CD review: Lee Brice ‘Hard 2 Love’
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Country
Lee Brice “Hard 2 Love” (Curb Records)
Lee Brice’s sophomore album “Hard 2 Love” proves easy to like, with some songs evoking even deeper feelings, despite the absence of a definitive standout track and the presence of the cheesy digit in the title.
Even before he released his debut album, “Love Like Crazy,” two years ago, Brice had developed a reputation as a stalwart country songwriter, and he has earned even more accolades for his songsmithing, especially since he has penned the most-played song on country radio for two years running. In 2010, his smash single “Love Like Crazy” garnered the distinction, and in 2011, Eli Young Band’s breakout hit “Crazy Girl,” which Brice co-wrote with Liz Rose, snared the title along with the Academy of Country Music Award for song of the year.
The South Carolina native has honed his pen along with his soulful voice for “Hard 2 Love,” co-writing eight of the 13 tracks and showing off improved interpretive skills on the rest. Sonically, the album may be a bit too homogenous with its reliance on the mid-tempo ballads that have become Brice’s signature, but taken individually, most of the contemporary country tracks are sturdily crafted, relatable and real.
Last month, Brice earned his first No. 1 hit with “A Woman Like You,” the charming first single from “Hard 2 Love.” The catchy title track and country-bluesy “Don’t Believe Every Thing You Think,” which he co-wrote for his fiancée Sara, explore similar thematic territory: A man’s man acknowledging that he isn’t easy to love but expressing gratitude and fidelity to his woman for doing it anyway.
His bride-to-be’s voice is featured at the end of “See About a Girl,” about cutting a boys’ night out short to get home to his lady, and their son Takoda chirps his love for his daddy during the fading moments of album closer “One More Day,” about missing his family while playing out on the road. The romantic story song “Seven Days a Thousand Times” benefits immensely from the vivid details and Brice’s fervent vocals.
He breaks up all the balladry with a pair of entertaining party songs, “Parking Lot Party” and “Beer.”
While the album doesn’t have a clear-cut showstopper, fellow singer-songwriter star Eric Church co-wrote the strongest track, “Life Off My Years,” a poignant and cleverly worded anthem about seizing the day.
— BAM
Toby Keith readies for annual hometown fundraiser, groundbreaking for OK Kids Corral
The Ninth Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic will kick off in a special way on Friday, May 18 at the groundbreaking of the OK Kids Korral in Oklahoma City.
The home-away-from-home for children and families being treated at Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center and other nearby facilities has been the ultimate goal of the Oklahoma country music superstar, the Toby Keith Foundation and its annual event.
The 10 a.m. May 18 groundbreaking ceremony will begin turning the dream into reality, and the evening’s private dinner and auction will continue the tradition of strong fundraising. Last year’s classic raised $650,000, and the 2012 lineup of auction items is even deeper, according to a news release.
Highlights include a trip to Africa with Pros for Africa, a Brush Creek getaway, a Dallas Cowboys VIP package, a chance to have a menu item named after you at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, concerts and golf packages and exclusive memorabilia from Coldplay, Carrie Underwood, the Rolling Stones, the Three Stooges and, of course, Toby Keith himself.
Other auction items: “A Day in The Life of Toby on Tour,” L.A. talk show package, ESPYs Package with Adrian Peterson, Houston Astros Suite Package and memorabilia from Bob Griese, Derek Jeter, Drew Brees, Cal Ripken Jr., Tim McGraw, Aaron Rogers, Elvis, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean and Wayne Gretzky.
The annual golf classic will be Saturday, May 19 at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, the city that Keith calls home. Participants at the main event hit the links with a wide range of celebrities. Another highlight will be the Built Ford Tough Shootout, offering a new truck to the winner. Local Seth Wadley Ford is also offering a truck should anyone hit a hole-in-one, according to the release.
Proceeds from the charity golf classic will further the Toby Keith Foundation’s efforts to build the OK Kids Korral, which will provide housing for pediatric cancer patients and families while seeking care at OU Medical Center.
“It’s slow gears turning, but it’s gonna be something that Oklahoma City can be really proud of when we’re done with it,” Keith told me before last year’s fundraising event.
For information about the golf tournament or OK Kids Korral, go to www.tobykeithfoundation.org.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood performing tonight on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”
Oklahoma country music superstar Carrie Underwood will be the musical guest tonight on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The show airs at 11:05 p.m. weekdays on ABC (KOCO-5 in Oklahoma City).
The Checotah native will be performing music from her recently released fourth album “Blown Away.”
