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Country Beef: What's Stewing in Nashville and Beyond

Welcome to Country Beef, a regular peek into what’s going on in Nashville and beyond .

On a recent trip to Nashville, I heard a lot of gossip about some of our favorite stars. Most of it wasn't true (or so I'd like to believe), but it occurred to me that country fans have an insatiable appetite when it comes to the latest goings on in the lives of their favorite country performers. Gossip aside, here's a look into what's going on with some of the biggest names in country -- Tim, Faith, Taylor. Get the idea?

CMA Awards Nominees: Pirates, Poets, Ex-Girlfriends & Blondes

As the Country Music Association gets ready to bestow their highest honor on a handful of hopefuls on November 12, let's take a look at some of the categories and wax theoretic on this year's CMA Award nominees.

CMT's Todd Hedrick and Rhapsody's Country Editor Linda Ryan, weigh in on the CMA nominees and give their two-cents on who should win, and who will most likely win. We will try to separate the hope from the hype. The stallions from the ponies. The hits from the hicks. You get the idea.

[Click the "Continue Reading..." link to listen to a playlist featuring the music discussed in this post.]

"Idol" Chatter: Sparks Scores! Paula Bores!

by Linda Ryan

How awesome was Jordin Sparks' rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLII?! Not only was the Phoenix native a hometown girl out there on the field, but her father actually used to play for the New York Giants. Papa Phillippi Sparks wore #22 for Big Blue, but unfortunately, never got close to any Super Bowl action -- until watching his daughter shine for an audience of millions upon millions last Sunday. How cute is that?! Not so cute was Paula Abdul's pre-game performance of her new single, "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow."

"Idol" Chatter: Simon Says Play Nice?

by Linda Ryan

Oh my God, what is going on with "American Idol"!? Where is the hard-hearted Simon Cowell we've come to know and love? Okay, not love, so much as enjoy watching rip people to shreds. Season 7 has been on for a scant two weeks and we’re already wondering whether or not Simon has been abducted by aliens. He's being really ... nice!

Hello It's Me: The Oh My God Did You Watch American Idol Last Night? What A Bunch Of Freaks Edition

by Linda Ryan

Holy smokes! Where did American Idol find the people who auditioned for the Seattle segment? Last night's auditions landed Seattle with a worse rap than heroin addiction and Riot Grrrl (combined) ever did in the '90s. Could it be the coffee?

But what was up with everyone's eyes? I have never seen so many people with bugged-out, downright lopsided eyes in my life! Did the entire town of Chernobyl relocate to the Seattle area and not tell us? Wow. I am a bitch.

Hello! It's Me the December Edition

by Linda Ryan

It's been so long since I've blogged something, it's downright shameful. But we just voted in another crop of Dig This! winners for the month of December, so I was inspired to write and tell you all about them. If there is a music lover on your Holiday "To Get" list, this just might be an excellent place to start.

Just to refresh; Dig This! is our monthly program where our editorial staff nominates releases to highlight. The criteria: 1) the artist's release must by less than 6 months old and 2) it must be an artist that is "under the radar."  So with that, here are December's winners.

Hello It's Me: The Dig This! Edition

by Linda Ryan

The reason we work here is because we love music. It's an astonishingly simple fact, and one that none of us take lightly. We know we're lucky to be doing what we're doing -- and make the rent each month. But sometimes finding the balance between writing about the music we love and what's new or trendy or maybe even possibly interesting, can prove tricky. That's why we came up with the Dig This! program.

Dig This! gives each editor the opportunity to nominate a new CD (within 6 months of release is what we consider "new") from an artist that's currently residing "under the radar." The editorial department then votes on the nominees and the Top 5 become the Dig This! winners for that month, and get and extra bit of "spotlight love" from the folks who work here.

Hello, It's Me: Music & Margaritas Edition

by Linda Ryan

There is something so natural, so right, about enjoying a frosty margarita when the sun is shining -- and hey, if it's a strawberry one, even better!

  Rhapsody recently got the rights to some CDs from a band called Dislocation Dance, who spent most of the early '80s "almost" making it big. Although the band was from Manchester, the home of all things gloomy and grey in the early '80s, Dislocation Dance's perculating tunes were warm and sunny; perfect margarita drinking music and nary a mariachi in sight.

And that got me thinking about tequila. No wait, I'm jumping ahead of myself. It got me thinking about some of the jazz-influenced pop bands that flourished in the early '80s. Although none hung around long, they certainly added some much needed color to the musical landscape of the day. So I made this short playlist. I titled it "Feeling Horny" 'cos, you know, the songs have horns in them. Here are some musical memories to go along with your margarita; be it blended or over ice, real or imagined, enjoy.

Hello It's Me: The Sun Is Seriously Shining Edition

by Linda Ryan

In a weird/sad moment of serendipity, Irish footballer Roy Keane has retired because of a persistent hip problem. Wasn't I just talking about him in my last blog? I mean – how weird. I hope I didn't jinx the man. Keane spent most of his career helping Manchester United to one victory after another, and fans were hoping he'd do the same for Celtic, but it looks like he won't get the chance.

Speaking of football/soccer/whatever, does it seem like America is a little excited about World Cup? I mean, as excited as one could hope for, given the flat, shoddy display against the Czech Republic in their inaugural game. But I get the feeling that the games are hit.

Hello. It's Me. Again.

by Linda Ryan

 

Yeah, it's been a while. I know. But seriously, can you believe World Cup is right around the corner? I am soooo excited. The only thing that would make the experience better would be if Ireland, was in it, but they will have to wait four more years. Maybe they'll ask the fabulous No. 6, Roy Keane, to manage in 2010. That'd be supercool.

Speaking of World Cup and Ireland, have you seen those commercials that U2 are doing for the "beautiful game?" The game can change the world, and all that. That's some big expectation, don't cha think? If you're a soccer fan or just wonder what all the hype is about, check out this playlist I made celebrating World Cup 2006. Rock on.