Amazon.com

A decade ago, country acts who sounded more like arena rockers gained hegemony on a Music Row that scorned the success of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack as a fluke. As in the past, many there couldn't see the forest for the trees. Both Bentley's own rootsy self-titled debut and Gretchen Wilson's Here for the Party prove quality modern traditionalism still sells. Bentley's sophomore album offers more straight-ahead amalgams of bluegrass, '60s Bakersfield, and raw barroom fare like the Waylonesque "Got a Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" and the beer-guzzling anthem "Domestic, Light, and Cold." He shows real depth on the sensual "Come a Little Closer." The moving, timeless "Gonna Get There Someday," a tale of a son at his mother's grave vowing to make something of himself, easily trumps the album's cliché-ridden title song, as does his fetching treatment of friend Del McCoury's "Good Man Like Me," recorded with McCoury's band. Bentley's lack of artifice proves his greatest strength. Again. --Rich Kienzle ... Read more

Reviews (8)

This boy can really sing--worth every penny!
I didn't buy Dierks' first CD, although I love all his songs that've been played on the radio.I decided to take the plunge and buy his newest CD and absolutely love it.This cute boy with the blonde curls can truly SING and is a pleasure to listen to.In addition, there is some great fiddling on this album.Although there ain't a song I don't like here, my favorites are "Come a Little Closer" and "So So Long."But the whole album is great--bravo to Mr. Bentley!

Dierks Still Going Strong
There Aint Nothing Stoping Dierks Now
His Voice On His Song's Show He Is Deep Into His
Music And Not Cocky With What He DOes

This Album Show's How Strong He Is Getting With
Every Song He Make's There Is A Hope He Will
Make More Album's Get His Cd's Evem His First Ever Album
(Dierks Bentley) Don't Leave Me In Love Witch Was Relesed In[2001]

Go Out And Buy It Dont Miss Out On A Good Artist
and his Music

www.CountryInterviewsOnline.net
By: Maxine Macpherson

Dierks Bentley has proven one thing with his new CD, Modern Day Drifter - he is not a one-hit or one-CD wonder! The new CD shows he's growing stronger with each song he records.
Deciding not to mess with success, Bentley wrote or co-wrote many of the songs, again teaming with producer Brett Beaver, who produced his first CD. In many ways, Drifter is a continuation of the first album, sharing the same mix of drinking, driving and loving themes. In fact, "Cab of My Truck" seems to add more to the saga started in Bentley's hit "What Was I Thinkin'," including a reference to a little white tank top and the line, "Learning everything I'll have to know about life and love in the cab of my truck."

"Come A Little Closer" is bound to be an instant favorite. It is soft and sexy and Bentley's voice comes through:

"There ain't nothin' that love can't fix
Girl its' right here at our fingertips
So come a little closer baby
I feel like layin' you down."

Bentley has again attracted the help of bluegrass great The Del McCoury Band as well as award-winning Alison Krauss on background vocals. The two blend well in "Good Things Happen."

The title song, "Modern Day Drifter" and "Lotta Leavin' Left to Do" are upbeat anthems to the open road and keeping your options open. The final song, "Gonna Get There Someday," is about a son at his mother's grave. Unlike many country songs that lament what should have been said before it was too late, Bentley's lyrics go in a more positive direction:

"Glad I told you all I meant to
While I had the chance
`Cause every moment I had with you
Made me who I am."

Bentley's first CD, Dierks Bentley, brought together his own unique mix of blue-grass and pop country that attracted fans across country - Modern Day Drifter will keep them coming back for more.

AMAZING
I am telling you right now, this dierks album is amazing. Not only because of the great music on it but because he did this album in no more than 10 days! He toured for 300 days last year, that is way above everybody in the music buisness and then still made a steller album. This guy is not only country music he is what music is about and suppost to be. Hell this guy doesnt even own a house he is on the road so much! AMAZING!

Dierks Just Keeps Getting Better With Time
I was at Kenny Chesney's "Guitars, Tiki Bars, and a Whole Lotta Love" tour last year, and was lucky enough to not only see Kenny, but Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley.At the time, I admit I wasn't that big of a Dierks fan. He had just come on the scene and I was waiting for him to prove himself as country music material.While "Little White Tank Top" was one of his first hits, it takes more than just a couple of songs to make me a believer.Once they started playing "Lot Of Leaving Left To Do" from this album on the radio, I was instantly hooked, so I anxiously awaited the release of his new cd.The morning of his release I heard him on the local radio station here and he was so down to earth and humble.He admits that he determines the single that are released by how his fans react when he plays them live at a concert.Imagine that, someone who actually listens to the fans and gives them what they want.I think he's onto something.They played, "Come A Little Closer" and I knew I would be buying his cd that day.That song is so heartfelt and pure that it make me melt.It is definitely my favorite song on the entire cd, because it's more than just a love song, it's about opening your entire self up to another person."Gonna Get There Someday" is another song that really makes you think.The basic feel is that he is trying to live up to everything that both he and his mother know that he could be, all the while confessing it at her grave.The album isn't without it's fun upbeat tunes like "Domestic, Light, and Cold," "Cab Of My Truck" and "Good Man Like Me"Overall this album is full of songs that have number 1 potential.It's obvious that Dierks learned a thing or two while touring with both Keith and Kenny.If you're a fan of their music, then you'll love this cd.It's not often that I buy a cd and can honestly say that I like every song on it, but this is an exception.Dierks has talent and staying power, all it took was this cd to prove it. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The best soundtracks are like movies for the ears, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? joins the likes of Saturday Night Fever and The Harder They Come as cinematic pinnacles of song. The music from the Coen brothers' Depression-era film taps into the source from which the purest strains of country, blues, bluegrass, folk, and gospel music flow. Producer T Bone Burnett enlists the voices of Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and kindred spirits for performances of traditional material, in arrangements that are either a cappella or feature bare-bones accompaniment. Highlights range from the aching purity of Krauss's "Down to the River to Pray" to the plainspoken faith of the Whites' "Keep on the Sunny Side" to Stanley's chillingly plaintive "O Death." The album's spiritual centerpiece finds Krauss, Welch, and Harris harmonizing on "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby," a gospel lullaby that sounds like a chorus of Appalachian angels. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (440)

The greatest movie soundtrack EVER!
With the country music airwaves currently being dominated by fresh, new artists like Faith Hill who fit better in the pop circuit, it is refreshing to see an album composed entirely of traditional bluegrass and country do as well as the soundtrack of O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU. Even further impressing is the fact that although none of the songs were released to radio, the soundtrack was propelled to the #1 spot on Billboard's country album charts solely from people hearing the music in the movie theater. This soundtrack is a phenomenal album that is proof to country fans everywhere that although traditional country has appeared to have gone out of style, it is still very much alive and well.

The O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU SOUNDTRACK is composed of nineteen songs recorded by some of the most talented country/bluegrass artists in the business, including Gillian Welch (who also served as musical director for the motion picture), Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and the Cox Family, and and is truly a gathering of musical talent. Also included in the soundtrack is music by musicians who appeared in the film as well as working on the CD, such as the Whites and Tim Blake Nelson.

The O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU SOUNDTRACK is truly, as the CD ads claim, "The ULTIMATE American roots collection!" So, grab your acoustic guitar, fiddle, and Dapper Dan hair pomade, and let the soundtrack from O BROTHER take you on a journey through one of the greatest periods in country music history.

