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Tag: Billy Ray Cyrus

  • New Release of the Week 4/7/09: Rascal Flatts

    flattsBased on this week’s articles so far, you might think we’ve turned into a country website. Never fear, the cowboy hat is only temporarry, but country music informs this week’s new release column as well.

    Fresh off their ACM win for Best Country Group (unseating Brooks & Dunn after something like 14 straight wins), Rascal Flatts release their new album, “Unstoppable”, today. Now, I don’t have a problem with these guys per se. Let’s face it, most modern country acts are pretty vanilla. But, as I’ve said in a column before, Rascal Flatts is basically *Nsync with tight jeans and cowboy boots. I’ve honestly got no desire to seek out music by them, but if something’s playing, I won’t change the station. Nevertheless, these guys sell kajillions of records without my help. Watch for them to challenge U2 for the best-selling first week of the year so far.

    Here are some of today’s other hot releases:

    Billy Ray Cyrus “Back to Tennessee”– Talk about improbable comebacks. Turns out all Billy Ray Cyrus had to do to remain relevant was cut his mullet off and have a kid. Since Miley’s career blossomed two or three years ago, Billy Ray has undergone a career resurgence. “Back to Tennessee” is poised to continue that hot streak. Not so coincidentally, it contains duets with Miley, as well as a song that will be featured in Miley’s upcoming “Hannah Montana” movie.

    Fat Joe “Jealous Ones Still Envy 2”– Fat Joe is one of those guys who has just kinda stuck around for no good reason. A couple of catchy singles here and there shouldn’t take away from the fact that Mr. Cartegena is pretty much a one-note rapper. A head-scratcher in my eyes is how he seemed to improve as a rapper as soon as Big Pun came on the scene. While I believe that the man hires some solid ghostwriters, that has yet to be proven. “J.O.S.E. 2” features guest appearances by (surprise) Akon, (bigger surprise) T-Pain, and (oh my God!) Lil’ Wayne

    Jadakiss “The Last Kiss” -Five years between albums for a moderately successful rapper should be a career-killer, and I don’t think anyone expects the former LOX member to break any sales records with this album-he’s simply been away for too long, and as everyone knows, the tastes of rap fans are very fickle. “The Last Kiss”, his first album for Roc-a-Fella Records (does Jay-Z even have anything to do with this label anymore) thankfully does not feature Akon, T-Pain or Lil’ Wayne, but does feature Ne-Yo, several members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and Faith Evans on “Letter to B.I.G.”, which was released earlier this year on the “Notorious” soundtrack.

    Jason Aldean “Wide Open”– Quiet as kept, Aldean’s career has gotten off to a pretty solid start. His 2005 debut went Platinum, and the follow-up went Gold. Current single “She’s Country” has blasted up the charts, which augurs good things for his third album. Will this album bring Jason up to the ranks of guys like Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley? Hard to tell, but this is one to definitely keep an eye on. He’s pretty easy on the eyes, too.

    James Taylor “Other Covers”– I love JT. Really I do. But damn man, think of some more original album titles, PLEASE. His first covers set, released last year, was called simply “Covers”. So he’s releasing a follow-up EP and what does he call it? “Other Covers”. Maybe his next album will be called “Album”. Or “Songs”. Anyhow, Taylor’s getting a little soulful here. Among the songs he tackles are Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour” and Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood”. I just got a mental picture of JT doing “Knock on Wood” in disco style a la Amii Stewart. Gave me a little chuckle. Ha.

    You can get a full list of today’s releases here.

  • Chart Chat 8/17/08: M.I.A., ABBA…and a Bad Joke About Miley Cyrus’s Dad!!!

