NutsAboutCountry.com
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Cheryl Harvey-Hill
    • Alan Jackson - Good TIme
    • Alan Jackson - 30 Miles West
    • Andy Griggs - This I Gotta See
    • Ashla Taylor
    • A Night On the town in Nashville
    • Billy Currington -Self Titled
    • Billy Currington - Enjoy Yourself
    • Billy Currington -Little Bit Of Everything
    • Blake Shelton - Cheers It's Christmas
    • Blake Shelton - Concert Review
    • Charlie Daniels Band - Essential Super Hits
    • Blue County - Self-titled Debut Album
    • Bryan White - Shine
    • Buddy Jewell - Buddy Jewell
    • Carl Ray - Play That Country Music Black Boy
    • Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Dress Rehearsal
    • Charlie Daniels - Confederate Railroad - LoCash Cowboys - In Concert in Tampa, FL
    • Charlie Daniels - Preachin Prayin Singin
    • Carrie Underwood - Play On
    • Chris Cagle - My Life’s Been a Country Song
    • Chris Stapleton - Traveller
    • Chris Young - I Wish I Was Lyin
    • Chris Young - Plant City Florida Strawberry Festival
    • Chris Young - A Little At A Time (debut album)
    • Chuck Wicks - Starting Now
    • Clay Walker - Chords of Hope 2014
    • Clay Walker - A Few Questions
    • Cody McCarver - Benefit Concert Troop Aid
    • Colt Ford - Declaration of Independence
    • Colt Ford - Lakeland
    • Cory Keefe-I'll keep it Country
    • Craig Campbell - self titled debut album
    • Craig Morgan - Bradenton, Florida
    • Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Colt Ford, Sunny Sweeney
    • Craig Morgan and Steve Azar Perform In Rolling Meadows, Illinois
    • Craig Campbell - Lakeland Florida
    • Crystal Gayle - All My Tomorrows
    • David Kersh Interview – January 2005
    • David Lee Murphy - Tryin' To Get There
    • Don Williams - Silver Turns To Gold
    • Dierks Bentley - Feel That Fire
    • Don Williams - And So It Goes
    • Easton Corbin - Knoxville, TN Concert Review
    • Easton Corbin - Dallas Texas
    • Eric Church - Sinners Like Me
    • Faith Hill - Fireflies
    • Freddy Fender - Las Cruces NM 2005
    • Freddy Fender: La Musica De Baldemar Huerta
    • Gary Allan - Tough All Over
    • Gene Watson - My Heroes HAve Always Been Country
    • Gene Watson - Sings
    • George Jones - My Very Special Guests (Legacy Edition)
    • George Strait - 50 Number One Hits
    • George Strait - Somewhere Down In Texas
    • George Strait, Reba & LeeAnn Womack
    • George Strait - Troubadour
    • Glen Campbell
    • Gretchen Wilson - Here For The Party
    • Gretchen Wilson - Orlando Florida
    • Hank Williams Jr. - Almeria Club
    • Hank Williams Jr. - I'm One Of You
    • Hank Williams III - Long Gone Daddy
    • Hank III - Rebel Within
    • Heidi Newfield-What Am I Waiting For
    • KWNR 1st Annual Guitar Pull - Las Vegas, NV
    • Jake Penrod - Closer To Me
    • James Otto - Days Of Our Lives
    • Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song
    • Jamie O'Neal - Shiver
    • Jewel - Perfectly Clear
    • Jimmy Buffett - License To Chill
    • Jo Dee Messina - Me
    • Joe Diffie - Tougher Than Nails
    • Joe Nichols - Fan Party
    • Joe Nichols - It's All Good
    • Joe Nichols in Las Vegas, NV 2002
    • Joe Nichols - Crickets
    • Joe Nichols - Man With A Memory
    • Joe Nichols - Music Fest Fan Party
    • Joe Nichols - Old Things New
    • Joe Nichols - Real Things
    • Joe Nichols - Revelation
    • Joey & Rory - Album Number Two
    • Joey & Rory - His & Hers
    • john Arthur martinez - San Antonio Woman
    • John Arthur Martinez - You Play My Heart
    • John Michael Montgomery - Letters From Home
    • John Fogerty - Wrote A Song For Everyone
    • Josh Turner - Haywire
    • Josh Turner - Long Black Train
    • Josh Turner - Your Man
    • Juni Fisher - Let 'er Go, Let 'er Buck, Let 'er Fly
    • Keith Urban - Get Closer
    • Keith Urban In The Ranch - Re-release
    • Keith Walker - Space Between
    • Keith Walker - Miles From You
    • Kellie Pickler - Self-titled CD
    • Kelly Lang - Obsession
    • Kelly Lang - 11:11
    • Kelly Lang - the back story
    • Kelly Lang - Jagged Edges
    • Kelly Lang - It's About Time
    • Kelly Lang and TG Sheppard - Iconic Duets
