Year In Review: The Top 12 Country Albums of 2012

2012 was a great year for country music.  Many artists released new albums this year, though many of the bigger names in the genre were still riding the highs of 2011 albums.  Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Justin Moore and Luke Bryan are just some of the artists who did NOT release new albums this year.

The good side of this is that it left country music wide open for new, up and coming artists to take the spotlight.  We reviewed some of these artists album this year, though not nearly as many as we would have liked.  Some of them are featured in this countdown, while others just did not make the cut.

So without further adieu, the Top 12 Country Albums of 2012:

12.  Rachel Farley - The Truth EP - Released in the early part of the year, this young singer did not nearly get the chance to shine as her EP deserved.  She did, however, set herself up for success in 2013, opening for Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean.  At only 17, this artist is well on her way to a big national debut.

11.  Chris Lane Band - Let's Ride - Chris Lane is a small time artist from North Carolina, but the artist already fits in well alongside artists such as Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.  "Let's Ride" features a great combination of rocking country and smooth love ballads.

10.  Colt Ford - Declaration of Independence - I have not been shy about my love of the unique sound of Colt Ford in the past.  His August release, Declaration of Independence, returned Ford to a sound that made his debut album popular, letting country stars sing while Colt sticks to the rapping.  Guest singers include Jason Aldean, Kix Brooks (Of Brook & Dunn) and Corey Smith.  The lead single, "Back", featuring Jake Owen, helped Ford score his first #1 Country Album.

9.  Toby Keith - Hope On The Rocks - Continuing with the pattern set by 2011's "Clancy's Tavern", Toby Keith kept strong his return to more traditional sounding country music.  Gone are the partying days of old, Keith's album features songs that are more reflective in nature.  The title track "Hope On The Rocks" is one of the strongest songs TK has released in recent memory.

8.  Love & Theft - Self Titled Album - The lead single "Angel Eyes" took country music by storm earlier this year, securing the duo's place in country music.  While not a new artist, L&T is likely new to most country listeners.  Look for their star to rise even more in 2013.

7.  Brian Davis Band - Under the Influence - Another locally known artist deserving of a much bigger stage.  BDB's "Under the Influence" rocking country sound will be familiarly comfortable among those who listen to the more modern outlaw side of the genre.  Fittingly, Brian Davis Band opened for Brantley Gilbert on his first headlining tour in the second half of the year.

6.  Lee Brice - Hard 2 Love - It was a big year for Brice.  His sophomore album was met with critical acclaim.  The first two singles "A Woman Like You" and "Hard To Love" enjoyed long play on the radio.  His third single, "I Drive Your Truck", changes from the love based pace that he is known for, but is still quickly rising up the charts.

5.  Thomas Rhett - Self Titled EP - One of my favorite albums of the year, this EP is only so low on the chart because of the shortened length.  The son of Rhett Akins, Thomas is enjoying success behind "Something To Do With My Hands", "Beer With Jesus" and opening for Toby Keith this previous Summer.

4.  Florida Georgia Line - Here's To The Good Times - FGL's debut album benefited from having an EP released earlier this year, one of our highest rated releases of the year.  The lead single, the summer tune, "Cruise", spent multiple weeks on top of the chart, and is still enjoying radio success in the cold months.  Look for this duo on the Luke Bryan's "Dirt Road Diaries" tour in 2013.

3.  Chase Rice - Dirt Road Communion - A cowriter on the aforementioned "Cruise", Rice did not get much, if any, radio play on his own.  Nonetheless, "Dirt Road Communion" remains one of the top albums of the year, and is still a regular in my playlist, despite being released in March.

2.  Jason Aldean - Night Train - After having giant years in 2010 and 2011, Aldean continued his success in 2012.  His fifth album, "Night Train" features a diverse variety of songs, from the lead single "Take A Little Ride", to the risky "1994" (penned by Thomas Rhett) to the risque "Black Tears" (written by Florida Georgia Line).  It is hard to find any song on Night Train that one can classify as a bad song.

