* I recently watched the thoroughly enjoyable documentary “Lemmy” and was surprised when the man who basically invented heavy metal via his band Motorhead said he was really into the new crop of female country singers because of their sweet harmonies.

“Surprised” may not be the word. I spit out my drink when he said that.

But, hey, I agree with him. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve been so into country pop lately.

Country pop tends to live more in the real world. The songs are more about what average people experience day to day. And the new music isn’t just about getting drunk, or driving big rigs down the highway.

Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart,” for example, is one of the best-written songs about a breakup in years…

Leave it to me to be holding the matches

When the fire trucks show up and there’s nobody else to blame

Heh.

Lambert played at the Illinois State Fair last year and it was among the most enjoyable shows I’ve ever attended at the Grandstand.

* Tonight, Thompson Square is opening for Gary Allan. Maybe I’ll see you there. The group’s biggest hit is one of the better pop songs of the decade…