    Happy Sunday all. After skipping a week due to technical difficulties, we are back!! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the charts remain more or less the same. Read on, my friends…(all chart information courtesy of Billboard magazine)

    The cover of Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A\'s hit album \"Kala\"
      Top 20 Singles

    1) “Disturbia” Rihanna
    2) “Forever” Chris Brown
    3) “I Kissed a Girl” Katy Perry
    4) “Take a Bow” Rihanna
    5) “Paper Planes” M.I.A.
    6) “Viva La Vida” Coldplay
    7) “Dangerous” Kardinal Offishall feat. Akon
    8) “A Milli” Li’l Wayne
    9) “Burnin’ Up” Jonas Brothers
    10) “Closer” Ne-Yo
    11) “A Little Bit Longer” Jonas Brothers
    12) “American Boy” Estelle feat. Kanye West
    13) “When I Grow Up” Pussycat Dolls
    14) “Leavin’” Jesse McCartney
    15) “Bleeding Love” Leona Lewis
    16) “Get Like Me” David Banner feat. Chris Brown
    17) “Lollipop” Li’l Wayne feat. Static Major
    18) “Put On” Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West
    19) “Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)” Three Six Mafia
    20) “Pocketful of Sunshine” Natasha Bedingfield

      Top 20 Albums:

    1) Various Artists “Mamma Mia Soundtrack”
    2) “Breakout” Miley Cyrus
    3) “Love on the Inside” Sugarland
    4) “Rock & Roll Jesus” Kid Rock
    5) “Tha Carter III” Li’l Wayne
    6) “Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends” Coldplay
    7) “Lessons in Love” Lloyd
    8) “Camp Rock Soundtrack” Various Artists
    9) “Good Girl Gone Bad” Rihanna
    10) “What Am I Waiting For” Heidi Newfeld
    11) “Jonas Brothers” Jonas Brothers
    12) “C’mon” Keith Anderson
    13) “Now That’s What I Call Music Vol. 28” Various Artists
    14) “Kids Bop 14” Various Artists
    15) “Conor Oberst” Conor Oberst
    16) “Taylor Swift” Taylor Swift
    17) “Untitled” Nas
    18) “Only Through the Pain” Trapt
    19) “Revelation” Third Day
    20) “One of the Boys” Katy Perry (more…)

  • Chart Chat 6/22/08: Metro Station, Pussycat Dolls, Journey & More!

    Metro Station Hey folks…had to take last week off due to some site remodeling, but we’re back! And here are this week’s Top 20 charts, brought to you by kind courtesy of Billboard.

    Top 20 Albums:
    1) “Tha Carter III” Li’l Wayne
    2) “Definition of Real” Plies
    3) “Now That’s What I Call Music! Vol 28” Various Artists
    4) “Indestructible” Disturbed
    5) “Here I Stand” Usher
    6) “Revelation” Journey
    7) “Seeing Sounds” N.E.R.D
    8) “Flavors of Entanglement” Alanis Morissette
    9) “Evil Urges” My Morning Jacket
    10) “Weezer (Red Album)” Weezer
    11) “3 Doors Down” 3 Doors Down
    12) “Sex & The City Original Soundtrack” Various Artists
    13) “The Declaration” Ashanti
    14) “Spirit” Leona Lewis
    15) “Rockferry” Duffy
    16) “Taylor Swift” Taylor Swift
    17) “Nothing But the Best” Frank Sinatra
    18) “35 Biggest Hits” Toby Keith
    19) “Rock & Roll Jesus” Kid Rock
    20) “Back When I Knew It All” Montgomery Gentry

    …and on the singles chart…

    1) “Viva La Vida” Coldplay
    2) “I Kissed a Girl” Katy Perry
    3) “Lollipop” Li’l Wayne feat. Static Major
    4) “Bleeding Love” Leona Lewis
    5) “Take a Bow” Rihanna
    6) “Pocketful of Sunshine” Natasha Bedingfield
    7) “No Air” Jordin Sparks w/Chris Brown
    8) “Forever” Chris Brown
    9) “Love in This Club” Usher feat. Young Jeezy
    10) “Shake It” Metro Station
    11) “Bust it Baby Pt. 2” Plies feat. Ne-Yo
    12) “Sexy Can I” Ray J. feat Yung Berg
    13) “Leavin’” Jesse McCartney
    14) “Damaged” Danity Kane
    15) “4 Minutes” Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake
    16) “What You Got” Colby O’Donis feat. Akon
    17) “It’s Not My Time” 3 Doors Down
    18) “When I Grow Up” Pussycat Dolls
    19) “Love Song” Sara Bareilles
    20) “Realize” Colbie Caillat

    (more…)