Jamey Johnson

Hey everybody! So I know it's been some time. I'm sorry about that. Well, I just gotta rave about this cat for a bit.

Jamey Johnson got his artist career going with a major label a couple years ago. You might remember a song called "The Dollar" about a father always working and the son giving him $1 to help out so he wouldn't have to spend so much time at work. Well, shortly after that the label dropped a few new artists and Jamey was one of them. Could have been a really sad day for country music...

However, get this after that, Jamey Johnson went on to write or co-write a string of songs that were getting recorded by singers like George Strait. Most of us would kill for talent like Jamey's. It wasn't "all good" after the drop though. The same day the label dropped him, his girlfriend left him. Talk about a day that makes you question loyalty. And the next year was pretty dark.

He is now with a new label and has a new album called "That Lonesome Song". WOW, it is one of the greatest albums in a long time. Look him up on myspace or youtube to hear some of these great songs: "In Color", "That Lonesome Song", "High Cost of Living", "Back to Caroline". There are so many more. Just take my word for it. If you are a fan of Walon Jennings, or if you have any real taste at all, you will Love Jamey Johnson.


Thanks,
John

Pat Green - What I'm For

Ok, so it seems like forever since I've posted a review. Well, I was waiting for a couple albums to come out. Things seem to have been kinda slow in the music world, but on Jan. 27th, there were two releases that I was waiting for all summer and fall long. One of them was Bruce Springsteen's Working on a Dream. I will review that one next. But first let's talk about Pat Green's What I'm For.


The first single off of this album "Let Me" is now well into the top 20 and rising. However, it came out in June, so I'm looking for another release soon. I love this CD, it has everything I look for in a great mix of songs. Some fun, some deep, and something that makes a statement about the artists view point of the world. The song selections they did for this project exceeded my expectations on this front.

"Footsteps of our Fathers" I think would make a great single. And I'd like to see it live as well. It kinda talks about how the constant of our actions, and how what we do today, could carry on to our children and to their children and from a son and a father standpoint this one hits home with me.

"What I'm For" is really just like it says. These are the things that the writer and artist can tell you that they are for. This is the song that makes THE STATEMENT on this record and therefore I understand why it got the "title track" vote.

"Lucky" just sums up my life right now. There was a time I thought, "Man if I could just get a band and go to Nashville and make it big and have the cars, the money the fame..." you know how it goes. But now as a husband, father, son, friend, I have everything I really want in life. Now it's just what I make of it. Plus this is one of those fun ones that you can just crank up and go!

"Feeling Pretty Good Tonight". This one was written by Pat and Bobby Pinson. I have loved Bobby's stuff since I first heard him. He has a "special" way of looking at things and I'm always excited to hear what he comes up with. This is one of those fun songs that you just turn up an sing along and you don't care what the person next to you at the light thinks, because they don't have the pleasure you have getting to hear such great sounds from your speakers.

"In This World". This one had to grow on me. The first time I listened I thoght, "Oh that's a nice little acoustic song to put on there to tone it back a little." But now that I've listened to it a few times, it takes on a deeper meaning. It seems to be more about the human race and the persistance of trying to find a place in the world were we all belong and can come to an understanding.

"Carry On". Now this has been on a couple other PG albums, but this is a little different version. At first I wasn't sure about this, but it was nice to see how it has changed and kinda grown up in Pat's mind.

"In the Middle of the Night". This song is truley great. I think it will stand the test of time. In 10 years I will look back at Pat's entire career and I think this song will stand up there with "Carry On", "If I had a Million", or "Southbound 35".

I'd also like to say, when it comes to Pat Green along with many singer/songwriters who are more underground, I am very torn between trying to promote them so others can enjoy it as much as I have and keeping all the good stuff to myself. Letting the other "Country music fans" be content with the mainstream, believing that that is all there is. But I can't help but to promote such good music. I believe that is why I'm here to help the lost souls find what they are looking for through music. So go buy Pat Green's "What I'm For". I give it 5/5 Stars!

