyrics are too heavily influenced by Toby Keith.