Open Mic with Mike Thomas: Top 10 Underrated Artists of the 2000’s
It’s Thursday and that means it’s time for another “Open Mic with Mike Thomas.” This week, Mike discusses who he thinks are the most underrated artists in country music…
A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in my office here at the radio station talking with CountryMusicIsLove about what else? Country music! When the word “underrated” came out when a particular artist was mentioned, I said “He’s fourth on my list of the most underrated artists of this decade.” CMIL challenged me to compile my definitive list of ten underrated artists of the 2000’s. Here are my criteria: airplay, fan review, exposure, and industry recognition.
#9… David Nail – Does anyone remember David being one of the “new faces” of country music in 2002? Me neither. And that’s been David’s problem: trying to find a place in an over-crowded pool of young male talent. Watching David’s career the last few years has been like watching the sun try to break through the clouds after the rain. He’s had three releases that have all impacted the charts, one of those songs was co-written by Kenny Chesney, he’s opened for Jason Aldean, and yet this year he’s only received a GRAMMY award nomination for his song “Turning Home.” In a previous column (Why I Can’t Love Today’s Country Music), I sited David as an example of what’s wrong with Music Row right now: record companies lack the patience to develop and market talent. David Nail is a fan favorite in that, as fans, we won’t allow his career to go un-noticed as we promote his music.
#8… Craig Morgan – Almost nine years ago, I visited with Craig on his tour bus before he stepped out on the stage at a county fair. His song “Almost Home” had just broken through the Top 10 at radio, impressive considering that he did it as an independent label artist. In my book, next to Toby Keith, Craig is the most successful small label artist of the decade – yet none of his early success translated to award nominations, another problem for indie label artists.
#7… Billy Currington – I remember being extremely jealous of Billy after his duet performance with Shania Twain on “Party for Two.” Watching Billy swing next to her on the CMA Awards show that year is a highlight I’ll never forget. I’ve always felt that the problem facing Billy is that there already is a curly-haired, good looking hunk in country music: Dierks Bentley. Anyone who has gotten a chance to speak with Billy will tell you that he’s more than a sex symbol, there’s an artist mixed with one hell of a performer in that guy. I always wonder why Billy’s name isn’t mentioned in the conversations about up-and-coming artists. Billy has consistently delivered a solid hit single every year, lately he’s been getting nominations for song or video of the year, but there’s much more to this guy than just another pretty face.
#6… Gary Allan – Technically Gary isn’t a 2000’s artist; he’s a wildcard from the late 90s. When I pushed play on his first single, “Her Man,” in 1996, I knew country music had something special. His success started after the mid-90s boom at a time when the format was looking for artists with staying power on the charts. You can’t deny the fact that Gary’s voice, seasoned in smoky honky-tonks since the age of fifteen, captures your attention. The one song that never got airplay but defines Gary’s career, in my opinion, is “What Would Willie Do?” While part tribute, it’s also part history lesson on the life of Willie Nelson,whose contributions to ountry music, like Gary’s, were often overshadowed by more mainstream artists during his time.
#5… Justin Moore – You’d think that any artist with THREE top ten hits in two years would be an instant winner of the top awards in country music. Meet Justin Moore. Looking at the CMA “New Artist” category, I was shocked that Justin’s name wasn’t included in the mix with Chris Young, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan. How does this happen? Vocally, Justin Moore reminds me a lot of Tracy Lawrence. It took two top-albums for a young Tracy Lawrence to win the Top New Male Vocalist award on the ACMs. Hopefully history will repeat itself and 2011 will be Justin’s coming out party.
#4… Eric Church – There are certain artists who you see perform early in their career and you wonder ‘will this guy make it?’ I was thinking that while Eric was doing a sound check at the world famous Bottle ‘N Cork in Dewey Beach, Delaware. His big hit at the time was “Two Pink Lines” and I really liked the gritty, raw sound his music had. Fast forward a few years and I’m watching him open for Toby Keith last week on the “Locked and Loaded” tour. While Eric was getting airplay before Luke Bryan and Chris Young, he’s unfortunately been grouped in the “New Artist” category for far too long. What Eric needs at this point in his career is one of two things: 1) a big moment (like Kenny Chesney’s infamous Buffalo-horse-stealing-incident with Tim McGraw) or 2) a smash hit (like Tim’s “Something Like That”) that propels him from being a “C” level act to a certified “B” level artist.
#3… Rodney Atkins – On paper, Rodney has laid out his career perfectly. A quiet first album release that had a top five hit. A few years later he’s back with a pair of monster hits, “If You’re Going Through Hell” and “Watching You,” that propel him from the new artist category to the “B” level act. The problem for Rodney now is that he’s hanging out in the shadows of the “A” level artists. He should be competing with Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, and Keith Urban for Male Vocalist of the Year this year instead of being conspicuously left out of the contest. The funny thing about history is that it tends to repeat itself. Early in Tim McGraw’s career he was fortunate to be a part of the George Strait Country Music Festival which gave young acts the chance to tour on a BIG ticket. Rodney’s tour with Darius Rucker is great for fans, but it isn’t close to giving that much needed exposure that a mega-tour, like the Strait Festival, would provide.
#2… Dierks Bentley – It’s hard to believe that Dierks released his first album in 2003 and is now up to SEVEN albums. He’s toured with Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney, headlined his own tour, and for a couple years, was a perennial nominee in the Male Vocalist category. To be this high on my list there has to be a reason for using the term “underrated” and here’s how it applies to Dierks: two platinum albums, a greatest hits package, and a bluegrass project all before the age of 35 – yet, Dierks will be sitting in the crowd at the CMA’s this November watching Kenny, Brad, Keith, Blake Shelton, or Jason Aldean take home the trophies. Here’s a guy who was so hot at country radio that women debated if he was better with the long, curly hair or the buzz cut when he shaved his head for his “Long Trip Alone” video. This guy has a deep songwriting range, he’s an amazingly talented musician, and really is one of the coolest guys to hang out with backstage. I think his bluegrass project is what caused him to be out of the CMA conversation this fall and I look for Dierks to be back in the game this spring.
#1… Jason Aldean – The first time I met Jason I didn’t know what to think of him. Here’s this country singer wearing boots, Wranglers, a cowboy hat, and an earring in each ear. Although his music is just as loud as his get-up, when you sit down and talk to him, you’ll be surprised to learn how country this guy is. Personally, I appreciate that he’s incorporated the musical influences from his youth – classic country, rap, and rock – into his own sound. And so have his fans. Where Craig Morgan blazed the path of an indie label artist to get played on the radio, Jason has picked up the flag and ran with it. He’s quickly grown from a new artist to one of the shining new stars of our format. His resume backs it up: Platinum album, #1 hit songs, he’s even starting to sell out big events as a headliner. I will be completely disappointed with the CMA voters this fall if Jason doesn’t win the male vocalist award on November 9th.
We want to hear from YOU… do you agree with Mike’s picks? Who do you think are the most underrated artists of the last decade?
Mike Thomas is a country radio personality and has been entertaining listeners since his sophomore year of high school when his Mom had to drop him off at the radio station. Now he’s a successful morning show host and has met many of country’s biggest stars during his almost twenty years of broadcasting. He lives in upstate New York, enjoys football more than you can possibly imagine, and is currently rolling a 5-for-5 record against his wife for picking great movies to watch on the weekend.
Be sure to check back to CountryMusicIsLove each week for a new “Open Mic with Mike Thomas” column!
The opinions expressed are those of the author only. They do not necessarily represent the views of CountryMusicIsLove.