Brothers In Arms
The soundtrack to the Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou? is one of the biggest surprises in music for 2000. The film starring George Clooney was not much of a success at the box office, but the soundtrack made up of dark bluegrass songs from the early part of the 20th century has become a major seller. In fact the album has set a record for the most weeks at number one for a soundtrack on the Country Album charts. This is a welcomed and warmly cheered surprise as the album celebrates an essential style of music from America's rich musical history. Album producer T-Bone Burnett has assembled a cast of unknowns, save Emmylou Harris & Allison Krauss, like The Fairfield Four, Gillian Welch and J. Carter & The Prisoners who specialize in this forgotten and overlooked genre. The songs have a stark and haunting quality that are accentuated by the sparse musical arrangements. The singing is alternatively raw and rough to lilting and gorgeous. Song after song provides you with an interesting, intriguing and satisfying listening experience especially "Po Lazarus", "You Are My Sunshine", "Down To The River To Pray", "Lonesome Valley" and "Didn't Leave Nobody But My Baby".

Music the way is should be
This is perhaps the best soundtrack ever made. It is a stunning mix of mostly acoustic tracks by most of the best bluegrass artists ever. There is work on here from Ralph Stanely, Allison Kraus, and Emmelou Harris, to name a few. This CD won a lot of Grammys the year that it came out, and that is because it was the best CD of that year.

Highlights include the Big Rock Candy Mountains, Man of Constant Sorrow, In the Jailhouse Now and O Death. If you have ever wondered what bluegrass sounded like but have been afraid to try, this is the CD for you. It will show you the magic that this genre of music can provide.

Great but.....
This CD is fantastic, with songs that will leave you humming and tapping your feet. I would have given it 5 stars except for the fact that the primary song I wanted featuring the artists from the actual movie was not featured on the album. The version of "I'll FLy Away" from the actual movie is done by the Kossoy Sisters and is featured on their album "Bowling Green". I hope this helps anyone else who will end up trying to hunt down that origianl version.

O Brother
This is the soundtrack to the Coen brothers' film based loosely on Homer's "The Odyssey". This soundtrack takes the movie from good to great. The tracks follow the progression of the movie. Nearly an hour of blue-grass music, even if you haven't seen the movie, this is worth having if you like "Old-Time" Country music and blue-grass.

The legend, Ralph Stanley, appears a couple of times here, although his "Man of Constant Sorrow" is here too, but covered by Dan Tyminski. Stanley's "O Death" is a haunting tune sung without accompaniment. His voice is sorrowful and full of pain, and will send shivers up your spine. Tyminski's cover is well done and becomes the centerpiece for the movie. The sultry voices of Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch provide a rising rendition of "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby." Alison Krauss also lends her voice to the spiritual "Down to the River to Pray," and joins up again with Gillian Welch for "I'll Fly Away". The surprise here is Tim Blake Nelson on lead vocals as the dimwitted Delmar on "In the Jailhouse Now."

Overall, this is a great soundtrack, and well worth owning if you like this type of music. I think the Coen brothers have done a lot with the release of this movie to turn the spotlight onto blue-grass music. This is great music that deserves more than the fifteen minutes of fame it's received. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A spark of redemption illuminates even the darker songs on Mercy Now, the fourth album by Mary Gauthier (pronounced "go-shay"). The influence of her native Louisiana pervades her Southern Gothic songcraft, which first won an audience in the folk clubs of Boston. After a series of releases on independent labels, her Lost Highway debut seems destined to expand that audience significantly. Within her mature, weather-beaten artistry, Dylanesque metaphysics go to Mardi Gras on "Wheel Inside the Wheel"; the naked emotion and eye for detail of "Your Sister Cried" and "Empty Spaces" conjure comparisons with Lucinda Williams; and the plainspoken "I Drink" and "Drop in a Bucket" have the bittersweet bite of the best of John Prine. The spare arrangements of producer/guitarist Gurf Morlix, punctuated by cello, organ, and harmonica, give the material plenty of room to breathe. Gauthier's vocals are half-spoken, half-sung, and all soul. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Out of Nowhere! (or not...)
I can't believe that I had never heard of Mary before this album. I listen everyday and never tire of her music or her voice. Had Kris and Janis had a love child, this is how she would have sounded...the best of both.

Mary is Simply Incredible!!!
My wife and I are long-time, hard-core John Prine fans. So, when we bought our tickets to see him in June in Chicago we noticed Mary Gauthier (say go-shay y'all!) was opening for him.

We went out and grabbed Mercy Now just to be sure we were familiar with John's opener. MY GAWD! This album is just amazing! I can't believe we have missed out on her music until now.

Mary is at the top of her game writing and performing songs as great or greater than any of her heros did in their own prime! I NEVER expect to like more than 50% of a new CD (even by my favorite artists) but I LOVE every cut on this CD!

The only complaint I have is her other three CDs are kinda hard to find. I ended up buying all three from the company linked from her web site. (And yes, they are awesome as well!)

Don't even give this a second thought - buy this CD and get ready to listen to nothing else for the next week!

Mercy, Mercy Me
Listen to this album a few times, and a number of the songs will burn themselves indelibly into your brain.The songs are bleak, but the songwriting is of the highest order -- each image is exactly apt.Her voice is a perfect match for the material, as well.

FBI Warning!
I heard Mary Gauthier interviewed and the album previewed on NPR. I am not a C&W fan but was taken with her interview and the raw intensity of the tracks I heard.

The CD just arrived.My only complaint: the very cheaply and poorly printed CD label is dominated by a reversed out 'FBI Anti-Piracy Warning' that consumes probably 50% of the label.

I initially thought it was part of the label art. It isn't.

It is an insulting, tacky and supremely ineffective step by her record company. If anything a real provocation to pirate it, from my POV. Fortunately for them I wouldn't know how to!

"Just say she's a rhymer, and rhymers get restless"
I am probably the last person you would expect to be enthusiastic over what is billed as a 'country' album.Whatever that is.But, for some reason, I've heard 'Mercy Now' four times in the past five days, and if country music always sounded like that song, I would be listening to a whole lot more of it.I would call Gauthier's work country/folk and the in name for that definition seems to be Southern Gothic, a genre name that doesn't make a whole lot sense to me.But the songs on this album, they make sense to me, as they would to anyone who loves carefully crafted, gritty lyrics.

Yes, these are often dark songs.Yet somehow the upbeat peeks through almost unexpectedly.Mercy Now and Prayer Without Words are good examples of that.In other words, they may be sad, but they aren't hopeless, and that little bit of a hook will grab you every time.There is a subtle spirituality here as well - listen to Wheel Inside The Wheel, for example:

Souls ain't born, souls don't die
Soul ain't made of earth, ain't made of water, ain't made of sky
So, ride the flaming circle, wind the golden reel
And roll on, brother, in the wheel inside the wheel

This is interesting work, even if, at its heart it is still about broken relationships, human disasters, being down and out, etc.And there is intelligence behind the lyrics, and a real artistry behind the songs.Give it a listen and you'll see what I mean.

Gauthier has a true Southern whiskey voice, complete with edgy whine.And yet it is capable of a surprising number of colors, from really down and out to gently caring, and oh yes, just a dash of pointed sarcasm.I Drink is a masterpiece of the latter.In an interview, Gauthier mentioned that she often rewrites a song several hundred times, and this level of craftsmanship shows everywhere.

