CD REVIEW: James Otto's Sunset Man
Like all good country music fans, I sometimes wonder who the next big thing is gonna be. James Otto looks to be applying for the position with his new cd, "Sunset Man". No doubt, you've heard the debut single, Just Got Started Lovin' You". The good news is there's a lot more to listen to on this one. "Ain't Gonna Stop" leads off the cd with just the right mix of southern rock and country. Otto has a naturally soulful voice that he shows off on "For You". There's more good music here – with "Where Angels Hang Around" and the title cut, "Sunset Man". It's not a country album without a steel guitar and "When A Woman's Not Watching" more than satisfies. Otto has a voice that makes you stop and listen – put that together with the great music here and you've got the nicest surprise of 2008. If you're gonna buy just one cd this summer, "Sunset Man" needs to be considered. You just may hear the future of country music. Shadow

CD REVIEW: Alan Jackson's Good Time
Out of the esteemed class of '89, Alan Jackson has arguably been the most consistent hit maker. "Good Time", Alan's newest CD shows why. The title cut leads off the album and you couldn't come up with a better way to start a album. The mood and tempo of the song is something that might have been missing from last year's "Like Red On A Rose". Even still, he's the classic singer-songwriter that shines in a reflective moment ("Remember When" and, of course, "Where Were You" are prime examples.) Alan's sentimental "I Wish I Could Back Up" is the latest along that line and is this album's gem. It's most likely a future single and destined to become one of his biggest tunes yet. The autobiographical "1976" shows off Alan's songwriting skills. It's a curious look back that starts in AJ's teenage years. "Sissy's Song" will give you chills, "I Still Like Bologna" will make you smile and the whole CD will make you hit rewind time and time again. This is Alan's best CD in years and may be his best yet. Like George Strait before him, Alan has shown he's not ready to go away. Here's hopin' he never does. Shadow

Billy Ray Cyrus Ready, Set Don't Go
Country star (and former Dancing with the Stars contestant) Billy Ray Cyrus made his triumphant return to the ABC stage last night (10/09) with his very talented and popular daughter Miley. Both Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus appear on the hit Disney Channel series Hannah Montana and they performed a duet titled "Ready, Set, Don't Go." The dad and daughter combo recently recorded the duet version of the single and we have it for you right here.

CD REVIEW: Rascal Flatts Still Feels Good
You know how sometimes you don't realize how much you like a song...until you've heard it for a week or so? "Take Me There" the new single from Rascal Flatts kind of fits the mold for me; after hearing it on K92FM for a week, I realized how much I liked it. The song was written by Kenny Chesney and leads off a package of slick melodies and trademark Flatts harmonies on the group's new cd, "Still Feels Good". BTW...If you're wondering why Chesney gave up the cut instead of recording it himself, the word on Music Row is that the song's vocal range is a bit too high for the country superstar, but perfect for Flatts vocalist Gary Levox. Another standout on the new Flatts CD is "Here" with a vibe much like "These Days". It's destined to become another hit for the boys. The heart wrenching "Help Me Remember" is a stellar cut, too. "Feels So Good" is another great CD for the boys, but is it their best yet? Ask me again in another week. Shadow
Pick your favorite song here.

BRAND NEW: Garth Brooks More Than A Memory
Garth Brooks is back on the radio with fresh new music. More Than A Memory is the first of three new songs that came from his decision to put newly recorded songs on the new Ultimate Hits package will be in stores on Nov. 6, instead of songs from "the vault." Get all the scoop here.

• Click to listen then tell us what you think!
  

  What do you think of Garth's new song?
  	I LOVE IT!
  	Sounds pretty good
  	I don't like it

  
  
  New Music From Kenny Chesney
  The second release from Chesney's upcoming CD, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates ,"Don't Blink," is a song about the simplest secret of life. Done as a passage of the events that defined one man's life, it captures the notion of how the littlest things add up to a pretty profound existence, if you just don't blink.
• Hear Don't Blink
  

  What do you think of Kenny's new song?
  	I LOVE IT!
  	Sounds pretty good
  	I don't like it

  
  
  New Music From The Biggest Female Star in Country Music
  She's back and K92FM's got her!! Carrie Underwood delivers another hit with So Small, the first single from her highly anticipated sophmore album due out Oct. 23. Tune in to K92FM to hear the song or click here to listen.
  

