The appeal of country music, for a sissified city slicker such as myself, largely lies in glimpsing a universe in which everyone is tougher, stronger, surlier, drunker and more adept with power tools than I am, which is not a terribly high bar, no, but it's nonetheless simultaneously dismaying and thrilling how many women can clear it. Here then we have Miranda, Taylor, Neko, Ashton, Carrie, Those Darlins and many others boozing, seething and raging, to my delight/terror. Yes, even the one named "Sunny."
Listen now:
Friday Mixtape: Country Chicks Who Could Beat Me Up
Louisiana Hayride was a "barn dance"-style radio program on KWKH out of Shreveport, La., that was loosely modeled on its more famous cousin, Nashville's The Grand Ole Opry, along with Chicago's lesser-known WLS Barn Dance. The program, originally called Cradle of the Stars, launched on April 3, 1948, and went on to feature some of the most revered names in country music.
What holiday has more family traditions than Christmas? And who knows more about "family tradition" than country music lovers? We've spent the past few weeks trimming the tracks on our radio tree and adding plenty of shiny new tunes to make sure it sounds nice for all you folks—even you naughty ones.
Feeling like your collection of country-flavored Christmas carols could use an overhaul? The time to do it is now, and it’s definitely best to do a little sprucing up before Auntie Jane and Uncle Charlie land on your doorstep.
You provide the eggnog and mistletoe (or dreidel and menorah); we'll provide the tunes. That's how holidaze work around here. Of course we've got all the eternal carols and trusty standbys about winter wonderlands, sleigh rides, jingle bells, frosty snowmen, drummer boys, feliz navidads, Santa Claus coming to town and/or Mommy kissing him, God resting merry gentlemen, and chestnuts roasting on open fires — many of them harmonized by legendary girl groups or Motowners or recent rock/pop/R&B stars. And we've got all your favorite ubiquitous seasonal standards of less antiquated vintage, too — from 
Sometimes my hipper-than-thou friends make fun of me for liking country music. To them, it's all just ignorant cowboy jams sung by toothless ol' fellas in a hat. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, it's heartless, slick, countrified pop sung by über-tanned hotties with hair too perfect to even bother with a hat.
Ahhh … welcome to November, country music fans! There has been a cornucopia of exciting new releases of late, and we're going to make it easy as pumpkin pie for you to discover them. 
"I got my toes in the water/ Ass in the sand/ Not a worry in the world/ A cold beer in my hand," begins 
Ahhhh. Fall has arrived, and with it comes some blessed relief from the heat. But don't worry — there are plenty of hot country releases to keep you warm and cozy. In the month or so since we last checked in, there have been a number of excellent releases, many of which could end up on those pesky "best of" lists come year's end. From multiplatinum stars like Lady Antebellum to alt country mainstays like The Jayhawks to heritage artists like Glen Campbell, we've put the spotlight on all sorts of new country releases. Hit play to get caught up!
People can say what they want about global warming and climate change. Like, for example, "The ice is melting!" Or, "No, it's not. You're a hippie!" Whatever the reason, though, more than half the country sweltered under record temperatures for extended periods this summer. Scratch that: they sweltered under record temperatures for the entire summer. And let's face it: you don't really care about the whys and hows behind the blindly oppressive heat when you're melting in the middle of it. The only real question you want answered is, "Where can we go where there's air conditioning?"
Oh, the marvels of modern technology! A handful of long-forgotten 
So anyway: the extremely sore arm came first. Was initially scared it might be carpal tunnel. Googling suggested otherwise. Was relieved to learn that it being on my right side was good news. (Left can be a sign of heart failure!) Doctor prescribed exercises and ointments and ice packs. Very weird, since I don't play tennis, but so be it. 
