Totally Biased Fan Review: 1965 – Bill Jackson

Musicians – Bill (vocals/acoustic & nylon string guitar/harmonica/bgv), Procol Harum veteran Chris Copping (Hammond organ), Ruth Hazelton (banjo), James Gillard, Stephen Hadley & John Bois (bass/upright bass), Garrett Costigan (pedal steel), Ken Howard (Rhodes piano), Andrew Swann & Scotty Martin (drums/percussion/bgv), Terry Dean (12 string guitar) with Simon Bruce, John Flanagan, Rory Boast & Robert Price (bgv).

1965 was a very important year for me – it was the last year before we started losing important people in our lives and it was the first year that I remember music. I have a long memory. I can’t tell you what I had for lunch yesterday but I can tell you the music that I was listening to when I was 2.

To be fair, music was always a part of my life. On the stereo, radio, tv, movies, concerts, musicals, choir, piano lessons. I can’t sing or play to save myself but I have a great passion for it.

My mum had an album called :

I think that it was given away after mum and dad’s recent passing. I looked it up and found it on YouTube. That will do for now. It has some of the best ever songs on it.

It was a year of huge songs. Indeed, the 1960’s was diverse and exciting musicwise and otherwise wise.

Bill has a lot of the qualities and feels of that era of songwriters. They had a unique way of telling stories so that they were important but also easy to listen to. Bill does that too.

I am drawn to the folk side of country, being a 60’s Aquarian child – it comes with the territory. I had two aunties who were teens in the 60’s and early twenties and they shared their love of the Beatles, Elvis and Woodstock artists with me. Mum’s first albums to my sister and I were The Seekers and Peter, Paul and Mary. My love of Country music finally came about in the early 70’s when I was hooked on Kristofferson and Dylan and James Taylor.

There’s not much difference in lineage with Country and Folk. The depth of the storytelling is equal…..when it is good and this is good. I think that this is probably Bill’s best album yet.

A lot of the songs on this album would have been just as potent and important in the 60’s as they are now.

It is a relaxing album, played beautifully by Bill and some of the best musos around. It is also thought provoking. It tackles both the easy subjects and the tougher ones.

If you look at the titles on the album, a lot of them have subject matter that is familiar with folk and country music – all strong messages whether it is about love and loss or deeper universal issues.

Who wins wars could have been sung in most decades of music. When will we ever learn ……

All of the songs are special. I have listened to the album 3 times already this afternoon. It is easy to do but it does make you think.

One for a wide audience of music lovers.

Totally Biased fan review: The Way That I Was Meant To Be – Matt Ward – EEP

It’s no secret that Matt is one of my favourite people in country music. He is awesome LIVE and on record. He’s also a bonus bloke.

So, I do get a bit excited when he releases new music. He has a few fingers in a few different pies these days, so it is good when we get to hear his music.

If you listen closely, you will hear qualities of those like Paul Kelly, David Bowie (!), Hunters and Collectors, Neil Young and others. Matt likes to mix it up, but it is always easy to listen to.

There is some fine guitar work here. Sometimes it is haunting, other times, it is full on cool riffs and mainly, it is just sweet music for a wind in your hair drive with the top down.

5 songs (1 done twice) are never enough from Matt but beggars can’t be choosers. The duet with Taasha Coates, Two to Tango is very Matt like and is one of the singles. I have reviewed it previously and really like it.

All of the tracks are good, we just want more! Hopefully, there is an album in the works.

Totally Biased Fan Review: Southern Star – Brent Cobb

1. Southern Star
2. It’s a Start
3. Livin’ the Dream
4. Patina
5. ‘On’t Know When
6. Kick the Can
7. Devil Ain’t Done
8. When Country Came Back to Town
9. Miss Ater
10. Shade Tree

‘The songs are a complimentary mix of southern-fried funky-tonk and ’70s songwriting, all tied by a comfortingly loose playfulness, one that pays commendation to Cobb’s meticulous creativity. Each sultry lick of the keys on ‘On’t Know When’ or each wrasp of the harmonica on the swampy skronk of ‘Devil Ain’t Done’ evoke not only the soul of southern music, but the noises that surround him as he perches on his front porch, taking in the world around him and all that it offers.’ Is a quote and a summary of Cobb’s album that is probably almost everything that I want to say.

Cobb’s draw card is an invisible, magnetic lasso that he has roped us with and has transported us back in time and has planted us on a comfy couch.

At some point, we have to get up and invent some funky moves to groove to.

One reviewer said that it is an album that says everything and says nothing at the same time. It’s relaxed Deep South summer feel and some underlying currents reveal different meanings for different moods.