As previously reported, Underwood’s “Blown Away” debuted this week at the top of the Billboard country albums list as well as at No. 1 on the cross-genre Billboard 200. “Blown Away” sold 267,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
-BAM
Miranda Lambert scores fourth No. 1 single with “Over You”; she and Carrie Underwood top the country charts
Oklahoma country music superstar Miranda Lambert has scored her third No. 1 single on the Billboard country songs chart and her fourth No. 1 single overall with her current hit “Over You.”
The Tishomingo resident wrote the emotionally charged song with her husband Blake Shelton about the death of his brother when Shelton was just a teenager.
“I think the key is we sort of pick and choose what we want to do together as artists because we don’t ever want the business to get in the way of our personal relationship,” Lambert said on MirandaLambert.com about writing the song with Shelton.
“So when we write together, we kind of step away from being husband and wife, and we just become artists that respect each other. And it’s a really good relationship, and I think doing that every now and then and keeping it special is what makes it work.”
In addition, “Over You” has been certified gold. It is the second single from Lambert’s fourth album, “Four The Record,” which also has been deemed gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
According to Billboard.com, “Over You” made Lambert’s second-fastest ascension to the top of the charts, garnering 36.6 million audience impressions to jump from No. 3 to No. 1 in its 20th chart week. Only her signature ballad “The House That Built Me” rose to the top faster, spending the first of four straight weeks atop the chart two years ago.
The reigning Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association female vocalist of the year, Lambert also reached the pinnacle of the Billboard country songs chart with “Heart Like Mine,” while her “White Liar” topped the Mediabase list to become her first No. 1 hit.
According to Billboard.com, Lambert’s new No. 1 marks the second topper on that chart for a solo female artist this year. Taylor Swift’s “Ours” reached No. 1 in March.
It also puts two female country music superstars from Oklahoma at the top of both Billboard country charts.
As previously reported, Checotah native Carrie Underwood’s fourth album “Blown Away” debuted this week at the top of the Billboard country albums list as well as at No. 1 on the cross-genre Billboard 200. “Blown Away” sold 267,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The arrival of “Blown Away” marks the best sales week for a country album since last fall when Lady Antebellum’s “Own the Night” debuted at No. 1 with 347,000 copies, according to Billboard.com. It is also the biggest sum for a country album by a solo artist since Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” sold 276,000 copies during Christmas week two years ago.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Vince Gill plans bluegrass tour, appears with Keith Urban on Country Weekly cover
Oklahoma-born and bred country music star Vince Gill will play 12 bluegrass shows in June with fiddler Stuart Duncan, guitarist Jeff White, banjo player Jim Mills and bass player Dennis Crouch, according to CMT.com.
Gill, who was born in Norman and raised in Oklahoma City, will provide vocals, guitar and mandolin.
Here are the tour dates: June 13 in Richmond, Va.; June 14 in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; June 15-16 in Alexandria, Va.; June 17 in Charlotte, N.C.; June 21 in Nashville; June 22 in Atlanta; June 23 in Hiawassee, Ga.; June 24 in Durham, N.C.; June 28 in Owensboro, Ky.; June 29 in Lexington, Ky.; and June 30 in Wabash, Ind.
Bluegrass newcomer Sarah Jarosz will open the shows through June 23.
Gill and Keith Urban also are featured on the cover of the May 14 issue of Country Weekly magazine, on sale this week. In the cover story, they talk about bringing together a host of fellow superstars for the recent Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum fundraiser concert, We’re All for the Hall.
They also discuss the importance of the Hall of Fame and what it takes to put on this all-star show.
-BAM
Ticket prices announced for Carrie Underwood’s Oklahoma City and Tulsa shows
Ticket prices were announced today for Carrie Underwood’s home state shows.
The Checotah native will play Oct. 25 at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday and have been priced at $45, $55 and $65, plus applicable fees.
Oklahoma City tickets will be available at Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, area Homeland stores, by phone at (800) 745-3000 and online through Ticketmaster.com
For more information, go to www.chesapeakeenergy.com.
The 2005 “American Idol” winner will perform Nov. 21 at Tulsa’s BOK Center. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. May 18 and have been priced at $46, $56 and $66.
Tulsa tickets will be available online at www.bokcenter.com, at Arby’s Box Office, at all Tickets.com outlets or by calling (866) 7-BOKCTR.
Underwood’s home state shows are part of “The Blown Away Tour,” in support of her fourth studio album.
“Blown Away,” makes history today by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, making her only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of her first four albums debut at No. 1, according to a news release.
With more than 267,000 albums sold – according to the announcement from Underwood’s publicist, which cites Nielsen SoundScan – “Blown Away” debuts at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart making the Checotah native only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1.