This will probably be my one and only country album, but it is surely one I'll listen to often. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This two-CD, 25-song set, recorded in Louisville on two nights in the spring of 2002, finds bluegrass's most celebrated crossover band at the top of its game. Krauss's warm, feathery vocals, capable of conveying complex emotions in a single note, appear more full-bodied than in studio recordings, yet lose none of their sensual appeal or dramatic tension. She's perfect, for example, as the melancholy temptress on "Let Me Touch You for Awhile," coming across as both savior and seductress, while Jerry Douglas's Dobro echoes the searing strains of passion and pain. With banjoist-guitarist Ron Block, bassist Barry Bales, and guest drummer Larry Atamanuik anchoring the rhythm, the ensemble deftly blends bluegrass with jazz, rock, and folk, combining lightning speed (though rushing through "Forget About It") with sophisticated chops, tangible emotion, and thrilling vocal blends. The crowd, more spellbound with every note, doesn't even breathe on "Ghost in This House" and nearly tears the place down on Dan Tyminski's voice-of-George Clooney showcase, "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow." But who could blame them? It's only one highlight on an album of uncommon artistry, a moving testament to how good live music can be in the hands of world-class players. --Alanna Nash ... Read more

Reviews (92)

What a beautiful voice!
I have ordered the live CD set but have not yet received it. However, what prompted me to order it was seeing Alison and Union Station live on television a couple of weeks ago, performing these very songs. Nothing can compare with music played by true music-lovers. Folk musicians tend to perform, not for the money, but for the sheer love of the music. Alison Krauss and Union Station are definitely in that category. I loved the movie "O, Brother Where Art Thou?" and Alison's "Down to the River to Pray" was my favorite of all the songs on the soundtrack; that was my very first introduction to her lovely voice. I simply cannot wait to receive my CD's! I hope to introduce their wonderful music to my family and friends.

talent and musicianship too great to rate
Like many other listeners, I first experienced Alison Krauss' ethereal voice in "O Brother, Where Art Thou." I promptly purchased the soundtrack, which incidentally still gets frequent playing time in my home. Honestly, I hadn't intended to purchase Alison Krauss' work until until I caught a clip of this very same LIVE performance on television. I was so impressed with her musicianship (live shows are good at separating 'studio' artists from the real ones), her poise, the immense talent of her band that I went out and ordered this CD shortly thereafter.

Hands down, it's one of the recordings I've heard EVER. With 99% of the albums I purchase, there are a select number of songs I like, and the rest is sort of filler material. There is NO filler on this album. Alison's simple, expressive, angel-like vocals (but boy can she hollar too, make no bones about that!) are reason enough to buy this album, but there are also very fine performances by her bandmates and one guest artist. All in all, a perfect package.

Take it from one whose musical collection consists of anything BUT bluegrass or country, and whose musical training is centered primarily around opera, you will wonder why you haven't bought anything of Alison Krauss' before and thank your lucky stars for finding her now.

If you're still reticent, listen to "Maybe" on Disc 2. Have your credit card ready.

AK and Union Station Live
Even if you don't like Bluegrass, this two CD set rocks. Alison's voice is so crisp and pure. Couple that with her ability to inject the subtle emotion that makes up bluegrass music and she just rocks!! Finally, Alison allows the musical talent and vocal talent of Union Station to shine!! This CD set is a must!

Alison Krauss & Union Station
I have 6 AKUS CD's & many other Bluegrass CD's & this is the nicest CD/DVD I have.
Monte

Alison &Union Station
This is a great CD. It is a perfect mix of old and new, rock and bluegrass. The only thing that I did not like about the recording was what sounded like one obnoxious person, in the audience,that kept making loud noises and remarks. I still recommend it highly. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Garage-rock hero Jack White producing honky-tonk legend Loretta Lynn? And Lynn comparing him to renowned Nashville producer Owen Bradley? Yes, we all know the world is rapidly shrinking, but now we've seen everything. Most stunning of all--they nailed it. For the first time, Lynn has written all of an album's songs, and her lyrics are as cutting and incisive as ever. On the powerful, biting "Family Tree," she brings her babies to the home of her husband's mistress, so that they can see the "woman that's burning down our family tree." Throughout she cunningly tackles tried-and-true honky-tonk themes of love gone bad, drinkin', cheatin', and murder. Lynn even offers a compelling slice of theological fatalism ("God Makes No Mistakes"). White's production--mostly stark and atmospheric--ranges from more-traditional country to straight-up White Stripes, with most tracks falling somewhere in between. White duets with Lynn on the rousing one-night-stand story "Portland, Oregon," but he does not need to sing to leave his personal stamp. At 70, Lynn seems thoroughly engaged and delighted; at times she delivers some of the most emotionally potent singing of her career. A decade earlier, Johnny Cash turned to rock and rap producer Rick Rubin, and the move resuscitated Cash's career. Now, Jack White has done the same for Loretta Lynn, another country legend whose music is simply too raw and honest for the contemporary country crowd. Van Lear Rose exceeds all expectations, a bold collaboration in which artists from two different musical universes forge a memorable work that neither could have created alone. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (153)

"HAVE MERCY!" and other great songs
Now, let's hear a review from a REAL music fan (one that's not from California, hint, hint).

While Rick Rubin was able to revitalize the Man In Black's career, Jack White has taken the Coal Miner's Daughter and one upped the man with the Texas goatee. He's helped her create the best compilation this amazing woman has ever put out. Even better, they're all originals.

Combining Lynn's beautiful, bitter sweet tone and Appalacian sensibilities (as best heard on the song 'Miss Being Mrs.') with White's revamped, solid, country 'twang' guitar style, the two have made an album that is truer to country music than the vast majority of acts that you would hear nowadays on CMT or your local country radio station. Even when White reverts back to a more garage blues guitar style, such as in 'Portland Oregon' or his solo at the end of the 'Long Black Veil'-esque song 'Woman's Prison', he's still able to do it in a way that oozes honky-tonk. While this is not the same Loretta Lynn that was known 30-40 years ago, she's still able to create music that paints a clear, poignant picture of the world that she grew up in, and holds dear to this very day. Buy, listen, love.

Oh, and don't worry. This will be my only review for this album. Sham on, buddy (you know who you are).

Electric. Fires on all cylinders.
First let me say, that though I have respected the musicianship of both Loretta Lynn and Jack White, I have never bought any of their music before this album. I am not on a street team, I don't have an axe to grind about the state of Country Music or Alternative Rockers, and I don't work for the record company or get a kickback for anything. This album is friggin' awesome. It's electric and it fires on all cylinders. The professional marriage of Loretta Lynn and Jack White couldn't be more perfect. I listened to this for the first time last week and have already bought 4 more copies for friends. I'm the type of person who listens to a new CD and latches on to a song here and there, often skipping around to hear my favorites. This album had me listening straight through again and again and thanking whoever was responsible for bringing this gift to me. Loretta is a storyteller of the highest order and her expressive voice is only surpassed by her brilliant, often hilarious and always affecting lyrics. Jack White lavishes her with the attention her talent deserves, punctuating the rough edges and pulling back for heartbreaking reveals. Just get this CD. Buy more than one. And be happy that the stars aligned and we benefit. I still marvel that in this day and age of overproduction, these two have pulled off a resonant, simple and beautiful album that rocks, is full of surprises and is endlessly infused with plain old down-home charm. I'm officially in love.

Lovely Loretta
After reading a very favorable article about this album in Rolling Stone, I knew I had to buy it. It's wonderful. Loretta's voice is as beautiful as always and Jack White is a great addition. It's the kind of album that grows on you, too. After listening to it a couple of times, you appreciate it even more.

Album of the year
It's hard for musicians to reinvent themselves or do something new and exciting so late in their careers. It's great that Jack White has got involved with someone like Loretta Lynn, because then maybe young people will start listening to older music. All the songs are pretty exciting, a mix of rock and country. Country music never sounded so weird and fun. It is a revolution.

