Yeah! My favorite Nashville Star winner has finally released his sophomore CD. Here's to hoping that it makes more of a splash than his first CD, although his debut single "Drinkin' Me Lonely" made a small splash. Here's my review of his latest offering.
1. That Makes Me
A rockin' leadoff for the CD, this is my favorite song on the CD. It's another of those "this what I am, take me or leave me" type of songs, but it works well for him. Some nice visuals in the lyrics, like a 60s truck that requires some serious force to turn the steering wheel.
2. Voices
The first single from the CD, although it only got moderate airplay and no video was made. When you stop and think about all of the voices in your head, you realize that many of the words can be traced directly to important people in your life.
3. The Dashboard
When Jim and I went to see Chris in concert earlier this year this song got the biggest response. A big brother is heading off to war, and has told his younger brother that if he doesn't make it back, the truck is his. All he asks is that he tape a picture of his big brother to the dashboard as a memorial.
4. Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress song)
The current single from the CD that is getting a LOT of attention. A sexy song about a couple going out for a fancy dinner when they both realize that they'd rather be back at home. This is one of the songs that Chris co-wrote, and I'm always happy when a singer is involved in writing a song that does well on the charts.
5. It Takes A Man
It must be terrifying for a young girl to admit to her boyfriend that she's pregnant, not knowing exactly what his response will be. Fortunately the young man realizes that any fool can make a baby, but it takes a man to raise a child, which tells us that he's ready to be that man.
6. The Shoebox
Some good advice from mom - keep small memories in a shoebox so that you can look back through them whenever you're feeling far from home.
7. Rose In Paradise
A duet with Willie Nelson, and if you've read my CD reviews you know that I'm not a big fan of duets. I'm also not a huge fan of Willie Nelson, although this song works well for the two of them. It's a remake of a Waylon Jennings song about a beautiful woman and a jealous man, and what can happen if you hold on too tightly.
8. Twenty-One Candles
A fun, very fast-paced song about a girl becoming a woman. She's ready to take on life even before her 21st birthday, so you better watch out.
9. The Man I Want To Be
I think it's safe to say that this is my second favorite song on the CD, although it is very different than "That Makes Me." He's asking God to help him become a better man for the sake of his life and the woman he loves.
10. Rainy Night In Georgia
When I heard that Chris was going to do a cover of this classic I was very excited for two reasons. One, I love the sing and Ray Charles' version and two, I love Chris' voice so I thought it would be a perfect fit. Unfortunately it sounds like Chris tried too hard to make this version his own so he ends up trading some of the fullness of his voice for a sensitive rendition, so it comes off a little weak. It is growing on me with subsequent plays, although I doubt it will ever top Ray.
Wait, 10 songs? Is that it? I know that there is a complicated formula that determines how many songs can be on a CD, but most have 11 songs, not 10. It would have been nice to have one more song, but maybe this is just the number of songs he and producer James Stroud felt worked best. I guess time will tell.