In addition to holding the No. 1 spot on both the country and all-genre album sales charts, “Blown Away” also holds the No. 1 spot in digital sales, with more than 107,000 copies sold, making “Blown Away” country’s best-selling digital album debut since 2010.
“Good Girl,” the feisty lead single from “Blown Away,” has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of more than 500,000 digital singles, according to RIAA.com. The song is currently Top 10 and climbing on the country airplay charts.
To read my recent Carrie Underwood feature, click here. To read my review of “Blown Away,” click here.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and country charts
Oklahoma country music superstar Carrie Underwood’s fourth album, “Blown Away,” makes history today by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, making her only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of her first four albums debut at No. 1, according to a news release.
With more than 267,000 albums sold – according to the announcement from Underwood’s publicist, which cites Nielsen SoundScan – “Blown Away” debuts at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart making the Checotah native only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1.
In addition to holding the No. 1 spot on both the country and all-genre album sales charts, “Blown Away” also holds the No. 1 spot in digital sales, with more than 107,000 copies sold, making “Blown Away” country’s best-selling digital album debut since 2010.
“Good Girl,” the feisty lead single from “Blown Away,” has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of more than 500,000 digital singles, according to RIAA.com. The song is currently Top 10 and climbing on the country airplay charts.
Since releasing “Some Hearts” in 2005, the 2005 “American Idol” winner has sold more than 14 million albums with “Some Hearts,” 2007’s “Carnival Ride” and 2009’s “Play On,” making her the best-selling “Idol” in the United States, according to the release. She’s amassed 14 No. 1 singles, six of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only “Idol” winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums.
She is a five-time Grammy winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Underwood currently leads the nominations for the upcoming CMT Music Awards with five. The fan-voted awards will be handed out June 6 in Nashville, Tenn. To vote, go to www.CMT.com.
The Oklahoma native will embark in fall on a new North American tour that will include two Oklahoma stops: “The Blown Away Tour” will include an Oct. 25 stop at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Tickets for her Oklahoma City show will go on sale Friday, according to a representative from the venue. Prices are $45, $55 and $65. For more information, go to www.chesapeakearena.com.
The singer-songwriter then will return to Oklahoma to play Nov. 21 at Tulsa’s BOK Center. Tickets will go on sale May 18, according to a venue spokeswoman. Ticket prices are $46, $56 and $66. For more information, go to www.bokcenter.com.
To read my recent Carrie Underwood feature, click here. To read my review of “Blown Away,” click here.
-BAM
Interview: Pat Green gets back under covers with “Songs We Wish We’d Written II,” plays CD release show tonight at the Wormy Dog
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. To read my early review of “Songs We Wish We’d Written II,” click here.
Pat Green gets back to the covers
The Texas country music star just debuted his new album “Songs We Wish We’d Written II” and will play a CD release show Wednesday (tonight) at the Wormy Dog Saloon.
Pat Green is spending the summer spreading the word about his sequel.
The Texas troubadour hasn’t gone Hollywood, but he does dabble in pop and rock along with country on “Songs We Wish We’d Written II.” The new album is the follow-up to his well-received 2001 covers collection “Songs We Wish We’d Written,” which paid homage to the music of Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver and Steve Winwood, among others.
“I figure if every 10 years I put out an album of everybody else’s stuff, that can be fun,” Green said in a phone interview last fall. “Man, we got in there with all the usual suspects: Jack Ingram and Cory Morrow and Walt Wilkins and a bunch of my friends and just had a good time.”
Green will play a CD release show at 8 p.m. Wednesday (tonight) at the Wormy Dog Saloon. Admission is $15, which includes a copy of the new album, and the Texas country star will be signing CDs after the show.
Released Tuesday, the album marks the former RCA/BNA recording artist’s first on Sugar Hill Records, a sister label to Vanguard, one of the longest-running indies in America.
“It’s just a more independent record label that kind of lets the artists do what they want to do,” Green said.
“This idea and this particular covers album, it was a just-for-the-hell of it kind of thing and it turned out to be a lot of fun the first go-around. And we had some really good success with it so we’re gonna do it again. If it works the first time, don’t break it.”
While he partnered with Morrow for the first “Songs We Wish We’d Written,” Green took on the sequel as a solo project. But he got several guest stars to perform on the follow-up and reunited with Morrow for one track, a faithful rendition of Lyle Lovett’s “If I Had a Boat.”
Not surprisingly, Green’s new covers collection pays tribute to many of his fellow Lone Star State songsmiths: He opens the album with Joe Ely’s “All Just to Get to You,” gets toes tapping with Jon Randall’s “Austin” and makes earnest romance with Liz Rose’s and Wilkins’ “If It Weren’t for You.”
