CD Reviews

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MJ's Website

CD Reviews

What I know about music is limited to what I like and what I don't like. However, if you care about my opinions on these matters, take a read and you'll probably find something you like.

Everclear - "Slow Motion Daydream"

Everclear's latest effort is similar to prior CD's that have made them a band that is fun to listen to. With their next single "The New York Times", set to hit radio in early April, the band is looking for a hit similar to "Wonderful." Melodies are present throughout the CD, and songs like "A Beautiful Life" leave you saying, "Damn, that was cool." All in all, it's a very good CD for a band that might be nearing the end of their career.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * *

Joe Nichols - "Man With a Memory" (added 7/25)

Something about this CD makes me think that Mr. Nichols will be around in country music for a long time. With 2 #1 singles ("The Impossible" and "Brokenheartsville") and his newest top 25 release ("She Only Smokes When She Drinks"), the CD would be good enough with only three songs. However, Nichols has a variety of sounds in that deep twang, and shows it off in my personal favorites, "Man With a Memory" and "Life Don't Have to Mean Nothing at All." This is one heck of a debut album, and I expect Joe will only improve with time.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * *1/2

Nickel Creek - "This Side"

This country/bluegrass trio has made a major dent into the music industry with their amazing instrumentals, vocals, and energy. Their second CD, "This Side", is a great follow-up to their self-titled debut. Songs like "This Side" and "Speak" will get radio play, and will more than likely do well. "Spit on a Stranger" is a curious tune that you don't really know why you like, but you know that you do. This CD was produced by Alison Krauss, and you can hear some of her sound in a lot of their music. A must for anyone who enjoys good music.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * *

Brad Paisley - "Mud on the Tires" (added 10/3)

I don't have any of Brad's other CDs, but if they're half as good as this one, I'm gonna go out and grab 'em. This CD is great from the start, as "Mud on the Tires" and "Ain't Nothin Like" complement the radio heavy songs "Celebrity" and "Little Moments." The back half of the CD is filled with a variety of country, from gospel to bluegrass. "Whiskey Lullabye" is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard, but with Alison Krauss' vocals, it's also one of the prettiest. Other personal favorites are "Make a Mistake" and "The Best Thing I Had Goin." Overall, this is a fantastic CD that I'd recommend to anyone.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * * *

The Wallflowers - "Red Letter Days"

This CD is equally as good as the CD that launched their career, "Bringing Down the Horse", but in a completely different way. in "BDTH", Jakob Dylan and the gang center their songs around catchy lines delivered in a monotone, with one hell of a great organ in the background. In "RLD", the Wallflowers recreate themselves with a catchy electric guitar and vocals that are powerful and full of variety. Although the first two singles failed to catch on with Top 40 radio, they have done very well with stations on smaller circuits. The group might have a chance to have a breakout single with "Everybody Out of the Water", a testosterone-filled blast that has a great chorus. Overall, the CD is awesome, with songs that range from the emotional "Closer to You", to the infectuous "Everything I Need." I'd go and grab a copy if I were you.

Rating (Out of 5 stars) * * * *1/2

Lonestar - "From There to Here : Greatest Hits" (added 7/25)

Reviewing a greatest hits album is kinda pointless because you know going into it that the songs on it are awesome, but I'll give it a try anyway. There's a great mix of slow and fast songs alike on the album, giving it a little flair. Their latest #1 hit, "My Front Porch Looking In", is one of 3 new songs on the CD, along with "I Pray" (probably their next release...but I'm thinking it's a little too similar to the recent smash "I Believe" by Diamond Rio...guess we'll see) and a good rendition of "Walking in Memphis." All in all, it's worth the money if you're a country fan.

Rating (Out of 5 stars) * * * *

Gary Allan - "See If I Care"

I didn't know what to expect from this CD, based on the 2 hit singles he had released, "Tough Little Boys" and "Songs About Rain." The two songs, both slow, are completely different, so I figured there would be a broad range of songs on the CD. My personal favorites are "Drinkin' Dark Whiskey", "I Can Love You", the title track, "See If I Care", and a duet with Willie Nelson, "A Showman's Life." The album is a great mix of slow and fast, all sung with Allan's trademark rough twang. Not the best country CD I've picked up this year, but definitely one that suprised me with its mix and sound.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * *

Red Hot Chili Peppers - "By the Way"

This group never ages. Each time they come out with a new CD, you wonder how they can follow up their previous effort, but without fail, they do. After "Californication", I wondered if they could come up with a new enough sound to have another smash CD. With "By the Way", the group has done just that. 3 hit singles, "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", and "Can't Stop" lead the way, with other great work filling up the rest of the CD. They did it again.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * *1/2

Rascal Flatts - "Melt"