1.  Kip Moore - Up All Night - Newcomer Kip Moore took radio by storm with the catchy "Somethin' Bout A Truck".  His soft, yet gruff, voice combined with a more traditional country sound makes his debut album the most played album on my playlist.  Much like Aldean's "Night Train" it is hard to find fault with any of the songs on the album.  "Beer Money", the second single from the album, is enjoying commercial success that is sure to make Moore a common sound on the radio in 2013.

Honorable Mentions:  Aaron Lewis, former lead singer of Staind, released his debut full-length country album, "The Road" late this year.  Also of note, after a long break and some time as solo artists, Big and Rich returned together to release "Hillbilly Jedi".

So there it is.  The top 12 albums in country music in 2012.  We are looking forward to sharing our thoughts on 2013 albums, including new ones from Tim McGraw, Gary Allan, Darius Rucker, Randy Houser, Brad Paisley, Band Perry and George Strait.

Until then, Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you off the dirt road.

Album Review: Florida Georgia Line - Here's To The Good Times

The last review we did as "The Low Down For A Hoe Down" was of Florida-Georgia Line's EP "It'z Just What We Do".  How fitting is it, then, that our first review as "Off The Dirt Road" is FGL's debut full-length album, "Here's To The Good Times"?

It has been a whirlwind of a year for Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley.  Besides an EP in May, a #1 single, and spots on the Country Throwdown tour (with Justin Moore and Rodney Atkins) and the 2012 CMT on Tour tour (with Jake Owen), the duo managed to appear on Jake Owen's "Endless Summer EP" and land a cut on Jason Aldean's "Night Train" album with a song ("Black Tears") from their first EP.  FGL caps the year off with a full-length album, which picks up right where they left off with their summer EP, including all five of "What We Do"'s tracks, including their recent chart topper and debut single "Cruise".

None of the newest additions to the album stray very far from the groundwork the duo laid over the summer, and the lead single ("Cruise") defines the mood for the entire album.  Almost every song is perfect for driving down a dirt road with friends or cuddling up with a loved one on the tailgate of your truck at a bonfire.  The one song that strays from that mood is "Stay" which appears in the middle of the album.  The song, which takes on a more alternative rock feel, is about a topic almost everyone has had to deal with, heartbreak.

"I'd sell my soul just to see your face.  And I'd break my bones just to heal your pain".

It is hard to find fault with any of the tracks on the album.  The duo manages to create a mood the flows from start to finish without being repetitive, something that many artists struggle to do through an entire album.  "Here's To The Good Times" is sure to skyrocket the newcomers up the charts, winning many many new fans in the process.  Be sure to check them out in 2013, when they open up for Luke Bryan on the "Dirt Road Diaries" tour.  9/10

Rebooting, With A New Name

Hey everyone.I know it has been several months since we have done a review. This post it to let you know that we are coming back, starting tonight, with a new name and new reviews. First things first. I have decided to change the name of the blog. I feel that "Off The Dirt Road" better reflects the type of country music that we review. As I mentioned in May, while we have always reviewed country artists of all levels of fame, most of our fan base and our reviews have been for the smaller, up-and-coming artists. "Off The Dirt Road" is a better representation of that base. Second, I will be posting a review of the new Florida Georgia Line album tonight and over the next couple weeks, will take time to review some of the albums I have missed, including the latest offerings from Jason Aldean and Brian Davis. Finally, I am hunting for a new writer. Be on the lookout for an announcement on who that is in the near future. Thanks to anyone who has stuck with us, even during this extended period of no reviews.

Album Review: Florida Georgia Line - It'z Just What We Do

Florida Georgia Line is the latest in a line of Male Duos in country music to blend with rock music and hope to make it big.  Their debut EP, "Anything Like Me" was released in 2010 slipped through the cracks, which is a shame.  "It'z Just What We Do", the latest EP from the duo, should gain them more recognition, helped along by appearing with Gary Allan and Rodney Atkins on the Country Throwdown Tour.

FGL opens the EP with "Cruise", a viable candidate to replace "Dirt Road Anthem" as this year's perfect summer driving song.  The first single from the band, "Cruise" is radio friendly and hopefully will get the duo noticed by fans outside of the South.  The summer fun continues with "Get Your Shine On" and "Tip It Back".  Both are perfect bonfire songs, with "Shine" being part love song and "Tip It Back" being a great drinking song.    The latter of the two is sure to hook fans of Montgomery Gentry, as there is a similar sound to the duo's back and forth singing.

