Customer Reviews

Buddy Jewell

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

All you have to do to become a Buddy Jewell fan is to hear him sing just one time.

Country music insiders have said for years that Buddy has the best voice in Nashville, but until he won the Nashville Star competition on USA Network, none of the Music Row "experts" would give him a chance at a recording contract.

Well, Buddy is proving that he's the real deal. Every song on the self-titled Columbia CD "Buddy Jewell" showcases the strength of his singing ability, and three songs were either written or co-written by him.

"Help Pour Out the Rain" is the first hit from this CD, but there will be others. Watch for "Sweet Southern Comfort," "Abilene on Her Mind" and "One in a Row" to eventually move up on the charts, too.

People call Buddy Jewell the "Nashville Star" now because of the TV competition. Before long, they will call him a real Nashville star because that's what he is.

I first caught wind of Buddy Jewell when he was on Nashville Star. I thought I would have been the last person to become addicted to that show -- seeing as it has been probably 15 years since I last listened to country music with any regularity -- but that was before I heard Buddy Jewell sing. What an incredible voice. If you give him a try, I know you will get hooked, too.

Unfortunately, because he won the Sony contract, his original independent albums -- which are well worth the effort to find a used copy -- are no longer available. But a few of his best songs made it onto this album: Abilene On Her Mind, One In A Row, and the first single Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey's Song). All are great, and without a doubt Abilene is destined for the top of the charts.

As a whole, the album is thoroughly enjoyable, fits together well, and contains that nice balance of slow, medium and fast. There are a couple of other standouts. You Know How Women Are works beautifully and the duet with Miranda Lambert on Today I Started Loving You Again is both wonderful and so unlike what you typically here on the radio today. Buddy's version of Why We Said Goodbye is better than Tim McGraw's, and O'Reilly's Luck has a great hook.

I bought this CD mostly out of curiosity. We enjoyed Nashville Star and Buddy was our favorite performer so I wanted to see how he did. This CD has been labeled "main-stream" and I haven't been real impressed with main-stream the past few years, so was expecting "another one just like the other one". To use the standard cliches it's a breath of fresh air, new and improved and the real thing. You'll be clapping, dancing and crying by the time you get through this CD. The rendition of "Today I Started Loving You Again" with Miranda Lambert gave me chills and I've been singing along to that song since I was a kid!! If you're main-stream, traditional or just curious, this is money well spent.

Buddy Jewell is the best pure country act to come out of Nashville in the last ten years. While country music has been steadily morphing into mainstream pop for the last several years with young acts who have little or no talent and even less appreciation for the roots of country, Jewell's debut gives tradition and talent a good shot in the arm.

The winner of this Spring's Nashville Star, Jewell is the most unlikely of stars. Fortysomething and a career demo singer, Jewell posesses a wisdom in his songs that actually speaks to the fact that he's been through lifes ups and downs and actually has something to say.

Sony spared no expense on this CD and it shows. Produced by Clint Black and backed by the finest of Nashville's studio players (Brent Mason, Glenn Worf, Eddie Bayers, etc.) basically the guys who back George Strait and other top tier performers, it's a first class production. The opening track "I Wanna Thank Everyone" is a tongue in cheek thank you to all those who told Jewell and countless others, that they couldn't make it in the business. "Lacey's Song", currently making the radio rounds is a beautiful tear jerker about family and God, co-written by Jewell. Next up is a sleeper track that may well be the best song on the entire CD; "Sweet Southern Comfort". Great harmonies, great lyrics and great delivery. Jewell next performs a remake of the Merle Haggard classic "Today I started Loving You Again" with fellow Nashville Star contestant Miranda Lambert. It's a solid effort that grows with each playing. You slowly realize that not only are Jewell and Lambert singing in different octaves, but that each are singing a slightly different version of the song.

"Abilene on her Mind" is a great country song. If released it should be a #1 hit and is easily one of the greatest love lost, country heartbreak songs ever written. If you think I'm exagerrating, just listen to the words and then try to not listen to it over and over. Co-written by Jewell, only a man of 40 years and some miles traveled could write that song. "One in a Row" is another solid effort in the classic country mold. "O'Reilly's Luck" is a catchy Irish-tinged song about a man with the worst of luck who misses his cruise on the Titanic.

Prior praise not-withstanding, the album slows down a bit here. While the rest of the album is solid, it is not as good as the first seven tracks, all good, some great. A real miss is the Clint Black penned song "I Can Get By" which was obviously a throw-away for Clint. One would think that given Jewell's other top-notch song writing efforts that he had something better himself.

