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| Title: | "SONGBOOK" |
| Artist: | "TRISHA YEARWOOD" |
| Label: | MCA |
| Available: | Any Major Music Store |
| Rating: |  |
| "(Songbook) A Collection of Hits" is Trisha's seventh album.
With each succeeding album another triumph, "Collection of Hits"
is her first to race to the top of the charts and is closing in on double-platinum
status. She has sold an amazing ten million albums. Trisha says, "I
feel like this jolt my career has been given is what you only dream about.
I have been so happy with my career up to this point that in my mind, I
didn't know that it would get any better." This year has been an excellent one for Trisha, both personally and professionally. Married to Robert Reynolds, bass player for the Mavericks, they just celebrated their third wedding anniversary. Her crowning moment of the year was at the CMA Awards, being named "Female Vocalist of the Year." Vince Gill was teasing her just before the announcements, "Bet you a dollar you are going to win." Trisha's CMA performance of "How Do I Live" earned a standing ovation, and with receiving the CMA award, completed a magical evening. "How Do I Live" is beautifully written by Diane Warren (author of Toni Braxton's hit "Unbreak My Heart"), and is also on the soundtrack of the movie "Con Air." The woman entertains theoretically crippling thoughts of her lover leaving, losing "everything good in her life." "Without you/ There'd be no sun in my sky/ There would be no love in my life/ There'd be no world left for me." Yet Trisha approaches the ballad in such a way that it finally isn't about the woman or her worries. Rather, it becomes a celebration of the man who inspires her towering affections. Trisha mentions that "this song is one of the most vocally challenging songs I've ever recorded." "How Do I Live" is a hit for both Trisha and LeeAnn Rimes. But after hearing both artists sing this song, you will agree that Trisha's version comes straight from her heart. The embellishment of her dynamic voice expresses the deep, true feelings of love. It is exquisitely done. "The Song Remembers When" patiently describes the redux of finished romantic business and the re-ignition of old emotions that occur when bits and pieces of her own personal sound track enter her life at various times. Trisha, being a Georgia kid, absorbed sounds from Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt, giving "The Wrong Side Of Memphis," written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison, its foundation in the classics. Her duet with close friend Garth Brooks, "In Another's Eyes," hit the Top 5 and is still climbing. It projects the feelings of a double love, "Cause every time I look I'm seeing you in another's eyes." A man and a woman map out the complicated dynamics that exist between themselves and their prospective partner. The situation is demanding, involving fiery yet unconsummated love, as well as the feelings of the third parties. Trisha and Garth's exchanges reflect this, mixing purity of line with frustrated passions, "And it is a blessing and a curse that love is blind." This is a very beautiful ballad, and after hearing this one, it is easy to understand how it has gone up the charts so fast. "The Woman Before Me" creates a rich understatement of a romantic triangle between a man, a woman and a ghost. It conveys to her lover a fine understanding of how recent past experiences can sometimes confound and confuse current ones. "The woman before me/ Must have been hard on you/ 'Cause that hurt in your eyes/ I never put you through." "Perfect Love" sacrifices no energy, while "Thinking About You" and "Down On My Knees" are a blissful look at obsession. "XXX's And OOO's (An American Girl)" wrestles with the struggle between love and money. "She's In Love With The Boy" is a tale of a girl determined to marry her boyfriend who fails to impress her father. This is an up-tempo melody that is light-hearted with Southern domestic comedy that results in a happy ending. Mama breaks in, "My daddy said you wasn't worth a lick/ When it came to brains you got the short end of the stick/ But he was wrong, and honey you are too/ Katie looks at Tommy the way I still look at you." A fun, upbeat song that keeps your toes a-tapping. One of my all time favorites is the song "Walkaway Joe." Don Henley sings the chorus with Trisha, and this performance, a masterpiece of unsparing mood, focuses on a young girl taking up with a criminal, despite parental disapproval, and romantic irresponsibility. "He's the wrong kind of paradise." This song tells how truth can be cold and hard as well as liberating. The unique blend of Yearwood and Henley's vocal talents are astounding. And the instrumental of the steel guitar is mesmerizing. "Walkaway Joe" is another exquisite ballad. The album concludes with yet another beautiful ballad, "Like We Never Had A Broken Heart," written by Garth Brooks and Pat Alger. Trisha seizes sweet control, creating one of her more finely shaded portraits. Here a woman enters into a night of love, attempting to restore a disintegrating relationship. "Pretend I'm someone that you love." But she never descends into the pathetic. At the end of the song, she urges, "Don't be afraid to close your eyes." She has grounded her entire case in intellectual strength rather than begging. As of this writing, Trisha Yearwood's, "(Songbook) A Collection Of Hits" is the #2 album on the Country Charts. I highly recommend this album. It is an excellent assembly of Trisha's biggest hits and best music. |