Album Review: AC/DC - Black Ice

OK, so it's been a while since I did a review so I hope people are still reading this blog. Got this CD for Christmas. I had heard all the hype, "It is vintage AC/DC", "It sounds just like the old stuff". Well, while digital technology and the evolving mindset of an artist, makes 30 years of music sound very different, I was pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of it. Straight forward rhythm driven rock with simple lyrics. Much like the old stuff. I know some fans like the old stuff and refuse to even listen to new stuff because they are stuck in the past. Or they are so afraid of getting old, if they never hear new stuff it's like it never happened. Bad news for you, Black Ice just happened. And you're getting old! Who cares, old means something. It means you made it. You survived a lot of crap that was thrown at you and you now have some scars as reminders, but you lived it. Brian Johnson, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd understand that. They just want you to come to the party and enjoy it.

So 15 songs. I'd say 7 really good ones, 5 decent ones and a couple I'll probably skip over. I think you'll agree, but if you can't spare the price of 2 movie tickets to own 13 good rock songs, then you weren't a fan to begin with. Just speaking in the attitude of rock. Oh yeah I almost forgot 4/5 stars.

Thanks.

Jersey Girl - Movie Review

This is a very good movie. Starring Ben Afleck, George Carlin, Liv Tyler and Raquel Castro. I must say with some of the movies Ben Afleck has done, and with George Carlin being in a more serious role, I was sceptical, but the trailor was so good I wanted to see it. I was not disapointed. Written by Kevin Smith, (Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob), this stepped into a more serious and mature theme. 5/5 Stars.

George Strait music video for Troubadour

I saw George Strait's video for Troubadour. I already loved the song. The video takes kind of a nostalgic look at his career. I think I had already seen all the photos they used, but it was cool seeing it put in this video. Since we have moved back to Maryville, I have been taking lots of memory lane trips lately so this video makes a lot of since to me right now. And George is just so cool. 5/5 Stars

Bruce Springsteen - Live in KC

As a lot of you know, I am a huge Springsteen fan. I had a chance to go in 2001 and didn't. I've regretted it since. So when this time came around, I scraped up the $$$ and got 2 tickets. I went with my father-in-law, who also is a big BOSS fan. He hasn't been to many concerts. Not many tours go through Farm Town, Iowa. So I think the experience was pretty cool for him too.

Show start time was 7:30. We got there at 7:20 and about 1000 or so fans were still trying to get in. Security was pretty tight and not very well organized. We grabbed a T-Shirt and got to our seats by 7:45 or so. They were still working on setting up stage and lights. No explanation was ever given for the delay, but at 8:50 the show finally started. I know they usually play for about 3 hours, so I knew it would be a late night. He started off with a string of some new stuff, I had never heard. They were OK, what I could understand of it. Then broke into Hungry Heart. The set list was pretty diverse. After 30 years, it would be hard to pick 20 songs to do. So he did about 30 or so. Some of the best I thought were "Out in the Streets", "Badlands", "Youngstown", "The Promised Land", "No Surrender" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out". He dedicated "Devils & Dust" to the troops. The first Encore, had the best moments though. "Born to Run" was tops for the night, and "Rosalita" was pretty cool. The second encore had "Dancin' in the Dark" and some others, I can't remember. Max even sang a song for the first time EVER!!! Since this was the first tour without Danny Federici, they did "Sandy" in memory of Danny. Very cool.

They were still playing at 12:00 when we left. We both had to be up early the next morning and with a 2 hour drive ahead of us, that wasn't looking good. I really wanted to see "Thunder Road", "Jungleland" and "Born in the USA". But we got our money worth.

Because of the late start, and some of the new songs were just ok, I give this show a 4.5/5 stars.

Batman - The Dark Knight

WOW! I know everybody is saying that Heath Ledger should win the Oscar... and he should. This was not only the best comic book movie I've seen, but one of the best movies period. My only complaint was that they could have cut the last 20 minutes or so out, and put that in the next movie. Anyway, I can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can buy it. I loved it. 5/5 Stars