"Publisher's Corner"

by Geoff Wilbur
Sponsored In Part By

John Serrie • Century Season: The Space Music of John Serrie

Miramar Recordings

This stuff is so relaxing! John Serrie’s double-CD album transports you to outer space, just as the title suggests... floating, soaring, resting, dreaming... This is a relaxing trip -- great music to accompany almost any activity.

Daniel Ray Edwards • I Like It That Way

c/o Midnight Special Productions, P.O. Box 916, Hendersonville, TN 37077

Upbeat, uptempo, hopeful new country music from a full, clean, fun vocalist. Disc-opener "'Til I Met You" is a stellar track, while "Just For One Night" is a real tearjerker. And Daniel does a fun cover of "Brown Eyed Girl." The song that shows off his best hit potential? It’s the ballad "I’ll Always Remember You."

The Country Express Rollin’ Your Way

Stardust Records Int'l, 341 Billy Goat Hill Rd., Winchester, TN 37398

Rooster Quantrell opens this disc with "Life’s Little Ups and Downs," showcasing his booming country voice in a twangy (with a hint of new country) setting. Pap and the Sidemen’s rollickin’ "Raisin’ the Dickens" certainly qualifies as a ditty, as sure as Kim Anthony croons the following track, "The Bottle." Frank Mabry’s "Looks Like Your Memory’s Here to Stay" returns the tempo to "up," as it’s a fast-paced, fun dancefloor filler. Another uptempo number follows, with Mark Huhta’s voice energetically powering "If I Only Had Her." Michael Apidgian follows with a heart-wrenching rendition of "Danny’s Song." Dick Shuey and the Cowboy Rhythm Band follow with a fun old-fashioned country romp, "A Good Old Country Song." Clint Miller’s "I’ll Fly Away" continues the pickin’ ‘n grinnin’ fun, while his "In the Garden" is a slower track that showcases Clint’s crooning. Erin Hay’s "Bad Luck" is a return to fun AM radio, pop-influenced country. J.L. Caldwell puts heart and soul into the reminiscent "Between a Rock & a Heartache." Chance Martin’s booming, Johnny Cash-esque vocals drive "We’re All Here," a catchy track that’ll soon be the theme song of many a funny farm. Tracey K. Houston’s voice is strong as she delivers a heart-torn reality to "The Girl in Oklahoma" that’ll choke you up at least a couple times during this song. Brant Miller’s stylistic vocals add a modern rock vocal edge to "Big Black Hole" to great effect. Jerri Arnold’s "Married Bachelor" lends an old-fashioned flavor to what could just as easily be a new country hit. B.J. Young delivers "Most Every Night" with her full, strong, powerful voice. Danny Wear blends his old-style mid-range voice with deep vocals for emphasis on the mid-tempo, enjoyable, old-school ditty "Treat My Heart." Dave Young’s "Fifty Miles to Macon" comes across as perhaps a seventies pop-country number that’d be a lounge favorite -- very strong song. Elliott Pacetti’s "Wake Up Sleeping Beauty" is a slow-paced, twangin’ country ballad. Mark Montanari’s "Get Into Country" is a raw, hipster rock influenced tune. Dodie Frost delivers "Country Thru & Thru" with a Gospel feel, blending musical power with spoken-word delivery, suggesting that country music and country life is something of a religious experience. The Whites close the CD with the energetic, old-style country picker ‘n fiddler "To See My Grandma."

Michael Martin • Tennessee Crazy

Copperhead Records, c/o Midnight Special Productions, P.O. Box 916, Hendersonville, TN 37077

Michael mixes a modern country flavor with traditional twanging, booming vocals and good pickin’ and steel guitar to give the music a timeless sound. Disc-opener "Money Hungry Woman" will put a smile on your face. My other favorite track is the energetic title track, "Tennessee Crazy." Michael also shows he can croon with the best of ‘em on "If Guitars Were Guns."

Bunnie Mills • Who Is Our President?

Greenback Records, P.O. Box 8074, Bossier City, LA 71113

Talk about being timely! Bunnie and gang got this one out quickly enough to get it played on Fox News while the election was still in doubt. Unfortunately, we missed getting the review into the Winter issue (which itself came out after the election was decided), but it’s still a fun, lightly instrumented, old-fashioned country song featuring Bunnie’s emotive, traditional vocals.

Karen Nash • Gas, Food & Lodging

Highway Records, 5850 W. 3rd St., Suite 298, LA, CA 90036

You can hear "crossover hit" when you listen to Karen’s voice, a folky country mix that’s pleasant and emotional, with variety from song to song -- even from phrase to phrase -- that gives her music staying power. Country, AC, and pop radio should all take notice. "I Wish He Didn’t Love Me" is poignant and would be a guaranteed top ten hit with the right backing. In a good piece of song placement, "Gas, Food and Lodging" follows with its vibrant energy to pick the listener back up a bit. Among other tracks, you’ll lose a bit of your soul listening to "Gone," and "Leaving Nashville" will leave you with a lump in your throat. Gas, Food & Lodging is, indeed, the latest from an as-yet undiscovered country gem.