Kellie Pickler has arrived as an artist. Indebted perhaps to a long run on American Idol, her first two albums had decidedly pop leanings in keeping with her introduction to a national audience via America’s most popular TV program. Not that she wasn’t successful in doing so. A million and a half albums and 3 million tracks later, (including the platinum selling Taylor Swift co-authored ditty, “Best Days of Your Life”), Kellie was a regular on the talk show circuit and main support for the biggest arena acts in Country music. Now it’s time to blaze a new path. “When I auditioned for American Idol I was not an artist,” the season five alum admits. “So from Idol to the first record to this record, I really tried to find myself because there’s a difference between a singer and an artist.

The Music Unlimited service sat down with Kellie Pickler at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to talk about, 100 Proof, her most rewarding and sure to be most critically received new record. The album harkens back to Country music’s golden era without sounding dusty or losing any modern production value. In other words, she’s not making music for Tammy Wynette fans as much as she wants her fans to know about Tammy Wynette. Kellie discusses some of her favorite songs on the record, including, “Tough,” “The Letter (to Daddy)” and “Mother’s Day.”

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Tagged: CES 2012, kellie pickler

Happy Tuesday! After a few weeks of recuperation from the holidays, the music industry is up and at’em with a slew of great new releases. Take a deeper dive into a few of them and let us know what you’re excited to hear this week.

Featured New Releases:

Kellie Pickler – 100 Proof

In letting cameras into her life during the 5th season of American Idol, Kellie Pickler gave access to her life which immediately resonated with viewers during her time on the show. Pickler has continued to be candid and open, with the biggest reflection shown in her music. On her third album, she lets loose through some get-out-of-your-seat country (like “Unlock that Honky Tonk”) alongside powerful ballads (like “Mother’s Day”) Pickler’s voice has been heard through a few different mediums in the past, and in 100 Proof, you get to hear even more of her soul.
If You Like: Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert
Recommended Track: “Tough”

Nada Surf – The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy

Where 2008’s Lucky eased you into the steadily building, “See These Bones,” Nada Surf’s latest gives no such buffer. It launches you head-first into “Clear Eye Clouded Mind,” a power-chord laced triumph. While some of their earlier work features several brooding tracks, this one keeps the light, fast pace of “Clear Eye,” throughout the 10-tracks. This includes the arc of “The Moon is Calling,” which is as signature a Nada Surf sound as any of their last five albums. Over 15 years after being propelled on the map with, “Popular,” this album leaves them continuing on stronger than ever.
If You Like: Modest Mouse, Rogue Wave, Death Cab for Cutie
Recommended Track: “The Moon is Calling”

Lamb of God – Resolution

Lamb of God’s reign in metal is undisputed after they soared to the #2 spot on the Billboard album charts with their last record, Wrath, in 2009. They even went so far as to release a coffin-shaped guitar case containing their expansive discography as part of a super-deluxe fan package for their 2010 Hourglass anthology. This band has proven they can do whatever they want, yet still follow their distinctive style and lyrical themes fans have come to know from their catalog. Metal fans have spoken, and there is no stopping Lamb of God from powering through this, their seventh studio album.
If You Like: Megadeth, Opeth, Pantera
Recommended Track: “Ghost Walking”

Also Available This Week (1/24/12):

Chairlift – Something
Rodrigo y Gabriela – Area 52
John K. Samson – Provincial
Seal – Soul 2
Foxy Shazam – The Church of Rock and Roll
Lacuna Coil – Dark Adrenaline
Motörhead – The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 1 | Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else
Graffiti6 – Colours
Laura Gibson – La Grande
Craig Finn – Clear Heart Full Eyes
Rihanna – You Da One (Remixes)
Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory

Coming Up Next Week (1/31/12):

M.I.A – “Bad Girls” (single)
Lana Del Rey – Born To Die
Scorpions – Comeblack
Justice – On’n'On EP
Bleeding Through – The Great Fire
Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert – America the Beautiful (single)
Asteroid Galaxy Tour – Out of Frequency
Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
Imperial Teen – Feel the Sound
Hit the Lights – Invicta
Fred Hammond – God, Love and Romance
The Jealous Sound – Gentle Reminder
The Big Sleep – Nature Experiments

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Tagged: kellie pickler, lamb of god, nada surf