Loretta is Amazing!
You have to listen to this album with an open mind becasuse it is none like Loretta has ever put out, but all songs were written by her, and I have to say I like the entire album. Some of the songs have a rock edge but Loretta keeps up just fine. Some of the songs are as country as you can get. Very good album. I reccomend it. My favorite songs are, Vanleer Rose, Miss Being Mrs, High on a Mountain top, and Mrs Leeroy Brown. They are all different, but its all good music. Great instrumental music as well as vocal. Loretta is Amazing! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The infectious twang and pop hooks of Wilco's former efforts may be fading fast, but A Ghost Is Born is still a rewarding effort that demands repeated listening. The group's fifth album extends upon the experimentalism of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with angular, blues-soaked guitar riffs ("At Least That's What You Said," "Hell Is Chrome"), a handful of sparse, yet catchy tunes (smack dab in the middle of the disc) that will surely keep college radio stations smiling, and a lengthy track that descends into mere static ("Less Than You Think"). Frontman Jeff Tweedy's songwriting continues to evolve: "Hummingbird" is a dreamy Randy Newman-styled love song; "The Late Greats" is a sly ode to the world of pop tacked onto the end of the album (as if using such a fun song on this understated disc was an afterthought). Meanwhile, producer extraordinaire Jim O'Rourke manages to make the most complicated arrangements here sound minimalist and laid-back. All told, it's another great addition to the Wilco canon. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Reviews (142)

Been Waiting Too Long
I'd give it four stars in the LP era, where I'd have to listen through the 15 minute static noises of "Less Than You Think". This is a John Cage 4'33-esque commentary on what can be considered music. I won't get into that now, but it's good to listen to it at least once in context of the whole album. Especially since it contrasts very starkly with the straightforward track "The Late Greats," which is probably the closest thing you'll get to Alt-Country on this album. Anyway, luckily we have the skip track button for casual listening. The rest of the album is incredible.
If you like climaxes, this is your album. Several songs start off slow and progress into some pretty hard hitting rock and dissolve into distortion. There are less dings and pings on Ghost than YHF. Ghost is more minimalist, relying more on primal baselines and rythmic sequences that make you sort of lose time within the song, often before hitting you hard with a jam. "Spiders" is the eiptome of this, and probably is the musical version of Tweedy's well-publicized migraines.
Bottom line; the alt-country fans hoping for Another A&M, the pop fans hoping for another Summerteeth, those in between hoping for another Being There, and everyone else who came on board with YHF hoping for more of the same didn't get your wishes. But that's what I love about Wilco, each album is distinctively Tweedy, but there's always something new to keep you interested.

Don't Judge Too Soon
It's a classic mistake -- a big name band comes out with a new album, and critics and fans alike step in immediately to give their first impressions. If there's one band for which that approach is a consistent a mistake, it's Wilco. Like many, I'm frightened of albums that I instantly like; they invariably begin to fade away sooner than later.

"A Ghost is Born" will leave many bumfuzzled out of the starting gate. Similar in overall style and structure to its controversial predecessor "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", this record depends heavily on brooding atmospherics which envelope the rather conventional melodies. This is Jeff Tweedy's niche; the basic pop song format shadowed and subverted by dissonant, disquieting counter-themes. For those willing to submit to Wilco's own (admittedly wry) internal logic, the rewards will come; doubt will fade like Smarty Jones in the final leg of the Belmont, and the patient listener will be overtaken and surprised by a work of unexpected depth.

Among the better tracks are "Hell is Chrome", which sounds like Paul Simon backed by Dark Side-era Pink Floyd; the breezy yet bittersweet "Wishful Thinking"; and "Theologians," a blue-collar manifesto that supplies the album's thesis with cleverly employed Biblical analogies. But the song that stands out most is "Muzzle of Bees," and astonishingly schizoidal piece whose delicate acoustic elements are trampled by wailing electric histrionics. "Muzzle" best demonstrates Wilco's disparate musical interests while showing off their latently strong musicianship.

Give this one a chance. Odds are it will make regular rounds in your CD changer well into the future.

what are you people thinking?!
This is not going to be so much a cd review as it is a rebuttal to all those who write reviews for this site...including you, Amazon.com.

Okay, forget that Wilco is one of (if not the) most innovative rock (yes, rock) bands that exists today..."Ghost" is simply a very brave and very, very amazing album that any band would sell its soul to even have conceived of, let alone create. What Wilco accomplishes on this album, even more so than YHF, is emotion - hard, raw emotion without allowing the incredible success of said YHF to interfere. Wilco (Tweedy specifically, though not exclusively) is fast proving itself a creative force which relies not on jingles and soon-to-be-radio-slough to sell its albums...in fact, Wilco couldn't care less if it sells albums or not (research your YHF history to see what I mean). Wilco proves to all us earlier non-believers that there still are those artists out there who believe in their music as an extension of themselves, as a reflection of who they truly are, not who their so-called fans wish them to be. They are artists in every sense of the word, meaning they toss critisism to the wayside as the simple opinions of those who can't...or, in the very least, won't. Art does not demand critism to exist, only the critic. So, so-called fans, save all your critisms for the next J-Lo album or whatever piece of trash you're currently reviewing. Wilco is above you all.

Now, on to the achievements of "Ghost" - amazing, spectacular, artistic, and true. That is all.

Okay, this is the Wilco cd I've waited for
I came to Wilco as a fan of the 90's band, Son Volt (and if you haven't heard of them, you are in for treat). After falling in love with those records, I followed Farrar and Tweedy in their musical travels, but Tweedy's records just never quite made it for me. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was okay, but nothing special.

This cd is great. It takes a song or two really get going, but man, it's worth it. The songs are beautiful and dream-like. The lyrics are lovely. The long musical interludes are hypnotic. For me, this is the best Wilco cd by far. Get this one.

Great Music to Fall Asleep to
We have all heard the story before and you will hear it again, about a band that hit it big by being spurned by their record company over what was one of the better albums of the last decade. Problem is that if they had turned this album instead of YHF, I am not sure that anyone would really be complaining all that mcuh.

A Ghost is Born reminds me of the inferior B-Side Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album. While I am not one of those Alt-Country Snobs that wishes Wilco would do alt-country again or pine for the days of Uncle Tupelo, I do pine for the Jeff Tweedy/Jay Bennett songwriting and stage presence that is missing on this album. The best three albums by Wilco are Being There, Summerteeth and, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and its no coincidence on each of those albums, Jay plays a crucial role in the music writing process. The problem with this album is that it becomes Jeff Tweedy and the Wilcos. More Guitar strung out guitar solos and ridiculous droning that someone will argue as being some artistic masterpiece. Well Jeff Tweedy is trying to prove something, but you know I just want an album that I can listen to over and over again and not get tired of it.

There are some great songs on this album. Hummingbird is a great song and shows once again that they do still have it in them to write a great pop song. Handshake Drugs sounds like later Velvet Underground material. While I always loved the song it had already been released before (Albeit a different mix). Theologians has also grown on me.

There are a lot of forgettable songs on this album as well. Muzzle of Bees and Wishful thinking just don't really do much for me. Spiders was turned into a huge mistake by making it 10 minutes and do we really need endless nonstop sounds on Less than You think. Maybe you like to listen to bells and whistles nonstop but I surely do not. Im a Wheel is probably one of the worst songs that Wilco has ever written. I rolled my eyes the first time I heard this song live and I was just hoping that they would realize their mistake and make this some odd B-Side.

