Jon Wolfe

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio [January 24]

Josh3 Comments

texas-flag

Each week we take a look the Texas Regional Radio Report chart and grade the top 30 songs. The grading format I use each week is every song will receive one of the following scores: +5, +4, +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5. These will then be tallied up for an overall score, or pulse of the current top thirty country songs, with the highest possible score being a +150 and the lowest possible score being a -150. How do I determine the score for the song? The review grade it received on the site or myself will determine this. If it hasn’t been reviewed yet, then I will make the call. The grade it has received or I would give it determines its Pulse score. The grading key: 10 [+5], 9 [+4], 8 [+3], 7 [+2], 6 [+1], 5 [0], 4 [-1], 3 [-2], 2 [-3], 1 [-4], 0 [-5].

The goal of this exercise is to evaluate the current state of Texas country radio and determine if it’s improving or getting worse. Let’s take a look at this week’s top thirty…

  1. Kevin Fowler – “Texas Forever” 0 
  2. Josh Ward – “Broken Heart” +3 
  3. Aaron Watson – “Outta Style” 0 (Up 3)
  4. Jamie Richards – “Second Hand Smoke” +1 (Up 1)
  5. Curtis Grimes – “From Where I’m Standing” 0 (Down 2)
  6. William Clark Green – “Old Fashioned” -2 (Down 2)
  7. Randy Rogers Band – “Tequila Eyes” +3 
  8. Josh Abbott Band – “Live It While You Got It” 0 
  9. Sundance Head – “13 Years” +2 (Up 1)
  10. Deryl Dodd – “The Ride” +2 (Down 1)
  11. Mike Ryan – “New Hometown” 0 (Up 3) 
  12. Matt Kimbrow – “Homesick Crazy” +2 
  13. Dalton Domino – “July” +2 (Up 3)
  14. Turnpike Troubadours – “Come As You Are” +5 (Up 3) [Best Song]
  15. Casey Donahew Band – “Kiss Me” -3 (Down 4) [Worst Song]
  16. Randall King (feat. Cleto Cordero) – “Hard Livin’ Illene” +3 (Up 7)
  17. Kaleb McIntire – “Find Another Baby” -2 (Down 2)
  18. Shane Smith & The Saints – “Runaway Train” +3 (Up 2)
  19. Brandon Jenkins – “Shadow of a Broken Heart” 0 (Down 1)
  20. TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine” -1 (Up 4)
  21. Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back” -1 (Down 8)
  22. Junior Gordon – “I’m Breaking In” -1 (Up 5)
  23. Mark McKinney – “Bridge” +2 (Up 5)
  24. Reckless Kelly – “Forever Today” +3 (New to Top 30)
  25. Jake Worthington – “How Do You Honky Tonk” +1 (Down 4)
  26. Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone” +1 (Down 1)
  27. Jody Booth – “They Found Me in a Honky Tonk” +3 (Up 3)
  28. Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic” +1 (Down 2)
  29. Max Stalling – “Nights Pay in My Boot” +2 (New to Top 30)
  30. Blue Water Highway Band – “Speaking of the Devil” +3 (Down 1)

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio: +34

The pulse improves ten spots this week!  

Songs That Dropped Out of the Top 30 This Week:

  • Sam Riggs – “High on a Country Song” -3
  • Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor” -2

Songs That Entered The Top 30 This Week:

  • Reckless Kelly – “Forever Today”
    • One of the best in the Texas scene return with new single “Forever Today.” The song is about a man and woman continuing to want each other, yet never being able to come together. Things just never work out like their hearts want them to work out. The heartache and desperation reflected in the vocals really make the lyrics standout well. The sparse instrumentation also really allows the lyrics to be front and center. Once again the Braun brothers deliver a really good single to Texas radio. 8/10
  • Max Stalling – “Nights Pay in My Boot”
    • Max Stalling is a veteran country artist of the Texas scene. He says he never expected to make it in music until he started picking up the guitar in graduate school. Ever since he’s made quite a lengthy career out of it. Stalling cites stalwarts such as Townes, Guy and Lyle Lovett among his biggest influences. With that in mind I dove into his new single “Nights Pay in My Boot” and based off the title I didn’t expect much. But it’s actually quite solid. While a tad cliché the song is about making your own way and working hard for what you want and how this lifestyle has served him well throughout various points in his life. While it’s not a groundbreaking theme, Stalling sings it with gusto and there’s some nice fiddle play in the bridge. It doesn’t blow me away, but it’s pretty good. 7/10