I'd be lying if I said there were any bad songs on this CD. I honestly think that they could release any song, and have it climb the country charts into the Top 10. "These Days" and "Love You Out Loud" headline the CD, but the other songs on it are equally as dynamic. My favorites are "Falling Upside Down", "Mayberry", and "Shine On", but they are all great in their own ways. The Flatts have a sound that no other band on the country scene can mimic, and their unique sound has lifted them to the top.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * * *

Tim McGraw - "Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors"

Tim McGraw's latest effort has me feeling a little disappointed, mainly because all of his other CDs have been so great. He sticks to slow songs for the most part on this CD, and doesn't really have that one feel-good song that marks his career. There is no "I Like It, I Love It" or "BBQ Stain" on this CD. While the singles "Red Rag Top" and "She's My Kind of Rain" found their way into the top 5, I'm hoping his next CD is more like his earlier work.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * *

Kenny Chesney - "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" (added 7/25)

Wow, am I glad I bought this CD. Chesney released a hefty 5 songs on the album, 3 of which I really enjoy, and 2 of which I can tolerate. But what makes this effort so great is the songs that he didn't release that could have been huge hits as well. There's a great story song in "Never Gonna Feel Like That Again", a great summer song in "Live Those Songs", a beautiful ballad in "I Remember", and my favorite, "One Step Up." This CD is a must have for every country fan.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * * *

Weird Al Yankovic - "Poodle Hat"

While the title of the CD might have no bearing on anything in general (it is mentioned once in the last track, "Genius in France"), don't go into this CD expecting sub-par work from the parody master. Great parodies of Eminem ("Couch Potato" to "Lose Yourself"), Avril Lavigne ("The Complicated Song" to "Complicated"), and the Backstreet Boys ("eBay" to "I Want It That Way"), mesh perfectly with hilarious originals like "Why Does This Always Happen to Me?" Weird Al can extend his career another 20 years if he can continue to produce great sounding music like he does in "Poodle Hat", for there's no such thing as too many laughs. Pick up a copy and prepare to be addicted to the king of the accordion.

Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * *1/2

Darryl Worley - "Darryl Worley" : Worley's 3rd CD is a great mixture of songs that are lyrically heavy, and songs that rely on the music to carry you through. The smash hit "Awful Beautiful Life" is offset by slower songs "If I Could Tell the Truth", "Find Me", and the poignant "If Something Should Happen", which I believe will be a big hit on country radio. Worley goes back to traditional country roots with "I Love Her, She Hates Me, I Drink", and has a sexy-toned song in "Was It Good For You." "The more upbeat "Work and Worry" and "Better Than I Deserve" are also highlights from a CD that should produce some big hits, and some big sales for Worley.

Overall Rating (Out of 5 stars) * * * *

Pat Green - "Lucky Ones" : It looks like the Texas country singer has found a place to stay on country radio as his new CD is highlighted by his top 20 single, "Don't Break My Heart Again." Green mixes rock, blues, and traditional country on this album, which features a duet with Brad Paisley ("College"), along with other solid songs "Baby Doll", "My Little Heaven", and the possible 2nd single, "Somewhere Between Texas and Mexico." Green has a Springsteen/Mellencamp sound on a couple of tracks, which make his form of country likable to the newest generation of country fans. Overall, a solid buy that most will enjoy.

Overall Rating (Out of 5 Stars) * * * *

Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today" : I dare you to find a part of this album that any college-aged female dislikes. You're not going to find it. The appeal of the Flatts, however, is that they appeal to women and men alike with their catchy vocals and pop-country sound. The title track has already been a top 10 hit, and their second single, "Bless the Broken Road" looks to be a top 5 smash. Upbeat anthems "Here's to You", "Fast Cars and Freedom", and "Oklahoma-Texas Line" will get anyone up on their feet, while slower songs such as "When the Sand Runs Out" and "Holes" showcase the groups ability to cover many topics. The tear-jerker "Skin" is a bonus track that will skyrocket to #1 if released as a single. Overall, a great buy that you're sure to enjoy.

Overall Rating (Out of 5 Stars) * * * * 1/2

Gary Allan - "Tough All Over" : Best country CD of 2005, bar none. The first single "Best I Ever Had" is a cover of a Vertical Horizon song, which is pleasantly surprising. Other possible singles include "Life Ain't Always Beautiful", "No Damn Good", "Promise Broken" and the title track, "Tough All Over." There is a lot of pain and emotion in Allan's voice, evidence of a tough time in his life with his wife's death a little over a year ago. My favorite song on the CD is "I Just Got Back From Hell", a song that doesn't leave anything to the imagination about Allan's loss, while illustrating that anyone is capable of overcoming the toughest of times. If this CD doesn't win awards, it's a shame.

Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) * * * * *