Grammy nominated and platinum-selling country star Jamie O'Neal returns with her first new album in five years, Eternal.

"Eternal is a little different for me," says O'Neal. "I grew up listening and looking up to all these incredible artists who helped pave the way for singers like me. These songs helped shaped me into who I became as a performer. I was already singing some of these songs in my show and just loved the way I could wail on them. Those traditional, big emotional ballads are hard to come by these days, which is why it was such an honor and a challenge to record such great music."

Produced by O'Neal and her engineer/musician husband Rodney Good, Eternal is an eleven song collection that features Jamie's take on country classics. The album opens with a more up tempo, twangy take on "Born To Run" then Jamie lends her unmistakable voice to songs such as "Leavin' On Your Mind" (Patsy Cline), "The Sweetest Thing" (Juice Newton), and "I've Done Enough Dying Today" (The Gatlin Brothers). She adds a female voice, and slows down, Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and takes on the George Jones and Tammy Wynette classic duet, "Golden Ring," which features Andy Griggs. 

"Wide Awake," the only original song included on the album as a bonus track, was written by O'Neal and her dad, Jimmy Murphy. She says the song is an "ode to all women who have to sleep beside a snoring moose every night." The humorous track is definitely the standout of the album. "He's snoring again and I'm wide awake/It's like a Nascar race being run on his face and the bed starts to tremble and shake/I try to roll him over I kick him with my feet/Hell I gotta wake him up so i can get some sleep."

Eternal is a collection that will definitely be embraced by Jamie's fans and hopefully introduce country classics to a new audience.

Highlights include "Wide Awake," "Just One Time," and "Golden Ring."

4 Stars

It’s been awhile since we heard new music from Sunny Sweeney, but thankfully she’s back…and in a feisty and fun way! Her new single, “Bad Girl Phase,” written by Brandy Clark and Jessie Jo Dillon is a bit of an anthem for women who want to break out of being that “good girl” (even for a little bit) and just have some fun…and most importantly, do it without apologies. The melody provides the swagger and Sunny’s vocals deliver the lyrics with a spunky assuredness.
It's a good one!!





“Gonna line my eyes, I'm gonna paint them black
Gonna lose my red lipstick to a whiskey glass
I want one of those nights that goes on for days
I'm in a bad girl phase
Yeah I know where the good book stands
But right now I just can't love one man
My moral compass is taking a break
I'm in a bad girl phase”

4.5 STARS

The single is currently being played on Sirius XM's The Highway and is available at digital retailers.
It will impact country radio on June 16th.
Her forthcoming album, Provoked, will be available sometime later this year.

Jamie Lynn Spears debut EP The Journey will be released on May 27th. The EP boasts five tracks, including her current well received single “How Could I Want More.” The songs were all co-written by Jamie Lynn along with songwriters including Liz Rose (Taylor Swift, Eli Young Band), Chris Tompkins (Carrie Underwood), Tyler Hayes (Gloriana), Rivers Rutherford (Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley) and Lisa Carver (Reba McEntire, Sugarland).

The banjo infused “Run” kicks off the EP. The song is about getting in the car, taking off and enjoying life because “either way the sun’s gonna come.” The country rocker “Shotgun Wedding” tells the story of a “two bored kids on a Friday night” who discover they’re pregnant "in the ladies room of the BP” which leads Daddy to give his blessing on a shotgun wedding, whether he's ready or not.

“Mandolin Summer Sun” is reminiscent of early Miranda Lambert. It’s the perfect sing along about being free, enjoying life and falling in love. “With that freer than you’ve ever been/Throwing caution to the wind/Praying that it never ends/Mandolin summer sun.”

The piano ballad “Big Bad World” closes out the EP. As on “How Could I Want More,” Jamie’s vocals really shine on this track. Her soft, airy voice never seems to be forcing the lyrics or emotions about a small town girl who is hit with the realities and difficulties of life now that she is in the city without anyone to “remind me who I am.”

The EP is a solid first outing from Jamie Lynn and one that you should not hesitate to pick up.

4.5 stars

So far, Randy Houser has released three singles from his 2013 album How Country Feels and all three reached #1 on the charts. His latest single, “Like A Cowboy,” is set to impact country radio on May 19th. Randy has said that the ballad, which he co-wrote with Brice Long, is his favorite from the album.

“Like A Cowboy” is about the push and pull of balancing life on the road with family; having the need to do something that is in one’s blood, even though you know it is hard on the ones you love. Randy, who has one of the best male voices in country today, delivers the lyrics both honestly and sincerely.

“I keep your picture tucked inside my old hat
It brings me luck, I need a bunch of that
This midnight winding roads run through my blood
I can't give it up, like I said I would
I know it's hard on you, but like I always do”

Cinch up the saddle, it looks like another #1.

4.5 Stars

Sheryl Crow takes an up tempo turn on her new single “Shotgun.” The third single from Feels Like Home was written by Crow, Chris DuBois, Kelley Lovelace, and John Shanks. “Shotgun” shows Sheryl’s versatility from her previous two singles. The song has spunk and attitude, not to mention an instantly catchy melody and a line that is sure to become a new phrase in people’s vocabulary (and a favorite saying of her father’s) “Drive it like it’s stolen/ Park it like it’s rented.”

“You'd beg if I was under your hood
But it ain't doing us any good
Rolling through town and going too slow
What we need is an open road
400 horses need a little room to run
                                                                   Well if you ain't gonna do it let me show you how it's done”

4 Stars

Streamsound Records' Dakota Bradley released his new single, "Won't Be Young Forever" to country radio earlier in April. The song, which is the follow up to his Top 50 single “Somethin’ Like Somethin’’ was written by Bradley, along with Lance Miller, and Brett and Brad Warren ("Felt Good On My Lips").

"Won't Be Young Forever," with its pop country feel, will immediately have you nodding your head and put you in a good mood. But what struck me most is that this is a youthful song that doesn’t mention the typical things we have come to expect from young males on the radio: tailgates, alcohol and girls shaking their moneymakers.

The single acknowledges what we all know, namely, we won't be young forever. But reminds us that if we keep an optimistic outlook and youthful spirit, we can be forever young. The lyrics encourage one to live life to the fullest, maybe make some mistakes, and take advantage of opportunities while you can because life is short. True words for anyone, no matter how old you are.

“Right now I got my whole life in front of me 
Through these cheap sunglasses I see where I wanna be
I don't need much money
And I don't need no sleep
But I know this ain't how
It's always gonna be”

4 Stars

"Won't Be Young Forever" on iTunes
DakotaBradley.com
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