Biggest Gainers This Week:

  • Reckless Kelly – “Forever Today” – Up 8 from #32 to #24
  • Randall King (feat. Cleto Cordero) – “Hard Livin’ Illene” – Up 7 from #23 to #16
  • Mark McKinney – “Bridge” – Up 5 from #28 to #23

Biggest Losers This Week:

  • Sam Riggs – “High on a Country Song” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back” – Down 8 from #13 to #21

Songs I See Leaving The Top 30 Soon:

  • Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back”
  • Jake Worthington – “How Do You Honky Tonk”

On The Hot Seat:

  • Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone”
  • Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic”
  • Blue Water Highway Band – “Speaking of the Devil”

Next Four Songs I See Entering Top 30:

  • Robert Ray – “Dream of You”
  • Bri Bagwell – “Beer Pressure”
  • Jerrett Zoch & The OSR Band – “Still Not Over You”
  • Dustin Sonnier – “People Like Me”

 

As always be sure to weigh in on this week’s Pulse in the comments below. 

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio [January 16]

Josh3 Comments

texas-flag

Each week we take a look the Texas Regional Radio Report chart and grade the top 30 songs. The grading format I use each week is every song will receive one of the following scores: +5, +4, +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5. These will then be tallied up for an overall score, or pulse of the current top thirty country songs, with the highest possible score being a +150 and the lowest possible score being a -150. How do I determine the score for the song? The review grade it received on the site or myself will determine this. If it hasn’t been reviewed yet, then I will make the call. The grade it has received or I would give it determines its Pulse score. The grading key: 10 [+5], 9 [+4], 8 [+3], 7 [+2], 6 [+1], 5 [0], 4 [-1], 3 [-2], 2 [-3], 1 [-4], 0 [-5].

The goal of this exercise is to evaluate the current state of Texas country radio and determine if it’s improving or getting worse. Let’s take a look at this week’s top thirty…

  1. Kevin Fowler – “Texas Forever” 0 (Up 1)
  2. Josh Ward – “Broken Heart” +3 (Down 1)
  3. Curtis Grimes – “From Where I’m Standing” 0 
  4. William Clark Green – “Old Fashioned” -2 (Up 1)
  5. Jamie Richards – “Second Hand Smoke” +1 (Down 1)
  6. Aaron Watson – “Outta Style” 0 
  7. Randy Rogers Band – “Tequila Eyes” +3 (Up 2)
  8. Josh Abbott Band – “Live It While You Got It” 0 (Up 3)
  9. Deryl Dodd – “The Ride” +2 (Up 1)
  10. Sundance Head – “13 Years” +2 (Up 4)
  11. Casey Donahew Band – “Kiss Me” -3 (Down 4)
  12. Matt Kimbrow – “Homesick Crazy” +2 (Up 7)
  13. Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back” -1 (Down 5)
  14. Mike Ryan – “New Hometown” 0 (Up 2) 
  15. Kaleb McIntire – “Find Another Baby” -2 (Up 3)
  16. Dalton Domino – “July” +2 (Up 5)
  17. Turnpike Troubadours – “Come As You Are” +5 (Up 8) [Best Song]
  18. Brandon Jenkins – “Shadow of a Broken Heart” 0 (Up 4)
  19. Sam Riggs – “High On A Country Song” -3 (Down 7) [Worst Song]
  20. Shane Smith & The Saints – “Runaway Train” +3 (Up 3)
  21. Jake Worthington – “How Do You Honky Tonk” +1 (Down 8)
  22. Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor” -2 (Down 7)
  23. Randall King (feat. Cleto Cordero) – “Hard Livin’ Illene” +3 (Up 4)
  24. TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine” -1 (Up 5)
  25. Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone” +1 (Up 1)
  26. Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic” +1 (Up 2)
  27. Junior Gordon – “I’m Breaking In” -1 (Up 3)
  28. Mark McKinney – “Bridge” +2 (New to Top 30)
  29. Blue Water Highway Band – “Speaking of the Devil” +3 (New to Top 30)
  30. Jody Booth – “They Found Me in a Honky Tonk” +3 (New to Top 30)