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| Title: | "IF I DON'T STAY THE NIGHT" |
| Artist: | "MINDY McCREADY" |
| Label: | BNA |
| Available: | Most Major Music Stores |
| Rating: |  |
| This is Mindy's second album, and is more blissful than her platinum
debut album "Ten Thousand Angels," with its gender-bending sassy
tone. The inspiration behind the theme of the new album, "If I Don't
Stay The Night," was not her girlfriends, but the ongoing dialogue
she has with the two most crucial males in her life - her teenage brothers
who live with her. Though she is just twenty-one years old, Mindy is a role
model for her brothers, as well as a mother figure. "I learned over
the years how to talk to them as kind of a cool parent. I'm the one who
goes to school and talks to the principal, who buys them clothes and gives
them lunch money and who grounds them when they are bad. I do all that stuff." All summer long, Mindy opened for three giants of country music, George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Tim McGraw. She met up with three different tours all over the country, while making time for her brothers and her fiancé Dean Cain, star of former TV series "Lois and Clark." Though this album is an assertion of femaleness - who women are, what women are like, how women must be treated - it addresses both genders. Men who want an intimate look into the female mind should have a listen, and as you listen to Mindy, you will hear a very talented, rich voice. Both the first single, "What If I Do," and "If I Don't Stay The Night," deal with the fact that making the decision to be intimate is still inevitably up to the woman and that it's rarely an easy decision, even for one who is control of her life. In the song "If I Don't Stay The Night," a lovely ballad, Mindy gives you the benefit of the woman's point of view about many aspects of sex and romance. She is wise, wry, and dauntless, but refreshingly, never angry or victimized. The music is also beautifully arranged. "This Is Me" is the "Okay to be yourself" song, a bold, girl-style declaration of independence. A dominating Sunny Russ co-wrote what sails on the strength of Mindy's powerful vocals and hearty independent streak, fueled by Rob Hajacos' scintillating fiddle work. Mindy's mother, Gayle, is the co-writer of "For A Good Time Call." It turns sexism on it's ear, taking the male tradition of writing a woman's name on bathroom walls (so passé) and demonstrates that women, too, can play that game. Mindy says, "Hey, we can do anything you do/ So get with the program." A harkening back to the theme of her first album. "The Other Side Of This Kiss" has an up-beat tempo, making it plain that a woman should never accept the superficial in relationships. "You'll Never Know" exposes the ploy of covering up hurt feelings after being dumped, and putting on a facade of strength and indifference to get through the experience and save face. "Fine Art Of Holding A Woman" is a gorgeous ballad that paints an ideal scenario of love. Mindy's exceptionally talented voice carries this song across all bridges. The music is mystical, and will have you floating in the clouds. "Only A Whisper" is a sexy shuffle that makes it clear that just because she sings "just-say-no" songs about sex doesn't mean a girl can't say yes, and this song expresses very clearly how she would like that experience to be. This is one very sexy song, and Mindy sings it to perfection. Give this one a good listen. The last song one this album is a gem. Mindy boldly covers the tearjerker Linda Ronstandt made famous, "Long, Long Time," bringing to it a tenderness and vulnerability that makes it her own. This was the only song that Linda recorded in Nashville. Mindy heard this song in the car while waiting in an Arby's parking lot. When the song was over, Mindy was crying and emotionally exhausted. "I just knew I had to do it." Mindy has the rare duel talent of being convincing both as an authentic country singer, and as a thoroughly modern woman. She has many vocal guises that reveal her versatility. Mindy adds, "It's so easy to express yourself in country music because we have a tradition and an element of reality." "If I Don't Stay The Night," is Mindy's element of reality. |
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| Title: | "I'M YOUR MAN" |
| Artist: | "JASON SELLERS" |
| Label: | BNA |
| Available: | Most Major Music Stores |
Rating:  |
| Here is a young Gilmer, TX native, that from the first time he was old
enough to talk, wanted to sing. So much that "Jason Sellers" used
the money his parents gave him for a car when he was 16 to produce demos
of his songs instead. He was already hooked on music, and the self-professed
"ham" spent a lot of time thinking up ways to promote his musical
abilities. Jason mentions his one venture away from music into the outside
world pretty much cemented his musical ambitions for good. The only real
job he ever had was moving furniture for about two weeks. "If I ever
had any second thoughts about music, they were knocked out when I worked
that job! I decided my love for it (music) really increased right there
