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First Listen: Carrie Underwood "Two Black Cadillacs"
On May 1st, Carrie Underwood returns with her fourth studio album Blown Away. The fourteen track country crossover album, including the hit first single “Good Girl”, was named one the “Most Anticipated Albums of the Year” by Entertainment Weekly. After first listen to the country record, the standout track tells a dark story of man who faced the result of two women scorned by his infidelity. “Two Black Cadillacs” is what country music has lacked since the genre became obsessed with mainstream appeal, ironically when Underwood’s Idol win landed her in Nashville and Taylor Swift hit the road with the Jonas Brothers and Justin Beiber. Listen to “Two Black…
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Artist To Watch: Chancellor Warhol
When I moved to Nashville last year, there was a stigma: country music was king. But when Chancellor Warhol proclaims “the King is in the building” on the new single, “Elvis”, from his sophomore LP The Silver Factory, I believed him. In Nashville, the hip-hop scene is one of two things. Chancellor Warhol is neither of them. His indie flare keeps him relevant with the city’s tastemakers and trendsetters, while his clever rhymes and strong lyrics give him enough street-cred to go up against hip-hop’s finest. His first solo record, Japanese Lunchbox, was released last year and set the bar for his unique electro-rap style that urges listeners to the dance floor.…
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Hollywood With A Touch of Twang
One of the best things about moving to a new city is discovering its local cuisine and the favorite hot spots of its residents. In Nashville, this means being in the company of some chart topping artists and well-known songwriters. Since my move to this great city, which was almost a year ago (WOW!), readers, friends and family have asked me my recommendations on my favorite spots in town. Although a bit of a detour from the music-related posts, I put together some of my picks to add to your itinerary if you’re planning a trip to Music City anytime soon. Start your day at one of the great coffee…
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Hollywood With A Touch of Twang
One of the best things about moving to a new city is discovering its local cuisine and the favorite hot spots of its residents. In Nashville, this means being in the company of some chart topping artists and well-known songwriters. Since my move to this great city, which was almost a year ago (WOW!), readers, friends and family have asked me my recommendations on my favorite spots in town. Although a bit of a detour from the music-related posts, I put together some of my picks to add to your itinerary if you’re planning a trip to Music City anytime soon. Start your day at one of the great coffee…
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Artist To Watch: Michael Shoup
When it came time to pick Tragic Kingdom’s featured artist for March it was a tough decision. With my latest move to Nashville, country music has become so relevant (as you’ve clearly witnessed by the blog’s recent country takeover), but I wanted to do something special this month. I wanted to prove to the readers that Nashville is more than hillbilly rockers and twangy crooners. Despite the hicktown stereotypes, it wasn’t hard to find a variety of talents spanning all genres, many of whom will be featured in the coming months. When I first moved to town, I stopped by a writer’s round at a local venue near my new…
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Ellen DeGeneres, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Kurt Allison, Rich Redmond, Tragic Kingdom, Tully Kennedy
Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson To Go #1
Academy of Country Music‘s nominee for Entertainer of the Year, Jason Aldean, is busy making the talk-rounds in LA this week. Earlier today, his stop by The Ellen Show aired, where he performed his newest monster hit “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with his vocal companion Kelly Clarkson. The performance was incredible per usual: Jason delivered, ‘the boys’ (Rich Redmond, Kurt Allison, and Tully Kennedy) rocked it, and Kelly’s vocals were flawless. But it was backstage where Clarkson spilled some exciting news. Check out this web exclusive video of two of Tragic Kingdom’s featured artists behind-the-scenes after their performance. And if you unforgivably missed the performance, Tragic Kingdom has your back. Enjoy!…
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Andrea Ball, Best Of, Eminem, Jason Aldean, katy perry, Lady Antebellum, lady gaga, Matt Morris, Miranda Lambert, Neon Trees, SXSW, taylor swift, The UMS
The Best Of 2010
As I prepare to celebrate another year’s end, I can’t help but reminisce about the whirlwind year that has passed by so quickly. If 2010 brought one thing, it was great music. Some of the best albums of the new millennium’s decade popped up in its last year and I was there salivating over each and every note. This year also granted me access to some new discovery, as I traveled to music festivals across the country, including South By Southwest and The UMS, discovering bright new gems to add to my ever growing playlist. And finally, my year ended with a move east to the “Crazy Town”: Nashville, Tennessee.…
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Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, CMA's, Country Music Awards, Featured Artist, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire
CMA Recap
Last night, Nashville’s finest gathered for the Country Music Association Awards, or more widely known as the CMA’s. The evening was jam packed with great performances, big wins, and huge stars. The night, though, belonged to Miranda Lambert, who won four awards, including Top Female Vocalist. And in a fitting surprise, Lambert’s fiancee, Blake Shelton took home Top Male honors, which Shelton said was “34 years in the making”. The biggest award of the night went to Brad Paisley, who got emotional while accepting his Entertainer of the Year trophy. This year’s performances were incredible, but the my pick for the best of the night belonged to our featured artist,…
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It Takes Two
Tragic Kingdom’s featured artist of the month, Jason Aldean, is set to take the stage tonight at the Country Music Awards live from Nashville, performing his new single “Don’t You Wanna Stay”. When Aldean was recording his new (hit) album, My Kinda Party, he knew that he wanted to record his new single as a duet with a powerhouse diva, but it was his top two choices that really stood out – proving this country boy is my kind of people. “Carrie Underwood was one of them, and [the other was] Kelly Clarkson,” Aldean said. “I’m a fan of both of their voices… but they’re both really different. Kelly [has…
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Martina McBride Joins Republic Nashville
It was announced this morning at a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame that Martina McBride has joined the Republic Nashville roster, which includes The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Jaron And The Long Road To Love, Sunny Sweeney and, Boulder, Colorado-based, SHEL. McBride announced the departure from her longtime label, Sony Music Nashville, in September and many speculated that Big Machine Records would be her new home. This came just after news broke earlier in the year that she had parted ways with her longtime manager, Bruce Allen, and signed with Morris Management’s Clint Higham. Higham and his team are those responsible for Kenny Chesney’s incredible…
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Oops! She Did It Again
In 2005, the world watched as a new country diva was born on the fourth season finale of American Idol. The first country star to come from the now juggernaut series has gone on to become not only the most successful Idol winner, but has become one of today’s biggest selling acts in music. Along side her reality competition title, Underwood has broken a number of industry records, won countless awards, including her reign as Female Vocalist of the Year, and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry only three years after her Idol win. Her successful run capped off earlier this year when she took home the Academy of…