I’m going to bet that y’all are familiar with Lee Ann Womack. I’m sure you have heard I Hope You Dance...you every graduation, funeral, going away party, wedding, etc. Don’t get me wrong, that song is great, an early 2000’s classic for sure. BUT, I think she sometimes gets put in the “one-hit wonder” box for that one. Which couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I’ll never forget the time I went to see one of the greatest shows of my lifetime..King George, Reba, Lee Ann Womack. There were legitimately NO OPENERS. It was a 4 hour revival that my soul needed. The group I was with wanted to slip in a little late because they had no interest seeing “that lady who sings I Hope You Dance” Ummm...EXCUSE ME? No. Unacceptable behavior.

She is one of those that has had hit after hit, but is looked over in the industry, and it blows my mind:
¥A Little Past Little Rock
¥The Fool
¥You’ve Got to Talk to Me
¥I’ll Think of a Reason Later
¥Ashes By Now
¥I May Hate Myself in the Morning
¥He Oughta Know That by Now
¥Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago

What a list?! This is recaps my adolescence. With the exception of I Hope You Dance that crossed over into pop, Lee Ann has stuck to that beautiful & golden traditional Country sound. Though I wholeheartedly believe she deserves so much more than the industry has given her, I do love that she is that steady, undertone that remains underrated. Wee can always count on Lee Ann to give us something different than everyone else & she does it with such grace. I applaud her professionalism to put it out there, but not show discouragement when the industry stomps on her at times. May we all have that poise, grace, and character.

This week features her album The Way I’m Livin.’ All of her albums are phenomenal, but this one has always stood out to me. She had left a label & taken a couple of years off before this one came out. I think she came into this one ready to give us some damn good music. This album mixes Classic Country, Bluegrass, Americana, & Roots. It tells an important story rather than being put together based on potential singles, as the best albums do.
So here we go!


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Prelude: Fly
Love that this album starts with a prelude. It really sets the tone for the album. The album really focuses on owning our sins & demons. It is such a simple & preaceful tune, reminds me of a lullaby, with such a deeper meaning. Beautiful use of 2:32 minutes.

All His Saints
Lee Ann isn’t shy about her sins, but she uses this one to show that God’s redemption is bigger than our transgressions. It’s hopeful & upbeat without being cheesy.

Chances Are
Love this reflective glance at past decisions, while wondering about the current & future possibilities. Classic Country sound at its best. The whine of that steel guitar...its doesn’t get better than that. Past backage with hope of new beginnings...what its all about.
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The Way I’m Livin’
I’m all about a good rhythm while discussing about being bad. My favorite song on this album for sure. Does it really get better than using the word “doggone?” I don’t think so.

Send It On Down
This one is so stripped down. Depression is real. Drinking problems are real. Demons are real. Sometimes we need Jesus to send some hope on down. I love that this song shows the hope, even in our lowest moments that there is something to save us. This one is deep, a most of the album is. Lee Ann’s brilliant voice makes everything sound so sweet, no matter no dark the subject matter is. I am so thankful she chose to address theses ugly truths.
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Chills.

Nightwind
Some of the best songs are about unresolved heartbreak, & this one is no exception. Sometimes you have to let someone go, not because you don’t love them, but because they deserve better. This one is sad & beautiful; that violin makes the sound exceptional.
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Sleeping With the Devil
Classic sound, can’t get enough. We all have our vice, may as well be honest about it. Our vices literally take our souls away & we try to hide the pain. This song sounds happy, but it’s dark & real. That steel guitar. BLESS. Good ole’ Country music.

Not Forgotten You
Moving on is difficult. One step forward, two steps back. One step at a time, someday the blues will go away. Or so they say. But forgetting is challenging none the less.

Tomorrow Night in Baltimore
Because what is better than a good ole’ Roger Miller throwback?! Lee Ann does this classic its rightful justice. Bless Classic Country.

Lee Ann took us to church with this one. There was sort of a revival undertone, with the sadness, guilt and depression mixed in. I love that she isn’t afraid to leave the hard stuff unresolved. The raw, honest, and ugly truth. We need that. Always. Thanks for sticking with us, Lee Ann. Your voice, art, talent, & soul are such an important part of this industry. You help keep the classic alive. Bless you.

xoxo,
​Faith

I’m calling it! The Mountain is one of the best albums of 2018. I had very high hopes for this one, as Dierks teased it pre-release as Mountain music. This album tells a fluid, refreshing story of stripping it down to the basics. I am proud to say that I am not disappointed.

Not too long ago, I listened to a Bobbycast that featured Dierks. I will never forget him talking about how he felt a bit of a burnout a few years back. He felt that he had hit the peak and was just focusing on the songs that would chart. He realized he needed to refocus on his art & passion. I remember literally exclaiming AMEN. It is so transparent when an artist is recording to simply have hits and when they are recording to share their heart.

I have noticed a huge change in Dierks since he took this turn. His music reflects his heart & his experiences. BLESS the authentic feels.