"Tell Me How You Like It" changes the pace some, bringing a unique sound to a romantic song.  FGL is down for anything, just waiting for the word from the girl.  Wrapping up the short EP is "It'z Just What We Do", the title track.  The duo is unapologetic as they party, combining rap, rock, and country, the duo creates a great bar song, no matter what part of the country you are in.  If FGL releases another single before a full-length album, I would bet on this being it.

Full of summer party anthems, FGL's EP hit the shelves just in time to have maximum impact.  Florida Georgia Line's "It'z Just What We Do" is exactly what the duo needs in order to put them on the radar and the radio.  Be sure to catch them on the Country Throwdown Tour this summer.  The EP is available on iTunes,  Amazon and the Google Play Store 8/10

One of the things that I have always taken pride in with "The Low Down For A Hoe Down" is our focus on the smaller artists, the ones who are up and coming.  I have always felt that the people I connect with are the ones who enjoy the unknown artists.  And the readers have proven that.  Today, 10 months after starting this blog, we reached 10,000 unique readers and our three most-read posts are our reviews of Chase Rice, Rachel Farley and Brantley Gilbert, none of whom are platinum selling artists.  All of them are currently either not touring or opening acts.  The fact that our readers are drawn to these reaffirms my faith in the true country music fans, so we will continue to bring you artists you may not have heard of in hopes that their music will spread.  We will continue to review big artists too, but our primary focus will be on the currently unknowns.

Album Review: Chase Rice - Dirt Road Communion

If the name Chase Rice sounds familiar in your household, chances are it is not for Country music, but it should be.  If the name sounds familiar, it is likely because the young North Carolina native placed second on "Survivor: Nicaragua", the shows twenty-first season.  Rice has just released his first full-length album, a follow up to his EP, "Country As Me".

Dirt Road Communion - The title track, "Communion" follows a familiar country path, reminiscing about growing up on the dirt roads back home.  With a sound that falls somewhere between Jason Aldean and Brantley Gilbert,  with a little Lee Brice thrown in for good measure.  The formula works, providing a rocking song that is likely to get attention for the newcomer.

How She Rolls - Keeping the pace up, Rice gives a rocking tribute to his woman.  Sounding a lot like Matt Kennon ("The Call"), Chase describes everything about this country girl: "My baby's a hands in the air/ Don't have a care/ When her songs on the radio/ A little crazy with a blue-jean tear/ Gets a Ray-Ban stare/ Just about everywhere we go/ She likes to get down/ Sippin on Coke and Crown/ Jesus and Gypsie Soul/ Yeah that's how she rocks/ That's how she rolls"

The Little Things - Another tribute to his woman, Rice slows this one down with a short love song about what is truly important to her.  "No she doesn't need/ A four-carat diamond ring/ Or a big house to come home to/ No she doesn't need/ A Hollywood movie scene/ Or a sunset every day in Malibu/ No all she needs/ Are the little things".  Rice mentions what those little things are, roses just because it is Tuesday, watching "The Bachelor" every Monday, and letting her drive his truck (even after previous mishaps). You can almost see the singer with a grin on his face as he sings.

Pbj's and Pbr's - Rice returns to what he does best, rocking.  "Pbj's & Pbr's" is him reminiscing about his college days, being broke, barely making it to class (if they went at all).  Chase even includes a shout out to another country singer: "That Sigma Ki gig every other Thursday/ Wouldn't make a penny, but we tried to play/ We cut a song for all of them college honeys/ Give ole Luke Bryan a run for his money".  The title refers to the diet of a college student-musician.

Whoa - A change of pace for the Carolina singer, the heavy bass beat in the beginning leads to the inevitable rap verse near the end of the song.  "Whoa" is simply the reaction Rice has to seeing a beautiful girl.  Thankfully, the rap does not feel out of place and he pulls it off without sounding forced.  "Whoa" is a song that will probably not get a lot of playtime, but is definitely catchy.

