#18 Lee Roy Parnell

The Rock/Road Scholar- Lee Roy Parnell

“The Rock”- According to YouTube comments, this song is not available on iTunes. I Google some of these songs to figure out the lyrics and often there is a video for these songs. This is proof for the subjectivity of music.

“Road Scholar”- Is this a pun for a Rhodes Scholar? If so, it does not work. Not much stands out in this song. I feel like drinking just to endure this piece, not to enhance or enjoy.

#17 Michelle Wright

      

One Time Around/A Little More Comfortable- Michelle Wright
“One Time Around”- I could not guess all the lyrics here. Thank you for not numbing them down. Some of the lines used are suggestive and a tad prophetic. The chorus follows that typical formula with a triple repeat at the end before the music just fades to nothing.

“A Little More Comfortable”- Wow. Michelle can sing. In addition, this recording lets her do just that. Her voice rides on top of the music. It is not so close to the microphone that every pitch and squeak is apparent. The guitarist in this song does want to drown her out, but the engineer keeps it in check and I can appreciate that. I will say it again, Michelle Wright can sing.

A little break, a little introduction.

I’m taking a little break here to talk about something that is not Country music. I’m playing these singles on a Stanton T-120 turntable using a Grado, Blue1 stylus. I run that through a Rane mixer into a Marantz receiver. The sound is loud and powerful and the good songs come out with vengeance. If I put on my KRK headphones, I can hear the platter moving. When I play these records, I hear every mistake the studio lets slip. This is a slice of heaven right now. All this new music to me, it envelopes and unleashes endorphins through my ears, cramming up my brain.

#16 Dude Mowrey

Hold On, Elroy/Turn For The Worse- Dude Mowrey

“Hold On, Elroy”- I just picture that cartoon character walking Astro when I hear the chorus in this song. I did not know that Country music follows the same formula as Pop music, where the chorus is the definitive lines and heart of these songs. It is, or this is just Pop-Country and it has to follow that same pattern.
“Turn For The Worse”- I do like the solos in this song. The fiddle then the guitar introduces a honky-tonk piano to the melody. Good touch to a forgettable song.

#15 BlackHawk

That’s Just About Right/Love Like This- BlackHawk
“That’s Just About Right”- The simplicity of these lyrics just scream 10th grade poetry. I wonder if these came from a frayed and worn notebook with forgotten assignments and silly sketches, because that is how  it sounds. The ukulele is a popular instrument in country music, but it does not stand out in this song. A fiddle at the end just dips into what could have been a fantastic jam, but it fades away with as much empathy as I have for this song. The chorus is so heavy in this song, so I assume it must be very powerful, not boring.

“Love Like This”- BlackHawk love to sing the lines, “Love Like This” because it is used Ad infinitum. That is all I heard in the song. I did not get into this song for anything.

#14 Exile

Nobody’s Talking/Don’t Hang Up (Girl)- Exile

“Nobody’s Talking”- I enjoy simple pop songs. This country one throws out lyrics that do not deviate from the norm. “Nobody’s talking… talking straight. I ask about you, and they… hesitate”. You have to enjoy that.

“Don’t Hang Up (Girl)”- Ha, ha, ha. They use a phone dialing in the beginning of the song. Moreover, they dial slowly. It is not in beat, or a preface for the rhythm, no. It is a lame addition because somebody thought it would add to the song. It does not. In addition, he has his friends singing the chorus, as if having all of your friends on the phone would emphasize your character for this (girl). I love that addition to the title, to. As though I would wonder who he did not want hanging up on him. The a-side was a better attempt towards a love song. I bet she accidentally hung up from laughing so hard when his gang of cronies on three-way, or downstairs using the kitchen phone, start singing to her. Yikes.

#13 Flaco Jimenéz

Jealous Heart/ Por Una Mujer Bonita- Flaco Jimenéz

“Jealous Heart”- The accordion! Flaco goes to town with his accordion on this… TexMex(?) sound. It has that jumpy tuba bass and the rolling drums typical with traditional music from Mexico. The lyrics are in English and this it is personally refreshing, because I understand what is going on. The accordion solos are full of the wailing bursts and rapid-fire notes that make your head bounce & bob. Funny how a human responds in just that way to a particular instrument.

“Por Una Mujer Bonita”- Now we have the Spanish lyrics song and I am lost. I understand the title, and that is all. Quicker rhythm associated here and that accordion stands up and out for a giant enjoyment. I’m sure if I threw a party, the Spanish cats would yip and holler for this song.