Wanted: Old School Honky Tonker

Often, when I am bored, I like to go through other people’s CD collections and pull out music that I’ve previously never heard. Recently, I visited a co-workers stash to look for a CD to help me pass the workday a little more joyously, when I came across a country CD from a man whose name was unfamiliar to me. In the interests of expanding my horizons, I decided to give it an ear. In the end, I was delighted by the experience of listening to Gary Allan.

Tracks:
1. Send Back My Heart
2. Her Man
3. Forever And A Day
4. Living In A House Full Of Love
5. All I Had Going Is Gone
6. Used Heart For Sale
7. Of All The Hearts
8. From Where I Am Sitting
9. Wine Me Up
10. Wake Up Screaming

Producer: Mark Wright and Byron Hill

Musicians:
Gary Allen – Vocals
Brent Rowan – Electric Guitar
Owen Hale – Drums
Jake Kelly – Acoustic Guitar
Michael Rhodes – Bass
Hank Singer – Fiddle
Dan Dugmore – Steel and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Nathan – Keyboards

Breakdown:
Of all the kinds of music that I listen to on a regular basis, country music is one that I could tell you the least. Sure, I know and recognize a few names, like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Randy Travis. I even own a Travis Tritt CD. But for the most part, listening to country music is usually reserved for passing the time in my drive to and from work. Most of what I know about contemporary country music comes from whatever the radio stations are currently playing. As I grabbed Used Heart For Sale, I prepped myself for an onslaught of watered down honky-tonk music, glossed over by slick pop-music technicalities and other gimmicks, just like what I hear every time the radio station broadcasts a Shania Twain tune.

I guess the old saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover”, holds true. Instead of getting a heavy dose of pop music masquerading as third rate country music, I got an earful of stripped down, no-nonsense, back to basics, country music loaded with biting melody, southern twang, and rock solid rhythm. Listening to this CD, images of a smoky honky-tonk dive bar with a packed dance floor come to mind. The songs have your typical, crying-in-my-beer themes, which marks so much great country music of years gone by. The end left me left puzzled why I really hadn’t heard much about this excellent country music performer.

Some of the hot spots include:
Her Man - I immediately recognized this ballad, as it did get some airplay for a short period of time a few years back. It’s a tender song about coming to realize the hurt he has inflicted on his lover, and vowing to go forward with a new sense of dedication to the relationship. The chorus line says it all, ”Starting today, all I’m going to be is her man”.

Send Back My Heart - The opening track to the CD is an upbeat song that will immediately inspire you to get up and dance. Allan’s immediately shows his unique vocal style, which is full of energy and sincerity. The guitar, piano, and fiddle all get in the melodic mix, with some flavoring provided by a steel guitar and bass.

From Where I Am Sitting - If country music is known for one thing, it has to be the unique puns that signify song titles. This song has one such pun, as the chorus line goes ”From where I’m sitting, I can see where I stand”. It is another ballad, which doesn’t sound too much different than the first one on the disk - another love song about lost love.

Used Heart For Sale - One of my favorites, Allan’s vocals are packed with a edgy, emotional, while the band lays down a solid dance groove, and the guitarist twangs out some biting licks. He sings of his heart as though it was a used car, and relates tales of former “owners” of his heart.

Of All The Hearts - This slightly jazzy, neo-lounge lizard tune provides a little bit of contrast to the rest of the disk. It features some really nice fiddle playing in the opening melody.

Overall, this is a great country CD by an excellent country musician who, in my opinion, doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves. Perhaps it’s because modern country music is so “pop” oriented, that a throwback, old-school country artist like Allan who plays stripped-down, back-to-basics tunes can’t get a fair hearing by radio stations who are looking for the next Reba McEntyre. In any case, listening to this disk has made me want to find out what else he has done. The only drawback to the disk is that there are really only two styles he plays, tender love ballads and upbeat honky-tonk numbers. Still worth four stars.