Cold meds and make-up

Real talk: the only thing keeping me looking and acting like a real human right now are cold meds and make-up. So apologies in advance for the shorter CMF this week but... at least I tried?


The First: Dear Hate by Maren Morris feat. Vince Gill

So Maren Morris. AND Vince Gill. Together. What a recipe for success. This song is so heartbreakingly good and there's really not much more I can say, just listen to it.


The Second: Doin' Fine by Lauren Alaina

If you've been reading CMF for any amount of time, you can probably guess that I'm not super into this music video because it's... a lot. BUT I like the song and that, unlike so many others, it's not about getting over her own romantic relationship but that there are other layers to it. Like an onion, as Shrek would say. Weird reference? Probably.


The Third and Final: The Long Way by Brett Eldredge

If I'm being honest, I'm really just counting down the days until I can reasonably be listening to Brett's Christmas album without getting weird looks. So I'm settling for this song in the meantime because I do love it... and because if I just play all Brett Eldredge's songs on shuffle then sometime Spotify does me a solid and sneaks in one or two holiday ones. Because it knows that's what I really want.

Hope you all cozy up this weekend and enjoy the rainy days from inside some place warm. I intend to do just that with a little hot tea, a good book and some final trip planning mixed in too. Enjoy the last few hours of this work week!

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Fridays Should Be Fun

GUESS WHAT!?!
I HAVE A WORKING CAR RADIO AGAIN!!!
For those of you have been counting in agony along with me, it's been four months since my radio decided to act like a weirdo phantom and drain my car battery like a jerk.

Hwell. My awesome friend and fixer-of-all-things, Hassan, and I worked on it this weekend (aka he worked on it and I tried to be helpful by popping the hood whenever he told me to) and long story short: it's working again!! So I now know what's been going on in the local country music scene and have been considerably less bored on my commutes. We all win.

So, shout out to Hass. He's amazing.
(He's my friend, you can't have him.)


The First: Shoot Out The Lights by Jessie James Decker

Jessie just released her newest album, Gold, and this is the first song that caught my ear (Gold itself is a little too slow for me, but still a decent title song). Contrary to these lyrics, I love spending my nights hanging out at home. I also liked doing that when I was 17. But it's nice to pretend that in another life perhaps I lived the kind of life Jessie sings about in this song.

Have you ever heard Jessie's song Clint Eastwood? Because that's a good one too. I recommend.


The Second: Barn Burner by Dan Davidson

This video is... I don't even know. BUT THE SONG IS SO FUN! Like please someone take me to a barn dance IMMEDIATELY and have the band play this. You can thank the recent resurgence of my car stereo + the fact that Dan Davidson is hard to keep track of for me being so late to the game with this one. But what an awesome welcome back to the world of FM radio waves, I tell ya. Also: Hello Kitty.

The Third and Final: Somethin' I'm Good At by Brett Eldredge

This guy. Swiftly becoming a favourite because he is clearly just having the time of his life making music and isn't that what we all want to listen to?? I know it is for me. And I also know it is for him because he STRAIGHT UP SAYS SO IN THIS SONG (see 3:03 for the evidence, right after his supa-cool rap section). Also, if that weren't enough (gosh you're hard to please), he is ripping through a painting on a scooter in the publicity photo for this song. And finally, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, he says "flip flop flippin'." Like it's just a normal thing to say. He don't care.

Hope y'all have an absolutely lovely weekend! I'm spending mine celebrating a dear friend who's about to get hitched. Scavenger hunts and plastic tiaras and champagne will all be involved (obvi). Also a shout out to my friend Kali and my brother Jay who are both celebrating birthdays this weekend. Fun!

Thanks for listening!

Karla

Country Christmas 2016

A very merry First of December to everyone!

I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't start compiling my 2016 Country Christmas round up approximately eight months ago. And since this is my blog and I have no need to lie about these things on here, I should just tell you straight up: I started compiling my 2016 Country Christmas round up approximately eight months ago.

