KIXS FM 108 » song review

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.Â 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.

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.

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 ...

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.'

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. TheÂ charismaticÂ songwriter is a natural storyteller, and his lyrics bounce to life with each verse and chorus.Â Rhett’s previous two singles didn’t realize their [...]

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.

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.Â ‘Parking Lot Party’ is a song best [...]

Randy Rogers Band, 'Fuzzy' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:13:32 +0000

The Randy Rogers Band go for broke on their new single ‘Fuzzy’ from an upcoming album called ‘Trouble.’ This story of a wild night out is what ‘The Hangover’ would sound like if written by a country band. Sonically, the mid-tempo, quasi-blues jam offers no wink-wink to listeners that says “Hey, this didn’t really happen.” [...]

Chris Cagle, 'Dance Baby Dance' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:33:00 +0000

‘Dance Baby Dance’ is one of the finest songs of Chris Cagle‘s career — perhaps his best ballad. A few fathers (and maybe a couple of mothers) will be wiping away tears before the end of the first verse. He hits that sweet spot between familiar and hokey.Â ‘Dance Baby Dance’ is a circle of [...]

Luke Bryan, 'Crash My Party' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:33:50 +0000

Luke Bryan's new song 'Crash My Party' would fit well on his last album 'Tailgates and Tanlines.' The ballad is a continuation of themes introduced with 'I Don't Want This Night to End' and 'Drunk on You,' two No. 1 hits for the ACM Entertainer of the Year. At first listen, it's difficult to become excited about a song that's so familiar.

Scotty McCreery, 'See You Tonight' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:05:28 +0000

Scotty McCreery makes his songwriting debut on 'See You Tonight,' a mid-tempo love song that finds the 19-year-old not settling for a phone call or some distant "I love you" from the girl who holds his heart. It's the start of a new chapter for McCreery -- one that's much more important than his last.

Hunter Hayes, 'I Want Crazy' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:11:52 +0000

In his new song 'I Want Crazy.' Hunter Hayes doesn't soar like Ronnie Dunn or croon like Chris Young. His vocal performance is an exercise in diction -- and memory. Simply put, he packs a ton of words into a tight space without straining or slurring one idea into another. It's not easy.

Carrie Underwood, 'See You Again' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:13:28 +0000

Carrie UnderwoodÂ changed directions with the release of ‘See You Again’ as the fourth single from ‘Blown Away.’ The ballad is anything but dark and stormy. Instead it’s an inspirational reminder that will be especially meaningful to fans who have lost someone close recently.Â The album version begins with a thin piano and drum machine, both [...]

Maggie Rose, 'Better' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:41:52 +0000

'Better' is the finest ballad from Maggie Rose's new 'Cut to Impress' album. The singer is creative with her phrasing, and the performance is as raw as anything on the 10-song collection. She is still learning how to be a great storyteller, however, and with more experiences and a few years behind her, the single promises to only get... better.

Will Hoge (Feat. Wade Bowen), 'Another Song Nobody Will Hear' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:09:13 +0000

Will Hoge may be playing to the band with his new single ‘Another Song Nobody Will Hear,’ but that takes nothing away from his impactful message. The singer-songwriter’s ode to struggling musicians is a sharply-written statement about mainstream country music, sung with unique blue-collar spit and gravel. “I wake up in the darkness, the clock [...]

Weston Burt, 'Lucky Sometimes' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:03:10 +0000

Newcomer Weston Burt’s debut single ‘Lucky Sometimes’ aims right down the middle and hits the mark. The upbeat, head-over-heels love song is easy to find yourself singing along with before the first spin is complete. Listen again to hear him flex a little vocal muscle in the most subtle ways. The way the Fort Payne, [...]