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio: +24

The pulse improves five spots this week. 

Songs That Dropped Out of the Top 30 This Week:

  • Roger Creager – “Wanna Wanna Bar” -3
  • Troy Cartwright – “Busted” +3
  • Flatland Cavalry – “One I Want” +3

Songs That Entered The Top 30 This Week:

  • Mark McKinney – “Bridge”
    • Mark McKinney is a veteran artist of the Texas country scene, with multiple albums under his belt. This single is off his new upcoming album World in Between on February 3. It’s a song about the fallout of a broken relationship, with the man claiming both sides were the fault of it ending. But now she’s back to throw more matches on the bridge they burnt. While the song runs a little too long, the lyrics are solid and there’s a large dose of fiddle throughout the song that I enjoy. All in all a solid breakup song. 7/10
  • Blue Water Highway Band – “Speaking of the Devil”
    • This is the first time I’ve come across this group. It was formed by two longtime friends Zack Kibodeaux and Greg Essington. Both studied music in college, with Zack convincing Greg to come back to Texas from New York for his crazy idea of a band he had come up with while writing songs. Soon after Catherine Smith would join as a vocalist, Kyle James Smith as a bassist and Zach Landreneau as a multi-instrumentalist. They’re named after the highway that runs near the founders’ hometown of Jackson Lake, Texas. They’re self-described as a three-part harmonies Americana group, which certainly intrigued me. After listening to this single I’m even more interested. They aren’t kidding about the three-part harmonies, as it’s powerfully fantastic. Their sound is so much different and more unique than the usual on this chart. It’s fun, infectious and dare I say soulful. I can’t wait to hear more from this group. 8/10
  • Jody Booth – “They Found Me in a Honky Tonk”
    • Jody Booth is another name that’s new to me. It appears he’s fairly new based on his discography, as he only released one album six years ago. But on his site he boasts of writing and performing with the biggest names in the Texas scene, as well as opening for legends like Willie and Haggard. So I really wasn’t sure what to expect. What you get is some pretty damn good country music. The song is about being a young boy and wondering off from his parent, only for them to find him in a honky tonk listening to country music from the jukebox. The song continues on about how you can always find him a honky tonk listening to country music, even grown up. There’s plenty of fiddle and steel guitar in this catchy and fun song too. Booth makes quite a good first impression with this single. 8/10

Biggest Gainers This Week:

  • Turnpike Troubadours – “Come As You Are” – Up 8 from #25 to #17
  • Mark McKinney – “Bridge” – Up 8 from #36 to #28
  • Matt Kimbrow – “Homesick Crazy” – Up 7 from #19 to #12

Biggest Losers This Week:

  • Roger Creager – “Wanna Wanna Bar” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Troy Cartwright – “Busted” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Flatland Cavalry – “One I Want” – Out of the Top 30 & Done

Songs I See Leaving The Top 30 Soon:

  • Casey Donahew Band – “Kiss Me”
  • Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back”
  • Jake Worthington – “How Do You Honky Tonk”
  • Sam Riggs – “High on a Country Song”
  • Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor”

On The Hot Seat:

  • Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone”
  • TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine”

Next Four Songs I See Entering Top 30:

  • Reckless Kelly – “Forever Today”
  • Max Stalling – “Nights Pay in My Boot”
  • Adrian Johnston – “Rather Have You”
  • Bri Bagwell – “Beer Pressure”

 

As always be sure to weigh in on this week’s Pulse in the comments below. 

