As I mentioned in the previous posting- i'm a fan of country music! And my guilty pleasure is the pop, bubblegum country music. It can be sappy and ridiculous, but i still listen to it. SO!! if you're into that kind of thing- then here are a couple songs that i suggest you look into.

Carrie Underwood "Before He Cheats"
So I thought this one would be the ultimate for this category- you know, with the whole American Idol thing and all. I guess i don't really know how to explain it, but damn do i like this song! Just get the song. You'll like it i promise. :)

Miranda Lamber "Kerosene"
This is a fairly good break up song. ha. But seriously, it is. The drummer sends home a strong message with a snare drum hit on every beat for the entire song. And after all- who hasn't had the sentiment "I've given up on love, cause love's given up on me." I saw this music video around the same time i first heard the song. Visually, they show Miranda walking to the beat, away from an old ranch pouring out a can of kerosene. Simple really, but poignant.

Jason Aldean "Amarillo Sky"
I really like this song. And when it comes on the car radio, i sing REALLY REALLY loudly to it. At my first glance this song seemed pretty superficial, but the more and more i listen to it, i've been dragged into the lyrics. I think this song is effective because it's not toby keith or tim mcgraw singing it. Meaning that its much more believable that Jason Aldean actually WROTE it. the song. Whether he really did or not, i don't know, but I would like to think that he did- so i'm going to run with it. I spent a considerable amount of my childhood living in Iowa, where farming is a significant way of life. This song reaches out to that lifestyle; that passion, that work ethic and that subsceptability to the weather. "that hail storm back in '86" is the way farmers really talk, because a single storm can have that much of an impact on their livelihood. Yeah, its country talk, or more appropriately dialect, but we all owe them more than a snide dismissal because its different. Lord knows i didn't raise, butcher and process the pork chop i'm eating tonight. So when this song says, "I take the tractor around another round"- I'm all into it. Sing it.

The Wreckers "leave the pieces"
The Wreckers combine the pop/rock aspects of Michelle Branch (who you might remember from the song "everywhere") and country singer Jessica Harp . The combo works well. Critics say that michelle branch uses too much of a forced southern dixie twang in her singing, but i'm fine with it. Sounds good enough to pass. "leave the pieces" is a high energy post relationship song. Just as "Kerosene" drove home a strong beat saying "i've given up on love" this song is a well blended cry out that "you're going to break my heart anyways, just leave the pieces when you go." A outlook to heartbreak- saying- well hell, this is going to suck, but if it's going to happen, then get going on with it and leave me alone. I also recommend "Crazy People" it's a fun little piece- great harmonizing.

Sara Evans- "Coalmine"
Heard this one on the road this summer and bought it within the next day. You might know sara evans from dancing with the stars, and her recent public divorce from her husband. Now that she's single and all, its easier to imagine her singing this song to me. ha. Best line... "well i can't wait to get him home, ain't gonna have nothing but the supper on; gonna keep him busy till its time for him to go back to that coal mine" This song is FAST too, which i like. Listen the the acoustic guitar and bass line. Quick and boot stompin. Pretty sure they're using electric drums though, which BLOWS

That's it for this genre. I know its not going to be a fan favorite- but you should give it a chance. As posted earlier, if you don't like this type of country, you should still give some of the older stuff a chance. It's really the groundwork for all major music out there. Johnny Cash for example toured on the same label with Elvis, who was the catalyst for rock, which led to punk, pop,... everything. It all started with old gospels and some good ol bluegrass pickin.

Happy holidays.