If you never have bought a wilco album this is not the one to start off with. This band has pretty much done no wrong coming into this album. Each one of their albums they have grown as a band but what we notice more on this album is maybe the dismantling of Wilco. The bands makeup is changing more than Menudo and that has to be worrysome. You cannot have any type of growth when you only have two original members and the others have either been kicked out, fired or just sick and tired of it. ... Read more

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Martina McBride is something of a marvel. Throughout her career she has managed to walk a tightrope between Nash-Vegas commercial concerns and the high art of well-crafted songwriting and serious singing that makes up modern country at its best. Her hits in the Nineties ("Wild Angels," Independence Day," "Life #9," "Safe in the Arms of Love") were beacons of light in a darkness of clichéd and over-produced cowboy-disco tunes. Martina continues her tradition of tasteful tune picking and powerful but never over-the-top vocals. "This One's for the Girls" mines much missed Mary Chapin Carpenter territory, while tunes like "In My Daughter’s Eyes" and "So Magical" (with its scenes of rural bliss) stay safely this side of excessive sentimentality thanks to McBride's considered performances. Even pop tunes like "When You Love Me" and "Learning to Fall" are kept country with an emphasis on guitars, fiddles, and steels over syrupy synthesizers. Throughout, producers Paul Worley and McBride herself give Nashville lessons on how to make a record that is shiny but never slick. Finally, her live performance of "Over the Rainbow" is a lesson on delivering a show-stopping vocal with minimal melisma and maximum soul. --Michael Ross ... Read more

Reviews (57)

She Does It Again!
"Martina" should and will meet its expectations, and exceed them. Although it's been said this album is aimed toward the female audience, the male audience should enjoy it too! Some critics say the album is "pop" ish, they must have not listened to it very well because this is contemporary country music at its best! The first single off the album, "This One's For The Girls", is a very fun song with a great message. "Martina" is not much different from previous Martina McBride albums, with the exception of, "Reluctant Daughter", that seems to have a "bluegrassy" feel to it. "In My Daughter's Eyes" is very sentimental, every Mother will love it!! This album has a mix of everything, moderate uptempo songs,(So Magical), to a few very wonderful ballads including, "When You Love Me", and "How Far". Another touching song would be, "God's Will". Martina's live rendition of "Over The Rainbow" is another great addition to the album. "Martina" is a must have for any MUSIC fan!

An AMAZING Album!!!
Just when I thought that Martina McBride cannot possibly get any more better than she already is, she proves me wrong again!!! Her cd "Martina," is AMAZING!!!!

Here is how I rate each track (5 stars= BEST):

1) So Magical- I love this Celtic song... the instrumentation is ear candy, the lyrics are catchy and Martina's voice is awesome in it. (5 stars)

2) She's A Butterfly- a very nice song, talking about the transition of a girl to a stage of womanhood. Tears of joy come from listening to this song. (5 stars)

3) City of Love- cool song, about surviving anything that shows up in one's road, as long as that person has built a foundation of love. Like the "yellow brick road" reference.(5 stars)

4) This One's for the Girls- Martina's first single of the album. LOVE it! It's very fun, uptempo and very enjoyable. An anthem for any girl. (5 stars)

5) How Far- WOW!!! Martina hits the highest notes in the album on this song. Once, again. WOW! (5 stars)

6) Reluctant Daughter- EXCELLENT! Martina shows her pure mountain vocals on this bluegrass/gospel tune. (5 stars)

7) Wearin' White- I LOVE this track! It's very country, uptempo and tells a story. (5 stars)

8) When You Love Me- my least favorite track on the album. I guess it has yet to grow on me. (4 stars)

9) In My Daughter's Eyes- beautiful song, about how the daughter sees the mother from her perspective. Any parent's favorite. (5 stars)

10) Learning to Fall- great song. Catchy chorus and the harmonies are a treat. (5 stars)

11) God's Will- OMG This song is SUPERLATIVE!!! My favorite in the album. It tells the story of Will, a cripled boy, and his challenging life. A tear jerking, but very powerful and meaningful song. I get goosebumps each time I listen to it. This song is worth the entire price of the cd alone! (6 stars!!!)

12) Over the Rainbow- a LIVE version of this song. A wonderful finale to the album. Shows Martina's exceptional vocal range. (5 stars)

Overall, this is one of the best country music albums ever and Martina's finest! If you do not own this musical masterpiece, don't tiptoe or walk your way to the cd store, RUN RUN RUN!!!!

Best of the Best!
I recently got this cd and I just have been listening ever since. She has a solid voice that you wanna hear over and over again.

Martina McBride -Marvolous Music Mastermind
The absolute most amazing CD ever made. There is so much variety on this album, that you can play it over and over, and it will NEVER get old.
There is not a single so-called "throw-away" song on this record!
Martina can out sing anyone, anytime! Her voice is breath-taking.

Money well spent on 'Martina'!

Wonderful!
As a long-time fan of Martina McBride, I picked this CD up the day it hit stores. Of course, this could also be due to the fact that Martina was doing some in-store appearances at Wal-Mart, and personally signed my CD insert.

Martina shows her classic vocal strength in the songs "How Far", "When You Love Me", and the live version of "Over The Rainbow". She also does her signature "problem" songs with God's Will -- Focusing not on abuse, but with physically disabled children. After listening to this song, you'll be neading your Kleenex's, because it's so sad.

Martina also ravishes on her "Girl Power" attitude with "This One's For The Girls", explaining how every girl is the same inside from 1 to 99, no matter what you look like. In "So Magical" she soaks in a simple way of life, and it's "so magical", while "City Of Love" talks about how wonderful love is, after you build the city. It's your typical feel-good love song, but on a whole 'nother level.

On a more serious note, the song "She's A Butterfly" which was written by Big Kenny and John Rich of Big & Rich, was about a girl who was fighting cancer. It's a lovely kind of "Girl power song" but with a more emotional meaning to it.

You have a fun, twangy song with "Wearing White" which tells a story about a former wild child that's wearing white on her wedding day, which follows the more serious "Reluctant Daughter" which is more spiritual.

In the song "In My Daughter's Eyes" you can hear Martina's raw emotion because she's basically talking about her daughters. It's a lovely song for parents with little girls.

On my favorite track, which is why I saved it for last, "Learning To Fall" is explaining how after guarding your heart for so long it's a little hard "Learning to Fall" in love!

All in all, this is an excellent CD. I've listenened to it non-stop for nine months and I'm still not tired of it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

During the "folk music-scare" of the early 1960s, a bunch of white middle-class youths with names like the Greenbriar Boys and the Even Dozen Jug Band discovered the mountain music of the Stanley Brothers, Skillet Lickers, and Uncle Dave Macon and set about introducing it to the country's college kids. Four decades later, the members of OCMS fit the profile of those early revivalists, yet if anything they have tapped deeper into the primal elements of an American art form. As demonstrated on their debut, they have assimilated not just the sound--banjos, harmonicas, acoustic guitar and bass--but more importantly the haunting spirit of music that was made to keep hard times at bay. How else to explain their ability to take a well-worn chestnut like "CC Rider" and infuse it with an energy that reveals once again why it is a classic? Not content to live completely in the past, they wrote "Big Time in the Jungle," which, though it is about Vietnam, could easily be transposed to 2004's desert conflicts. Kindred spirit and producer David Rawlings (Gillian Welch's longtime collaborator) has kept their energy intact, but one can only wonder what sort of magic they must deliver live. --Michael Ross ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Like Gravy
I love seeing this band live--it is a soulful experience. And yes, long-time fans will have heard more rollicking versions of several of the songs. But the Old Crows prove on this record that they can convey a range of emotion, sing and write different kinds of songs, evoke different kinds of feelings and memories--all while staying true to the music of the past. For those who might hesitate to buy this record because of comparison to some bluegrass CD currently annoying the masses, don't fear--this is something entirely different--something that, in stripping off the polish/varnish that makes most most contemporary musician's voices and music sound exactly the same--strikes at something that is (for lack of a better word) real. From fast-paced, energetic songs like "Tear it Down" to the transcendent original tune "We're All in This Together" this album stands apart. It is excellent, and has not left my CD player since it arrived last week.

