The craft and the art of making great albums is something that isn't valued in Country music as much as in other genres. Country music is all about the hit and the radio single and has been since at least the 1950s.In this episode James looks into why and name-checks a few artists that are beginning to bring back the art of making an album. He also poses the question - Can you actually name a 'great' Johnny Cash album that wasn't a live recording!

Made for You by Jake Owen is just coming to the end of a two week stay at number one in the Country music charts. James thinks it may well be the most remarkable Country song of modern times.Find out what he means by remarkable and learn a little more about the fascinating life story this song has had.

We had Bro-Country and then we had Boyfriend Country and now James has detected the latest trend emerging in commercial and mainstream Country music right now.To find out what he thinks that is you need to listen in as he talks about what links Lady A to Jimmie Allen to Brett Young to Eric Church's forthcoming triple album release 'Heart & Soul' as these artists are all at the vanguard of the latest emerging trend.

Recorded on the day the 'Morgan Wallen N-Gate' scandal dropped, James decided that no-one else needed the opinions of a middle aged white man adding into the mix so he pressed ahead and recorded the scheduled podcast instead whilst feeling mightily proud of how the big corporations and institutions in Nashville showed themselves to have guts, compassion and understanding about the whole debacle.Episode 76 - James looks at the art of singing in Country music and compares the vocalists to those...

James has started a new feature for 2021 this month: a monthly round-up of our favourite album and song releases - designed to catch you all up on what was good in the world of Country music this month.Your one-stop re-cap in case you missed a pivotal album or single release in January 2021. Featuring everyone from Kip Moore and Blake Shelton to Hailey Whitters and Canadian Country rockers, Petric.

James recorded this podcast on January 20th, the day of Joe Biden's inauguration as President of the United States. Garth Brooks (as well as Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard) has been asked to play the inauguration party - prompting a wave of 'cancel Garth' comments across social media.James examines the ridiculousness of this situation and pours scorn on people who think they should or could have any effect on the career of the G.O.A.T. of Country music.

This week James expands on the review of Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous: The Double Album' he did for www.lyricmagazine.co.uk and dives deep into examining whether or not the confines and the expectations of the Country music genre might well prevent Wallen from becoming the artist that he could well go on to be.Have a listen and let him know what you think.

Happy New Year listeners. In this episode James looks at the year ahead for the Country music industry and tries to make some predictions as to what might be in store for us faithful fans. Some of it might not be what you want to hear, but then Country music is about truth, right?The good, the bad and the ugly about the coming year in Country music.

A new name and a new viral song exploded into the Country music scene this week. 'Dicked Down in Dallas', one of the rudest, most profane Country songs of all time has exploded on TikTok in the same way that 'Old Town Road' did for Lil Nas X.We examine the lyrics of DDID and speculate as to whether the song is going to launch the career of Trey Lewis into the stratosphere or consign him to the group of 'One Hit Wonders' for the rest of time!!Beware - this podcast contains profanities and sexu...

G.O.A.T. and all time legend Garth Brooks released his new album, 'Fun' last week. Despite having the worst title of any of his albums it is probably the best of the three albums he has released since his 2014 comeback, although that's not saying much.This week James examines why Gath's post-comeback recording career has been so poor and theorises as to why that might be. Is it time for Garth to take some risks and emerge from the protective bubble that is 'Planet Garth'? Find out on this epi...