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio [January 9]

Josh13 Comments

texas-flag

Each week we take a look the Texas Regional Radio Report chart and grade the top 30 songs. The grading format I use each week is every song will receive one of the following scores: +5, +4, +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5. These will then be tallied up for an overall score, or pulse of the current top thirty country songs, with the highest possible score being a +150 and the lowest possible score being a -150. How do I determine the score for the song? The review grade it received on the site or myself will determine this. If it hasn’t been reviewed yet, then I will make the call. The grade it has received or I would give it determines its Pulse score. The grading key: 10 [+5], 9 [+4], 8 [+3], 7 [+2], 6 [+1], 5 [0], 4 [-1], 3 [-2], 2 [-3], 1 [-4], 0 [-5].

The goal of this exercise is to evaluate the current state of Texas country radio and determine if it’s improving or getting worse. Let’s take a look at this week’s top thirty…

(Note: This week the movement in parenthesis is based on previous Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio spot)

  1. Josh Ward – “Broken Heart” +3 (Up 3)
  2. Kevin Fowler – “Texas Forever” 0 (Up 5)
  3. Curtis Grimes – “From Where I’m Standing” 0 (Up 2)
  4. Jamie Richards – “Second Hand Smoke” +1 (Up 5)
  5. William Clark Green – “Old Fashioned” -2 (Up 6)
  6. Aaron Watson – “Outta Style” 0 (Up 17)
  7. Casey Donahew Band – “Kiss Me” -3 (Down 4)
  8. Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back” -1 (Down 6)
  9. Randy Rogers Band – “Tequila Eyes” +3 (Up 11)
  10. Deryl Dodd – “The Ride” +2 (Up 4)
  11. Josh Abbott Band – “Live It While You Got It” 0 (Up 15)
  12. Sam Riggs – “High On A Country Song” -3 (Down 2) [Worst Song]
  13. Jake Worthington – “How Do You Honky Tonk” +1 (Down 1)
  14. Sundance Head – “13 Years” +2 (New to Top 30)
  15. Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor” -2 (Down 14)
  16. Mike Ryan – “New Hometown” 0 (Up 9) 
  17. Roger Creager – “Wanna Wanna Bar” -3 (Down 9)
  18. Kaleb McIntire – “Find Another Baby” -2 (Up 1)
  19. Matt Kimbrow – “Homesick Crazy” +2 (New to Top 30)
  20. Troy Cartwright – “Busted” +3 (Down 4)
  21. Dalton Domino – “July” +2 (Up 7)
  22. Brandon Jenkins – “Shadow of a Broken Heart” 0 
  23. Shane Smith & The Saints – “Runaway Train” +3 (New to Top 30)
  24. Flatland Cavalry – “One I Want” +3 (Down 11)
  25. Turnpike Troubadours – “Come As You Are” +5 (Up 4) [Best Song]
  26. Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone” +1 (Down 2)
  27. Randall King (feat. Cleto Cordero) – “Hard Livin’ Illene” +3 (New to Top 30)
  28. Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic” +1 (Re-Enters Top 30)
  29. TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine” -1 (Up 1)
  30. Junior Gordon – “I’m Breaking In” -1 (New to Top 30)

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio: +19

The pulse stays the same this week. (After all of this movement?!)

Songs That Dropped Out of the Top 30 This Week:

  • Whiskey Myers – “Lightning Bugs and Rain” +2
  • Jesse Raub Jr. – “She Can Forgive” +3
  • Pat Waters – “Like A Radio” 0
  • Case Hardin – “Sign of a Fool” +3
  • Reckless Kelly – “How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)” +2
  • Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need” 0

Songs That Entered The Top 30 This Week:

  • Sundance Head – “13 Years”
    • Funny name, right? That’s what I first thought too. Sundance is the most recent winner of The Voice, but he isn’t really new as he’s released a few albums independently before he went on the show. His most recent was in 2015, titled Soul Country, where this single came from. First I have to say it makes a ton of sense to see him pop up here as his newfound fame surely brings ears to Texas radio and at the same time keeps Sundance’s name out there. One thing I’ve noticed about Voice contestants is their inability to keep their name out there after the show ends, so props to Head for having some foresight. As for this single it’s a heartbreak ballad about a marriage collapsing after 13 years. Head’s vocals aren’t the most impressive, but it’s good enough here to get behind the song. There’s nothing spectacular about this, but it’s solid all-around and it’s the kind of song that makes me want to hear more from him. 7/10
  • Matt Kimbrow – “Homesick Crazy”
    • Kimbrow is an independent artist that has mainly stuck to the Texas/Red Dirt scene for his career and has released a couple of albums. His new single “Homesick Crazy” is from what I’m assuming is a new upcoming album. This is the first time I’ve heard him and I gotta say this is a good first impression. It’s a heartbreak song about a man who desperately missed home with the one he loves the most. He explains how he’s experiences so many things and changed many ways since he’s saw her last. But despite all of this he still holds onto her memory of her and is aching to see her again. Accompanied by some nice steel guitar, this is a country love song done right. 7/10
  • Shane Smith & The Saints – “Runaway Train”
    • This is a group I’ve heard a lot of great things about from fellow fans and critics and I’ve been meaning to check out for a while. “Runaway Train” makes me want to go explore them more. The warm, earthy instrumentation instantly draws you into this song. The harmonies are smooth and inviting. The song itself is about a man knowing he was born to run and hit the open road. This isn’t a groundbreaking theme, but the aforementioned instrumentation and harmonies make it work great. This is a song and group you definitely need to hear. 8/10
  • Randall King (feat. Cleto Cordero) – “Hard Livin’ Illene”
    • I remember New Slang Lubbock talking Randall King and his new EP Another Bullet up a lot last year, so it made me go check it out at the time. While we don’t review EPs, if I would have reviewed it I would have given it a high grade and recommendation for sure. So it made me happy to see the best song on it get released a single and better yet it’s solidly in the top 30 after the winter break. King’s deep, gritty voice matches the energetic and honky tonk sound of the song well. Flatland Cavalry frontman Cordero is the perfect guest vocals to compliment it. This song is just flat-out fun and really easy to enjoy. 8/10
  • Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic”
  • Junior Gordon – “I’m Breaking In”
    • Junior Gordon is another name that’s new to me. Looking at his bio on his site, he seems to stick to the Texas country scene. There’s an interesting tidbit about how he sometimes likes combine country and rap, which he calls “C-RAP.” Okay. Not sure to what to make of this, so on to his single “I’m Breaking In.” It’s a sort of redemption song about a man wanting to make up for the past with a woman and winning her back. He vows to break down both the metaphorical walls around her heart and physical walls kind of too (specifically the part about her living in a castle). The latter is a little creepy. It feels like at times Gordon is singing way too loud. I can say the same about the production being overbearing at times. When you get past this bluster, you get an underwhelming song. 4/10

Biggest Gainers This Week:

  • Aaron Watson – “Outta Style” – Up 17 from #23 to #6
  • Josh Abbott Band – “Live It While You Got It” – Up 15 from #26 to #11
  • Randy Rogers Band – “Tequila Eyes” – Up 11 from #20 to #9

Biggest Losers This Week:

  • Whiskey Myers – “Lightning Bugs and Rain” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Jesse Raub Jr. – “She Can Forgive” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Pat Waters – “Like A Radio” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Case Hardin – “Sign of a Fool” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Reckless Kelly – “How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need” – Out of the Top 30 & Done

Songs I See Leaving The Top 30 Soon:

  • Sam Riggs – “High on a Country Song”
  • Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor”
  • Flatland Cavalry – “One I Want”
  • TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine”

On The Hot Seat:

  • Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone”

Next Four Songs I See Entering Top 30:

  • Blue Water Highway Band – “Speaking of the Devil”
  • Max Stalling – “Nights Pay in My Boot”
  • Jody Booth – “They Found Me in a Honky Tonk”
  • John Hord – “Blame It on the Whiskey”

 

As always be sure to weigh in on this week’s Pulse in the comments below. 