We all reacted to the horrible events of September 11, 2001, in our own ways — wherever we were, whatever we were doing, whichever CD or radio station or fizzy pop single we first reached for to help us cope. Here, Rhapsody's editors offer their own musical perspectives, from saber-rattling country to hopeful worship music, from pop-punk bromides to plaintive protest songs, from the momentary tentativeness of comedy to the fieriness of hip-hop to the transcendence of jazz. As Sonny Rollins put it, "Maybe music can help. I don't know, but we have to try something." Here's what we tried. 
In the 1960s, most of the country charts were controlled by a handful of Nashville producers, and their fondness for lush string sections, syrupy background vocals and corny lyrics came to be known as the Nashville sound. At the same time, rock 'n' roll artists — who mostly wrote their own songs, played their own instruments, and had a hand in shaping their own sound while in the recording studio — were showing a growing number of young, blue-collar country lovers a different way of making music. 
Earlier this summer, country music icon 
Since our last roundup, a handful of articles have ruminated on the country music pendulum's swing away from a pop sound and toward a more traditional one. Certainly, brisk first-week sales from such blue-collar, down-home boys as Eric Church, Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins could indicate a trend, but what's more impressive (in my humble opinion, of course) is the 40-plus weeks on the sales charts racked up by 
Texas native 
To celebrate our exclusive, one-week-only leak of 
Despite looking suspiciously like Bam Margera, 
Blake Shelton, the self-styled Most Interesting Man in Country Music, may be the marquee name amid the last six weeks or so of new releases, but his Red River Blue has plenty of competition, both on the charts and in our hearts. Spare some time also for sassy Ashton Shepherd, mushy Chris Young, the gritty Dirt Drivers, the rebellious Justin Moore and the goddesslike Gillian Welch. Also, don't miss the archival Neil Young live jam A Treasure, revisiting his country-rock prime with some of the loudest, nastiest guitar solos imaginable. Some great stuff here, from traditionalists to wanton experimentalists, so dive in.
Ah, summer. The season of beaches, bikinis and banging summer singles. A few weeks back, we gifted you with our massive mega-mix of 
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If you grew up in the Midwest, you know what the 4-H Club stands for. I mean, what it really stands for — not just the "head, heart, hands and health" motto that makes up the four H's. The idea is simple: teach young people and their families the skills they need to be proactive forces in their communities, and develop ideas for a more innovative economy. The program revolutionized the way science was taught outside the classroom; in 100+ years of active service, more than 60 million youth have used the program, from elementary school kids to high school seniors.
One aspect of summer that never fails to surprise is that the year is now nearly half over: we are closer to 2011's year-end critics-poll season than we are to 2010's. You've started drafting your own Top 10 list already, right? No? You haven't? Don't panic: here, Rhapsody's genre editors each pick their five favorite records of the year so far. How many will survive until November? Which ones will be replaced by Lil Wayne, by Beyoncé, by the soundtrack to Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark? Time will tell, but for now, here are our picks for the year's best, half a year early. 
Summer jams. Everyone's got one. That song that evokes instant images of sun and fun, that makes you smell the barbecue and taste the daiquiri, that just sings summer to you. But what does your summer jam of choice say about you and, more importantly, your summer personality? We've developed this handy-dandy little guide to psychoanalyzing your summer anthem —or at least finding the perfect drink to pair with it.
Whether you're a fan of country pop, traditional fare or something a bit more alt-leaning, we've got something for you in our spring roundup of new country releases. This time around, we're highlighting new albums from superstars (Brad Paisley), legends (Levon Helm) and newcomers (Craig Campbell) alike, along with a bevy of fresh singles from both well-known artists (including Kenny Chesney and Neil Young) and up-and-comers like Hunter Hayes. It's all just a click away.
When rockabilly stole away much of country music’s younger audience in the mid-1950s, Nashville producers aimed for a more adult market. Producers 
We must admit that Tuesday is our favorite day of the week here at Rhapsody: that's when new releases come out. Thankfully, the next three months of Tuesdays look absolutely glorious, full of fresh music from ukulele-brandishing rockers, electronic pioneers, strident country hit makers, unabashed pop divas, unrepentant metalheads, CCM luminaries, contenders for Best Rapper Alive honors, soul superstars and, of course, Lady Gaga. Here's the best of what's to come.
