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September 7, 2008
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September 9, 2008
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kramluthi's Reviews

Let It Go [Original Release] [CD]

Customer Rating

True Country

on September 9, 2008

Posted by: kramluthi

Tim McGraw didn't get to be a country superstar by having the best voice in Nashville. He did it by having the best ear in town. Every Tim McGraw CD has been marked by the impeccable selection of songs. And "Let Go" continues the family tradition. It's another collection of powerful songs including "Train No. 10," "Shotgun Rider," "Put Your Lovin' On Me" and "Comin' Home." These alone would be enough to make this CD a success but wouldn't earn it 5 Stars. For that you need a little bit more and different.

And Tim gives us the extra effort with a kids' chorus on "Last Dollar," a Metallica-like break on the brilliant "Between The River And Me" and by overturning our expectations of the usual duet with Mrs. McGraw by not giving us another syrupy love song but by choosing a meditation on the addictive nature of love, "I Need You" (I need you like a needle needs a vein) in which even Faith sings with a desperate gravitas we don't expect from her.

Now don't think my saying Tim doesn't have the best voice in Nashville means he isn't a masterful singer, able to comfortably handle anything from the uptempo cowboy songs to the agonizingly honest ballads like this CD's brilliant "Nothing To Die For." As his songs show more maturity so do his vocals. He is no longer just a singer but a first class interpreter. His vocals take these high quality songs and elevates them further. He has handled the jump from superstar to artist with complete success. His creative vision and ability to wonderfully convey it is a rarity in music, especially country music with its pretty boys in hats and Shania wannabes.

The new Tim McGraw CD is a complete success that doesn't let it go after the music stops. It stays with you and leaves you wanting more.

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Troubadour [CD]

Customer Rating

Another Great Album

on September 8, 2008

Posted by: kramluthi

I give this CD 5 stars because it is a wonderful CD. The previous CD of all-new songs, IT JUST COMES NATURAL, was hailed by lots of people as his greatest CD yet. I think this one ranks right up there with 1980's George Strait. Yes...you saw that right! 1980's George Strait...but by no means does that mean the songs are dated, it's just that there are plenty of songs that make any Strait fan remember that era in his career. Specifically the western-swing sing-a-long "West Texas Town". There are several songs on here that re-introduce the sounds of 'classic' George Strait...the toe-tapping Western swing style he's gotten away from in recent years. The song that has western swing written all over it is a song called "West Texas Town", a duet with singer/songwriter Dean Dillon. This is significant because Dean helped build the George Strait legend via the songs he wrote that George has recorded through the years. This particular CD contains 4 songs co-written by Dean Dillon...which that, too, is significant because in recent years he'd gotten away from recording Dean Dillon songs. Good traditional country sounds are heard in the bouncy "Make Her Fall in Love With Me Song". I am hoping "When You're in Love" becomes a single. When i heard the song start up on my CD it sounds like a country radio hit. The first single is "I Saw God Today" which is #4 on the country chart this week and it's track #6 on the CD. Track #12 just ended. The track #12 song is called "If Heartaches Were Horses". "It Was Me" is a mid-tempo, bouncy song. There is a second duet on this CD...i already mentioned the Dean Dillon duet called "West Texas Town"...this second duet from the CD is an almost spiritual-like ballad called "House of Cash" with Patty Loveless. The song is about the house of Cash...Johnny Cash, that is, and the belief that many feel was the reason it burned to the ground after Johnny's death. In case there are those who do not know, after June Carter Cash passed away, Johnny died within months...then, a couple months after his death, his legendary house on Hickory Lake in Tennessee burned to the ground after a deal had been made for it's sale to new owners. So, there are those who feel that was Johnny and June's way of saying "since we've both gone, so will our house.". So, "House of Cash" plays into that way of thinking. It's a great song...but i can't 'hear' it on the radio...it's too deep. "Give Me More Time" is a haunting song with a twist ending wrapped around the phrase "give me more time"...it's one of the four songs co-written by Dean Dillon. The CD kicks off with "Troubadour" which is a song tailor made for George in my opinion. A few songs go beyond what you'd think he would sing...for instance, "River of Love" and "Brothers of the Highway". In the case of "River of Love" it has that tropical flavor to it and a repetitious chorus. "Rollin, let's go rollin' on the River of Love; Rollin'...let's go rollin' on the River of Love...". While listening to the CD i was enjoying it and at the same time thinking which ones could make good singles on the radio after "I Saw God Today" runs it's course. "When You're in Love" gets my vote as a follow-up...then, "Make Her Fall in Love With Me Song" even though it has an unusual title. I would like to see his duet with Patty Loveless released as a single but it's hard to tell if it will. The duet with Dean Dillon would be great, too...plus it's uptempo...and it's great...and it makes one think of 1980's George Strait with the western-swing influence heard more. That is what i was making reference to earlier in this review...many of the songs will make one think of early George Strait and for those who are on the bandwagon wondering when George will get back to 'those' kinds of songs, this CD will be right up your alley.

I would recommend this to a friend!

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That Lonesome Song [CD]

Customer Rating

Country Album of the Year

on September 7, 2008

Posted by: kramluthi

Jamey Johnson is a study in contrasts. This applies to his entire life, but I won't bother talking about that--just one listen to this album, you'll understand (with phrases like "the high cost of living ain't nothing like the cost of living high," Johnson is more than up-front about who he is and where he comes from). I'm talking strictly about his music. A little song he cro-wrote ("Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," maybe you've heard of it) because a huge smash hit. Same with a tune that won Song of the Year ("Give It Away"). Yet Johnson himself has flown under the rader, despite making two solid albums (three, if you count the version of THAT LONESOME SONG that was distributed solely through his website a year ago). Also, not a single one of his songs is halfway as commercially appealing as "Badonkadonk;" his songs are fiddle-and-steel outlaw tunes, strongly in the vein of Waylon Jennings. Speaking of Waylon...Johnson channels Waylon here, in a way that is not at all exploitative, and is entirely heartfelt immitation. After all, the two songs Johnson didn't write are Waylon covers; and try listening to the title track and not think of Waylon's baritone gracing it. Johnson also owes a lot to the other greats--Kristofferson, Jones, Haggard, Cash, Coe, Paycheck, etc.--yet he's firmly his own artist. And I stress that last word--"artist." Like the afore-mentioned legends, Johnson has taken country music and transformed it into something that is--in my own humble opinion, being a budding songwriter myself, influenced by the same artists Johnson worships--almost timeless. He questions his own morality (as well as mortality, but the former is oh-so-much-more interesting, especially set to a steel guitar), he questions his beliefs, he questions everything...and fails to find many answers, as most of us do. It's tough, at times, listening to music that is so...human. There are no cliches here. A couple tracks come close--especially "Stars in Alabama"--but Johnson knows how to reign in a tune and keep it down-to-earth. Even the beach song here, "A Place on the Ocean," is far from cliche--Johnson, sitting on the beach, sitting in a "mansion with a view,", bemoans "all that I can think about is you," going on to declare: "I hope I'm sane by the time I'm done." He sings of the pitfalls in life; he sings of the good deeds done poorly. He sings of life--as he's lived it, as others have lived it. Ladies and gentlemen, let me state it bluntly: this is REAL country music. This is no pop/radio child's play; this is the real deal, and that means there'll be some tears and a whole lot of heartache before you're through. Pick up Jamey Johnson's THAT LONESOME SONG to experience what country music was intended to be.

What's great about it: Unbeliveable sound, Like Jennings and Cash

What's not so great: none

I would recommend this to a friend!

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