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio [Dec. 5]

Josh3 Comments

texas-flag

Each week we take a look the Texas Regional Radio Report chart and grade the top 30 songs. The grading format I use each week is every song will receive one of the following scores: +5, +4, +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5. These will then be tallied up for an overall score, or pulse of the current top thirty country songs, with the highest possible score being a +150 and the lowest possible score being a -150. How do I determine the score for the song? The review grade it received on the site or myself will determine this. If it hasn’t been reviewed yet, then I will make the call. The grade it has received or I would give it determines its Pulse score. The grading key: 10 [+5], 9 [+4], 8 [+3], 7 [+2], 6 [+1], 5 [0], 4 [-1], 3 [-2], 2 [-3], 1 [-4], 0 [-5].

The goal of this exercise is to evaluate the current state of Texas country radio and determine if it’s improving or getting worse. Let’s take a look at this week’s top thirty…

  1. Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor” -2 (Up 1)
  2. Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back” -1 (Up 2)
  3. Casey Donahew Band – “Kiss Me” -3 
  4. Josh Ward – “Broken Heart” +3 (Up 5)
  5. Curtis Grimes – “From Where I’m Standing” 0 
  6. Whiskey Myers – “Lightning Bugs and Rain” +2 (Down 5)
  7. Kevin Fowler – “Texas Forever” 0 (Up 5)
  8. Roger Creager – “Wanna Wanna Bar” -3 (Down 1)
  9. Jamie Richards – “Second Hand Smoke” +1 (Down 1)
  10. Sam Riggs – “High On A Country Song” -3 [Worst Song]
  11. William Clark Green – “Old Fashioned” -2 (Up 2)
  12. Jake Worthington – “How Do You Honky Tonk” +1 (Up 2)
  13. Flatland Cavalry – “One I Want” +3 (Down 7)
  14. Deryl Dodd – “The Ride” +2 (Up 2)
  15. Jesse Raub Jr. – “She Can Forgive” +3 (Down 4)
  16. Troy Cartwright – “Busted” +3 (Up 1)
  17. Pat Waters – “Like A Radio” 0 (Up 2)
  18. Case Hardin – “Sign of a Fool” +3 (Up 3)
  19. Kaleb McIntire – “Find Another Baby” -2 (Up 3)
  20. Randy Rogers Band – “Tequila Eyes” +3 (New to Top 30)
  21. Reckless Kelly – “How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)” +2 (Down 3)
  22. Brandon Jenkins – “Shadow of a Broken Heart” 0 (Up 1)
  23. Aaron Watson – “Outta Style” 0 (New to Top 30)
  24. Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone” +1 (Up 2)
  25. Mike Ryan – “New Hometown” 0 (Up 2)
  26. Josh Abbott Band – “Live It While You Got It” 0 (Down 2) 
  27. Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need” 0 (Down 12)
  28. Dalton Domino – “July” +2 
  29. Turnpike Troubadours – “Come As You Are” +5 [Best Song]
  30. TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine” -1 (Down 5)

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio: +19

The pulse stays the same this week. 

Songs That Dropped Out of the Top 30 This Week:

  • Micky & The Motorcars – “Sister Lost Soul” +2
  • Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic” +1

Songs That Entered The Top 30 This Week:

  • Randy Rogers Band – “Tequila Eyes”
    • This week we get a couple of the heavyweights from the Texas scene enter the top 30. First up is Randy Rogers Band, who after trying their hand on Music Row, have returned to the scene where they fit. MCA Nashville had no clue how to manage this band and mangled their sound. Earlier this year RRB released their “Texas comeback” album, Nothing Shines Like Neon, an album I thought deserved more credit than what fans and critics have given it. It featured some of the group’s best work I’ve heard from them and has several good songs on it. And one of those good songs is definitely “Tequila Eyes.” This is just an all-around solid drinking heartbreak song, from the descriptive lyrics to the great fiddle play. Rogers delivers a really good vocal performance too. This song is like an old pair of comfortable sneakers: nothing flashy, but always reliable and easy to put on. 8/10
  • Aaron Watson – “Outta Style”
    • Watson won a bunch of new fans with his last album The Underdog, specifically I noticed an unusual amount of mainstream country fans took to him. That’s probably because Watson and his team seemed to make a big push to become a more national name and to land some mainstream attention. While the album went #1 and got plenty of press for this accomplishment, Watson was unable to get any traction at mainstream radio where he sent multiple singles. But this didn’t matter because this album was laying the groundwork more for Watson to make another attempt with his next album Vaquero, due to be released on February 24. Lead single “Outta Style” is pretty much confirmation. The lyrics are the most light-weight love song fodder you’ll hear, with many common clichés in country songs and the obnoxious “Chevy to the levee” reference that’s as old as the hills. But for the most part the lyrics are just inoffensive and forgettable. Of course this is on purpose because a lot of mainstream fans will be attracted to something like this. The redeeming factor of this song and easily it’s best aspect is the fiddles, which are quite infectious. 5/10

Biggest Gainers This Week:

  • Aaron Watson – “Outta Style” – New to Top 30
  • Josh Ward – “Broken Heart” – Up 5 from #9 to #4
  • Kevin Fowler – “Texas Forever” – Up 5 from #12 to #7

Biggest Losers This Week:

  • Micky & The Motorcars – “Sister Lost Soul” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic” – Out of the Top 30 ( to #34)
  • Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need” – Down 12 from #15 to #27

Songs I See Leaving The Top 30 Soon:

  • Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need”
  • TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine”
  • Reckless Kelly – “How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)”

On The Hot Seat:

  • None

Next Four Songs I See Entering Top 30:

  • Randall King (feat. Cleto Cordero) – “Hard Livin’ Illene”
  • Matt Kimbrow – “Homesick Crazy”
  • Reverend’s Daughter – “Caroline”
  • Jody Booth – “They Found Me in a Honky Tonk”

 

Note: As I mentioned in The Current Pulse of Mainstream Country Radio earlier this week, both that and this Pulse will go on “winter freeze” until January 2017. Just want to assure you that this feature has no plans of going away and will continue next year. 

 

As always be sure to weigh in on this week’s Pulse in the comments below. 

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio [Nov. 21]

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whiskey-myers-mud

Each week we take a look the Texas Regional Radio Report chart and grade the top 30 songs. The grading format I use each week is every song will receive one of the following scores: +5, +4, +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5. These will then be tallied up for an overall score, or pulse of the current top thirty country songs, with the highest possible score being a +150 and the lowest possible score being a -150. How do I determine the score for the song? The review grade it received on the site or myself will determine this. If it hasn’t been reviewed yet, then I will make the call. The grade it has received or I would give it determines its Pulse score. The grading key: 10 [+5], 9 [+4], 8 [+3], 7 [+2], 6 [+1], 5 [0], 4 [-1], 3 [-2], 2 [-3], 1 [-4], 0 [-5].

The goal of this exercise is to evaluate the current state of Texas country radio and determine if it’s improving or getting worse. Let’s take a look at this week’s top thirty…

