Category: Country, Folk, & Bluegrass

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LOST HIGHWAY (by Bon Jovi)

SUMMARY:          APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 50:00 Min.

In 2007, Mercury Records released Bon Jovi’s tenth studio album, Lost Highway, as the band’s first entry in the Contemporary Country genre.  Lost Highway was subsequently nominated for a 2008 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.

With several tunes composed by various members of Bon Jovi, the twelve tracks are:

  1. “Lost Highway”           (4:13)
  2. “Summertime”            (3:17)
  3. “(You Want to) Make A Memory   (4:36)
  4. “Whole Lot of Leavin’”   (4:16)
  5. “We Got It Going On” (with Big & Rich)    (4:12)
  6. “Any Other Day”         (4:01)
  7. “Seat Next to You”      (4:21)
  8. “Everybody’s Broken” (4:11)
  9. “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore” (with Leeann Rimes)  (4:43)
  10. “The Last Night”         (3:32)
  11. “One Step Closer”       (3:35)
  12. “I Love This Town”     (4:37).

REVIEW:

It’s a solid effort, though Lost Highway isn’t necessarily a must-have.  If compared to Bon Jovi albums from the band’s big-hair rock prime, Lost Highway explores an intriguing change of pace.  Specifically, Bon Jovi opts for a middle-of-the-road (pardon the expression) approach between upbeat rock and a Contemporary Country bar band.  The end result delivers – probably more as smooth quantity than surefire quality.

Tracks # 3: (You Want to) Make A Memory and # 5: We Got It Going On (with Big & Rich), for instance, are standout tunes in an album where the melodies tend to blend together.  That’s not a knock so much, as one can appreciate Bon Jovi’s attempt at a more introspective and mature sound.  Well-played team-ups with Big & Rich and Leann Rimes, in that sense, demonstrate nuances in the band’s artistic depth. 

Still, Lost Highway consistently sticks to a formula of low-key, appealing tracks that won’t likely linger with listeners afterwards.  This album, nonetheless, is a classy road trip to take with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and their pals.    

PACKAGING:

The list of tracks and their running times are provided on the CD case.  The insert booklet includes: each song’s lyrics and credits; the album’s technical credits; thank-you’s; and an assortment of color and black-and-white photos of the band.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          7 Stars

Categories
CD's Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Music & Radio Shows

TAKING THE LONG WAY (by The Chicks aka The Dixie Chicks)

SUMMARY:          RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 6 Min.

Released by Columbia Nashville Records in 2006, Taking the Long Way is The Chicks’ (aka The Dixie Chicks) seventh studio album.  All three members (Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, & Emily Strayer) are co-writers on all fourteen tracks. 

Track 14: “I Hope” was subsequently nominated for two 2007 Grammys – specifically, Best Country Song and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal.  Track # 3: “Not Ready to Make Nice” ultimately scored three Grammy wins: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.  Taking the Long Way’s fourth and fifth 2007 Grammys would be for Best Country Album and Album of the Year.

The track list is as follows:

  1. The Long Way Around  4:31
  2. Easy Silence   4:02
  3. Not Ready to Make Nice   3:58
  4. Everybody Knows   4:18
  5. Bitter End   4:38
  6. Lullaby   5:51
  7. Lubbock or Leave It    3:54
  8. Silent House    5:23
  9. Favorite Year   4:29
  10. Voice Inside My Head   5:52
  11. I Like It    4:34
  12. Baby Hold On   5:04
  13. So Hard   4:28
  14. I Hope   5:25

REVIEW:

This album’s quintet of Grammys is merited.  Top to bottom, Taking the Long Way is an exceptional effort, as all fourteen tracks are well-played. 

As easy as it is to deem Track # 3: “Not Ready to Make Nice” this album’s best asset, it’s really more the one that leaves the most lasting impression.  Frankly, the other thirteen contemporary country tunes are just as exquisitely written,  performed, and produced, even if they aren’t all designed as radio hits. 

Impressively, Taking the Long Way offer several welcome shifts in tempo, tone, and well-structured melodies that emphasize the trio’s first-class originality.  Case in point: Track # 6: “Lullaby” is a gently low-key ballad and a simply classy effort.  The subsequent track: “Lubbock or Leave It” is a rollicking honky-tonk caper that immediately lifts off.  Though the pacing could have varied more throughout the album, the Chicks’ teamwork ensure their tracks exude the right amount of vocal energy.    

Suffice to say, more than just country music fans get their money’s worth with Taking the Long Way.  Appealing to a wide demographic beyond the genre, it’s a Chicks album definitely worth re-discovery.   

PACKAGING:

The CD is well-protected in a standard casing.  The insert is nicely produced.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      9 Stars

Categories
CD's Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Music & Radio Shows

WIDE OPEN SPACES (by The Chicks aka Dixie Chicks)

SUMMARY:                             RUNNING TIME: 43:00 Min.

In early 1998, Monument Records released The Chicks’ (then Dixie Chicks) first album with new lead vocalist/guitarist Natalie Maines.  Collaborating with Maines are sisters Martie Maguire (vocalist/fiddle/mandolin/guitar) and Emily Strayer (vocalist/guitar/banjo/Dobro). 