One of the beautiful things about Dierks is that he knows how to party, he knows how to write/record/perform to have good time. But he also knows how write/record/perform the songs that are just about life. The struggles, victories, heartache, love, dreams, & journey. Though Dierks has put out some amazing albums, this one really sticks out. The writing is more mature and reflective. I think we have gotten to the really good stuff with Dierks & I am loving it.

This album was literally written in a cabin in the mountains of Colorado. Dierks admitted that they smoked a lot of weed, talked about life, and let the words & music come. That is beautiful. I love the organic feel of self growth & exploration.

If you follow 16th Ave Fringe on Instagram {which you SHOULD}, then you can see the highlights from his album release at the Ryman. One of the coolest parts of CMA week. The Ryman was a perfect place to host his album release, as it reflects on the heart and the “why.” What better place to tell your story than the Mother Church?!

So you may be like, yeah, this is cool, but Dierks seems pretty mainstream to be featured on this blog. Here is why I am featuring this album...It wasn’t written for singles. It was written to tell a story, & there is honestly not one party song on it. Not that I don’t enjoy a good party song, but this album is very different than others he has released & most of what is on radio these days. It is a true Country/Americana album. SO trust me, humor me and stick with me.

Burning Man
This album starts out with a bang. It is upbeat, but not silly. It is an important reflection of the journey we are all on. We try to better ourselves, but we all have our demons. Brothers Osborne is such a natural choice for this collaboration, as this really fits their sound. There is something exceptional about hearing these artists together, and the sound is very unique. Yes, this is a radio single, but it will always be one of my favorites from this album. Passion & excellence go hand in hand in this one.

The Mountain

This title is maybe not the most unique; there are other songs that share it. But this song brings something different to the table. Most of the time, a mountain is looked at & portrayed in music as a huge obstacle & undertaking. I love the way Lucas, Dick, Bentley, Randall, & Hemby took took the narrative in a diffrent way. The approach was more of the one step at a time.

I love that this song illustrates the focus on the journey and the climb. I really feel like this being the title track was a great choice, simply because it sums up the essence of the album, while being simple and understated.

Living
Love this reminder to enjoy every moment, don’t take anything for granted. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race of life and forget to be thankful for the small and most important things. Strong coffee, love, healh, & a new day. Slow down & enjoy.

Woman, Amen
This song is phenomenal. Simply amazing. It’s the age old story, women are praised & appreciated for how they look and how they serve. I love when songs challenge this view. This song is truly an anthem for female appreciation. In this song, they are praised for being themselves and loving their significant others. Not for being physically attractive, not for doing the dishes, keeping the house clean, raising the children, and sexually pleasing their spouses. What a concept?!
As an empowered female who loves my husband for who he is, not what he does or how he looks, I am thankful for this song. Gratitude for the strong females. We need more of this. We need to be in the narrative more than climbing in pickup trucks, drinking out of Dixie cups. BLESS.

You Can’t Bring Me Down
Take the high road, be a better person. Don’t let the bs get you down. Holding grudges only hurts you. Great message in this simple song.

My Religion
Every album needs a good ol’ love song. This album’s is My Religion. Love the passion in this one. It is a more mature take on the classic. The kind of love that is stronger than being in different places, the kind of love that is so strong it isn’t a choice, it just is. Such a simple and raw song.

Son of The Sun
This one really captures the essence of the mountain man. Unplug from technology & society & just explore the wilderness. I feel like it shows the gypsy soul & the hippie side of us all. We all have to get lost occasionally & find our way back. I love that the lyrics are so well written, you can see the imagery as you listen. Son of the Sun, a brother to the sky...phenomenal phrasing.
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Stranger to Myself
Love the songs that talk about growth. I think we can agree that true love has a way of making us our best and truest selves. The growth and happiness found with love is unparalleled & so important. May we all realize we were once a stranger to ourselves.

Travelin’ Light
Hands down, my favorite song on this album. Not only is it the perfect mix of Country & Americana, but it features the brilliant Brandi Carlisle {look her up if you don’t know her}. This one is absolute perfection. The light feeling. The upbeat, but relaxed tempo. The harmonies. Let it go all and ease on down the road. The true meaning of good vibes only. BLESS.

This album was needed in so many ways. Not only did the fans need it, the industry needed it, and I think Dierks needed it as well. Dierks has explored and grown immensely as a songwriter/artist over the last nine albums, but he always stays true, authentic, and grateful. He is one of the best the industry has to offer, both personally & professionally. So thankful that he continues to share his passion & art with us.

From What Was I Thinking to Burning Man, we love you Dierks.

xoxo,
Faith

We need more hippie Country. Can I get an amen?! Y’all I CANNOT get enough of Margo Price. She is the real deal. A fellow Midwestern farmgirl, which a classic style. BLESS. She is Bobbie Gentry meets Loretta Lynn meets Tammy Wynette. There is something so perfect about an artist that mixes modern technology with classic style.

​She is based out of Nashville. In case you haven’t turned on a radio lately, this is not the style of music that is played. I rarely hear someone with such a niche style based here in Nashville. Why? Well the industry isn’t the most kind to those that don’t fit the radio mold. BUT Margo is a badass babe who doesn’t care. She is here to do her thing and raise hell in her own way. Obviously she is not alone, which is why this blog/brand was created in the first place.