    • Kenny Chesney - Be As You Are
    • Kenny Chesney - Lucky Old Sun
    • Kenny Chesney - No Shoes Nation - Tampa Florida
    • Kenny Chesney - The Road And The Radio
    • Kenny Chesney - When The Sun Goes Down
    • Kix Brooks - Cookin' It With Kix
    • Kix Brooks - New to This Town
    • Lacs - Lakeland Florida
    • Lady Antebellum - Strawberry Festival
    • LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire
    • LeAnn Rimes - Greatest Hits
    • LeAnn Rimes - Editorial
    • LeAnn Rimes - This Woman
    • Lee Ann Womack - Call Me Crazy
    • LeAnn Womack - There's More Where That Came From
    • LeeAnn Womack - Greatest Hits
    • Lindy Gravelle - Music And Me
    • Lee Brice - Jerrod Niemann - Tyler Farr
    • LoCash Cowboys - Tallahassee Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys Lakeland Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys - You Gonna Fly
    • LoCash Cowboys - Bradenton Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys - Knoxville Tennessee
    • Lonestar - Let's Be Us Again
    • Lorrie Morgan - A Moment In Time
    • Lorrie Morgan - Show Me How
    • Luke Bryan - Strawberry Festival
    • Lyon County - Songs from Lyon County
    • Maggie Rose - Lakeland Florida
    • Maggie Rose - I Ain't Your Mama
    • Maggie Rose - Cut To Impress
    • Marlee Scott - Beautiful Maybe
    • Mark Chesnutt - Savin' The Honky Tonk
    • Mark Wills - And The Crowd Goes Wild
    • Mark Wills - Familiar Stranger
    • Martina McBride-Live
    • Martina McBride - Eleven
    • Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives - Country Music
    • McClymonts - Wrapped Up Good
    • Merle Haggard Tribute
    • Merle Haggard and George Jones
    • Merle Haggard-Working Man's Journey
    • Miranda Lambert - Kerosene
    • Miranda Lambert - Revolution
    • Montgomery Gentry - Rebels On The Run
    • Neil McCoy - XII
    • Neil McCoy w/ Les Brown and Band
    • NewTown - Harlan Road
    • Patsy Cline - Remembering Patsy Cline
    • Patty Loveless-Sleepless
    • Randy Houser - They Call Me Cadillac
    • Ray Price - Editorial
    • Restless Heart - Still Restless
    • Rick Trevino - In My Dreams
    • Rodney Atkins - Honesty
    • Rodney Atkins - Plant City FL.
    • Rodney Atkins - It's America
    • Rodney Atkins - Self Titled Album
    • Ron Williams - Natural Thing
    • Ron Williams - Foolproof
    • Sara Evans- Sea World Orlando
    • Sara Evans - Stronger
    • Shelby Lee Lowe - Self Titled Album
    • Southern Halo - Self Titled Debut
    • Stealing Angels - Little Blue Sky
    • Stephen Pride - Pride On The Wild Side
    • Sunny Sweeney - Concrete
    • Sugarland - In Your Hands Tour Tampa Fl
    • Sylvia
    • Terri Clark - Life Goes On
    • T.G. Sheppard - Legendary Friends
    • TG Sheppard - Timeless
    • TG Sheppard - Interview 2004
    • The Band Perry - Hometown Concert
    • The Ferrari Club
    • The Grascals - Before Breakfast
    • The Morrison Brothers - Self Titled
    • Tim McGraw - Emotional Traffic
    • Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying
    • Toby Keith- White Trash With Money
    • Toby Keith - Honkytonk University
    • Toby Keith - Shock'n Y'all
    • Toby Keith Tampa 12
    • Toby Keith Tampa Florida
    • Toby Keith - That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy
    • Toby Keith - Clancy's Tavern
    • Trace Adkins - Comin' On Strong
    • Tracy Byrd - Eat Like A Byrd
    • Tracy Byrd - Greatest Hits II
    • Tracy Lawrence - All Wrapped Up In Christmas
    • Tracy Lawrence - The Rock
    • Tracy Lawrence - Strong
    • Tracy Lawrence - Then & Now
    • Tracy Lawrence - For The Love
    • Tracy Lawrence- Hindsight 2020
    • Tribute to Ryan Jones-LoCash Cowboys
    • Trish Yearwood - Jasper County
    • Troy Olsen - self titled debut album
    • Ty Herndon - House On Fire
    • Ty Herndon - Interview 2004
    • Ty Herndon - Right About Now
    • Vince Gill - Millennium
    • Wade Hayes - Old Country Song
    • Wade Hayes - Place To Turn Around
    • Willie Nelson - It Always Will Be
    • Willie Nelson - Living Legend
    • Willie Nelson - Heroes
    • Willie Nelson - Moment Forever
    • Willie Nelson - Remember Me Vol 1
    • Zac Brown - Uncaged
    • Looking Forward Looking Back
    • IFCO Tribute to the Johnson Sisters
    • Cheryl's Top Picks of 2007 - Predictions for 2008
    • Cheryl's Picks for 2008
    • George's top 2008 picks
    • Cheryl's Best of 2012
    • George's picks for 2012
  • WITW
    • Waiting In The Wings Introduction
    • T. Jae Christian-I Wish Was Home
    • 4Cd's I never leave home without
    • Allen Brown and The Long Hard Ride Band- Natural Disaster
    • Alysha Brooke - I Talk Country
    • Amanda Henkel - Amanda Henkel
    • Backseat Molly
    • Bailey James - Where It All Begins
    • Big Bob Young - Hard Way To Make A Dollar
    • Bill Wence - Analog Man In A Digital World
    • Billy Don Burns
    • Billy Don Burns - The Music Says It All
    • Billy Holt - Long Gone
    • Billie Jo Russell - I Just Can't Imagine
    • Billy Joe Shaver - Long In Tooth
    • Billy Joe Shaver- Live At Billy Bob’s Texas
    • Billy Ryan Droze - Sinnin' Man
    • Billy Yates - Favorites
    • Blaine Larsen - Off To Join The World
    • Brandon McPhee - The Country Side
    • Chris Leigh
    • Cody Jinks - 30
    • Coldwater Canyon
    • Crystal Sands - CMA Fest
    • Crystal Sands-Debut CD
    • Crystal Sands - The Hard Times
    • Daniel Lee Martin - All That I Am
    • Darrell Goldman - The Bed I've Made
    • Darryl Lee Rush - Llano Avenue
    • David Church - Falling
    • David Wood - Here and Now
    • Dean Crawford and Tommy Joe Wilson
    • Erich Mcmann-The Last American SongBook
    • Flatt Lonesome - Runaway Train
    • Gaylynn Robinson - Songs by a West Texas Songstress
    • Gaylynn Robinson - Love & Heatache
    • Glenn Cummings - Big
    • Grady Yates - A Thousand Horses
    • Hermann Lammers Meyer - The Good Old Days
    • James Talley
    • Jay Sims - Half Souls and Heels
    • Joanna Mosca - Keep On Going
    • Jennifer Vazquez - Rediscovering Me
    • Jerry Burkhart - Cryin' Country
    • Jessie Lee Cates - Let Your Country Out
    • Jody Jenkins
    • Justin Honaman
    • Kameron Ross
    • Karen Wiltz - Chapters
    • Karin Wright - Too Rockin' Roll for Country...
    • Kate Sansing - Self titled album
    • Kat Moore Band - Home
    • Katy Benko - Float
    • Kelly Kenning
    • Kenny Joe Blake (& The Drifting Nobodys) - The Gravy Train
    • Knut Bell- Wicked, Ornry, Mean and Nasty
    • Kenny Butterill-Troubadour Tales
    • Kenny Chesney - All I Want For Christmas
    • Kyrsti Worley - A Bible & A Six Pack
    • Krysti Worley - Cowman
    • Lacy Jay-Livin My Life
    • Laura McGhee - Green Eyes
    • LEYLA FENCES: Get The Truck Outta Here
    • Lindsey Ridener - Faith
    • Lonnie Spiker-That’s When The Crazy Kicks In
    • Lonny Ayres - Changing Lanes
    • Locked down and Locked in
    • Lynne Taylor Donovan
    • Mark Holt & Kimberlee Holt Tully - Acoustically Native
    • Megan Linville
    • Melonie Cannon - And The Wheels Turn
    • Nick Verzosa
    • Michael Thomas - Bonafide Country Boy
    • Mike Lepi - I'm Livin On
    • Mike Trudell
    • Mike Runnels
    • Mike Schikora-Horses & Guitars
    • Pam Ferens: An Evolution
    • Patrick Brooks - Rust & Weeds
    • Paul Alan Coons -Pour Me A Tall One
    • Ryan Broshear - Counrything
    • Richie Allbright - Kickin The Doors Down
    • Richie Allbright - If I Known Then
    • Robert Larrabee-Round Here
    • Robert Larrabee-Middle of Something
    • Rowdy McCarran - Eyes Wide Open
    • Royal Wade Kimes-Shadows of Times
    • Royal Wade Kimes-A Proud Land
    • Royal Wade Kimes - Crossing The Roads
    • Royal Wade Kimes-Snow
    • Shane Owens - Where I'm Comin' From
    • Shevy Smith - Blueprint
    • Steve Scott-Those Tear I've cried
    • Susie Warley - Naked Dreams
    • Skyla Spencer: You Said You’d Call Me
    • Sylkie Monoff - Genuine
    • Stacy Morris - Borders And Boundaries
    • Todd Sterling - Pawn Shop Guitar
    • Sweet Root
    • Ted&Helen
    • The Dust Devils - Gathering Dust >
      • Steve Neil Wilson - Bat Out Of Carolina
    • Susan Hickman - Self Titled
    • Teresa Farris - Take It On The Run
    • The Ranchhands
    • Todd Sterling - Road Songs
    • Tommy Shane Steiner - Then Came The Night
    • Tony Clark - A Tuneful Concern
    • Travis Sinclair - Rush
    • Trent Willmon - Debut
    • Tuxedo Country
  • Fan Talk
  • Fan Talk Gallery
  • Contact Us

Crystal Sands - Debut CD

Picture

Interview/Album Review
By: Brianna Nightingale, Staff Journalist 4/14/08


Realizing the importance and thrill of writing her own songs, Crystal Sands began transforming her own poems into melodies at the age of thirteen. She has always loved to write, so over time, her creative side naturally began to facilitate the process of song writing.

She began playing in a local band at the age of sixteen to continue polishing her singing skills and doing whatever she could do keep her dream alive through high school. A trip to Nashville, which Sands took shortly after her high school graduation, was a life-changing experience for her. Some people who noticed her talent invited Sands back to Music City so she could record a multiple-song demo with the very talented Kelly Lang; the demo led her to 3XC Music Publishing, Wood Newton and Carl Ray. Now, less than two years later, Sands has an album produced by Newton and Ray with huge influences by many talented artists that she admires.

Not only is Sands’ vocal style similar to singers such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, but the influence of these artists is also clear throughout Sands’ album in the songwriting style she chose to include.

Although seven of the songs on Sands’ debut album were written by Wood Newton, she included a glimpse of her own original song catalog. Two of the cuts, which are partially accredited to Newton, “More Than Gas” and “Wrapped Around His Finger,” are significant because he and Sands wrote them together.

“I need more than gas to get away from you / My tank is full but my heart won’t move / I could drive for days if I wanted to / I need more than gas to get away from you.”

In “Wrapped Around His Finger,” a wedding band symbolizes a man’s love that continues even after the “angels came and took his angel home.” On the other end of the spectrum, gold rings in the clever “Melted Down Memories” represent various relationships that are to hopefully be forgotten.

A slightly harsh but comical divorce in “Hank You” is the counterpart to “Happy,” which is about being in a pleasant relationship and doing everything to make sure the other person is satisfied.

Despite getting over a heartache in both “Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline” and “Not Any Closer,” then offering affection in “These are Them,” Sands’ vocals are persistently strong.

Knowing that throughout our lives many of us get into a groove or situation that we aren’t sure how to get out of, “Train Leaving Dallas” tells three stories of others who are in this type of situation. The train represents an opportunity to change each day.

One of numerous highlights on this album for Sands is a duet with Ron Williams, the son of Leona Williams and step-son of Merle Haggard. “Everytime I Think It’s Over” is certainly one of my favorites on the album. Sands and Williams complement each other well; this struggling love song’s lyrics are thoughtful and wise, often including a line I am keen on, “Everytime I think it’s over, I think it over again.”

Singing about “small town girls with big time dreams” in the song “Crazy That Way” must give Sands a great feeling of satisfaction as she realizes the value of the song. It is almost certainly a very dear song to her, as it was written by Carl Ray and Wood Newton, the two album producers.

“Under a Tennessee Moon,” written and produced by Kelly Lang, wraps up the album. This song, which Sands has had on her MySpace page for quite a while, is a touching yet informative song about Nashville’s history.

Continuing her endeavor to follow her dreams, Sands recently made the move from Maryland, where she grew up, to Texas, where many of the artists whom she admires perform regularly. Sands has come a long way from where she started with a karaoke machine in front of her family at the young age of three. She has acquired an incredible group of supporters, continued to strengthen her voice and now she has a debut album that proves it.

Hard Times - Sophomore Album 
Catching Up With Crystal at the CMA Fest
www.reverbnation.com/CrystalSands
www.myspace.com/crystalopry

              



Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.