AMERICAN Heartland is a new triple compilation CD release from Sony Music featuring various modern artists performing 47 tracks described as songs that capture the spirit of America.

It gives the listener a sample of the changing world of country music with a flavour of folk, soft rock, country and crossover country pop songs.

Although it seems that X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent TV shows never generate new country artists, the US is lucky enough to turn out finalists and winners, some of whom are featured here.

Modern classic tracks also feature with Lonestar’s Amazed, Shania Twain’s You’re Still The One, and Leann Rimes’ How Do I Live. Songs used in TV series and film soundtracks are also listed, with the theme from True Blood (Jace Everetts’s Bad Things), and Gwnneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw, Chris Young and Patty Loveless featuring songs from the Country Strong movie.

Newer names, such as Lauren Alaina, The Henningsens, Scotty McCreery, Little Big Town, Love and Theft, Eric Church, Sarah McLachlan, The Secret Sisters, The Civil Wars, and Hunter Hayes all add their style to an across-the-board mix.

This release channels a new appreciation of some of the best music around, but it may not impress the true traditionalist country fan.

All in all, in my book it’s a great release that may garner more people to appreciate ‘songs that capture the spirit of (the changing face) of America’.

I invite all music-lovers to check it out... it could change your opinion of a music that, having stood the test of time, is now moving on.