As the sun shyly reintroduces itself, the alluring pull of summer becomes a strong tug at the heart. Visions of warm weather, barbecues at water's edge and a general sense of relaxation pervade mind and body. And with summer comes an insane amount of music festivals. But where are they? Who is playing at them? Which ones, if any, are family-friendly?
RCA's infamous Studio B was the place to record in the '60s, '70s and '80s, hosting a veritable Who's Who of music. Everyone from 
Ten years ago, Luke Lewis, chairman of Universal Nashville, made his dream of a nurturing, singer-songwriter-oriented label into reality with the launch of Lost Highway. The aim was to create a label that, as he says, "might be a haven for artists that make enduring music not driven by hits on the radio," and Lost Highway put that dream to the test with their first release, the soundtrack to the quirky movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou? Five Grammy Awards and 7 million sales later, Lost Highway was up and running in the fast lane. Since then, the label has released gems from pioneers such as Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello and Johnny Cash as well as groundbreakers including Whiskeytown and the Jayhawks. Not to put too much emphasis on the numbers, but since its inception, the label has released 80 albums, sold 18 million units, and earned 53 Grammy nominations resulting in 15 wins.
March. March madness. Twenty-odd days until spring officially starts. St. Patrick's Day. There's something hopeful and expectant about the month of March; it's hard to pin down, exactly, but it's certainly there.
Back in 1980, you saw Urban Cowboy in the theater and it changed your life. You bought the boots. And a hat. Months later, The Dukes of Hazzard debuted on television, and you subsequently tuned in religiously each week. Let's be honest: you tried to do that Bo Duke slide about a thousand times and still couldn't git 'er done, right? Travolta's Bud may not have resonated with the high school crowd the way that Bo and Luke did, but the trendy fashions of the day yielded the same results: boots, prairie blouses/dresses, big ol' belt buckles — and the infamous Daisy Duke shorts and tied shirts, of course.
Although the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy was panned by critics, the general public was attracted to something beyond the thin plot and John Travolta's fine two-step moves — which, let's face it, paled in comparison to his electrifying disco moves in 
As most of the country digs out from under snow and ice, things are heating up here at Rhapsody. New releases on labels big and small are starting to flow with some regularity. Isn't it great that with Rhapsody, you can listen to the latest offerings while ensconced on your own sofa? But where to start?
The past few years have been better than average in terms of African Americans scoring in country music. First there was 
Since the late 1960s, 
The idea of singing — harmonizing — as a duo has gone hand in hand with country music since long before labels started recording it in the 1920s. Family acts, who would have been harmonizing with each other at home and in church for years, became a popular attraction in the '30s and '40s, and laid the foundation for duos (related or not) for decades to come.
Before your favorite rock, rap, pop and country stars were famous, they were just … people. Which, chances are, also means they were struggling and striving musicians or singers who probably spent time in bands that never hit big, and that you may have never even heard of. Some of those bands recorded actual albums, or at least singles — many of which just happen to be available on Rhapsody. Here's a pile to check out. 
Along with resolutions and returned gifts, January brings hope. Some yearn for world peace, others want a viable alternative to fossil fuels that breaks our dependency on Middle East oil. And then there are those who pray for jobs for the unemployed or adequate health care for the elderly and poor. Us, we'd take new albums by Justin Timberlake, OutKast or Pavement — or maybe better (or worse) storylines from Glee. Below, you'll find all of our wishes for music in 2011.
Happy New Year and welcome to 2011! Have you gotten used to writing 2011 on your checks yet? No? Yeah, we're with you on that. A week into the new year and our heads might not be screwed on right yet, but we do know one thing: there are some killer country music releases on the horizon. 