This album subsequently achieved 1999 Grammys for Best Country Album and, for Track 4: “There’s Your Trouble,” the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal, among other accolades.  

The twelve tracks are:

                                                         Running Time:

  1. “I Can Love You Better”                       3:54
  2. “Wide Open Spaces”                             3:43
  3. “Loving Arms”                                    3:37
  4. “There’s Your Trouble”                         3:12
  5. “You Were Mine”                                 3:37
  6. “Never Say Die”                                  3:56
  7. “Tonight’s the Heartache on Me”         3:26
  8. “Let ‘Er Rip”                                      2:50
  9. “Once You’ve Loved Somebody”          3:28
  10. “I’ll Take Care of You”                         3:40
  11. “Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way)”  3:25
  12. “Give It Up or Let It Go”                      4:56

 Notes: Track 5 was written by The Chicks.  Bonnie Raitt wrote Track 12. 

REVIEW:

This album’s artistic pendulum favorably tilts towards being consistently entertaining vs. an abundance of genre versatility.  Listeners, in that sense, receive several poignant tunes (i.e. Track 5) after starting with a few up-tempo tracks. 

Enhanced by The Chicks’ first-class instrumentals, “Wide Open Spaces” ages remarkably well nearly a quarter-century later.      

PACKAGING:

The packaging delivers all the credits and necessary technical info.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                7½ Stars

Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

TOO FAR THIS TIME (by Crystal Bernard: The Girl Next Door)

SUMMARY:                            RUNNING TIME: 4:48 Min.

From her 1996 The Girl Next Door album, Crystal Bernard from NBC TV’s Wings performs this country-western tune.   

REVIEW:

“Too Far This Time” is frankly an underrated treat.  Combined with some catchy instrumentals, Crystal Bernard’s upbeat vocals makes this tune reminiscent of something The Dixie Chicks might do.  For country playlists, this song is a terrific option.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    8 Stars

Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

THE LOVE THAT WE LOST (by Chely Wright: Right in the Middle of It)

SUMMARY:                                          RUNNING TIME: 3:50 Min.

This ballad is the second track off Chely Wright’s 1996 contemporary country album, Right in the Middle of It.

REVIEW:

It’s an instance where a downbeat song title says it all.  While its poignant country lyrics are standard for the genre, the melody meshes well with Chely Wright’s performance style.  Unsurprisingly, her vocals on “The Love That We Lost” are excellent.  The back-up instrumentals are also solid.   As a sample of Wright’s talents, this classy song makes an ideal download for country-western playlists. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        8 Stars

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Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

THIS PURPLE HEART (by Crystal Bernard: The Girl Next Door)

SUMMARY:                            RUNNING TIME: 3:05 Min.

From her 1996 The Girl Next Door album, Crystal Bernard of NBC TV’s Wings performs this country-western ballad.

REVIEW:

Among her album’s ballads, Crystal Bernard does solid work on “This Purple Heart.”  Her gentle vocal quality surpasses the song’s ordinary lyrics.  Even if the song isn’t remarkable, the end result is a very pleasant sound.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            6 Stars

Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

THE RACE IS ON (by Sawyer Brown: The Boys Are Back)

SUMMARY:                                 RUNNING TIME: 2:53 Min.

This rollicking country tune appears fourth on Star Search alum Sawyer Brown’s 1989 album, The Boys Are Back. 

REVIEW:

Making an analogy between romance and a horse race, Sawyer Brown does well with this likably upbeat formula tune.  The song isn’t memorable so much, as the band’s energetic style is endearing.  “The Race is On” probably isn’t worth downloading alone, but it offers a tempting sample to explore more of The Boys Are Back.          

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          6½ Stars

Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

SOMETHING UP MY SLEEVE (by Suzy Bogguss & Billy Dean: Something Up My Sleeve)

SUMMARY:                              RUNNING TIME: 3:34 Min.

As the title tune of her 1993 contemporary country album, Suzy Bogguss recorded this duet with Billy Dean.

REVIEW:

Billy Dean holds his own with Suzy Bogguss fairly well.  Still, his vocals aren’t nearly as pristine.  “Something Up My Sleeve” exudes a welcome sound thanks to Bogguss, so it deserves some consideration as a download option. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            6 Stars

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Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

STATE OF MIND (by Crystal Bernard: The Girl Next Door)

SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 3:45 Min.

From her 1996 The Girl Next Door album, Crystal Bernard of NBC TV’s Wings performs this country-western tune.   

REVIEW:

This likably upbeat track is a nice showcase for Crystal Bernard.  “State of Mind” isn’t her album’s best work, but it enjoys a catchy sound.  If included with the complete The Girl Next Door, occasionally hearing this tune is a treat.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                           6 Stars

Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

THERE’S YOUR TROUBLE (by Dixie Chicks: Wide Open Spaces)

SUMMARY:                                 RUNNING TIME: 3:12 Min.

Performed by the Dixie Chicks, “There’s Your Trouble” is the fourth track from their 1998 album, Wide Open Spaces.  

REVIEW:

It’s a fun, up-tempo tune!  The Dixie Chicks exude their distinctive charm, as “There’s Your Trouble” enjoys a catchy and radio-friendly sound.  This track deserves a shot at re-discovery.   

BRIAN’S OLD MOON RATING:                      7 Stars