Many are saying that it is his best work yet. Spurred on by the passing of a dear friend and muso, some of the songs are reflective and nostalgic.

The title track sounds a bit like Southern Nights. Maybe that is intended.

Cobb tends to like writing for others and never really seems to want to be a star. I think that he is quite content doing what he does. When Country Came Back to Town is an absolute gem.

This album could lull you into a peaceful Sunday, or it could have you heading down a red dirt road or towards the coast on a motorbike.

I absolutely love it.

Totally Biased Fan Review: She’s An Angel – Grey DeLisle

I couldn’t find any reviews of this album to enhance my perceptions or find much information about Grey. I do know that she voiced Daphne in later movies of Scooby Doo and she has done many other cartoons like The Flintstones, characters from Batman, etc.

I do know that when I put this album on, I got the same feels as I did when I put on my favourite international country music album of all time, Lee Ann Womack’s There’s more where that came from.

This album is all that you want from a country album: unique phrasing, down home philosophies, some sass, some wild wisdom and a little bit of humour.

Grey’s voice has that Patsy/Loretta/Tammy sound but with a bit of a younger twist – Tillis, Loveless, Morgan.

I had no idea about her and will definitely check out her other albums. She’s old school cheeky but she can remove the layers too and go deep.

Trad country music fans will eat it up like icecream on a hot day. Women of a certain age and socio-economic background will recognise themselves and others.

The thrice married, three times mum has had a colourful life at 50. There’s a lot of her in this album. There’s enough torch and twang to balance out the funny side.

The album is mainly Grey with some co-writing and a cover. I can’t imagine that she is the type of artist to sing many covers. I think that she is one to put a lot of herself into her work.

Having said that, she was part of a tribute album to Johnny and June. That seems apt, given her sound.

I hope that she continues this way. Good stuff.

Totally Biased Fan Review: Family Ties – Charles Wesley Godwin

Tracklist: 

1. Tell the Babies I Love Them (Overture)
2. Family Ties
3. Miner Imperfections
4. The Flood
5. All Again
6. Gabriel
7. Dance in Rain
8. Another Leaf
9. That Time Again
10. Skyline Blues
11. West of Lonesome
12. Headwaters
13. 10-38
14. Two Weeks Gone
15. Soul Like Mine
16. Willing and Able
17. Cue Country Roads
18. Take Me Home, Country Roads
19. By Your Side (Underture)

As this album title suggests, the songs tell stories about Charles’ family, past, present and future but not just the sad things – just about what life hands you and how you embrace it.

From the intro to the outro, (underture) there was a a strong connection to the mountains, land, rivers, air of West Virginia, where Charles is from. There’s a nod to another bloke who knew a bit about that area on here, too.

There’s Celtic, Western, Country, Folk, Mountain Music and soft edged rock here. Sometimes you feel like you are riding into a one horse town on that one horse and other times, you feel like you are part of a round up or a stampede.

From sweet flying fiddles to the gentle plucking of banjos, from guitars that control the stage to their light acoustic touch, the music enhances the lyrics and the vocals, it doesn’t drown it out.

There’s almost a Native American feel to the album as well. Perhaps the connection to nature, the land and the rhythm of the album have something to do with it.

Some of the tracks can be quite wild, others are easy to soak up. They are all part of the story.

I am glad that I started my Charles’ venture here. It says a lot about the man and his music.

Totally Biased Fan Review: Rustin’ In The Rain – Tyler Childers EEP

RUSTIN’ IN THE RAIN TRACK LIST
1. Rustin’ In the Rain
2. Phone Calls and E-mails
3. Luke 2:8-10
4. Help Me Make It Through the Night
5. Percheron Mules
6. In Your Love
7. Space and Time

Recorded at Dragline Studios, the album was produced by Childers and The Food Stamps—James Barker (pedal steel), Craig Burletic (bass), CJ Cain (guitar), Rodney Elkins (drums), Chase Lewis (keyboards) and Jesse Wells (guitar, fiddle).

If you think that you have stepped into another place and time when you play this record, thank God that you have, at least for 7 tracks.

This EEP is so country that you’ll feel like picking the hay out of your hair and milking a cow. There’s no disappointing the diehards here, as we would say in Victoria, this is the real sxxt – Tyler delivers it by the shovel full.

It also has an Elvis feel. Not the voice but the sound and the mood – talking slow dance, cryin’, hurtin’ Elvis.

