Miranda Lambert's 2011 CD, Four The Record. Photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

There’s always a bit of added pressure when an artist follows up a critically acclaimed record that achieved successes like the Academy of Country Music’s Album of the Year award. However, what sort of pressure exists when an artist’s last two albums won that illustrious prize, as Miranda Lambert’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (ACM Album of the Year Winner 2008) and Revolution (Winner 2010) both did?

Working again with Producer Frank Liddell, and welcoming Chuck Ainlay and Glenn Worf into the studio, award-winning singer/songwriter Miranda delivers controlled chaos on her new album Four the Record. The project, due in stores next week, toes the line between traditional country and Americana with loose arrangements and well-placed modern rock distortion.

Songs like “Mama’s Broken Heart,” with creative percussion and vintage guitar sounds, builds through the verse before becoming unhinged in the chorus. Can’t get revenge and keep a spotless reputation, Miranda sings with calculated anger about the song’s pregnant teenage subject being abandoned by her boyfriend. On “Fastest Girl In Town,” Miranda’s rebellious nature is front and center. You got the bullets, I got the gun/ I got a hankerin’ for getting into something, she sings seductively.

With each album, Miranda continues to evolve her sound, and Four The Record is no exception. Tracks like “Fine Tune” illustrate that the 27-year old Texan is more than willing to take risks. Miranda uses a sexy R&B groove, fuzzy slide guitar and distorted vocals to push through the metaphor of getting a love tune-up. She sings of her engine of a heart that would not start before a big hook noting symptoms like, my pulse was nearly gone/ I was almost in need of a defibrillator. Continue Reading

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Taylor Swift wins Entertainer of the Year at “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards,” on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photographer: John Russell / CMA

This is Taylor Swift‘s world and we’re all just living in it. Tonight at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards, Taylor took home awards for Video of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year AND Entertainer of the Year.

Backstage in the press room, Taylor told the media how she was going to celebrate.

“Tonight I’m just gonna dance around and freak out,” she said, “because I never imagined that the unattainable thing I always held in my imagination would happen to me at 19. I couldn’t be more grateful but I love a challenge, and right now the challenge is to find that next challenge.”

Also backstage, show co-host — and Male Vocalist of the Year winner – Brad Paisley commented on Taylor’s win. Continue Reading

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