AMZ - Country and Western -- August 1997 [an error occurred while processing this directive]

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C & W MUSIC


Reviewed by Donn Jehs



Title: "UNDER THE COVERS"
Artist: "DWIGHT YOAKUM"
Label: Reprise Records
Available: Any Major Music Store
Rating:

Given Dwight's natural country voice, I expected an album of covers of country classics. Not hardly! Dwight crosses all kinds of boundaries on an album that can best be described as country meets rock and roll, and the result sounds a lot like the big band sound of the forties. Maybe it's due to the crooning voice of Dwight and the somewhat lusher instrumentation of the various rock tunes, but he certainly has put an original spin on them.

Most off these songs were recorded before his foray into the movies with "Slingblade" but a few were added to the album later. One is a duet with Sheryl Crow, reprising the Sonny and Cher tune "Baby Don't Go," with more feeling and soul than the original gave it. Another late entry is the bonus track "T For Texas," which was recorded for a Jimmie Rodgers tribute album, and has the wailingest I've ever heard Yoakum.

Among the more interesting tracks are the covers of hits by British groups like the Kinks and the Stones. "Train in Vain" features old timer Ralph Stanley on the banjo, as Dwight makes like Frank Sinatra on this former Clash hit. The Glen Campbell hit "Wichita Lineman" is probably the closest to the original version of any cut on the album, but even that is given a more blues wail than Glen did in his version. The cut that follows, "Here Comes The Night," would be enjoyable except for the rapid fire patter of the main verses that just doesn't wash, although the chorus is delivered well.

This album will be hard to swallow for even the staunchest of Yoakum fans, who may be impressed by the opening cut "Claudette," which is an excellent cover of the Roy Orbison hit, only to see Dwight go off on in other directions. Not that there is anything musically poor about the album, but rather that is just isn't country enough. Which means that it's commercial success depends on the willingness of country fans to step out with Dwight and join him "Under The Covers."

Title: "I WILL STAND"
Artist: "KENNY CHESNEY"
Label: BNA
Available: Most Major Music Store
Rating:
This is the fourth album from young country star Kenny Chesney, and with each album he comes more into his own. His third album "Me and You" has just gone platinum. This album contains some beautiful ballads like "She Gets That Way," "Lonely, Needin' Lovin'" and the hit single "Steamy Windows," which evokes those nights spent in youthful loving and exploring the limits in the back seat of daddy's car parked on a back country road.

Kenny's talent definitely lies in the rendering of soulful country ballads of love and love lost.He has an elegant sense of timing and phrasing that draws the ear. His version of "From Hillbilly Heaven to Honkytonk Hell" with George Jones is a study in contrast of two strong country voices and results in one of the most listenable cuts on the album.

The ladies will love his opening cut "She's Got It All," as they picture themselves as the 'she' in question, subject to his love and devotion. And the guys will empathize with Kenny as he sings "You Win, I Win, We Lose," which somehow manages to capture the pain that a mutually agreeable breakup brings, even if logic and common sense says this is the best for both parties.

The best song idea on the album is the short but touching "She Always Says It First," in which he professes his love constantly, but as the title of the song says, it's always a response. Won't most of us men identify with this! And I imagine most of the ladies will agree.

The final cut "When I Close My Eyes" has reached #1 on the country charts for good reason. It represents the best of his ballads, with a great hook and delivered with great feeling. Kenny has the voice and talent to stand among the best of male country vocalists around today.

Title: "BLUE ROSES FROM THE MOONS"
Artist: "NANCI GRIFFITH"
Label: Elektra
Available: Most Major Music Store
Rating:  

Nanci Griffith is an artist you either love or just can't find her appeal. I tend toward the latter. She has put together an excellent collection of talent over the years, James Hooker - keyboards, Pat McInerney - percussion, Fran Breen - drums, Phillip Donnelly and Doug Lancio - guitar, Ron de la Vega - bass and Lee Satterfield - harmony vocals. The music is excellent and by itself would be very appealing.

Yet this album just does not do it for me. Part of this has to do with the music selection on this album, and part on tendency of Nanci to try to play with her naturally fine voice and make it do things that are not musically appealing. She is at her best and most listenable when she keeps her singing plain and simple. Most of the cuts are enjoyable , especially those written by her like "Wouldn't That Be Fine" and "Two For The Road" showcasing both her writing and singing talent.

Then she turns around and gives us tracks that any producer simply should have never let on this disc. One of them is "I Fought The Law" sung with the writer Sonny Curtis. This song was insipid when Sonny and Cher made it a hit and nothing Nanci does with it makes it any more appealing today. Another is "Morning Train" where Nanci whines rather than sings as she tries to give the song a bayou flavor that she doesn't have a taste for.

The best song on the album is "Battlefield," performed with "The Crickets" (of Buddy Holley fame), where she makes the lyrics come alive with both feeling and perfect timing. If only rest of the album had this same touch and fervor. There is much to enjoy on this album but just as much to get in the way of that enjoyment. Thus "Blue Roses" may be a very appropos title.

 

 

 

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