After all, Green is considered one of the sub-genre’s top artists. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter received the Decade Award from the Texas Music Chart as the most played artist on Texas country radio from 2000-2010, and many young stars on the scene cite him as an influence.
“I sometimes worry and think they should set their sights higher than me,” he said wryly. “But I’m sure thankful that I’ve had the opportunity in life to be at least in the front portion of the line as it comes to a brand of music. I think that I happened to be kind of getting onto the scene just about the same time that the scene was really starting to pop.” So that really helped my life out and … if it rubs off on other people or helps other people get here to the same place, I think that’s fantastic.”
“There’s nothing bad about this job except for missing home every now and then,” added the married father of two. “We get to just sit around and make stuff up and sing about it and then get back on the tour bus and do it again tomorrow night. This is a great, great thing to do for a living, and then to inspire other people to do the same thing, wow, what a treat.”
Green’s own musical influences range far outside the borders of Texas and country. The 40-year-old was raised in a blended family of nine children, so he grew up listening to a bit of everything, from ‘80s pop and country to Motown and classical. That eclecticism is reflected on his latest album.
His smooth Texas twang mingles with layers of piano and strings to deliver a countrified version of Tom Petty’s, and Ingram helps him convert Todd Snider’s raucous rocker “I Am Too” into a rowdy boot-stomper. Green and Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland strip down the Georgia band’s 1995 smash “The World I Know” into a soulful duet with just a few subtle country flourishes.
“That song was a big fun song for us in the ‘90s, and I got to know Ed through some charity work that we did. And I was like, ‘I’ll put it on the record if you’ll sing with me,’ and he said yes,” Green said.
Despite his enthusiasm for covering songs he wishes he’d written, Green hopes to get into the studio this year to make an album that focuses on songs he actually wrote.
“The writing process is never-ending,” he said. “There’s probably 20 songs right now that I feel comfortable are good enough to go on any record. You just gotta whittle ‘em down, and … it’s kind of like putting together an outfit to wear. You don’t wanna wear plaid and stripes.”
IN CONCERT
Pat Green album release show
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday (tonight). Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan.
Admission: $15, which includes a copy of his new album “Songs We Wish We’d Written II.”
Information: www.wormydog.com.
-BAM
Jermaine Paul, finalist for Blake Shelton’s team, wins “The Voice” Season 2
Jermaine Paul
Jermaine Paul, the finalist for Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton’s team, won Season 2 of “The Voice” live tonight on NBC.
Paul, a former backup singer for Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige, proved he was ready to take center stage over the course of the hit reality TV show’s sophomore season. He came on particularly strong during Monday night’s final performance show with his soaring rendition of R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly,” his playful duet with Shelton on the R&B classic “Soul Man” and his coach tribute, a heartfelt version of Shelton’s smash “God Gave Me You.”
He and Shelton embraced on “The Voice” stage after the big announcement that Paul had defeated Tony Lucca, the finalist for Adam Levine’s team; Juliet Simms, the finalist for CeeLo Green’s team; and Chris Mann, the finalist for Christina Aguilera’s team.
“You did it!” Shelton said over and over as he hugged the victorious Paul.
Shelton, the country singer from Tishomingo, and Paul, whose musical influences include Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, were an odd pairing. Both Shelton and Green turned their giant red chairs for Paul’s blind audition, a soulful version of Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated,” and argued persuasively to have the big-voiced crooner join their teams. But Shelton seemingly won Paul over with his honesty, telling the hopeful basically that whether he avoided elimination was up to how hard he worked and how well he performed.
“I just want to thank everyone who supported me from Day 1. Nobody but Jesus, man!” Paul said as he thanked his wife, four children and parents tonight from center stage.
As the winner, Paul wins a recording contract. The four finalists also received new cars from Kia.
Here’s a look back at Paul’s blind audition:
-BAM
Video: “The Voice” Season 2 finale airs tonight
Classic covers, tributes and more drama between celebrity coaches Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine and her former “Mickey Mouse Club” co-star/Team Adam finalist Tony Lucca were all part of the big two-hour final performance show Monday on “The Voice.”
Jermaine Paul, the finalist for Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton’s team, let his big voice and even bigger soul shine on a cover of R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” and a thank-you cover of Shelton’s smash “God Gave Me You.” For their duet, Paul and Shelton joined forces for a fun rendition of the Sam & Dave classic “Soul Man.”
The other “The Voice” Season 2 finalists are Chris Mann for Team Xtina and Juliet Simms for CeeLo Green’s team.
The live two-hour season finale of “The Voice’s” second season, which will include Justin Bieber performing his new hit “Boyfriend,” airs at 8 tonight on NBC (KFOR-4 in Oklahoma City).