  What do you think of Carrie's new song?
  	I LOVE IT!!
  	Sounds pretty good
  	I don't like it

  
  
  Rascal Flatts Single Take Me There
  Reigning 2007 CMA & ACM Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts has released the first single , "Take Me There," off their new album STILL FEELS GOOD, due in stores on September 25, 2007. This will be the band's fifth album since debuting in 1999. STILL FEELS GOOD was co-produced by Rascal Flatts and Dann Huff. The album's first single "Take Me There" was written by Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley and Kenny Chesney. Listen here
  

  What do you think of Rascal Flatts new song?
  	I LOVE IT!!
  	Sounds pretty good
  	I don't like it

  
  
  CD Review of Brad Paisley's 5th Gear
  It's good to be Brad Paisley these days. Fresh off a surprise win for ACM Top Male Vocalist, Brad's latest effort, 5th Gear, shows his steady progress as a country superstar. Ticks, the debut single once again shows Paisley's keen sense of humor. The West Virginia native continues to honor his pledge to include a gospel song on every cd, In this instance, When We All Get To Heaven. The song is done quite well. Paisley shows his softer, sentinmental side With A Letter To Me, a reflection on growing up and one of the cd's strongest cuts. Other standouts include Mr. Policeman, All I Wanted Was A Car and Better Than This. There's a Carrie Underwood duet and while the vocals are top notch, the song itself isn't too memorable. In a field full of hat acts, this is one male vocalist to pay attention to. Brad Paisley shows with 5th Gear that he plans on being around for a long time to come. So far, it's been one nice ride. Click here to listen for yourself!
  
  HOT NEW MUSIC! Hear Toby Keith's New Single!
  Toby Keith's has a new single off of his brand new CD, Big Dog Daddy. Here's what Toby says about the song: "Love Me If You Can" by Craig Wiseman/Chris Wallin. - "Very few times do I record a song I don't write. I can probably count on both hands the number of times I've done that in my whole career. This song wasn't written for me, but it sounds like I wrote it for myself. Every word Craig wrote tells it like it is for me. There are a lot of homeless people out there who are lazy, drunk or hooked on drugs, but there are some who might just be down on their luck. So I may feel like the homeless should just get up and go to work, but I won't stop giving money to charitable organizations that help people on the street. I do sometimes think war is necessary, but if we could push the big red peace button and make it all end I think every single one of us would."
  Click here to listen.
  

  What do you think of Toby's new song?
  	I LOVE IT!!
  	Sounds pretty good
  	I don't like it

  
  
  EXCLUSIVE!! Hear Kenny Chesney's Brand New Single!
  Kenny Chesney's next single, "Never Wanted Nothing More," will be released to radio on Monday (June 4). It's the first single from his upcoming album. The song was written by Ronnie Bowman (a successful bluegrass artist) and Chris Stapleton (who co-wrote Josh Turner's "Your Man"). No street date for the album has been announced. "Only in country music can you get laid and saved, all within three minutes," he said. "And the thing about the song, it really is how life is lived, what we want and the way nothing else feels like that moment when you finally get it."
  Click here to listen then vote:
  

  What do you think about the song?
  	I LOVE IT!!!
  	Sounds pretty good
  	Need to hear more
  	Don't like it

  
  
  CD REVIEW: Jason Aldean: Relentless
  From the opening notes of Johnny Cash, Jason Aldean picks up where his debut CD left off – and that's a good place. What makes Relentless a winner is the all-around balance of straight ahead country rock and catchy singalongs. Laughed Until We Cried is a great story song and showcases Aldean's ability to switch gears. Same for Do You Wish It Was Me. Other standouts include No and the sassy I Break Everything I Touch. Out of all the new male vocalists country music has offered the last couple of years, Jason Aldean has defined his spot as the one most likely to succeed.
  
  Brand New Faith Hill Music!!
  Faith Hill will debut her new single, "Lost," Tuesday night (May 15) during the 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards show in Las Vegas. Written by Kara DioGuardi and co-produced by Byron Gallimore and Hill, it's the first single from The Hits, her greatest hits CD scheduled to be released later this year. "When we heard the final playback of the song, I don't think that there was any question. Everyone knew that it was special," Hill said. "The timing couldn't be better for us to play something new for our fans." Hear it NOW!
  
  CD REVIEW: Blake Shelton: Pure BS
  Oklahoman Blake Shelton has had his share of hits the last few years, from the melancholy "Austin" to the huge radio hit "Some Beach". On "Pure BS", his fourth CD, Shelton has found the consistency that may have been missing from his first three albums. Shelton has the ability to croon a ballad with the best, belt out a honky tonk hit and has always shown the rare ability to have fun at his own expense. There's a bit of everything here, from love songs like "Don't Make Me" to the sing-along bar song "The More I Drink". When a CD runs the table on just about every type of country song, you always run the risk of throwing too much at the wall. That's not the case here. Pure BS is pure country fun. - Shadow

  Shadow's New Music Archives
  Listen to more great new songs! Visit the New Music Archives
  
  

• Keith Urban's "I Told You So" Video
  Keith Urban has a new video ready. WATCH!!.
• Taylor Swift goes for another hit with Teardrops on My Guitar
  
  
• Hear Tracy Lawrence's Who Your Friends Are
  
  
• Emerson Drive is back with a new song, Moments
  
  
• Kellie Pickler co-wrote a song about her mother; take a listen to the moving song, I Wonder.
  
  
• American Idol's Bucky Covington has a record deal!
  
• Listen to Bucky's song, A Different World

  Listen to new Tim: Tim McGraw's new song, "Last Dollar" (Fly Away)
  
  Back to Shadow's page