Room 205 - Every once in a while a song comes around that is so deep, and tells such a story, that you have to listen to it a few times to gather what is going on.  This is that song for Chase Rice.  The song is told from the perspective of a motel room that has seen a lot of things.  I really do not want to go into detail, it is better to just let you listen and take it in for yourselves.

Pop A Top Off (Good Time On) - Returning back to the idea of partying and drinking, Rice sings from the perspective of the singer on stage of a concert.  Quite obviously fitted to be the opening song for his concerts, the guitar in the last third really stands out.

Shades Of Green - A song about the struggling economy and being thankful for what you have and where you are from, "Shades of Green" is familiar without being repetitive.  The song is about exactly what the title says, the different greens in life that are more important than money.  "It's the color of the tractor in my barn/ A fifty acre pasture old horse farm/ And rows of pines as far as I can see/ It ain't the money in the bank that we ain't got".

You Ain't Livin ' Yet - This song follows in the tradition of "Shades of Green" in theme.  "You Ain't Livin' Yet" is about the large difference between "livin'" to a city boy and "livin'" to a country boy.  Once again, Rice does a good job of avoiding the same song that every other country makes, while sticking to the same ideas as Josh Thompson's "Ain't Seen Country Yet" and Jason Aldean's "Country Boy's World"

Country Boy's Kryptonite - The title should give away what the song is about.  Every country boy is a sucker for a hot country girl.  We just cannot get enough.  He does not stick just to the women though, the second verse dives into muddin' and NASCAR.  "I can't resist it, I'm addicted/ Even Superman would lose this fight/ Yeah, and all of this, is my weakness/ It's all a country boy's kryptonite"

Every Song I Sing - Every song has a story behind it, and more often than not, it involves a woman.  The first song on "Dirt Road Communion" that actually involves a breakup, it is also probably the one filled with the most emotion on the album.  This is probably one of my favorites simply because it feels the most vulnerable.

Only A Country Girl - After my favorite track, "Country Girl" is probably my least favorite on the album.  It is not that it is a bad song, but it just feels a bit cookie cutter.  Jeff Bates immediately comes to mind when I hear this song about how special a country girl is.

I Like Drinking, Cause It's Fun - This one might be my new anthem.  Sometimes you do not need a reason to be drinking.  Sometimes you do not have a heartbreak, or a hard day at work.  You just want to drink "Cause it's fun!".  Does not matter if it is beer, tequila or wine, drinking is just fun.

Shakin' The Wheels - This fast tune contrasts nicely with the idea of a truck not actually going anywhere, but the couple in the song sure are moving fast.  The instrumentals nearly overpower the lyrics, but it works with the content of the song.

Jack Daniel's & Jesus - Another raw, vulnerable track.  Chase pours his heart out about being lost in life, much in the vein of Brantley Gilbert's "Modern Day Prodigal Son".  This purity places this just above "Every Song I Sing" because I have lived there.  In fact, you would be hard pressed to find someone who has not.  If there were only one track to listen to on this entire album, this one would be it.  It is hard not to be moved by Rice's honesty.

Happy Hour(Worktape) - Wrapping up the album with a track that was unedited, Chase sits down with just his acoustic guitar, lamenting on being stuck in the same routine, just without the girl he used to enjoy it with.  He swears he is never coming back, the memories are just too rough, but he has said that before.  "I guess Happy Hour/ Ain't so happy without her" Rice sings in the chorus.  After a short silent period (and maybe a few drinks) his mood picks up.  The girl walks in and asks if she can join him.  He plays along for about a second, then tells her to kiss his ass.  He definitely ends it with a upbeat take on the heartbreak, wrapping the album up nicely.

"Dirt Road Communion" is Rice's first attempt at a full-length album, and he does not disappoint.  He recorded this album without a label and without radio support, but you would never guess it listening to it.  Chase is not a household name, but if he keeps putting music out like this, he will be in no time.  8.5/10


This album is available through Amazon MP3 and iTunes.  You can follow Chase Rice on Twitter

Album Review: Brantley Gilbert - Halfway To Heaven (Deluxe Edition)

I cannot fairly write this review, so let me go ahead and start by telling you that this album is a 10/10.  It would not be the least bit objective for a couple of reasons.  First, I am too big of a Brantley Gilbert fan to look at the music critically.  I fell in love with his music the moment I heard it.  Second it is not the initial release of the album.  The first twelve songs were released in the first half of 2010, and I bought the album when it was released then.  I have probably listened to the original release over a hundred times.  Finally, there is too much emotion tied into these songs, too many memories, too much personal meaning. If I did not state this outright, it would not be fair to those reading this admittedly subjective review.

