102.3 Blake FM » Album Reviews

Darius Rucker, 'True Believers' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:36 +0000

Darius Rucker sings with more energy than a nuclear power plant, but his new album 'True Believers' is safer than solar power. He captures the spirit of his live show -- one of the best in the business -- on each of the 12 tracks, but one yearns for for something unique and unexpected.

Trace Adkins, 'Love Will …' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:30:18 +0000

The idea behind Trace Adkins‘ new album ‘Love Will …’ makes so much sense you almost wonder why he hadn’t done it sooner. This collection of love songs is as obvious as the tagless T-shirt, yet for years we went without both. ‘Love Will …’ stops short of being able to melt wax on its [...]

Granger Smith, 'Dirt Road Driveway' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:26 +0000

If you look back over Granger Smith's early album covers, you'll find that he presented himself as a hat act. Sonically he's come a long way since those efforts, with his latest album 'Dirt Road Driveway' falling squarely in the singer-songwriter sub-genre of country music. It's an album that would sound best at a coffee house, not a honky tonk.

Randy Houser, 'How Country Feels' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:30:45 +0000

Randy Houser comes in from the edges of country music with his third album ‘How Country Feels’ — his first on new label Stoney Creek Records. The singer wrote just seven of the project’s 15 cuts, but employed many of Nashville’s top songwriters to help with the others. The result is an even effort with [...]

Taylor Swift, 'Red' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 15:00:49 +0000

Taylor Swift‘s new album, ‘Red,’ doesn’t provide much to quiet the haters who will forever accuse her of being “too pop.” It’s inaccurate to say she leans that way on most of the 16 new songs. That tower in Pisa leans. Swift is in a pike position diving toward sugary waters. But really, what were [...]

Zac Brown Band, 'Uncaged' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:30:38 +0000

On paper, ‘Uncaged’ should not work as an album, let alone a country music album. The new release from Zac Brown Band redefines “something for everybody.” Country, reggae, bedroom R&B… Brown and his ever-growing motley crew stretch the Nashville sound further than any other artist. If they weren’t so talented, this project would fall apart long before the title-track.

Josh Turner, 'Punching Bag' – Album Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:00:56 +0000

Josh Turner‘s booming bass voice has never sounded better than on songs from his fifth studio album ‘Punching Bag,’ in stores June 12. However, it’s not enough to lift many of the tracks past mediocre. ‘Punching Bag’ lacks sizzle. There’s no moment during the 11 songs (not counting the Michael Buffer introduction) that will leave [...]