And all of a sudden it's 2018

Well hello again!

Apologies on going a little AWOL... didn't quite plan for that to happen. And I certainly didn't plan to skip out on a Country Christmas 2017 playlist but sometimes life gets in the way, ya know? But! I have three peices of good news:
Good thing #1: With a new year comes new motivations.
Good thing #2: A delightful byproduct of my radio silence is that I now have a 👏  very👏  long👏  list of new country music that I'm so excited to share with all of you!
Good thing #3: I put a package of Reese's cups in the freezer two weeks ago, forgot about them, and just rediscovered them so we're all winning right now.

Anywho, I think I've made you wait long enough, so I'll just get to it now.


The First: Makin' Me Say by Brett Young

Here's the thing: I'm not ashamed. You may be bored of him by now, but I'm certainly not. I don't think I'll ever be bored of him. Not even after I meet him at a show and he instantly falls in love with me and we've been married for sixty years (daily serenades, of course), raised our children, travelled the world and retired in Stars Hollow. I still won't be bored. I just don't think it's going to happen.
~Also there's clapping in this song so I couldn't not share it.~


The Second: Holier Than Thou by Jillian Jacqueline

I'm honestly still on the fence about whether she's actually a country artist but there are definitely a few songs where Jillian's twang is on. point. The sass of this song is so subtle you don't notice until you actually pay attention to the lyrics and then it will just consumes you. I'm a fan. If you're looking for a more toned down and sweet take on Jillian then I would suggest you check out Sugar and Salt. Pun intended.


The Third and Final: Your Love Is The Drug by The Road Hammers

Not to be confused with another favourite of mine, Your Love Is My Drug by the wonderful unicorn also known as Ke$ha.
I'm really feeling the harmonies in this one. They remind me of old stuff from Alabama, which earns them gold stars in my book. I was initially going to apologize for the beginning of this music video. But then I watched the rest of it and realized there's legitimately just too much to apologize for. It's a lot. I'm sorry doesn't even cover it.
But the harmonies are nice, I swear.

Place your bets on whether there will be a CMF next week. Honestly, it's anyone's guess at this point.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Breaking My Own Rules

Look! I did it! We did it! A CMF is actually happening this week and we've all made it to Friday. Congratulations to all of us.

But mostly congratulations to me.


The First: For The First Time by Darius Rucker

YASSS Hootie! It's live. It's on top of a tower. It's so good you'll start shoulder dancing and head bobbing and foot stomping by the one minute mark at the latest. This is a great end of summer Friday night dancing barefoot in your living room while wearing workout clothes even though you already know you're defs not going to be working out that day (ha!) because you've already cracked open a bottle of wine kind of song. You know? I know you know. 


The Second: Hallelujah covered by Brett Young

Ugh. You know. I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's really unfair that this guy has all that talent and also has that face. This happens to be one of my favourite songs to sing and my friends and I love it so much that we refer to it as one of our "standards" during our Sunday night jam sessions. I like Brett's slow and steady take on it but unfortunately he does come in second place to my all-time favourite cover of this song. Not even Brett Young can quite measure up to the experience that is J Star Valentine.


The Third and Final: Sixteen by Thomas Rhett

So, shout out to Thomas Rhett because his new album is good. Like, really, really good. I was this close to not featuring this song today because he already got his fill of the spotlight last Friday but... I just had this song stuck in my head all day and so I'm breaking my own rules and sharing him twice in a row (which never happens unless your name is Zac Brown SO YOU BETTER BE PAYING ATTENTION, THOMAS).


So what are you up to this weekend? Soaking in the last few beach days of summer? Going on an adventure? Hanging out with friends? Tell me all about it! I need to live vicariously through all of you instead of working which is what I'll be up to. But then I think I'm going to go hang out by a pool afterwards so that's something.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Kittens and Fluoride

With a day off today and a holiday Monday for BC Family Day, I've got an extra-long weekend that I'm really looking forward to! The activity docket highlights include: a kitten cuddle because my brother and his partner just adopted two tiny and adorable babies (eek!!!), a much needed catch-up with an out-of-town friend over brunch, a dentist appointment (does anyone else actually really like going to the dentist? Is it just me??) and then going for hot chocolate with my high school drama teacher (aka my high school hero). I'm hopeful I can time it so that I've got that fancypants hocho in my hands right when the fluoride wears off.

Please don't tell my dentist.

The First: Nothing At All by Baylor Wilson

Baylor has a single out right now called Turn Around and that song is great and all, but I decided to choose this one instead because the melody is just so delightfully different and uplifting. And what else are we all looking for on a Friday other than delightfully different and uplifting music? I mean, probably a glass of wine and and a vat of popcorn, obviously. But I mean other than the necessities, you know?


The Second: Memories Are Made Of by Luke Combs

A simple, sweet, and twangy walk down someone else's memory lane. The recorded version doesn't seem to be available on the Youtube, but this acoustic version will certainly do in the meantime. If you've now discovered you're a fan of Luke Combs (as I can only assume you must be after listening to this one), might I also suggest Out There which he duets with Jacob Bryant, for your extended listening pleasure?


The Third and Final: Kiss By Kiss by Brett Young

In case anyone was wondering, I'm still very much in love with this very talented gem. Because how could anyone not be. Also Brett maybe takes this song on a little Bruno Mars segue that I'm not entirely opposed to (for swooning-related reasons), so there's that too. Anyways, I thought this was a cute February 14th-appropriate song.

Wishing you all a happy Family Day and a very sweet Valentine's, whatever you're up to!

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Back To School

I assume you probably haven't had enough of the "Back To School" marketing stampede yet since they only started it in mid-June this year, so I figured I'd get my own back to school cool shout out in before it's too late. Or maybe I just couldn't think of a title so this is what you get instead. We'll never know, will we?

