Reviews

As the country group category continues to run over with talent, it will become more and more difficult for newcomers to claim an original style. The Henningsens don't have to worry about this. The father-dauther-son trio's new song 'American Beautiful' is a fresh breath of cool country air that doesn't stray too far from the proven. It's song that could work in the same way 'Hip to My Heart' worked for the Band Perry in 2009, as more of an introduction to a talented trio than a hit in the making. 

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Never has a single better represented an artist's album than 'Cruise' does for Florida Georgia Line's 'Here's to the Good Times.' Thick production, heavy guitarwork and big fat hooks define the 11 songs -- six of which were written by Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. 

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After a huge summer and fall for cinema, these 5 December releases will end the year with a box office bang.

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In his third directorial effort, writer/director Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) takes on a world of violence, mobsters, and lowlifes in a compelling genre flick that has way more than meets the eye.

'Killing Them Softly' follows two small time crooks that are offered a pay day to rob a mob based poker game. Things take a turn for the worst when the mobsters hire an “enforcer” named Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) to track down the crooks and get even.

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'Changed,' the new single from Rascal Flatts, feels more personal than anything the trio has released up to this point in their decade-plus long career. The song, the title track from their 2012 album, was co-written by Gary LeVox, who talks about his relationship with God instead of just using his name conversationally as he's done in songs before.

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Dewveall (pronounced due-VAHL) is a husband and wife duo based out of Nashville, by way of Houston. They received nominations in 3 categories at the 2009 Texas Music Awards, including 'Rising Star of the Year, Vocal Duo/Group of the Year & Male Vocalist of the Year (Jonathon Dewveall). Since then, they have been living, working, playing, and putting together what has turned out to be 'Word', their newest CD.

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Tim McGraw could make a pretty strong Christmas album if he chose to do so. His new release 'Mary and Joseph' is a creative -- but not too creative -- interpretation of the story of Jesus' birth. McGraw tells it like he's told the best stories of his two decade-long career, with a sweet reverence for the struggles his characters are living through.

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LeAnn Rimes might be making some of the best music of her life, but songs like her new single 'Borrowed' won't help her threadbare tie to radio. The first single from her upcoming 'Spitfire' album tells the story of the early days of her romance with Eddie Cibrian. A more caustic subject may not exist.

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The list of songs written by Thom Shepherd is pretty impressive. He's written national country hit songs as well as chart-toppers for Texas radio. All in all, Shepherd has had over sixty songs recorded, including cuts by George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, Kevin Fowler, Josh Abbott, Bucky Covington and several others. But it's Thom's turn, and he shows that he's more than able to sing his own tunes on his new CD, 'Simplify'.

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Kix Brooks takes a trip back to Lake Bistineau in his new semi-autobiographical single 'Moonshine Road.' The singer says the cut is based on a spot he and his trouble-making friends would take to at night. The steam is still fresh on this swampy, country-blues cut. Memories of his Moonshine Road aren't thick with moss, even though it's been a few decades since those hell-raising years.

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In 'Party Like Cowboyz,' Big and Rich once again become the wild-eyed, brash, cowboy rockers that originally attracted so many fans to their diesel-powered style when they debuted in 2003.  No one is going to accuse John Rich and Big Kenny of excessive versatility, but they do what they do with genuine conviction and passion.

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Aaron Lewis seems capable of landing a country music hit, if he'd only quit looking inward and begin looking outward. The longtime rocker's outlaw sensibilities and genuine love of the country lifestyle resonated with fans on 'Country Boy,' his most successful solo single to date. On 'Forever,' we hear all about the struggles of life on the road. The story is hardly something the average fan can attach themselves to. 

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