Overall, a very good CD from a great new performer that just misses the mark for being a great CD. Easily the best new artist of 2003 as well as in quite some time.

Buddy Jewell won Nashville Star and deserved to do so, but this cd proves that he's more than just a reality show winner. His voice is superb and there's not one track on the cd that I skip over - a first for me. It's hard to pick stand-out songs because they're all so good but I particularly enjoyed, "Sweet Southern Comfort", "Abilene" and "Why We Said Goodbye". I also enjoy the cover of Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again" that Buddy sings with Miranda Lambert, a Nashville Star runner-up that was recently signed to her own recording contract. This cd is a terrific start to what I hope is a long and successful career for an extremely talented performer who also happens to be a very nice man. Great job Buddy.

First and for most, let me introduce myself, this is my first time reviewing an artist on here, and a review of any kind coming from me is as reading the New York stock report in Sunday Comics. I just felt that with the hard work and dedication, Buddy Jewell has put in his career; he's finally in the spotlight he outright deserves.
While most people first heard of Buddy on USA's "Nashville Star" I was different, you see I don't get USA, so the first time I heard him was on WVGA 105.9 Kicks 106 Valdosta, GA. (shameless plug) I heard "Help Pour Out The Rain". From that moment on I thought about how innocent our young children really our and what exactly makes us grown ups, anyway? Upon hearing that song come through the speakers of my stereo, I knew Country music is turning back on it's self, back to it's roots.
Moving on, I finally got the album today, and the first song I hear, hit so close to home "I Wanna Thank Everyone" Lord, I want to tell so many people that, especially that old high school principle, how I'm over coming his negative remarks. Then I heard "Sweet Southern Comfort" As a southerner, I feel this is the new anthem Dixie, it paints the perfect picture of what it's like south of the Mason-Dixon.
I could go on, but you don't want to read anymore, your eyes are straining from the glow of the monitor. So I strongly suggest you save your spare change, Hold back on the new pair of boots, and pick up this awesome new album from Nashville's star.

Even though he doesnt look the country scene, his voice sure does. "Help pour out the rain" is a pure classic, and hopefully his second single will be stronger. But knowing radio, it is will slow down.This is a great cd to purchase, since he sure hits the old country scene. Finally a real country singer.

Most of the reviews have said it all, but want to add my endorsement to Buddy's new CD. Perhaps a bit older than some of those who have written reviews, but his voice often reminds me of Mac Davis from the 60's in country music. (Whatever happened to him?) There's a resonance in his voice that is classic Mac, and I am enjoying every song on the CD. "I Want to Thank Everyone" reminds me of Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now?" Let's see that video! Looking forward to hearing more from Buddy and hope he comes to Seattle for a concert! Buddy was great on Nashville Star and such a fine gentleman in his demeanor with the other contestants. Way to go, Buddy! Love your CD--make another one soon!

Having become a fan of Buddy Jewell from the Nashville Star program, I was anticipating a good first album. I didn't expect it to be this good. "Sweet Southern Comfort" is an ideal song to cover the theme of the entire album. He is classic country, sung with a voice that reminds one of Kenny Rogers or Merle Haggard. Sweet Southern Comfort!! Best songs on the album include: "Abilene" & "Help Pour Out the Rain. (Both to be big radio hits.)"One in a Row" & "Why We Ever Said Goodbye" deserve a listen as well. Buy this album!!! It will be the best investment you've made this year.

I've always thought that few people ever agree with me when it comes to taste in music and video entertainment, but Buddy Jewell has proven that I'm not alone in appreciating his tremendous talent. Anyone who wants an album that you don't tire of but can push the repeat button on the CD player should definitely buy this selection. I thought Buddy was great on Nashville Star, and that one judge was crazy if not just plain stupid. Buddy sounds wonderful on this album and proves that sometimes the Nashville "know-it-alls" aren't as clever as they think. Fans, after all, know a good sound when they hear it and Buddy Jewell delivers on this album. All I have to say is bring us more Buddy. I'm not done listening yet. Also, since Nashville seems to have let you slip away until the listeners spoke up, how about not paying too much attention to them in the future. Take a page from the books of Waylon, Travis, Marty and the like and stay true to youself. We'll be there for you. Good luck to Buddy and everyone smart enough to buy his album.