(Yeah, no... I know you know.)

The First: Red Dress by Jojo Mason

It. Took. Four. MONTHS. For this song to be released on Youtube. Jojo! What were you doing for FOUR months that you couldn't throw even a lyric video online for us?? I swear I think I searched this song every week in the hopes that that would be the week that I could share it with all of you. But every week my hopes were dashed to pieces and I was forced to make a different selection.

I probably would have given up by now if I hadn't heard on the radio a few days ago that the music video was finally (finally!) uploaded. Thank. Goodness.


The Second: In Case You Didn't Know by Brett Young

Can't stop, won't stop featuring this man. Even if the live version begins with the disconcerting sound of the Skype app opening up when you least expect it. But I just think this is the sweetest song, so I'll put up with the bloooop sound anyway.

Did you know that Brett was on track to be a professional baseball player but after suffering an injury in college took the music route instead. Can you imagine?? "Well, I guess I can't make millions playing the sport I love and am really, really good at so maybe I'll just do it by picking up this guitar thing instead?" Somebody was clearly given a double dose of talent.


The Third and Final: Beer Weather by Cold Creek County

Okay hear me out. And by "hear me out" I really mean hear this song out. Because titles aside, it's catchy and almost fools you into thinking that fall isn't just around the corner. Speaking of autumn, has anyone seen large halloween packs of Reese Peanut Butter Cups yet? I've only come across packs of 12, which is basically like one movie's worth and obviously won't do. If you find some, please advise. This is important (to my happiness).


And in case you weren't already in a great mood because it's Friday, here you go. Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Pre-Long Weekend Weekend

Good morning!

For those of you who only visit this little corner of the internet on Fridays, you may have missed a new feature here on CMF - Artist of the Week! You see, I find myself falling down the rabbit hole of a single artist way too often when picking out selections each week and it takes everything in me to not include more than the reasonable selection of three songs. To give you a mental image, it's basically me just yelling at my computer, "Why can't I just feature thirty Chris Young songs?!!" every Thursday night. My neighbours are probably less than pleased.

So. To avoid you actually getting a post with thirty Chris Young songs in it (even though we all know that would be amazing), I've created this new series. Each Monday we'll take a bit of a deeper dive into a single artist. You can get a taste of Artist of the Week by reading this week's post on Miranda Lambert and tell me what you think.

Now onto the reason you're all here...

The First: Every Little Thing by Russell Dickerson

LITERALLY GOOD LUCK TRYING TO GET THIS ONE OUT OF YOUR HEAD AND OFF REPEAT. It's not possible. It. Is. Not. Believe me, I've been trying for a month now. In fact, at this point I really don't know whether to say, "you're welcome" or, "geez, I'm so sorry."
(I kid. It's obviously the former. #noregrets.)


The Second: Lipstick by Runaway June

If you're not into twang... you may wish to skip this one. I find the vocals are very Dixie Chicks-esque, which is probably why I love it. Almost as much as I love the twins dancing at 2:00. They're basically the real life version of the emoji twins.


The Third and Final: Left Side Of Leavin' by Brett Young

First off, let's all revisit this cutie's CMF debut and the song that I still have not grown tired of. It's so sweet and catchy! The only reason it's no longer on repeat is because selection numero uno by Russell up there has taken over, at least temporarily. What I appreciate here is that Brett has decided that this breakup song doesn't have to be sad and slow. It can be fun and make you wanna sing along and groove a little. Because if we have to listen to breakup songs, why not have fun with them... right? PS He's working on his first album and I'm excited!

Have a happy pre-long weekend, weekend! It's real important that you rest up in order to truly make the most out of August Long. I'm spending mine hanging out with friends in the sunshine, watching some fireworks, and accompanying a very special friend wedding dress shopping (likely followed by Olive Garden because why the heck not?)

Thanks for listening!
Karla

This Is The End.

Dear wonderful humans who take the time to read this each week: I have some potentially sad news.

I've enjoyed several years of listening to/hunting down fun country music and gathering it all together in a neat little package for each of you to enjoy as you kick off your weekends. But like all good things, CMF is coming to an end.*

I hope you enjoy this week's selections as it will likely be the last of 'em. :'[


The First: Sleep Without You by Brett Young

Ummm, but seriously... is he just a genetically modified Brett Eldridge/Chris Young hybrid? With maybe a little bit of rogue Hunter Hayes mixed in during the chorus? Because between that voice and his name, I really think he just might be. And if so, I would just like to say, "Well done, Science. Well. Done."


The Second: It Don't Hurt Like It Used To by Billy Currington

Am I currently going through a break-up? Defs not. Am I super into this song anyways? Defs yes. I blame that catchy chorus and all the times he intermittently yells "hey!" throughout the lyrics. It makes it extra fun to sing along to. And you know me and my love for sing-alongs.

Just because we can, let's take a moment to remember a young Billy Currington and his street runway strutting ways.


The Third and Final: American Country Love Song by Jake Owen

Right off the bat I'll tell you that I don't love the talking/rapping(?) start to these verses, but I still keep hitting repeat on this one. More than anything I think it's because this song makes me think of summer nights and, after the outrageous weather we've been spoiled with this past week, I can't explain to you just. how. EXCITED!!! I am for this summer. Woop woop! Hope this song has you daydreaming of warm summer nights too.


*APRIL FOOLS! CMF is probably never ending. At least not for a long while. Definitely not today.
Apologies to those of you who were maybe actually excited about this news? Awkward.

Have a great weekend - please get out and enjoy what's left of this sunshine!

Thanks for listening!
Karla