So let's jump into this thing! Here are my picks for holiday tunes this year. Some of them are brand-spanking-new and some of them are a little more aged, but all of them are as magnificent as this time of year.

1. What Christmas Means To Me by Brett Eldredge

Jazzy and wonderful, as per usual with Brett.


2. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) by Lady Antebellum

I used to be partial to the Buble version of this song... but way to go and ruin that, Lady A.


3. Mistletoe by Lucy Hale

I'll be honest: I thought that this was going to be a Lucy Hale cover of Justin Bieber's Mistletoe and that's why I originally listened to it. For investigative reasons only, of course. Of course. As it turns out it isn't but I think it's still a catchy and fun song in its own right.


4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Dan + Shay

I really don't think it's a coincidence that croon rhymes with swoon.


5. Do You Want To Build A Snowman by Mickey Guyton

Unabashedly including this because I feel like it will score me major Aunt Points with my niece (who is five and definitely doesn't even know what a blog is but whatever). I think she would be so happy that this cover exists. If she stopped correcting me about how it's pronounced "Ahhhhnna" not "Anna" long enough to actually listen to it, that is. Five-year-olds, I tell ya.


6. Santa Came Anyway by Jojo Mason

Weird cover photo, but who am I to judge.


7. Let It Snow by Kacey Musgraves

Kacey went for a bit of an oldschool vibe with this album and it totally works.


8. Home Christmas by Blake Shelton and Michael Buble

Apparently a Michael Buble version of the original song and a Blake Shelton version of the original song just wasn't enough. They had to also change the words and make it a duet.


9. Do You Hear What I Hear? by Carrie Underwood

Nothing like this powerful voice to sing this classic carol.


10. Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Randy Travis

And finally, I thought it was only right to round out this Country Christmas post on an extra-twangy note.


And if this ten just wasn't enough, you are welcome to check out last year's round up as well.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Artist of the Week: Brett Eldredge

Good morning! Happy Monday! We're chatting about Brett Eldredge today! I like exclamation points!

Originally from Illinois (which, you might have already guessed if you knew that was the name of one of his albums), Brett is right at the brink of being big. He's had success with his last few singles and, event though he hasn't been in the business for all that long, he's managed to tour with the likes of Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, and Miranda Lambert, to name a few. On an unrelated note, I can also tell you that I assumed he was much older than he actually is. He's just 30 and I definitely would have put money down on a number a bit north of that. So good for you, Brett! You exude the look of maturity and wisdom well beyond your years.

I think the thing I like most about Brett's sound is that if I were on vacation somewhere tropical and I was walking around a resort and they were playing a little Brett Eldredge, it wouldn't sound totally out of place. They've got a bit of a tropical, beach-y vibe. And so, in turn, I always feel like I'm on a mini vacation whenever I listen to his music. Does that make sense? I hope so. I rewrote that three times in my attempt to explain it and what you just read was the best I could do.

Now, since I already subtly mentioned it earlier, I'm just gonna talk at you about his album Illinois for a hot second. It may not be his current album, but imma be bold and just say that every last one of the tracks on it are all excellent.
Like... Just. Go.
Go buy the album.


The First: Signs

This song immediately makes me happy from the moment you hear that guitar start to strum. And then the drums jump in and I'm just like, yep, this is great. I think there's some sort of unspoken rule in Nashville that every country artist needs to eventually come out with a song about their tiny hometown (it's like a right of passage or something) and Brett here is no exception. In fact, he does it better than most.


The Second: Gotta Get There

Here he is again following another trend, because for some reason girls are always running off to California in country songs. I'm not sure why. But they do it often.


The Third and Final: Wanna Be That Song

We don't slow it down too often here on CMF, but this one is too sweet to pass up. Not only is this his current single (how appropriately timed), but the music video isn't completely awful, so that's a big win in my books. It's also possible that he likes baseball, which I thoroughly respect. He mayyy be a Cubs fan. Maybe.

That's a wrap for today, folks. I hope this week is a great one for you.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Don't be shy, be yoncé

So Eric Church took a lesson from Beyoncé (or George Strait, if you're looking for a country reference) and spontaneously released a brand new album on Wednesday by casually just emailing it to members of his fan club (cleverly named the Church Choir, by the way... so good!). Just like, "Hey, how are y'all doing? Yeah, I'm good too. Really happy to have gotten that extra hour of sleep on the weekend, y'know. But oh my goodness now it's sooo dark out, SO early, amiright? Oh hey by the way I made this for you *INSERT NEW ALBUM HERE*"

Literally* that's what he said. How wonderfully outrageous is that?!

(*Okay so maybe not literally, but that was what it felt like.)


The First: Mr. Misunderstood by Eric Church

How could I not include his first single after that intro? I had no choice, really. Now, I will preface by saying that this is not my favourite track off the album. My favourite track off the album upon my first few listens is Knives of New Orleans. BUT YOU CANNOT HOLD ME TO THAT. I've barely had time to really delve into it, if you consider time spent working and sleeping since Wednesday afternoon. And I need time to settle on important life decisions such as this one. But for now, it's that one. Followed closely by Round Here Buzz, which also conveniently follows it on the track list.

Now for the song at hand. I do like Mr. Misunderstood. But I also immediately think of Kelly Clarkson and her song Miss Independent every time I hear it and that jars me a little. So now you know my hesitation.


The Second: Drunk On Your Love by Brett Eldredge

Listen. Brett's been on fire lately, in my mind. And I do mean fire in more ways than one, if you'll recall. I like this one because I think it's different and funky and good.

That's all there is to it.


The Third and Final: Arms of Fire by Brothers Osborne

This is what me giving up and giving in looks like.

I've wanted to feature this song for ages. Ages. But since they haven't released it as a single and it really doesn't look like they're ever going to (shameful), it means that they don't have a recorded version of the song on Youtube for me to share with you. And even though you all know my adoration for live music, the thing is that I don't feel this version really does the song justice. So, I IMPLORE YOU to please listen to the recorded version (it's faster and smoother) of this song on your iTunes or Spotify or whatever.

You owe it to yourself.


Please enjoy your weekend.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

I came across Halloween candy in the store yesterday.

That title doesn't really have anything to do with this week's selections, other than indicating that the wind down of summer is starting. That, and I felt it was extraordinarily important that you all know that you can get peanut butter cups en mass now.

But! While it's still summertime, let's all enjoy it with these three songs.

The First: Gentle On My Mind by The Band Perry

Song starts at 1:13 because I know that you care.
I don't know what I was doing when this song was first released, but clearly I was not paying attention (or maybe I just grew too bored of having to watch over a minute of music-less storyline in this video...). I've been a lover of TBP for many years, mostly because I think Kimberly Perry's voice is not something to be messed with and that I wish I had her self-confidence. Having said that, I really can't explain to you what in the world they are up to right now. (If anyone has any insight, please share).
Of course, I have to do my due diligence and give Glen Campbell credit for his song. And also share that I'm a big fan of this modern rendition of a classic. Big fan.
Sidenote: I'm happy with the one brother's decision to refresh his look and tie back that hair, even if it was just for this video.


The Second: Fire by Brett Eldredge

I like the gradual build up of the beat in this one. Also there's clapping, which as you'll remember last week, we've established I'm a big fan of. I don't really have that much else to say about this song other than I like the way he says "fire" ("fah-YA"). That, and having Brett Eldredge's face stare at you for three minutes and twenty-four seconds amongst CGI'd flames is kind of intense.


The Third and Final: Stop Drop + Roll by Dan and Shay

Before you even start with me, I know there should be a comma between "Stop" and "Drop" but that's not the way they do it. Don't you worry: I've already written them about their blatant avoidance of punctuation rules.
Something we can discuss, however, is how these boys really know how to sweep a girl off her feet through song. My goodness. If you require more examples, here. you. go. That should keep your ears occupied for a bit.

Hope you all have a great weekend! I'll be hanging out with my dad and a handful of my siblings.

Thanks for listening,
Karla