Tyler has 7 tracks to be proud of here, 5 originals and two covers. The most famous being Kris Kristofferson’s Help Me Make It Through The Night and the most infamous being Childers’ own song, In Your Love. Kris’s song is one of the most misinterpreted songs of all time, along with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. There was no misconstruing Tyler’s song, especially when you watch the wonderful video. The video is a mix of Brokeback Mountain and How Green Was My Valley. It is the story of two gay coalminers in the 1950’s and what tragically happens to them on two fronts.

It is beautifully and sensitively filmed. Tyler said that he wanted to have a song/video that his cousin and his brother (both gay) could relate to. The controversy, as a person who commented on the YouTube video stated, should be about black lung and how it still effects victims and families. This on top of two young men in love being persecuted by homophobes full of hate, make a powerful statement and video.

Tyler adds some humour in Percheron Mules. The Kentucky boy flavours this EEP with mountain music and three or four other styles of trad. Country music.

He is as at home with the torch and twang as he is with the pulling at the heart strings or making you tap your toes.

The seven songs are all terrific and represent many folks. He’s no Vince Gill or Randy Travis vocally, but he sells a song’s heart and soul just as beautifully.

Totally Biased Fan Review: Son of Dad – Stephen Wilson Jnr

• the devil
• Cuckoo
• billy
• patches
• American Gothic (ft. Hailey Whitters)
• Werewolf
• Mighty Beast
• Year to Be Young 1994
• twisted
• Father’s Søn
• Grief is Only Love
• Hang in There
• Calico Creek
• Holler from the Holler
• Hometown
• Not Letting Go
• For What It’s Worth
• All the Wars from Now On
• kid
• Henry
• You 
• The Beginning

‘ a punchy, spacious, distortion-filled, country-meets-rock-meets-grunge effort that often aims for coarsing, atmospheric, pounding percussion and grooves dripped in a lot of smokey texture, with enough references to heartland-inspired Americana in some of the tonal choices and especially the writing to give this album a real heart and identity.’ That’s a quote from one of my favourite reviewers and it pretty much sums up this 23 track album which includes songs from a previously released EEP. The reviewer wasn’t that thrilled about the ep tracks but he reckons if you slash them, then you have yourself a fine album.

It is a trend in the last 18 months in American country music, to release a teaser ep/eep then mix them in with a bigger bunch of songs.

He did compare him to Eric Church (who isn’t one of my faves) but I get it, it is more about his singing than his songs. Jnr’s songs are much better, he’s more country and more humble.

The album is essentially his debut album (if you disregard the eep). It is adventurous. It is essentially about grief and generations. The impact of the loss of his dad and the role he has taken on as a dad and stepdad. It is a big subject to take on, especially in a concept album and on your debut.

Hailey Whitters joins him on American Gothic (I think she got cheated out of an award the other day). It is one of many awesome songs.

The more that listen to this album, the more I like it. It has everything. The percussion/drums and amazing guitar skills add to the storytelling and massive voice.

Springsteen, Stapleton, and co with some Cobain mixed in the flavour make for a vocal explosion.

The songs are gutsy and authentic and sometimes mind blowing. The songs are biographical and autobiographical.

All of the songs are incredible but Father’s son is just through the roof.

This album is a must have. I also recommend a few boxes of tissues and dark glasses. Bravo.

Totally Biased Fan Review: Ain’t my last rodeo – Riley Green

1. Damn Country Music” (Jessi Alexander, Cary Barlowe, Josh Thompson)
2. “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That No More” (Riley Green, Chris Lidsey, Aimee Mayo)
3. “Mississippi or Me” (Green, Tyler Reeve, Thompson)
4. “Different ‘Round Here” (Feat. Luke Combs) (Green, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton)
5. “Ain’t Like I Can Hide It” (Green, Chris DuBois, Bobby Pinson)
6. “Copenhagen in a Cadillac” (Feat. Jelly Roll) (Green, Erik Dylan Wyatt McCubbin)
7. “Damn Good Day to Leave” (Green, Dylan, Singleton, Nick Walsh)
8. “My Last Rodeo” (Green)
9. “Workin’ on Me” (Green, Rhett Akins, Montana)
10. “Raised Up Right” (Green, Jeremy Bussey, DuBois, Lynn Hutton)
11. “God Made a Good Ol’ Boy” (Green, Dylan, McCubbin, Singleton)
12. “Ain’t My Damn to Give” (Tucker Beathard, Ben Simonetti, Singleton)

It is interesting reading other people’s reviews – people who know more about music and journalism than me. When I listened to this album the first time, I thought gee, the pro country like it used to be guys will be over the moon.