As mentioned, this is not the first release of most of these songs.  Gilbert released the first twelve tracks on his former record label, "Average Joe's Entertainment".  Since then, a lot has happened for this young artist.  He signed on with Valory Music Company, which houses Justin Moore (whose album was reviewed earlier this year), and a little known artist named Reba McEntire.  Fellow Georgian Jason Aldean recorded two songs from his debut album ("Modern Day Prodigal Son"), taking both "My Kinda Party" and "Dirt Road Anthem" to #1.  This move caused a lot of anger among Gilbert fans, but the success of this album will show that Jason brought Brantley the biggest opportunity of his career.  Finally, he began the process of re-recording, remastering, and re-releasing this album.

Anyone who has listened to Brantley's music knows Brantley.  A lot of artists say that they pour everything they have into their music, but one listen to tracks such as "Saving Amy" and "Halfway to Heaven" and you get the feeling that he puts everything and then some.  The title track is the true life story of a moment that forever changed him.  He drove home one night after a party, drunk, and ended up upside-down slammed into a tree.  The emotion in Gilbert's voice is extremely moving, as he tells about how that one moment truly changed his life.  "Saving Amy" is just as heartbreaking, as the singer tells of watching over his fiancee after dying in a car wreck the night he proposed.

Gilbert does a good job with the romantic songs, such as  "Fall Into Me" and "My Kinda Crazy", too.   Among the final three tracks on the album, which are the new ones added for the deluxe edition, "More Than Miles" is spectacular.  The song is reminiscent of Jason Aldean's "Keep The Girl" (off of the "Wide Open" album), as Gilbert sings about leaving his girl behind to chase his dreams in Nashville.

For all the emotion used in the slow songs, the Georgia-native dumps an equal amount of energy into his rock and party anthems.  "Hell On Wheels" opens the album, a song often compared to the classic "Copperhead Road", but on steroids.  "Kick It In The Sticks" and "Take It Outside" show the party side of his music.  Colt Ford joins Gilbert for the original version of "Dirt Road Anthem", which features the two verses that Jason Aldean's version has (performed by Colt Ford) as well as a third verse in which Brantley himself raps.  Gilbert's current single, "Country Must Be Country Wide" (currently #15 on the charts) is a tribute to his fans, and a reminder that country music is popular in more than just the South.

In between all of these, Gilbert takes us back to when he was growing up with songs such as "Back In The Day".  "Them Boys" is that song that we have all sang, when we observe a younger generation that just does not get it.  It feels a little hypocritical at first, especially after "Bending The Rules and Breaking The Law", until the end, when Brantley observes that his and his friend's grandfathers were probably saying the same thing: "Them boys don't know one thing about life/ True love and trouble/ Struggle and strife/ They think it's all just fun and games/ Like laws and rules are balls and chains/ Treatin them girls like hearts don't break/ Treatin old men like hands don't shake/ I pray it's just a phase/ their goin through/ Yeah but what are we gonna do with them boys?".

Among the new tracks, "Hell On An Angel shines brightest as it closes the album out.  It tells the story of his wife, who has him changed from an outlaw to a lover.  This song could make for a great single in the future.

Overall, the deluxe edition of "Halfway to Heaven" is a great way for Brantley to make his entrance into the larger world of country music.  It is true to the original album, just cleaner and better mixed.  The effort is sure to please both die-hard fans who were worried that he was going to sell out, as well as new fans, looking for a breath of fresh air in a genre that is rapidly moving towards the pop side.  As mentioned before, this album is a 10/10.

Enjoy the video for "Country Must Be Country Wide", shot at the same prison in Tennessee where "The Green Mile" was filmed: