Urban Knows
 

[Keith Urban has always praised LB. This is a comment from the March 29, 2009 USA Today]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/n...l_N.htm?csp=34

Urban peppers discussions of music with references to other records — the mandolin part on one song that recalls Rod Stewart's Maggie May, the harmony guitar on another that reminds him of Queen's Brian May. He quotes Waylon Jennings hits in his conversations and Dire Straits lyrics in his songs (Sweet Thing's reference to a "lovestruck Romeo" is straight from Straits' Romeo & Juliet).

And there's always lots of Lindsey Buckingham. The Fleetwood Mac guitarist "is my favorite mad scientist," Urban says. "On Standing Right in Front of You, the little B section before the chorus has an acoustic guitar thing that was very much inspired by Fleetwood Mac's Hold Me."

:cool: thanks for posting...

His latest album...
 

will be in stores tomorrow (Which saddens me because the biggest KU fan I know isnt here to enjoy his newest music - But I will purchase a copy in her memory, Debbie owned a TON of KU memorabilia including many rare Australian import CD singles.)

" Keith Urban's sixth studio album Defying Gravity is set for a March 31st release, riding high on the success of the project's Top-5 lead single, "Sweet Thing." The project includes a total of 11 brand new songs, all of which reflect where Urban is at this place in time. "Defying Gravity comes from the lyrics of a song on the album and it just struck me at the time as a phrase that really defined the joyous, optimistic and uplifting spirit that seemed to show itself while making the album."

"I've always approached making records as a journey where I just have to let myself go," said Urban. "If the conditions are just right the music will reflect the mood and feeling of where I am in my life."

The video for "Sweet Thing" was the first official music video to be made available for personal fan customization. Offered just in time for Valentine's Day, fans were invited to go to www.sweetthing.tv, where they were able to create and forward their own "Sweet Thing" music video to their friends or of course, their sweet thing. The interactive video can be customized in twelve different ways and is readily available to send in a matter of seconds. Fans are even able to add their creation to their own web pages.

2009 is already shaping up to be a busy one for Urban. This May will mark the launch of his "Escape Together World Tour" with KC Masterpiece and Kingsford, which will visit fifty-eight cities across North America."

b. 26 October 1967, Whangarei, New Zealand. As a young child Urban moved with his family to Australia. His parents liked American country and, as a young guitarist, he played country festivals from the age of 10. Nevertheless, he admits his guitar playing was influenced by two rock players, Mark Knopfler and Lindsey Buckingham. Urban released his self-titled debut for EMI Australia in 1991, and enjoyed four chart-topping country hits including "I Never Work On A Sunday".

After a few visits to the USA, he emigrated in 1992, taking his drummer, Peter Clarke. The two men formed the Ranch with West Virginian Jerry Flowers. In 1997, the trio released a self-titled album on Capitol Records, and had some success with the single, "Walkin' The Country". They opened for several country stars and Urban was recruited to play guitar for Garth Brooks on Double Live and the Dixie Chicks on Fly.

KU, as he is known, succumbed to drug addiction and the subsequent break-up with his girlfriend formed the background of his US debut, Keith Urban. The album featured a breakneck instrumental, "Rollercoaster", on which he plays a ganjo, a combination of guitar and banjo. Urban had his first major country hit in 2000 with "It's A Love Thing". "Somebody Like You" in 2002 continued the success, by which time Urban was a major star in the current wave of new country males. His fourth album Be Here broke into the mainstream Top 5 in October 2004."

I've seen Keith Urban many times in concert and he really delivers. He's mentioned Lindsey in quite a few interviews. They would be perfect together in one of the CMT Crossroads shows. I've heard the entire new album and there's not a bad cut on it. Fleetwood Mac could pick up some ideas from Keith's marketing people. The Valentines promo in the article Brian posted was classic.

I've heard most of the album online (iTunes released various singles over the past few weeks), but I can't wait to hear the entire thing. I'm goin' out tomorrow so I'll pick up the actual CD too.

Keith DEFINITELY delivers in concert. The one I saw in Oklahoma City (Brian and Debbie went too!! :) ) was one of the best concerts I've EVER seen. The energy was insane.

Can't wait to hear that song with Hold Me influences! :thumbsup:

I remember Keith and Nicole attended one of the UTS shows. I think it was the first one in Atlanta, but am not positive about that. People magazine noted that they were there.

Michele

They were at the show in Nashville at the Ryman.

Ooh, I really like his music. I got into this country kick a year or so and he's definitely one of those that I enjoy. Good on him to have great taste as well!:nod:

I have a real thin border on the country front. I love Lone Justice and really enjoyed Little Big Town, but really don't like the you-can-eat-crackers-in-my-bed-anytime-baby kinda stuff. I'm gonna give Keith a listen. Just goes to show, doing press does really bring you more fans!

It truly does!

I think my favorite country will always be down to Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. But I really, really love the Dixie Chicks, Shania, Carlene Carter, Shelby Lynne...I am absolutely not a big country music fan, but I think that a lot of it can be really fun and pretty deep...I'd suggest any of the ones I mentioned (get the greatest hits, what the hell).;)

Thanks for the tips!!!

The cool thing about Keith (besides the fact he likes Lindsey) is that he mixes country, rock and pop. He grew up listening to not just country, but John Mellencamp, Dire Straits, AC/DC, etc. so he has many various influences. It gives him a unique sound, IMO, along with the fact he's Australian, so his accent allows him to sing differently than your average American country singer. :)

Golden Road, Be Here and from what I've heard, the album out tomorrow are MUST haves. Hope you enjoy Keith!

Just heard the track- if you're listening for the similarity, I guess you can hear it. If I heard it on the radio or somewhere and didn't know about the influence, I never would have guessed or picked up on it.

These days, the only radio station I can listen to for an extended stretch of time is a country station. I like many types of music, but with any other genre, two good songs might be played and then the third one comes up and it is just intolerable. With country songs, there are fewer intolerables.

My favorite artists are Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Jamie O'Neal, Brooks and Dunn, and Gary Allan.

But actually, I listen to very little music now. During my drive time, after they repeat that day's news for the 5th time, I usually pop in a podcast CD. There are about 5 Cnet podcasts that I like to download.

Michele

For a good idea of what Keith is like buy the "Love, Pain & the whole crazy World Tour" DVD. It was only $9.99 at WalMart and worth 3 times that. Plus, his concert tickets for the last tour were less than half of FM's price. Unbelievable energy in concert!

I have that DVD...
 

but it was one Debbie pre-ordered before the obvious happened. I watched it the day I picked it up at the store and I felt sad that she didnt get to enjoy it...Thus I havent watched it since...

Debbie dragged me (Literally, because at that time I thought KU was a flash-in-the-pan 'pretty boy') to see him at the Oklahoma State Fair in early Sept. 2001, when he was still somewhat unknown (Which is why this general admission show was only $7 and we sat front row - not many people knew who this guy was, but Debbie did, she was ALL over his music). I went just to get out of the house on a Sunday evening, and believe it or not I was shocked that he could play the hell outta the guitar - DEFINITELY not something a "flash-in-the-pan 'pretty boy' " would do, and he played the whole show without using a pick - just finger picking ala Knopfler/Linds'.

After that show I been a fan ever since...the rest is history.



p.s. - Debbie "made" me purchase a keychain off of eBay with a nude KU from his "Playgirl" photo-shoot...Don't ask :sorry: :D

Hahaha. So many great stories in the world of music fandom. But all the media ever portrays are stalkers! Although I'm a little concerned about the p.s. (not!)

I got an email tonight that tomorrow only (March 31) you can download mp3's of the new cd off of Amazon for only $3.99

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B001VSZ7RQ

Nice! Thanks for the heads-up. It's available already in the wee hours.

I bought the "Hold Me"-inspired song. It sounds good. The production really allows that acoustic guitar to stand out. The song is sweet. But it's nothing innovative. I doubt I'll buy the whole album unless one of the singles sucks me in -- not in a year where Chris Isaak released something as special as Mr. Lucky. I got Urban's last two cds and really only return to listen to that one really big hit he had (title escapes me) -- even though, yes, there's not a "bad" track on any of them.

Here's the deal, Keith: You put your cover of "Never Going Back Again" that you like doing in concert on the next album, and I'll buy it!


ETA: Nevermind, if I can get the album for 4 bucks, I'm down. lol

I like a person who is not afraid to change their mind!
And I def. would like to hear him do Never Going Back Again.

Just finished listening to the compact disc (To keep Debbie's KU buying tradition alive, I purchased it on the day of release...as usual) and the song "'Til Summer Comes Around" kicks ass.


Oh, Just remembered the irony of this day - Debbie's man KU releases a new album and Stevie releases the DVD/CD

Count me as officially on board!
Saw him on Today and Ellen and he was not only a doll, but really can play that guitar!

Wow I did not know KU liked LB.As I',m a big country music fan I will be going to see him in May at the Mohegan Sun with the friends that came with me to see Fleetwood Mac.I like KU also Sugarland also on the bill.I will go in honor of my late sister, she was a KU fan.Yes I love to see KU team up with FM for a special recording.

http://www.spin.com/blog/why-dont-i-...ut-keith-urban

[Spin Magazine reviews Urban's album and makes this LB reference, which I excerpted]:

The country star's new album outsold Prince to take the No. 1 spot on the charts -- but SPIN's David Marchese isn't impressed.
By David Marchese 04.08.09 7:53 AM

When Love came out three years ago, I remember having similar thoughts about the guy -- he's popular, why don't I care? I listened to the album. A few times. The songs were polished to an inhuman gloss. The lyrics were trite. The melodies were standard issue Nashville pop. Now and then there were some cool guitar licks. But fundamentally, the music sounded like it was made by a dude who really dug the songs Lindsey Buckingham recorded for Fleetwood Mac, but didn't understand the things that made them cool. It wasn't long before I deleted the album from my hard drive.