Customer Reviews

Carney

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all, I like this album so don't get me wrong. After all, I gave it 4 of 5 stars It's worth the price just for "Jenny" and the studio version of "Carney Man". There are also a couple of other songs I really like here, such as "Alright" and "Leave Your Leaving". However, this is the only CCR album where I find myself skipping tracks and only listening to a few of 'em.

I don't care for this version of "Proud Souls". It's a Jason Boland tune, and I think they actually recorded it before he did. Once you hear Jason Boland & The Stragglers do this one, you realize how much the CCR version pales in comparison. (And don't hate me...Cody Canada would tell you the same thing.) Also, I always skip "Help Me (Get Over This Mountain)", "April's Girlfriend", and "Sweet Teresa".

You may like this album just fine if you haven't heard much of CCR's music before. However, if you're not already a CCR fan I recommend you start with one of their other albums, like the purple album, "Live & Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon", or "Highway 377". Come back to this one later, though!

Cross Canadian Ragweed is awesome. Cody Canada, lead vocals/guitar; Jeremy Plato, bassist; Randy Ragsdale, drums; Grady Cross, rhythm guitar--they equal up to a unique, out-of-this world country/rock band.

CARNEY isn't the absolute best album around, no. It's an independent, and thus not as "high tech" as many of the Nashville albums. However, it does stand out--because it's a combination of rock and country, put together eloquently by these four gentlemen.

"Jenny" is my personal favorite song, about a woman who heads off to California and comes back, and the man who suffers through it all. "Alright" deals with the perfect "imperfect" relationship. "Leave Your Leaving" is basically a plea from a man down to his last drag. "April's Girlfriend" and "Sweet Teresa" are tintilating rockers; "Proud Souls" and the hidden track are moving acoustic numbers.

Those aren't all the songs, obviously; however, I didn't want to ruin anything for you. If you haven't listened to Cross Canadian Ragweed yet, it's time to see what you've been missing; and why not start here, with CARNEY? It may not be the best in an ocean full of artists and albums, but it certainly is a standout.

It's Ragweed so the music and the songs are worthy of five stars, but the production sounds as though the album was recorded in a tin can. So, I rate it a four star. I know the band is not pleased with the production of this album and have even re-recorded Jenny for their latest album, Mission California, because of their displeasure with the production. How these guys are not better known and more widely followed is beyond my comprehension and emblematic of many problems with today's music industry. Is it the name, too country for rock stations, too rock for country stations, refusal to bow down to almighty Nashville?

Carney is the first studio release from the "Boys from Oklahoma" and includes several excellent cuts such as Hey, Hey; Alright; Jenny; the crowd pleasing, band not-so-pleasing Carney Man (state fair, state fair)and a recording of the Jason Boland penned Proud Souls.

If Ragweed comes near your town go check them out. They are a tremendous live band and extremely generous with their fans.

If you already know Ragweed, despite the poor production Carney is a Ragweed album, which means its better than most music out there. If you are new to Ragweed and looking for a first purchase I would recommend something else such as Soul Gravy, the eponymous "purple album" or any of the live albums.

This is Cross's first album - the trained ear will be able to pick this up - however it is currently my favorite Cross album. Carneyman, the first song, is truly excellent and the rest of the album leans great support to make a very solid album. If you listen to Jason Boland, Jack Ingram, Pat Green, REK, JJW, etc then you will love these guys. I highly recommend this album.

As a independent release Carney rocks. With all the junk being released today, too many Clone Bands out their, mediocre musicians, poor songwriting, lacking orginality and lame sounding. Cross Canadian Ragweed's a beacon of light in a sea of garbage so to speak. Cody, Grady, Jeremy, and Randy are all excellent musicians, working well together and it shows in their music. CCR's one of the few newer bands that I listen to and really like their music. Really like the song selection, writing and like the Carnival Sound Intro on Carney Man. Carney Man's one of my favorite songs from them, but I also liked off of Carney: "Hey Hey", "Help Me", "Jenny", "Alright", "headed South", "Leave Your Leaving", "Go On And Lie", "On Your Own" and Proud Souls". I also like how CCR always has a hidden track on their releases and they are always really neat songs. The best way to descibe their sound would be mix Honky Tonk, Texas style, with good Olde Rock 'N'Roll, ABB, CSN&Y, Honky Tonk (Delbert style), with a hint of Southern Rock Lynyrd Skynyrd style, Neil Young's Harmonica sound, with originality and you get CCR. Carney's a must have release and worth the cost to get. Also checkout crosscanadianragweed.com. Thanks Dustin aka, "The Dusty Show" for getting me hooked on CCR's music.

Noone better in Red Dirt Country than CCR! This is a great CD and all the ones that follow!!

Simply awesome! CCR is great in the studio and even better in concert! Don't miss out on this album!

Anyone who has not enjoyed Cody Canada and Cross Canadian Ragweed is in for a huge treat.

The "Boys from Oklahoma" can really play. Every song on this CD is great. If you see these guys live, you will understand why they are so popular on the Texas college circuit.