Good, but not so good.
These guys are still one of my favorite bands, but I agree with an earlier review that Nashville has really damaged this group. I'm sure this is going to be a hit record, but the album buying public will never know how good this band has been in the past. The energy of their live show and other albums is completely missing. Those of you who've never heard this band should definately buy this. However,if you're and old fan, you should be in mourning. Goodbye Old-Time Punk, hello O'Brother. Can't blame record exec's for wanting to make a buck.

How are they live?
The review wondered how Old Crow was live- I had the pleasure of seeing them this spring, and I can say they were fabulous. Spontaneous, fun, energetic- David Rawlings went to joing them half way through the set, and the chemistry was great. The album's great, they're the best 'new' bluegrass I've heard in a while. Buy the album, then find them live!

Maybe the band wants a buck too
The album is great. Haunting and feels like my old house.
Change and evolution are an inevitable part of life, and blaming record execs for a band's album not sounding like/or having the energy of a live show is just plain tired. Nothing ever stays the same, let go and enjoy the growth.

Asheville
I went to see this group in Asheville, NC. They started with CC Ride and got better all the time. I thought that each song was just unbelievable, the way they built you up and the ending song was Wagon Wheel. Not to get too involved but "Butch" did a wonderful fill on the guitar and vocals. If you here this album you will really want to go and see Old Crow Medicine Show in person. This is a group that on the cutting edge. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Tim McGraw and Big & Rich toured together in 2004, their special guest rapper all but stole the show. With his full-length CD debut, Cowboy Troy returns to build a bridge between country and hip-hop through a fusion that he dubs "hick-hop." Produced by Big & Rich, who collaborated on much of the material with Texan Troy Coleman, the raps bring down-home humor to uptown rhyming, as fiddle, banjo, and steel guitar punctuate the beat. While "I Play Chicken with the Train" and "My Last Yeehaw," both with Big & Rich, might generate some novelty airplay, Troy shows more reflective depth on a spoken-word ballad, "If You Don't Love Me," and a spiritual dimension on "Somebody's Smilin' on Me," with chorus harmonies by McGraw and Big Kenny. "El Tejano" includes a Spanish-language interlude, while "Beast on the Mic" has a Japanese hook. With the closing "Wrap Around the World," Troy celebrates hip-hop as the universal language, with the world of country music no longer an exception. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (28)

"Do Your Thang", Hick Chicks & Hick Roosters are Groovin!
Do you wanna dance?( I think that's the name of a song...from way back when)...Most of us do..even some of us who do not DARE to be Different...do not DARE to break with tradition...Cowboy...you GO , guy! Refreshing "RaP"..not the same monotonous chanting of most "rappers" today...And guess what...there is a theme besides murder...sex...and violence in Troy's lyrics...They are about life in the average home...not getting stuck with a blade or using the forbidden four letter word to get to the listener...Troy communicates compassion...humanity...through his true "SOUL" music for the 21st Century. John, Tim,Kenney,Sarah , and Jill...(The singer with the ethereal voice ...Do Your Thang...)have provided some great backups....Walk into the classroom in any of the middle and high schools today and you will find kids who "LOVE" this music...They can dance to it...can identify with the words which relate to their life at home...their "self" image...their aspirations...their Faith in God! Positive values...Thanks again to Muzik Mafia for the refreshing talent they are bringing to us and I'm sure there is MORE to come...Get in "sync" and "Do your thang, baby....Do your thang!"

This is a funny cd! "hick-hop" is awsome!
I bought this a few days ago, and I ENJOY IT! It is alot like Big&Rich's cd. It is funny!

New Era of Country Music Begins........
First and foremost, this album is AWESOME!! MUZIK MAFIA FOREVER!! I would recomend this album to anyone and everyone who enjoys ANY type of music. And don't forget to look up CBT's previous two albums, they're great!!

Next, for those of you on here who seem to think that this isn't 'country enough' to be played on TV or radio, get a life. I will agree that CBT isn't the traditional country singer, but this isn't the 1950's anymore either. Just because he's black doesn't mean that he can't sing or rap country. He has talent, much more so than many new country artists out there today. The lyrics don't have to be about life on a farm or driving down a dirt road to be country. FYI: CBT is from Dallas, big city life, not many farms or dirt roads in the city. So he sings about what he knows, that tells me that he is the real deal and knows what he is singing about.Take the time to go over his lyrics, and you might be suprised how much a person can relate to.Furthermore, I know that his style of rapping is about 20 years outdated.However, are you trying to convince people that just because a music style is out-dated means that it is horrible?Okay, if thats the case, than I would love to see someone try and tell me that Hank Williams or Waylon Jennings are horrible.Don't forget Johnny Cash, he did rock n' roll BEFORE country, and yet he ended up being one of the most well-known, greatest country singers in history.So don't try to convince me that CBT isn't country enough!!!

I believe that CBT, B&R, GW, and the rest of the mafia will be around for many years to come and I (among millions of others) will be right there to support them.

The Worst Thing I've Ever Heard
This is by far the worst thing I've ever heard.The problem with this music is not that it mixes two opposing genres, but that it is horrible.The elements of rap are bad and so are those of country, so it isn't a surprise that Country Troy's hybrid is exponentially bad.The rap, at it's best, sounds like a dumbed-down sketch comedy version of L.L. Cool J if he were raised by white trash.Save your money and save your ears.

More barriers than 1 broken
I'm impressed with the job he did
especialy with him being of color
in an industry where you don't see
many if any of color plus he can do
things that a normal Serious singer
would not do such as meshing more
music styles than 1 for his brand of
music dubbed hick-hop so if he can
keep it up he'll have a very bright
future. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The transformation from veteran Southern rockers into fledgling country artists hasn't required much of a musical shift by the brothers Van Zant. The hard-edged guitar riffing, chip-on-shoulder feistiness, and celebrations of Southern pride on much of the material would have fit just as easily on an album byLynyrd Skynyrd, the band in which Johnny Van Zant replaced his late brother Ronnie as lead singer. Donnie Van Zant brought a lighter touch to his music in .38 Special, as reflected here in the more melodic balladry of "Things I Miss the Most" and "I Can't Help Myself." By subtracting the extended guitar solos from 1970s Southern rock and adding an occasional banjo break or steel guitar fill, Johnny and Donnie Van Zant extend their appeal across categories as well as generations of fans. Though songs such as "Sweet Mama" and "Plain Jane" rely a little too heavily on cliché, "Takin' Up Space," "Ain't Nobody Gonna Tell Me What to Do," and "Help Somebody" are anthems with the sort of conviction that will inevitably inspire raised fists and chorus sing-a-longs. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Van Zants' Third Great Duo Album
GET RIGHT WITH THE MAN is Van Zant's third great duo album in a row. Most of the songs are exemplary, and although the ballads drag a bit, the rockers are rather like a cross between .38 Special, Skynyrd, Toby Keith, and the Outlaws. Now, if the Van Zant brothers would do an album with the Outlaws' Hughie Thomasson and Henry Paul, and bill it as "The Van Zant-Thomasson-Paul Project", that would be a project that would truly be timeless.

