Customer Reviews

Corn Fed (U.S. Version)

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

 

 

Though this is her full-length debut, Shannon Brown is certainly no newcomer. I've heard 4 previous efforts, none of which ever received the promotion or attention they deserved. "I Won't Lie", "Baby I Lied", "Untangle My Heart", and "Half A Man (from the Happy, Texas soundtrack)" were sung with heaps of charisma but nobody paid any attention. So when I heard she had a new single coming out and an internet show on aol, I was thrilled. The lead single "Corn Fed" is a fun, rocking, down home ditty that sticks in your head and I was hooked immediately and praying she wouldn't get stuck in oblivion yet again. It happens too often where I hear a great single from a new artist and no full-length CD ever comes out.

Well, Corn Fed was certainly worth waiting for. Shannon is a terrific vocalist with a lot of texture, emotion, and charisma to her voice. Of course, the greatest voice does not a good CD make, the songs have to measure up as well. There is really only one song on this CD that I hit 'next' on, and that is "Good Old Days" as it just isn't my thing. The wah wah boom chicka boom 70's funk feel of it just doesn't click for me, though I liked that stuff when I was very young. Here it just sounds dated, rather than retro. Aside from that one track, I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite out of the rest of the songs. The first one that jumped out at me was track 3 (the second actual song), Big Man. It doesn't say a whole lot but has a nice premise and terrific vocals. And it's upbeat, bluesy, and catchy. Each time through the CD another couple of songs clicked for me and now I like all but the aforementioned 70's throwback. It's funny how you pick up different things on each listen. I love "Turn To Me" now but on first listen I didn't like how strained her voice gets on the full-voice high notes. It's still not a BAD voice, but she just doesn't sound as good in the super high notes full-voice, while in soft voice the high notes sound tender and beautiful. Somehow it grew on me, though, and now I just love the song. Maybe I'm just jealous that she can sing that high? Ha ha, or maybe I didn't like it because I know I would NEVER be able to sing it. But I digress....in summation, great CD, terrific vocals, and great songs. Buy this one for sure. I just hope she gets some airplay. "Corn Fed" barely made it into the top 40 and fell back out instantly, despite being a fantastic song. At least the video is #17 on GAC right now, so maybe people will give her the attention she deserves.

'Corn Fed' is Shannon Brown's latest entry into the formularic mainstream pop/country market.

The songs are all clinically and professionally delivered but lack any sense of emotion or passion.
The glossy sleek production courtesy of John Rich only adds to the overall sheen and predictability of the sound and takes away any potential edge the material may have had in its formative days.

Overall the CD sounds a little too contrived.
A product (note the word product !!) designed and marketed to part you from your dollar's rather than to touch your soul and satisfy your heart

I am sure this lack of soul and heart will be nicely compensated by a healthy royalties check but at what long term price ?

Is Corn Fed worthy of the hype - Not really.

Don't get me wrong as this isn't a bad CD.
It does what it sets out to do which is to produce harmless,inoffensive background music.
The bottom line though is it offers nothing new to an already overcrowded radio friendly ,pop orientated genre that has seen and forgotten far better already.

The wait was worth it, great songs, fantastic vocals, sublime production. the cd lives in my cd player,

From the first song, the influence of John Rich of Big And Rich. It sounds pretty much in the style of Grechen Wilson.

I was a fan of Shannon's since I heard her single "I won't lie".... and have been waiting for her debut album. I purchased it the day it came out. I must admit it took me a few runs through the album for me to actually be able to say this album isn't bad. I think my biggest issue about this album is who Shannon used as a co-writer and producer, John Rich of Big&Rich. To me everything Mr.Rich writes and produces sounds the same, with the exception of "Why" which I must admit I prefer Jason Aldean's version over Shannon's. The other exception is "Like we never loved at all" But let's be honest, Faith Hill can sing anything and make it sound good! The best songs on this album in my opinion are: Big Man, Turn to Me, Pearls and She Brings the lightning down. If you are a fan of the music Mr. Rich produces, then you should enjoy this.... If you are a fan of Shannon's...give it a try... I have noticed this album isn't doing to well.... I think people are realizing Mr. Rich's stuff is all the same... For example, look at Big&Rich's recent album sales and Gretchen Wilson's.... They pale in comparison to their debuts...Shannon has talent and hopefully she will get a chance to make another album, (minus Mr. Rich)and show her real talent and finally get the exposure she deserves!!!

This is an excellent modern country CD. There is not a single boring song on this disc; they are all good and most of them excellent. There is no temptation to hit the skip button.

If she could only sing as good as she looks... When I saw the video for the title track Cornfed I thought she could be the next big thing. Now that I've LISTENED to her I can see why her singing career never really took off. Some of the songs start out with potential (at best) but don't take long to go south once she starts singing, especially when she attempts to really belt it out. Thankfully I was able to get this from a fine Amazon partnered retailer at a greatly reduced price. I'd be really upset had I paid full price for this.

I didn'tknow too much about Shannon until I saw a copy of her cd in the Country Music Hall of Fame gift shop.I made a note to check out her webpage when I got home.I was intrigued & ordered her cd.She has a great voice.I'd call it Gretchen Wilson-like but a little sassier & sexier.She writes a lot of her own songs & shows a great sense of humour & fun.Check out Big Man & Can I Get An Amen.If you like true country sounds this might be the one for you.

At the risk of getting her fans riled up, I will say that this album will not appeal to fans of traditional country music. It is too noisy by far. Fans of the newer country music, however, probably will like this album. I like both (I lean to the traditional side) but this album strikes me as too inconsistant to rate more than three stars. The best track on the CD is "Pearls", a sure-fire #1 if released as a single. There are three other really good tracks in "Can I Get An Amen", "I Love 'Em All" and "Small Town Girl" that have hit potential. On the other hand "Big Man" and "Good Ole Days" are poor tracks and "High Horses" is terrible.

If someone would remix this, removing the electric lead guitar and replacing it with acoustic guitars, it would improve the disc considerably. Also toning down the drum tracks would be a big plus. Vocally Shannon probably "has the goods" but it's hard to tell since she has to scream to be heard over the backing. I would like to see her with a different producer than John Rich, but don't blame her for associating with him in an effort to get airplay. She's paid a lot of dues and deserves better treatment than she's received thus far. I doubt that the current single "Corn Fed" will be a big hit but there are several worthy candidates for future singles

If you like traditional country, you must buy the new Alecia Nugent CD "A little girl... A big four-lane" but if you prefer a modern country rock sound this is the one you will appreciate. Shannon Brown "Corn Fed" is simply amazing. Words, music, production, everything is perfect !!!