Her music is special because it does have the classic sound, but she also uses it as a platform to discuss political and economic issues. Beautiful & well written, both of her albums to date are amazing. Her work is difficult, which is refreshing. I would say this is the hardest feature I’ve done. Not because the music quality, but because of the subject content. I’m not sure words do it justice, but I’ll do my best.

Hands of Time
Such a great way to start an album. Discussing the difficulty that blue collar families face. Working jobs just to get by. Losing the family farm. Wishing she could fight the “hands of time.” You won’t catch this on the Top 40 {damn shame}, but it sure tells an important story.

About to Find Out
Does money fix everything? Not according to Margo. Class, character, and success have nothing to do with wealth. If you lucked into your status, you haven’t earned a dime in your life. Stay humble.

Tennessee Song
One of my personal favorites. Take it back to the beginning. To the simple. To the heart. The words are simple and offer a bit of interpretation. Which is incredibly beautiful, as if Margo and Jeremy knew that we all needing to find our own meaning.
To me: it means taking it back to the my 5 year old farm girl self with big ole Nashville dreams.
This world is crazy, don’t lose yourself in it.

Since You Put Me Down
What a good ole Classic Country style song. Bars & broken hearts. Amen & Amen.

This Town Gets Around
Lord, have mercy. This is gold. Anyone in the music industry will scream amen at this one. Nashville is full of dreamers & schemers. And unfortunately opportunists who are shady assholes. Everyone wants to make it big, some will trade their character to do so. This song perfectly describes how Margo has chosen to deal with this shit— she simply dones’t play the game.
Spirit animal for sure.

Weekender
When you go out galavanting and you are from a blue collar family that can’t afford to bail you out, you are a “weekender” in jail. This song is one that you think is lighthearted, but when you listen closer, you realize it discusses somewhat heavy subject matter. Drugs, domestic violence, and other sins. It’ s a hard cycle to break, especially when you can’t afford proper treatment. These are ugly truths that society doesn’t like to talk about.

World’s Greatest Loser
A bit of a melancholy short tune about losing everything but love. It’s interesting and unique. Possibly written when under the influence. Interesting nonetheless.

Desperate & Despressed
There is this large misconception that being a songwriter/artist is glamorous. Touring...so fun, right? Creating art all the time...living the dream? Recording...this will make you rich & famous, of course!
Very little of this is true. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t always suck.
BUT, it is HARD work and you make little to no money for a very long time. Artists/songwriters split whatever they make with a publisher, manager, record label, etc. They have to play sucky shows, spend crazy amounts of time on a tour bus, be away from their home and families often, and record songs they don’t always love...essentially play the game. It can be depressing. Is this song dramatic? Maybe. But it is meant to show the side of the biz that isn’t talked about and needs to be discussed.

Don’t Say It
This gem starts her sophomore album out with some girl power sass. It is brilliant. Men simply have to be put in their place once in awhile. Good Country sound with much needed female power.

Weakness
We all have our sins. Love the honest lyrics: “Sometimes my weakness is stronger than me” ??‍♀️ Let’s also talk about that fiddle. Classic Country lives, y’all.

Learning to Lose
Here is how I know that I’m going to love someone: if they collaborate with good ole Willie. Goodness this one is gold. It’s a little sad. But honest. And beautiful. And perfect.

Pay Gap
This album is one of those that literally gets better with each song. My Lord. This should be the anthem of American Women. It’s no secret that I am a feminist and I’m so proud to have another passionate gal calling society out with me. Thank you Margo, this is such an important thing that NEEDS to be talked about...in music, in conversations, in media, in LIFE.

Cocaine Cowboys
My farm girl self laughed out loud when I first heard this song. The most accurate depiction of “city slickers.” There is something irreplaceable about a true rural cowboy. This is a cute little jab against the pretty city boy pretending to be Country. Life’s not that serious, let’s enjoy the humor of this one.

Wild Women
Remember Mindy McCreedy’s “Guys Do it All the Time?” Or “Martina’s God Fearing Women​?” This is Margo’s take on it. Men get to ramble, women should get their turn as well. We are all wild women at heart.

Heart of America
The forgotten blue collar Americans. The ones that work their asses off to get by. I love how the songs talks about it being hard to better yourself and your life with no money and no opportunities. More specifically, the local farmers suffer. The government controls things they don’t take time to understand, & so many suffer because of this. The true heart of America.

All American Made
This song is cynical. And pessimistic. And brutally honest. This is true art. Calling out all the corruption and confusion the government causes. The layer of Presidential speeches that play is brilliant. It shows that we keep getting empty promises. The crime, corruption, poverty, hunger, injustice, etc continues. What’s the answer? Not sure. But first we have to come to terms with the problem.

The brilliance of Margo’s music is that it isn’t wrapped up with a pretty little bow. It’s raw, it’s honest, it’s intelligent, it’s complex. It leans into the uncomfortable.
The dissonance is perfectly imperfect.
Her albums leave you laughing at the silliness and contemplating the real issues.
This. Is. Art.

Keep this shit coming, Margo

xoxo,
Faith