  1. Whiskey Myers – “Lightning Bugs and Rain” +2 (Up 2)
  2. Jon Wolfe – “Boots on a Dance Floor” -2 (Up 2)
  3. Casey Donahew Band – “Kiss Me” -3 (Up 3)
  4. Zane Williams – “Bringin’ Country Back” -1 (Up 1)
  5. Curtis Grimes – “From Where I’m Standing” 0 (Up 3)
  6. Flatland Cavalry – “One I Want” +3 (Down 5)
  7. Roger Creager – “Wanna Wanna Bar” -3 (Up 2)
  8. Jamie Richards – “Second Hand Smoke” +1 (Up 2)
  9. Josh Ward – “Broken Heart” +3 (Up 3)
  10. Sam Riggs – “High On A Country Song” -3 (Up 1) [Worst Song]
  11. Jesse Raub Jr. – “She Can Forgive” +3 (Down 4)
  12. Kevin Fowler – “Texas Forever” 0 (Up 3)
  13. William Clark Green – “Old Fashioned” -2 
  14. Jake Worthington – “How Do You Honky Tonk” +1 (Up 3)
  15. Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need” 0 (Down 13)
  16. Deryl Dodd – “The Ride” +2 (Up 4)
  17. Troy Cartwright – “Busted” +3 (Up 1)
  18. Reckless Kelly – “How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)” +2 (Down 4)
  19. Pat Waters – “Like A Radio” 0 
  20. Micky & The Motorcars – “Sister Lost Soul” +2 (Down 4)
  21. Case Hardin – “Sign of a Fool” +3 
  22. Kaleb McIntire – “Find Another Baby” -2 
  23. Brandon Jenkins – “Shadow of a Broken Heart” 0 
  24. Josh Abbott Band – “Live It While You Got It” 0 (Up 5)
  25. TJ Broscoff – “Should’ve Been Mine” -1 
  26. Luke Robinson – “She Drinks Alone” +1 
  27. Mike Ryan – “New Hometown” 0 (Up 1)
  28. Dalton Domino – “July” +2 (Up 2)
  29. Turnpike Troubadours – “Come As You Are” +5 (New to Top 30) [Best Song]
  30. Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic” +1 (New to Top 30)

The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio: +19

The pulse improves three spots this week. 

Songs That Dropped Out of the Top 30 This Week:

  • Cody Jinks – “I’m Not The Devil” +4
  • Green River Ordinance – “Simple Life” -1

Songs That Entered The Top 30 This Week:

  • Turnpike Troubadours – “Come As You Are”
    • If you haven’t heard this song or read Derek’s review of this song, go check it out. This is an excellent song and will be a contender for Song of the Year.
  • Kimberly Dunn – “Traffic”
    • Hey, the sausage party has finally been broken up! We get our first woman breaking into the top 30 of The Current Pulse of Texas Country Radio since it’s inception. That lady is Kimberly Dunn, a fairly new artist in the Texas scene who on her site describes herself as spunky. She released her debut album Forever On The Run in 2014 and finds artists such as Randy Rogers, Stoney LaRue and Granger Smith as influences (two out of three isn’t bad). Her single “Traffic” certainly lives up to her self-described spunkiness. Her vocals bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Overall she has a solid voice. As for the song itself it’s about a woman stuck in traffic, who’s on her way to see her ex to take him back and forgive him. But thanks to the traffic it gives her enough time to realize this is a mistake and makes her turns around on the next exit. Despite the pop country leanings, it still manages to tell this simple, but effective story. This is an example of when pop country can work. I wouldn’t call this great of course, but it’s decent enough. 6/10

Biggest Gainers This Week:

  • Josh Abbott Band – “Live It While You Got It” – Up 5 from #29 to #24
  • Deryl Dodd – “The Ride” – Up 4 from #20 to #16
  • Casey Donahew Band – “Kiss Me” – Up 3 from #6 to #3

Biggest Losers This Week:

  • Green River Ordinance – “Simple Life” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Cody Jinks – “I’m Not The Devil” – Out of the Top 30 & Done
  • Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need” – Down 13 from #2 to #15

Songs I See Leaving The Top 30 Soon:

  • Jerrett Zoch and The OSR Band – “Everything I Need”

On The Hot Seat:

  • None

Next Four Songs I See Entering Top 30:

  • Randy Rogers Band – “Tequila Eyes”
  • Aaron Watson – “Outta Style”
  • Reverend’s Daughter – “Caroline”
  • Randall King (feat. Cleto Cordero) – “Hard Livin’ Illene”

 

As always be sure to weigh in on this week’s Pulse in the comments below.