BALD MEN HATE COUNTRY RADIO WANNABES
Don't let anyone fool ya. This is the same crap passing for "outlaw country" on the radio these days. Occasional decent melodies, but mainly a mess. Lyrics? Dumb, dumber and dumbest. Mainly tired cliches about grandpa, living in the backwoods, southern pride and relgion. Smells like a desperate attempt to make the radio. Which it should do, because does it ever stink!!!

BIG & RICH DISEASE
I'm a big Skynyrd fan, and also a big fan of REAL country music. So I had high expectations for this album when it came out, even tho I never liked .38 Special. What a joke! I wasn't expecting Skynyrd because I knew this was supposed to be a country album. But this album has more to do with Big & Rich or Toby Keith than real country. The words are trite, even by modern country standards. Even worse, the performances are totally uninspired. But hey, I guarantee country radio will love this slop. Whatever sells, right fellas? Lame lame lame.

Unbelievable!This Will Make you "Get Right With the Man"
For those of you who don't know, Van Zant has 2 other cd's, 1998's "Brother to Brother,"and 2001's - "Van Zant II." II you may ask?Yes, in 1986, they released "Van Zant" (hence the 2).

But anyway.

For the one's who rated this "Southern Rock Lite"...
Learn to interpret music.This is country, albeit, some songs are very rock oriented, it still remains country."Takin' Up Space," "I Know My History," "I'm Doin' Alright," and "Been There Done That" are all rockin' country.It still has hardcore country "Nobody Gonna Tell Me What to Do," "Things I Miss the Most," "I Can't Help Myself," and "Plain Jane."

For the one person who said they couldn't get the cd to play...
Yes you can.Unless your computer inept and can't open the cd drive on your computer, you can get the cd to play.

This cd does infact show their love of God, their love for the south, and the simple way of life.The one song, that is carried over is "Sweet Mama."Carried over?Yes, from Lynyrd Skynyrd's 2003 release "Vicious Cycle."(Donnie Van Zant penned the song....he also penned "Red, White and Blue" of Skynyrd's too)... Sweet Mama shows the true love they had for Marion "Sister" Van Zant (their mother), and it'll make you feel their feelings.

Anytime you see Donnie Van Zant's name in the credit for the song, odds are, he wrote the song, with the help from the others.Donnie is a brilliant song writer.That is something he learned from legendary brother Ronnie Van Zant and Ides of March frontman (formerly Survivor), Jim Peterik.

Ronnie Van Zant, to me, is by far and away, the greatest lyricist to ever walk the face of the earth...He wrote beautiful lyrics, and is an inspiration not only to Country music, but all music as well.

It has rubbed off on Donnie and Johnny.This cd shines with songs you'll be singing for the rest of the day...and not those types of annoying songs you just cant get out of your head and you want to smash the radio station that played it...the good kind...such as the aforementioned "Nobody Gonna Tell Me What to Do."

This cd is a definite buy.If anyone has read any of my other ratings on here, you'll know I don't rate songs such as the "5/5; 4/5" crap...and I hate people who do so.Honestly, I'll rate the songs on my own, I don't need somebody telling me what they rated each song.I do like reading peoples thoughts to whether I should buy the cd.I reccomend this cd, especially if your a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Montgomery Gentry, or, well...Van Zant.This cd is one that you'll carry everywhere with you, and is a true hit in the making.

Classic rock and country fan loves this album
Been a LS and 38 fan for decades.Very pleased when I heard the brothers were getting together for this.The album doesn't disappoint.Does it have a more "country flavor" than previous efforts?Yes.But the Southern rock roots that the Van Zants are known for come through loud and clear. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Brad Paisley sings, as he does on the lead single "Celebrity," "No matter what you do, people think you're cool just 'cuz you're on TV," he ratifies his status as a formidable voice in modern yet accessible and traditional country music. "That's Love" and "Is It Raining at Your House" offer romance freed of hazy metaphor or greeting-card slogans. There's a miniature morality play, "The Cigar Song," and the obligatory closing gospel chestnut ("Farther Along"). The guest shots--by contemporary stars Alison Krauss and Vince Gill, and veterans Bill Anderson, George Jones, and Little Jimmy Dickens--are pleasant but hardly necessary, since Paisley's good musical sense abounds. He also revives a long-vanished tradition: the featured sideman. As Chet Atkins once played for the Carter Sisters and Don Rich picked behind Buck Owens, Paisley spotlights the amazing guitarist, Merle Haggard alumnus Redd Volkaert, letting him loose on "Spaghetti Western Swing." Paisley himself flies free on the extended country-jazz jam in the middle of "Make a Mistake with Me." With wit, heart, and unyielding devotion to the earthy, Paisley follows his 2001 gem, Part II, with an even more compelling album that should set a new standard. --Rich Kienzle ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Best Brad Paisley CD yet!!!
I am completely blown away by this CD! This is definitely Brad's best CD, much better than "Part II", which I thought was lacking compared to his impressive debut, "Who Needs Pictures." Every song on here is a gem, especially the hauntingly beautiful "Whiskey Lullaby" with Alison Krauss. The "Spaghetti Western Swing" is great also, it's an instrumental with legends Bill Anderson, "Little" Jimmy Dickens and George Jones telling a "story" along with the music. It's hilarious and it's great to hear these legends appear on this CD. The cover of Vern Gosdin's hit "Is It Raining At Your House" is almost as beautiful as the original recording. But every song is great, no filler tunes here-Brad wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 16 songs. And, of course, Brad's phenomenal musicianship can be heard on every track, he is one of the best guitarists in Country music today. If you are a fan of Brad Paisley, you will love this CD. And if you are a fan of traditional Country music, then this is the CD for you-this is about as close to traditional Country you'll see from any contemporary artist recording today. Buy it without hesitation or reservation!

virginia fan loving the wv singer
Brad Paisley is known as one of the most clever song-writers in all of the music world. This CD continues with that theme. Just like the first two CD's. this CD starts of with a clear, fun, feet-stomping song "Mud on the Tires". "Celebrity" is another fun song that has been a huge radio hit. The fourth song is "Little Moments" which I heard him sing at the Grand Ole Opry the week before the CD arrived. There were many tears in the crowd. This song is the perfect example of how well Paisley can write a song that strikes a chord by writing about moments and emotions that are simple, but true. "Famous People" is my favorite song, just because of how funny it is. If you know anyone form the country (where I live) you'll understand why. "Whiskey Lullaby" is a beautiful song, with one problem - we want more of Kraus and Paisley together. "The Best Thing I had Going" and "The Cigar Song" are different sounding songs, but shows how amazing Paisley is (much like Toby Keith) in how he can make two seperate styles of music sound ao good together. A great cover, "Is It Raining At Your House", and another gospel rendition and this CD certainly stands on it own. The problem is Paisley can never make enough music to keep his fans happy. Thank you Brad for making country music so much better.

Best Since Garth
I have not heard someone come across country radio over the past 15 years who sturs as much emotion in me when I hear their music than Brad Paisley. When I hear the songs Who Needs Pictures, I Wish You'd Stay and his latest Whiskey Lullaby I literally get choked up. All three of his albums have been outstanding and Mud on the Tires may be his best so far. Celebrity is a great/upbeat song. Little Moments is very heartwarming and by the lyrics you can tell he recently got married. The opening line in Whiskey Lullaby makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up >> She put him out like a burnt end of a midnight cigarette. After that I was hooked...great song! The remake of Vern Gosdin's hit >> Is it Raining @ Your House is was very good. I just hope the average country music fan realizes what a treasure we have in Brad Paisley. With all of the Shanya, Rascal Flatts, etc. junk we have to put up with it is nice to get an authentic, talented COUNTRY artist moving up the charts again.

sweet and funny
Usually I buy a cd for 2 or 3 songs that have become hits on the waves. I was pleasantly surprised to hear more on this album than what has hit the radio stations, and it is all great. With few exceptions (I am not a big fan of the talking western, so the "Spaghetti Western" at the end leaves me kind of cold) I enjoyed the whole album. Whether the rest of his stuff hits the charts or not, I will still love the cd, and that's something I haven't been able to say since Garth Brooks.

