ALBUM REVIEW: Michael Ray

Finally, it’s here. The self-titled debut album from one of my absolute faves, Michael Ray. I can’t tell y’all how excited I was for this album to drop...and it didn’t disappoint! Actually, it blew away my expectations.

This album is, in my opinion, just what the world needed. It’s got just enough of classic country feel with Real Men Love Jesus & Somewhere South, but it’s also got a fresh new feel with jams like This Love, Another Girl & Look Like This. It also includes Ray’s FIRST #1 Hit, Kiss You In The Morning.

Michael ain’t “bro-country”, that’s fact. The lyrics aren’t just ‘bout a pretty girl in a pickup truck, that doesn’t mean there’s no mention of them though. With all of the music being released in country, you’ve gotta be able to stand out and give the fans something they can’t get from anyone else...and that’s what MR does. You can feel the energy in the songs when you’re jammin’ to them in the car or with friends, they make ya wanna have a damn good time.

One of the tunes on this album, Drivin’ All Night was previously recorded by Jake Owen for his Days Of Gold album. Michael added his own spin and style to the song so it became his own, while taking nothing away from Jake’s version. That impressed me big time. Then again, the Florida boys got this game on lock.

My final opinion: GET. YOUR. COPY. NOW. If ya asked me to pick a fave song off this album, I wouldn’t be able to give you an answer...they’re all hits. So do yourself a favor & get this album now so you can see firsthand how insanely talented this guy truly is.

xoxo Christy

Buy Michael Ray’s debut album on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/michael-ray/id1020453224

ALBUM REVIEW: Aaron Watson || The Underdog

Aaron Watson

“The Underdog”

You’re probably wondering what The Underdog is referring to…hint: it’s the album.

He isn’t your typical Bro-Country, Pop-Country, or singin bout a girl in short shorts, country, (unless it’s about his beautiful wife) // though we love that; Aaron keeps it Texas Country with his church-going, family values. You won’t catch him praising a bottle of Jack D. However, you will hear him refer to a bottle of Chardonnay.

Though, many, as myself would agree that Aaron is the underdog (and really underplayed!!), with the release of his new album on February 17, 2015, he is definitely proving otherwise.

15 years, 12 albums and over 2,000 shows later; Aaron Watson made history this last week, becoming the first Independent Male Artist to ever chart #1 on Billboard.

If that’s not amazing, I don’t know what is.

Aaron is definitely “Texas Country” and very traditional // not seen much today. Reminding me of Chris LeDoux (Who I grew up on, and my daddy loves & has many stories of. RIP) He has brought us hits such as ‘Love Makin Song,’ ‘Fast Cars Slow Kisses,’ and my personal favorite ‘July in Cheyenne,” a song honoring the late Lane Frost. (RIP)

The Underdog includes 14 new songs & trust me // you will not be disappointed.

Though his whole album is one you can listen to on repeat for days // one of the songs that sticks out to me most is “That’s why God Loves Cowboys”

“That's why God loves cowboys, I believe there's a place in his heart
Cause when the herd needs tenden and the fences needs menden
He knows they'll work hard, on his great big ranch called life
Cause they love and take care of all it's creations
From the horses they ride to those broken harded honky tonk angles
Ooooooh
That's why God loved cowboys”

Another song I fell in love with the moment I listened to it was “That Look”

If I were rating this album it would be 10/10!

You make my country heart PROUD.

Great job, Aaron Watson, and Congrats from all of us here at TL.

Download The Underdog here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-underdog/id951698505

Stay tuned for a concert review at the end of April when Aaron visits Utah!

Xox, Carly