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