in the two week timespan." Inspired by his mother's vocal abilities, his father's grooving guitar licks, and the unique sounds of early influences like Ray Price, Johnny Bush, and Merle Haggard, Jason, 19, followed his heart to Nashville. While there, he got the idea to phone one of his influences, Vince Gill, for advice. "I just got his number, called, and told him I was a fan and wanted to work with him. He encouraged me, gave me some work singing and playing bass and later recommended me for a job playing with Billy Joe Royal. He was a big part of my career here getting cranked up, and I'll always be grateful to him for that." After two years with Billy Joe, Jason spent the next four years playing, singing, and writing with Ricky Skaggs. He was even road manager for the band. Jason began focusing seriously on his songwriting during this period. Out of this eleven-track album, Jason proudly presents five uniquely, astounding songs from this gifted talent. His talent and commitment drew the attention of "Starstruck Writers Group," who signed him in 1996. His vocal abilities gained the respect and attention of the acclaimed writers Doug Johnson, Tom Shapiro, and Mark D. Sanders, who heavily requested Jason for their demos. Signing up with BNA in 1997, his project, which Jason terms "y'allternative," was produced by Chris Farren (Deana Carter, Kevin Sharp). Kick off your shoes, sit back and relax. You are in for 40 minutes of the most enjoyable and entertaining music in the field today. This album, "I'm Your Man," stretches to both ends of the spectrum, from cranked-up rockers to heartwrenching tearjerkers. Jason first sang "I'm Your Man" as a demo. He could not believe that noone else had cut this song. This was the first demo he could keep for himself. The decision to put this on his album was twofold: "I feel it's the first uptempo song I've heard with ballad lyrics." He states that he is not a yes-man, or a puppet-on-a string. A solid rock, not shifting sand. "I'm your man all day and all night long/ Know when to be gentle and when to be strong/W hen to console you and when to call your bluff---." The other reason is, "this is the guy I want to be." "You Better Believe It" is another demo, which he rerecorded to get his record deal. "Walkin' In My Sleep" has the unique writer chemistry of Jason, Gary Burr, and Chris Farren, and with that combination this song was written in two hours. And as the chorus goes, "I hope I am not walking in my sleep." Jason say, "It's how I feel about my career. It's a dream come true." The next song was written during one of the most emotional times of Jason's life. Going through a recent divorce, he really pours his heart out in this one. It is beautifully arranged and as you listen to "This Small Divide" you can feel his heart crying. "It's amazing the distance/ Between your heart and mine/ I can't seem to cross over/ No mater how hard I try." Through these words, you can feel the emotional shatter of his heart. Also, listen closely and you can sense the influence of Vince Gill echoing through each verse. "Can't Help Calling Your Name" is a beautiful ballad about being still in love with someone, even though you are through. To watch them from a distance and still yearn so desperately to be with them. Your heart reaches out, only to see that love walk away. Many of you will find a tear in your eye half way through this beautiful song. Guaranteed, this one will be a hit. The next tune, "Hole In My Heart," draws you away from the blues with a toe-tapping fun song. This song will have you grinning from ear to ear. "That Does It" is another lovely ballad. Looking for love and finally finding it, "Feels like heaven's finally found me." Out of all the songs that Jason has written this is his favorite. There is a third verse that has not been recorded and Jason plans on sharing that with you when he performs live. "I Can't Stay Long" is a song that Jason really relates to because he does not want to be over-analyzed. The chorus says not to waste time in complicating life: "I ain't got time to be worked on/ You can figure me out when I am dead and gone/ Life's too fragile and death too strong/ Take me as I am/ 'cause I can't stay long." Ironically this was the last song Jason's father listened to before he passed away. Another song written during the same time as "This Small Divide." "Divorce My Heart" is a beautiful ballad crying out: "Is that a tear I see/ Rolling down your cheek/ Maybe there's still a place for me inside your broken heart." Sometimes as a writer, songs can be therapy. A day writing this song saved Jason from the psychiatrist. "I Need To Remember This" is a romantic tune with lyrics that are exquisitely sexy. This is soft music, perfect to enhance those romantic evenings, served with candles and wine. The cocky, resounding attitude of "It's A Man's Job" will keep you rocking right back to pushing the play button again. Jason credits Merle Haggard with his love of simplistic, clean lyrics and storylines, but in the same breath rattles off names like Bryan Adams, Bonnie Raitt, and John Conlee as being major influences as well. "I am probably somewhere between Merle Haggard and Bryan Adams musically, focused right to the heart, but sometimes with a rockin' edge." This is an excellent album for those with a warm heart. Jason's music will journey forever, deep down in your soul. Jason Sellers and Chris Farren have produced another winner. |
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