We Got 'Em First: Country Music Leaks

Southern Voice marks Tim McGraw's 10th studio album. How does an artist keep things fresh after 10 albums? Well, despite the fact that "Southern Voice" was sort of a color-by-numbers kind of country single and "It's a Business Doing Pleasure With You" was a humorous, lightweight tune, most of the songs herein are surprisingly weighty and somewhat dark. By releasing an album filled with flawed characters, McGraw has given himself room to explore some fresh ideas and new perspectives. "Forever Seventeen" deals with the struggle of getting older and living with regrets. Backed by a sad-sounding guitar and a slow, end-of-the-day tempo, the song is one of the album's most poignant moments -- and is sung from a woman's point of view. But with lyrics such as "a little midnight chardonnay/ Smooth the edges off the day/ A little taste of maryjane makes you feel young again" you have to wonder if it will fly at conservative country stations. Their loss, because it really is one of the album's standouts. Another highlight is the song "Mr. Whoever You Are," which stars a lost, lonely soul looking for some comfort in a dance -- and maybe more -- with a stranger. The loneliness that unwinds in the waltz is heightened by a gorgeous string section, making this a likeable downer of a song. And you have to love a song titled "If I Died Today" that starts and ends with the strange line, "If I died today, who'd turn off my coffee pot?" There's plenty more where these damaged characters came from: cheaters/murderers ("Good Girls"), self-helpers ("Still") and sons growing up without fathers ("You Had to Be There") are all represented in this collection of striking and surprisingly likeable songs.

Lyle Lovett: Natural Forces
Doesn't it seem like an eternity ago that Lyle Lovett shocked the world by marrying Julia Roberts? Of his new release, Rhapsody's Nick Dedina writes: "Lyle Lovett is considered a country music outsider, yet he's always been grounded in the great American outdoors while excelling at lovelorn breakup songs and humorous rave-ups. This artful mix of originals, collaborations and covers paints portraits of individuals toughing it out in town, in the country and in the kitchen (food songs have always been a Lovett staple). How many artists can break your heart one minute ('Whooping Crane') and then crack up a squad of eighth graders the next ('Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel')? Lyle Lovett isn't an outsider -- he's at the top of his class."

Sam Bush: Circles Around Me
Bluegrass fans, listen up. After a three-year absence, Sam Bush is back and sounds better than ever! Rhapsody Bluegrass editor Justin Farrar has this to say about the King of Newgrass' seventh studio album: "'Hey, hey, hey, how in the hell did we get this far?' asks Bush on the anthemic title track. It's a question that sums up the reflective nature of Circles Around Me. Though the legendary mandolin player is just 57, he's made enough music to fill 10 lifetimes. This is Bush's first album in many a moon, and that has a lot to do with its back-to-basics approach. On tracks such as 'Diamond Joe' and 'Out on the Ocean,' he sounds like the young gun he was back in ye olde New Grass Revival days."

Bomshel: Fight Like a Girl
Bombshel made a name for themselves earlier this year when their single, "Fight Like a Girl," first made the radio rounds. At the time, however, the big story was that Kelley Shepard and Kristy Osmonson were, ahem, cheated out of their shot at releasing the song "Cheater Cheater" when Joey + Rory performed the song on CMT's Can You Duet? Shepard and Rory Freek were co-writers of the song, so each had a claim to it, but the power of that television performance cinched the deal for Joey + Rory. Rhapsody's Chuck Eddy has this to say about Bomshel's debut: "Retaining only one of two group members from its eccentric but never released 2006 album, Bomshel Stomp, this duo's belated commercial debut emphasizes emotion over comedy. Still, a hoedown-stomping No Doubt cover, a sleazy fiddle jam crossing '70s Cher with Charlie Daniels, some poppy spring-break nostalgia, and a half-potty-mouthed talking boogie ('Karma Is a Female Dog') are entertaining breaks from all the serious Lifetime Television survival lessons -- which have their moments too, especially when unison harmonies kick in through the set's second half."

Check out the playlist below for a quick sampling of our Sneak Peeks.