In case you haven’t heard, Jessica Simpson has a country album due out in September. Yes, you read that right.

As an admitted fan of country music, I have mixed feelings about the move. Simpson doesn’t have the best track record as an artist, so I haven’t been too convinced that a change in genre will do her much good. But, the release of her first country single is changing lots of minds.

I’m still not entirely sure what to think, but I do have to admit that “Come on Over” is a bit catchy. (You can hear it on Simpson’s MySpace page.) Her voice is still too airy for my taste, but since I have already been caught singing along to the song, I can’t hate on it too much. It’s still too early to tell whether Simpson’s genre-jumping will pay off or not, but let’s look at some others who have successfully made the leap. … continue reading

With apologies to Ace and Marcia Brady Maureen McCormick, I'm going to be honest: In general, I can't stand popular country music. It comes from growing up in a farming community, mixed with memories of farm boys driving super-sized trucks up and down the parking lots for fun. (I do like Bonnie Raitt, who is generally considered a country singer, for her music and politics. But even that was spoiled, back when she showed up at a Lilith Fair and brought her fans. When I say two worlds collided, that's literally; my then girlfriend and I almost got jumped outside the port-a-janes. Yeah, ugly.)

All of that considered, I really think I'll be buying a country CD at some point this year. That's because Jewel — yes, that Jewel — has made a country album called Perfectly Clear, due out in June.

She's already charting the country markets. Her nicely titled new single called “Stronger Woman” scored the Hot Shot Debut at No. 50 on Hot Country Songs this week. You can hear it on her MySpace page. … continue reading