Best (Country) Albums of 2006
I would usually leave such a thing up to Kenda, and for the most part I will. But we're talking Country here. :)
Looking through iTunes and other places today in search of what album / songs to spend my new iTunes gift card on, I've discovered that several people are calling the Dixie Chicks album best Country album of the year.
As you can imagine, I take issue with this. Not so much in that I've heard the album (I haven't) or that it's crap (I'm sure it's not) but I can bet top dollar that "country" listeners were not the ones that bought said album. I can not remember the last time I heard a Chicks song played on the radio. And I'm in Dallas. I'm in a big country music market. 99.5 the bear is like the biggest country radio station ever ... or so the commercials say.
So yeah, maybe the press (USA Today) like the album. That's great. But call it what it is, an alt-folk album with an indie following (or pop fans, or whatever). Because no fan of George Strait (who's album could easily have taken best album this year) bought that album of those girls.
I think it's funny they are getting such a nod, because Nashville and Country Radio have dropped them like a bad habit. Kenny Chesney was the biggest performer of the year, and Carrie Underwood (relative newcomer) has gotten no respect from the industry (read: Faith Hill) but she won the CMA for best new artist and vocalist of the year. Not that her album should be the best of the year ... but I can think of another that should be.
Keith Urban had I don't know how many number ones off his album, and if they weren't number one they sure were played liked they were number one. I can't say that about the Chicks songs. Brad Paisley is awesome as well ... he had some new singles out this year, but I believe the album released in '05. There was a Christmas Album this year ... I don't really blame him, his wife is having a baby.
And if you're going by overall Country Album sales in 2006, well Carrie Underwood wins that won too. The Dixie Chicks are Number 5, behind Rascal Flats and Kenny Chesney. Myself, I'm not a fan of either of those two, and don't have either albums. But apparently millions of other people do.
At any rate ... I guess what I'm saying is, if they are still spitting in Country music fans faces (which they are), and are going for a poppier audience ... I suggest they remove themselves from the Country category. 'Cause it just doesn't seem right. I look forward to hearing their songs on my pop station.
And then promptly turning the channel. :)
Looking through iTunes and other places today in search of what album / songs to spend my new iTunes gift card on, I've discovered that several people are calling the Dixie Chicks album best Country album of the year.
As you can imagine, I take issue with this. Not so much in that I've heard the album (I haven't) or that it's crap (I'm sure it's not) but I can bet top dollar that "country" listeners were not the ones that bought said album. I can not remember the last time I heard a Chicks song played on the radio. And I'm in Dallas. I'm in a big country music market. 99.5 the bear is like the biggest country radio station ever ... or so the commercials say.
So yeah, maybe the press (USA Today) like the album. That's great. But call it what it is, an alt-folk album with an indie following (or pop fans, or whatever). Because no fan of George Strait (who's album could easily have taken best album this year) bought that album of those girls.
I think it's funny they are getting such a nod, because Nashville and Country Radio have dropped them like a bad habit. Kenny Chesney was the biggest performer of the year, and Carrie Underwood (relative newcomer) has gotten no respect from the industry (read: Faith Hill) but she won the CMA for best new artist and vocalist of the year. Not that her album should be the best of the year ... but I can think of another that should be.
Keith Urban had I don't know how many number ones off his album, and if they weren't number one they sure were played liked they were number one. I can't say that about the Chicks songs. Brad Paisley is awesome as well ... he had some new singles out this year, but I believe the album released in '05. There was a Christmas Album this year ... I don't really blame him, his wife is having a baby.
And if you're going by overall Country Album sales in 2006, well Carrie Underwood wins that won too. The Dixie Chicks are Number 5, behind Rascal Flats and Kenny Chesney. Myself, I'm not a fan of either of those two, and don't have either albums. But apparently millions of other people do.
At any rate ... I guess what I'm saying is, if they are still spitting in Country music fans faces (which they are), and are going for a poppier audience ... I suggest they remove themselves from the Country category. 'Cause it just doesn't seem right. I look forward to hearing their songs on my pop station.
And then promptly turning the channel. :)
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