With every new year comes the promise of great new music. Those hopes are nearly always well founded, though inevitably there are also some disappointments. Here we've assembled what we think are the most promising prospective releases for 2011, broken out by genre. In the comments field, let us know your expectations for them, and whether there are some albums that you're looking forward to that aren't on this list.
'Tis the time for reflection and resolutions. Sometimes thinking about the past can give us big ideas about what we want in the future, and so it goes with the annual "best albums" lists that nearly every major music publication cranks out around the turn of the year. These lists can be great conversation starters, and can also be a great source of music discovery. We've compiled our own lists of 
What a year it was for country music! Lady Antebellum didn't just cross over into the Top 40, they ruled the airwaves for the better part of the year, settling in the No. 2 spot in Billboard's Top 100 Songs for 2010, while the album Need You Now lands in the No. 3 spot for overall sales for the year. And 
The two best new albums I heard in 2010 came from young women born in 1987 and 1989. They both debuted at No. 1 in Billboard, though the one that came out in January sold just 152,000 copies in its first week (but has racked up a couple million since). The one that came out in October finished its first week around the 1,047,000 mark. Each singer put more or less five singles in the Top 10 of the pop chart this year, but only the less respectable singer topped that chart for 10 weeks. The artist considered "country" grew up as part of a nuclear family in the southeastern Pennsylvania exurbs with a grandma who sang opera, and almost every soccer mom across the land thinks she's a perfect role model for kids. The artist not considered country moved from L.A. to Nashville when she was four and grew up fatherless there with a mother who wrote country songs, and almost every soccer mom across the land hopes her kids never meet anybody like her. So, on the surface, 
The Christmas season is here, so what better time than now to dust off some holiday albums? If you are looking to add a touch of twang to your Yuletide, then look no further; we've got ten classic country Christmas albums to suggest.
It was as if nobody wanted to admit it was 2010. MGMT released a paean to '60s psyche, Ariel Pink looked back at the '70s and '80s through rose-colored, lo-fi glasses and Broken Bells and Cee-Lo dipped their buckets in the ever-deepening well of '70s soul. LCD Soundsystem plundered '80s avant disco, while Robyn revisited the halcyon days of Swedish pop. On the other end, Janelle Monae peered into the future and saw messianic robots, while Flying Lotus crafted an album that mined the sublime amidst fractured electro future shock. The albums that strained for the zeitgeist -- Kanye West's angry, self-obsessed Fantasy and Arcade Fire's meditation on the mundane crunch of suburban life -- were the most emotionally desperate and revealing. There was more great music, as always, and we've compiled our top 50 albums right here.
Maybe it says something about 2010 that the year's most ubiquitous and demographic-defying song was a chirpy '70s soul retread entitled "F*ck You," or that Kanye West's "Power," the most ambitious pop single of the year, paraphrased a quote from Malcom X in an effort to deify hip-hop's reigning enfant terrible. It was that type of year, people, and the songs that we selected as our top 50 tracks are strange, funky, heartfelt and confrontational slices of magnificent pop music. Whether you agree or not, leave us a comment, and don't forget that you can listen to a playlist of all these tracks right 
Since the mid-1980s, few producers have exerted as much influence on modern rock as 
Along with a smattering of new releases by high-profile country artists, the past few months have seen an abundance of greatest-hits packages whose releases were timed with the holidays in mind. Confused? We'll sort out the wheat from the chaff and get you caught up on all the country releases!
The 44th annual CMA awards has come and gone, and all that's left are the hangovers. Here's a rundown of the highlights and winners.
There's something in the air these days. Could it be the changing leaves of fall? The excitement of October baseball? No wait, we've got it -- widespread global freakout! With the election around the corner and international markets in the dumps, change is coming whether we're ready or not. Music has always had something to say about times like these, so we figured we'd round up 20 classic political albums in the hopes of stimulating debate. Because it's not like you've got anything else to worry about, right?
Ladies and gentlemen, may we introduce you to the new, improved, grown-up 
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