Excellent Work
Brad Paisley truly has it all - he has a smooth, velvety voice, plays his guitar amazingly, and writes all the music himself. He's not something manufactured just to make money, he's an amazing man who knows how to put on a show. This CD is great and will be well worth purchasing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

East Tennessee-born singer Kenny Chesney has, in the course of his relatively brief career, proven to be an unremarkable but thoroughly competent singer who shows occasional flashes of brilliance when teamed with the right song. That happens roughly half the time on this 17-cut compilation disc, which, despite its title, actually includes four new songs, one rerecording, and a remix. Amid soppy country-pop chart fodder ("Me and You," "When I Close My Eyes") and second-rate ditties ("How Forever Feels," "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"), Chesney hits his stride on robust country ballads like "You Had Me from Hello" and the lead single "I Lost It." On other gems--like "That's Why I'm Here," a heartfelt tribute to the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program that topped the charts a while back; "Baptism," a great duet with Randy Travis; and his fine rerecording of "Tin Man," the song that launched his career in the mid '90s--Chesney even manages to attain an ephemeral but utterly moving transcendence over his vocal limitations and sometimes questionable song choices. --Bob Allen ... Read more

Reviews (44)

~I Love This CD!!~
Hi everybody! I'm Heather and I've never written one of these be4, but I'll try! Anywho, I have to say that this is DEFINITELY my favorite CD that I'm always listening to. I used to not like country music that much, but last year that all changed. I'll tell most of the story- Well last year I met this guy Henry (we're now going out)and he's very country, like VERY country!! yeh, anyways, I had to get used to it and at first I didn't like it, but after a while it wasn't that bad. This Kenny Chesney CD was the first country CD I bought because my boyfriend had mentioned him and I heard some of his songs that I liked. Well that CD is still sooooo good I listen to it everyday no matter what! It's just a habit. Plus, the song "Me and You" is me and my boyfriend's song so that's cool. I think country is the best type of music EVER!!! Seriously though, every song has a story to it or a meaning of something and most songs in other types of music just keep saying the same verse over and over again which is BORING! Country is the best and so is Kenny Chesney!!!!I can't wait to see him in a concert one day!!!Well thanx for reading this (sorry its so long:)
Love, Heather

Kenny who?
Based on popularity and airtime, I know who the big stars are in country music, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Clint Black, Shania Twain, Dixie Chicks, etc... A few years back, I went to a Clint Black concert and Tim McGraw (who was a nobody at the time) opened. This was the first time I heard of this guy and was blown away by his performance. So, to follow suit, I heard Kenny Chesney was opening for Tim McGraw and gave him a listen. The Greatest Hits collection was the first CD I listened to and I was amazed how many songs I was already familiar with. To date, I can say Kenny is one of my favorite singers. Suprisingly, the song I enjoy the most of his was never aired on the radio... the live version of 'Back Where I Come From'. If you get a chance, drive down a country road on a beautiful summer day with the windows open, and play it. Indescribable!

Unlike a lot of musicians who drop one or two good songs on two or more CDs and force you to purchase a box set to obtain them all, Kenny put all of his on one. Bravo! This is a TRUE Greatest Hits album.

this is the best cd ever
i think that this is oen of the best cds ever because i love all the songs on it. one of my favorites is she thinks my tractors sexy because i like to listen to the words they're pretty funny, my favorite part is "she aint into cars or the pickup trucks but if it runs like a deere man her eyes light up" because i love John Deere. it is weird because when i first heard most of these songs i didnt even know who kenny chesney was i hadnt even heard of him before but recently i have heard of him and i just love his music he is now my all tme favorite country singer. i think that they should put the stars up to ten because this is a really good cd.

He is Wonderful!
Any country fan out there is going to want to get their hands on this Greatest Hits album. There is nobody else like Kenny Chesney, his voice is heavenly and he gives off a sweet innocent boy next door appeal. His songs are touching and they just flow with his voice and the music. I cant even explain how much I enjoy this CD. Anyone who likes country should have this CD because without Kenny, your music collection is not complete. He is just simply wonderful....

Didn't know what I was missing
I didn't really know who Kenny Chesney was until the song "Good Stuff" came out on his "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" CD, that was my first KC CD. After thoroughly enjoying his "No Shoes..." album, I wanted to pick up another CD of his. So I went for his "Greatest Hits" CD. To my surprise, there are a whole lot of songs on there that I recognize. I had no idea Kenny Chesney some of the great country songs were performed by Kenny Chesney. I recommend picking up KC's "Greatest Hits" CD to anyone who enjoys country music. There's none like him. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's no surprise that the best cuts on Songs About Me are produced by Scott Hendricks, the man who gave Trace Adkins his major-label deal and best understands the psyche of a 6-foot-6 Louisianan with a past full of close calls, high emotions, and deep soul searching (getting shot and nearly dying, later going to rehab). Adkins, with his tender-tough, bottom-of-the-riverbed baritone, sings country music because he's lived its eventful story songs. That's something he celebrates in the title song, which deftly lays out the reasons for the genre's popularity, even to folks who wouldn't ordinarily gravitate to the twangy side of the radio dial. Perhaps anyone could make that song a hit, but it takes a singer of far more subtlety to deliver the incredibly well-written (by Jeremy Spillman and Dave Turnbull) "Arlington," a uniquely different type of war song. Elsewhere, Adkins runs the gamut of themes, from the heartfelt ballad "I Learned How to Love from You" to the randy "Baby I'm Home" to the high-octane "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" (produced by Dann Huff). If some of it seems like awfully familiar territory, Adkins elevates it to the art of blue-collar soul. --Alanna Nash ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Song About me
Without a doubt this is the worst singer I think I have ever heard.This album just proves it."Songs About Me" is a terribly written and more importantly terribly sung song.It has no passion, and quite honestly I found it and his voice boring.I gave it one star because I didn't see any negative 5 stars.
Don't buy it, it is obviously just someone who is out to sell a cd and doesn't care about vocals or content.

Well..another good cd
Trace does it again. This is a good one. If you liked Coming On Strong..you will love this one as well. Trace can sing a ballad like no other singer out there.Trace to me is the Bruce Springsteen of Country Music..he tells it like it is.The best part of being a fan of his, even before I knew of Trace and became more of a fan, you can tell his life expriences in his songs much like Bruce. Real Life experience..from the core. They are Songs About Him..or me or even you. The soldiers song Arlington brought me to a dead stop and I immediatlely thought of my father who was buried with a 21 gun salute and a flag drapped over him and Taps playing in the back ground the day we said goodbye. I Learned How To Love From You is beautiful and so is I Wish It Was You and My Way Back and Find Me a Preacher..My Heaven brings me back home to my front porch and I love to watch my children play too. Honky Tonk Badonkadonk..funny as heck...and I will be watching my backside from now on when I dance..hahaha..This is a good cd. Thanks Trace and team for your time, hard work and good ethics. You are very talented Trace, I just hope this time you finally get the recognition that you are so often over lookedfor. Your fans know you and love you...Thank you.