This is old fashioned style male country music full on. It is good ol’ boy stuff – God Bless America, whiskey, yes ma’m, no sir, Church on Sunday, chuck it all in a pickup kind of music. Some of the points that the reviewers made are valid. They say that you don’t have to make every song fit the formula, forcing the issue.

They say that the album has every cliche woven into its fabric. According to the critics, the songs subjects have been done to death. They questioned using ‘Damn Country Music’, a Tim McGraw song (and the title of one of his albums) as the opening track.

Green has a similar style to Tim and similar values. So, in that way it is apt.

Riley has been described as an old soul and that is fair. He is sentimental and sweet and has a pick up load of potential.

When there is a plethora of bro country, thrash country and c-rap country going around out there, I actually find him refreshing, not stale at all.

Riley is a young man clinging on to an old way. While I get what these journos are saying to a point, I also get what Riley is trying to do here. I was actually surprised at the attitude of some of them who are always complaining about the lack of traditional artists.

I look forward to what Riley has to offer in the future. He has the ingredients for a fine feast, he just has to learn how to cook it.

Totally Biased Fan Review: Higher- Chris Stapleton

Details

Track List
1. What Am I Gonna Do
2. South Dakota
3. Trust
4. It Takes A Woman
5. The Fire
6. Think Im In Love With You
7. Loving You On My Mind
8. White Horse
9. Higher
10. The Bottom
11. The Day I Die
12. Crosswind
13. Weight Of Your World
14. Mountains Of My Mind

If you haven’t heard the name Chris Stapleton and you follow country music, then you must be living under a rock.

I must admit when I first wast introduced to his music, the raves didn’t hit me like it did others but I’ve never been a sheep. I didn’t dislike him, just a little bit went a long way and others (who were being ignored) were, in my opinion, much better. I guess you could say that I was indifferent. I did think that he was worth persisting with, unlike some of the other American male artists that people went nuts about. We have since had a wave of male artists from America who are much better than the guys that entered the arena with Chris. This is largely due to the stance that he made.

This album is his best music so far and I am quite happy to put aside my doubts and embrace his music – if he keeps producing music of this quality.

The reviewers of this album are many – they are from all over the world – England, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, America and Australia included and it is only hours old.

It should be noted that a large amount of the reviewers don’t like country music. Some don’t like country music but they like Chris. Personally, I reckon that most people who say that they don’t like country music have never listened to the 95 types.

There has been a mixed response. Many say that it isn’t as good as his other four albums. Others say that it sounds like an album of covers. Some say that it has too much variety (he’s trying too hard) or that there is a sameness about the songs.

A vast number of reviews say that it is musically strong but lyrically ‘light on it’. They all say that Chris’s voice saves it and the ballads are where the strength of the album lies. I agree with the last bit.

Soultry and Country Blues are the album’s base and Chris is the heart of it. He pours out his heart like a bartender pours out whiskey.

It takes a woman, Weight of your world, mountains of my mind and Loving you on my mind are my favourites.

His wife, Morgane and the prolific Dave Cobb, are co-producers on the album. They also contribute to the songwriting as do Miranda Lambert, Jerry Salley and Carolyn Dawn Johnson, amongst others.

This album is more about love than politics, much to the chagrin of many of the critics who seem to feel that in America’s turbulent and colourful political quagmire at the moment, Chris should be using his musical position to address some issues.

I think that folks are doing that all over the world at the moment and that is good but it is nice to hear songs about whiskey and love as well.

Totally Biased Fan Review: A Cat in the Rain – Turnpike Troubadours

1Mean Old Sun2Brought Me3Lucille4Chipping Mill5The Rut6A Cat in the Rain7Black Sky8East Side Love Song (Bottoms Up)9Three More Days10Won’t You Give Me One More Chance

Shooter Jennings found himself what many folks considered to be an odd producer’s job. Instead of sending the band known for soap opera qualities in the rumour mill off on a weird tangent, he has steadied the stage coach and brought out the best in them.

Despite the muddy waters and turbulent times that the band has endured either in the fictionalised rag magazines or the truth that is probably more interesting, the music is always great and it seems to be getting better. At the end of the day, the music is the winner and so are the fans. This is a band of exceptional musicians and songwriters.

A long self imposed hiatus amid in house fights, rumoured substance abuse, extra marital affairs with famous singers and enough material for Freud to comeback from the grave to unravel or Dr Evans from Days of Our Lives to examine on the couch, this is an album that soars above all of that.

This is a damn fine album, presenting songs which pull at the heartstrings, have you crying in your beer and feeling grateful that you are a country music fan.