KLAW 101 - Oklahoma's Best Country » Reviews

George Strait, 'Love Is Everything' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:00:37 +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.

Star Trek: Into Darkness, Great Sequel But Falls Short From The Mark

James "Bubba" Meeks — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:09:35 +0000

Star Trek: Into Darkness is a sequel to J.J Abrams’ 2009 “reboot” of the franchise. I put reboot in quotations because I don’t really consider it a restart of the series. I consider the new films set in their own alternate timeline because one of stamps the series was famous for was alternate realities and time travel. Well it’s just that it’s Star Trek in an alternate timeline and the sequel to the 2009 film is just as impressive as the first but falls a bit short from its predecessor.

Lauren Alaina, 'Barefoot and Buckwild' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:59 +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 — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:30:33 +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 — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:30:14 +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 [...]

Pistol Annies, 'Annie Up' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:33 +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.

Lady Antebellum, 'Goodbye Town' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:00:19 +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.'

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

Billy Dukes — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:30:17 +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.

Lee Brice, 'Parking Lot Party' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:00:23 +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 — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:00:06 +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.

Willie Nelson, 'Let's Face the Music and Dance' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:30:25 +0000

'Let's Face the Music and Dance' is a great place for a young country music fan to meet Willie Nelson. It won't be his most famous, and it won't create any hit singles. This wonderfully consistent effort proves what longtime fans of the legend already know: At 79 years old (80 on April 30), Nelson is still as important and skilled a vocalist as there is in country music.

Luke Bryan, 'Crash My Party' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:00:50 +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 — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:30:28 +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.

Brad Paisley, 'Wheelhouse' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:00:46 +0000

Brad Paisley's 'Wheelhouse' delivers a familiar mix of humor, life lessons and scorching guitar solos, but it does it in a way different from any of the other eight albums the 'Beat This Summer' singer has released. He took his old formula, balled it up, lit it on fire and tossed the ashes in the garbage. The result is a meaty and ambitious project that doesn't always click, but clears new ground when it does.

Hunter Hayes, 'I Want Crazy' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:00:52 +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 — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:00:28 +0000

Carrie Underwood 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. The album version begins with a thin piano and drum machine, both [...]

The Band Perry, 'Pioneer' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:30:32 +0000

The Band Perry‘s new album ‘Pioneer’ is just as dramatic, yet dramatically more steady than their debut effort. The bar was raised and reached vocally, and songs like ‘Done,’ ‘Forever Mine Nevermind’ and ‘Chainsaw’ prove the family trio has lost nothing in terms of lyrical edge. The highs aren’t quite as high (no song matches [...]

Blake Shelton, 'Boys 'Round Here' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:45:44 +0000

There is comedy in Blake Shelton singing with Pistol Annies, as he does on his new single 'Boys 'Round Here.' One imagines a country Hugh Hefner surrounded by his beauties. In real life, the Annies likely (very likely) don't attend to his every need and agree with him at all costs, but they do on this song, and it's absolutely charming.

Thompson Square, 'Just Feels Good' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:00:55 +0000

The best songs on Thompson Square's new album 'Just Feels Good' sound like a conversation between the two married lovers. Early on, their back-and-forth is light and playful. Later ballads take a more somber tone, but all that find the 'If I Didn't Have You' singers sharing lead are highlights from the duo's sophomore project.

Blake Shelton, 'Based on a True Story …' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:00:16 +0000

Women who already think Blake Shelton singing is the sexiest thing since Johnny Castle pulled Baby from the corner may want to take the rest of the week off. The best moments on 'Based on a True Story ...' sizzle, and not in that ironic "bow-chicka-wow-wow" sort of way that's occasionally implied with this singer's sense of humor. Songs like 'Mine Would Be You' are safe to put on any red wine and candles soundtrack. Guys, you can thank Shelton via his Twitter account, if you'd like.