Looking at this weeks releases, I noticed Vince Gill, Toby Keith and Kelly Clarkson, all came through with the goods. All three are hard, hard rocking, hard rolling, country stand bearers. This ain't the wus rock of the 1980's -all of these provide the thrills we come to country for.
And they're not alone.
In a year which saw both hip hop and Alt have their worsts years this century, country quietly. You can start with Dolly Parton's plain terrific Better Day then hit the hard stuff with Eric Church's chief, continue with Lady Antebellum's recovery from the sophomore slump, check out Jason Aldean's genre busting hit and tip your hat to Merle Haggard's best album since The Peer Session.
None of the three albums released this week are major in any clear way: they are yeoman showman taking care of business country albums.
Kelly provide's a study in man hating, Vince reminds us he is a great guitarist and Toby never ever allows his pariotism to devolve into jingoism.
Much like the times we are living in country is lowering its expectations and narrowing its focus to a lazer beam. It provides the goods and it provides them so well that the seriously brilliant Pistol Annie's release its debut album, a major rockin sob, and it is just one of many. And Brad Paisley misteps and gets ignored.
2011 felt like a disaster for so many genre's of music. I mean if Fucked Up is the best we've got, really… But country is going through one of its periods of greatness and this week proved it.