Grady, I've said this before, but will say it again, I love your videos so much!!! I love the country music talk and love hearing more about songs I've heard or haven't heard!!! I hope you continue to do this!!
Disclaimer: huge Granger Smith fan. That being said, you should check out his older music, songs deep in the album's. Also his Earl Dibble's Jr. Stuff is hilarious. If the song Rednecker from Hardy is satire, Granger Smith was doing it WAY before he was with his Earl Dibble's Jr songs and bits. Worth a check, also I think Granger is about the best mix of Nashville and Texas you can find. He offers something a little more rock and roll with some down home sounds. Idk, I really like it and his YeeYee brand is a lifestyle and I think spreads a really positive message! Would love to see more of him on the channel. Anyway, loved the video as always!
I love that everytime I watch one of your videos, I discover someone else I like - from reddirt, dirtroad, queens and wannabees, necks the colour of red ... I just love country in all it shapes and forms 💗 Thanx Grady
Grady, even your cartoon avatar face is expressive. Your thoughts about trends and standards in (what remains of) country are helpful and true. You are so right on about the album "Your Life is a Record." Haven't bought a newly released country studio album in years, and I enjoyed it straight through.
Why can’t Dierks Bentley bring back the 90’s country sound just on his own? It seems like he is afraid to do that in fear of not getting any radio airtime. So he creates this band, dresses like their from the 90’s and creates “90’s country”. I get it though, I know it’s suppose to be fun and goofy but it just doesn’t make any sense to me. He is a good enough artist to make this kind of music without having to create alter egos for it.
I liked Grange Smith and his cut. I saw him in a video at LB CMP 2020. He was professional and solid mix of Texas and Nashville sounds. He is also authentic. He loves his family - grieving a tragic loss recently. But he come out to performs and engages with audience in a positive way I think. Having your audience like and respect you goes a long way. Ready for more success and opportunity for Granger Smith.
Sam Hunt will always be my guilty pleasure. His hit Take Your Time got me listening to his other stuff, which in turn got me into country music (which is not played on the radio here in the Netherlands). Today I'm listening to the likes of Tyler Chiliders, Chris Stapleton and the Turnpike Troubadours. I'm thankful to him for that and still occasionally jam out to his music.
Love Hailey Whitters. I was so glad when you covered her new song. I discovered her from "The Ranch" when her song "10 year town" was used on an episode. I have been listening to Janice at the hotel bar on repeat lately. Her sound reminds me of a mix of Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves. Can't wait to see what is to come from her.
I loved your take on the Sam Hunt single. It’s a really effective song for what he’s trying to do. Music is to be enjoyed and sometimes we need to think less and just enjoy a melody that gets in your head. No need to hate on someone just cuz it’s cool to hate on them.
Grady I love the format for this video. You packed a lot of good info in 15 minutes! Also glad you did Brandy Clark. Great singer-song writer! Love your stuff man.
“Someone in the show Vikings” that made me laugh, he was the main character’s son and is now more of main character himself in the show (I used to love that show but I kinda lost track of it lately)
Grady, have you heard This Old House by Clint Black? It features a few other artists as guests including Jinks & Bentley and I think you would like the collaboration.
Amazing how much we agree on music. I will say I think William Michael Morgan is the most underrated artist in country. Some of his acoustic stuff he does on his RU-vid channel is unreal. Give Second Hand Smoke a listen. You will not be disappointed.
Great format. Seems challenging but it's nice that you can cover so many songs in a 15 minute video! Don't really mind the new Sam Hunt song. It's SO much better than "Kinfolks" IMO; the first line of the chorus when he talk/sings really fast of that song literally hurts my ears. When I looked up the writers of this new one I knew there'd be at least 4 or 5 because of how he incorporated the Webb Piece song, but I didn't realize that there would be 8! Crazy.
I feel like Sam hunt definitely has his market in people in my age group (highschool), and I think most of his fan base comes from people my age. That being said I personally will admit to listening to FGL and Thomas Rhett, but that doesn't mean I don't love what Luke Combs and Jon Pardi are doing right now.
I'm 16 and I could never stand pop country but I know what your saying for sure. I don't know that many people that listen to real country my age. I also really like what john pardi is doing and I wish chris stapleton would put out more
I think everyone should like what they like! And right now, I think country music is pretty diverse and healthy, so I don't feel all that threatened by Sam Hunt. I was more annoyed when every single song sounded the EXACT same like 5 years ago.
Funny Dank Dont worry you arent alone! I am 13 and hate pop country! I love the classics like George Jones, George Strait, John Denver, Tanya Tucker, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and so much more!! I also love the younger people who are making country music like, Runaway June, Tyler Childers, Hot Country Knights, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Maddie and Tae, and so many other people who make real country!
Ian Hernandez what I’m agreeing with you guys. I hate modern music because it is bad. Modern sucks. Back to the good old days. If it isn’t old it’s bad. I’m quirky becuase I want attention!
Love your channel and just wanted to say ask you to give the Cadillac Three another try. I saw them live in concert in Berlin this year and honestly, before hand I thought they had a few good tunes, but live they are absolutely amazing. I actually went to that concert for headliner Luke Combs, but came away a huge fan of the Cadilliac Three. Listen to some of the older stuff like "American Slang", "Hard Out Here for a Country Boy", "The Jam", "Tennessee Mojo", "Ain't That Country", "Legacy" and "Demolition Man". I am sure you'll change your tune about them. Respect from Germany.
One thing I know is that he was not trying to copycat the Bill Withers sample "Use Me" by Lady A, and he did not go to a famous hip-hop breakbeat that was already a platinum selling R&B radio hit. So I am thumbs up on Sam's sample choice, which also kept the publishing income in Nashville.
I feel like too many people are down on Sam Hunt. He basically revamped the country scene and pushed it more to the mainstream masses to be more noticed. He has his own styles etc, but the songs are honestly catchy and well written lyrically.
I was hoping you would cover Martha Divine. I have always liked Ashley McBryde but I was blow away by Martha Divine. The lyrics are amazing mixed with the storyline make this one of her best songs in my opinion.
Great video Grady! I like how you put the time stamps in but maybe think about putting em in the comments instead next time? That way people can click and go right there, keep up the good work :)
The Ballerini song la to me just feels like she wants to eat the cake and keep it. "Hey Nashville and country fans, I don't actually make country music anymore and I hang out it in LA with cool pop stars and all, but please play my music on country radio and buy my albums. k thx bie"...
I love Sam Hunt and my thing is all singers have their own sound country doesn’t have to sound like everyone else’s music because then there’s no need to have other singers if they’re all gonna sound the same. Smh. I’m a fan of Sam Hunt and I love country old and new
Whetever or not Hot Country Knights is a joke, i think their 2 songs are amazing, i saw your reaction under their videos and thast why i recommended to talk about them when you asked for recommedations on twitter :P
I’m satisfied with you finally going over Granger’s music. I respect your opinion on it, but there’s way more to him and his music than this one. Trust me.
Ashley McBryde writes incredible country music and her voice is dynamic. I am a huge fan and cannot wait for her new album to release in April. Kelsea Ballerini needs to move over to pop, so does Sam Hunt. Neither of them write/sing country music. I like Tenille Towns a lot but I do not think her music fits under the country music label (like Ingrid Andress). William Michael Morgan's new song is excellent and I love the sound of his voice. I hope he continues to produce music like this because I do agree, this seems like the music he wants to be producing, etc.
A very well executed round up.... I think none of these songs are really over the top...some are solid, some forgettable...there are some interesting Texas new releases left (by Reckless Kelly, Curtis Grimes, Chad Cooke, Triston Marez, Read Southall, Drew Fish Band...)...love to hear a Texas single review...
I like what Kelsea Ballerini is doing with her new album. I honestly don't like any of the songs very much, but she's tackling real feelings and fears in the lyrics. I have always said she makes 'high school country' music, and she's still doing that, but in a new way. It seemed like Chase Rice rushed that album... Partly because it's only seven songs, and mainly because he appeared on The Bachelor three days after its release. It seems like a week before The Bachelor was gonna air his team came up with the idea of a surprise album release to get him a number one album, and it worked. William Michael Morgan needs a record label again. I think he had somewhat of a rough breakup with his last label (because he's very vocal about the state of country music), but country radio needs him. Jon Pardi's songs are loud and fun, but having a subdued traditionalist on radio like WMM would be great.
Please do a longer breakdown of Whiskey Kinda Night by William Michael Morgan. As you mentioned, he is independent for about a year now and any promotion of his music would be great for him. Help him and a few others “Save traditional country”.
i think you should listen to more of granger smith’s music. i had thought the same as you about him, but after looking into him, he’s definitely worth a listen. i know you appreciate good story telling and word play and there’s a lot of that in his music. enjoyed the video though!
I'm not a fan of Sam Hunt or his style of pop "country" but he does it better than anyone else. I also thought this was his best release yet. It's very catchy as a good pop song should be.
Are we sure Sam isn’t sampling Common Man by John Conlee? Next time you hear the chorus, run the lyrics: I’m just a common man, drive a common van My dog ain’t got a pedigree. If I have my say, it’s gonna stay that way Cause high-browed people lose their sanity And a common man is what I’ll be.
Hailey Williams has some amazing music under her belt , black sheep is an album I think you would really like. That’s how I got turned onto her a few years ago
The day after Sam Hunt got the DUI, my mom told me "that Sam something, the country singer, got a DUI earlier". After me googling and asking my friend, I found it out. My mom thinks there's only one singer named Sam out there. We're from the Chicago area and she didn't get into that genre.
I hate the Sam Hunt song lol! Love the songs by Hailey Whitters, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, and Brandy Clark. I’ll have to go check out the Flatland Calvary song. Oh and I love the one by William Michael Morgan.
Can you please check out John Moreland next? I have only heard two of his songs so far, but I think he is already better than all of the big artists in Nashville right now
I agree with you on Granger Smith's song and I'm a Texas girl. It is WAY overproduced. I prefer his older songs, especially we bleed maroon and I'm not even an Aggie 😂
Okay this could be a really stupid question but is there any correlation between Ward Davis 15 years in a 10 year town and Hailey Whitters 10 year town?
