Customer Reviews

Cross Canadian Ragweed

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is definitely the best CD I've purchased in quite a while. It's also my first by this outstanding group; and I have to say, it probably won't be the last!

I heard "17" on the radio; maybe you have, maybe you haven't. That's just a sample of the awesome tunes on this album, though; this CD has everything from murder, to suicide, to drugs, to revenge, to prison, to heartbreak, to love without end, to even some biblical stuff. Everything that you'll ever want is here!

The highlights:

"Anywhere but Here" is a gas-pedal-pushin, Molotov-cocktail-throwin, rocketship-ridin thrill. "17" heralds back to those wonderful teenage years (which I'm currently in, though not as glamorous--or dingy--as this song makes 'em out to be). "Don't Need You" leans more toward modern rock, an anthem about how sometimes lovers just aren't necessary once they get a certain attitude. "Constantly" is simple, yet uniquely expresses one man's love. "Other Side" is a song for anyone who'd been trambled on, while "Carry You Home" gives you something to think about (that, and I've never heard the word "perogative" used in a song before).

Lead singer/guitarist Cody Canada's lyrics are sometimes simple, sometimes complex, but always cut straight to the bone. As an added bonus, you've got the talents of another alt-country singer/songwriter on production--Mike McClure of The Great Divide. So much talent, all in 60 minutes!

With one of the most unique names I've seen in a band--mixture of the band members' names--Cross Canadian Ragweed is a promising group of young musicians and singers. Don't be fooled, however; if you're lookin' for a family friendly, cuddle up with a lvoed one album...heh heh, you might want to go somewhere else! But if you like your country music with an edge--a nice, razor-sharp edge--then I'd pick CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED up today. ...

This may be the greatest band to ever make music together. It is truly outstanding musicianship and great lyrics. Cody Canada is a great musical mind. 17 is such a true story and it's so fun to sing to with the crowd. Constantly is a song that anyone who is in love will appreciate. Anywhere But Here...what can I say..rockin. This band is liked by both country fans, rock fans, and anyone who knows a good thing when they hear it. Get their other music as well. Alabama is perhaps their finest offering. Everyone, get thsi album and share it with your friends.

In a word, this cd was unbelievable! Every track, from beginning to end, was incredible.

The sad thing is that this band will most likely never achieve the fame they deserve for taking country music and blending it with the blues and rock 'n' roll. No, instead of having a band like this on the top of the charts, we have pop-tarts like Britney Spears or Clay Aiken making up the majority of cd sales today. A sad state of affairs indeed.

Granted, this is more country then rock, but hey, it's good music no matter what you want to call it. A modern-day version of Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers Band, Cross Canadian Ragweed truly shines on this disc. It's hard to start listening to the album in a bad mood and still be frowning when it stops playing. The stand out track on the album has got to be "17" as it makes even people who recently graduated high school grin as they remember the good old days. Aside from "17" the other great track is "Carry Me Home" which can only be described as soul touching. Every time I hear this song, I have to stop and look at myself in the mirror.

On a musical, not lyrical, level the cd is also great. The guitar and drums alone are worth buying the album. As both a rock fan AND a country fan (yes, they can co-exist in the same person) I have to say I love this cd. There is a Tim McGraw lyric which goes "some say it's too country/some say it's too rock and roll/it's just good music/if you can feel it in your soul/ That describes this entire disc to the letter.

Cross Canadian Ragweed's self-titled debut album is a unique blend of Waylon Jennings, the Allman Brothers Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Outlaws, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Seger that would sound equally at home on country radio (e.g. WPOR, KUPL, WTHT, KWJJ, KMPS, KKWF) and on rock radio (e.g. WBLM, KCRX, WIZN, KGON, KZOK, KEGX, WCPV, KISM). The band's music is equal parts heartland rock, Southern rock, and country, and their advocacy of capital punishment/life without parole for kidnappers straddles the fence between artists of the latter two styles and the former four artists, making them equally palatable for fans of Hank Williams, Jr., the Outlaws, and Ted Nugent. This is a CD that anyone who's ever been out west will enjoy.

If you don't own this CD by Cody Canada and Cross Canadian Ragweed, you are missing one of the best CD's in many years.

I'll tell ya, I LOVE this band!! PERIOD!! Only problem is, not easy finding their stuff in New York, let alone catching one of their supposedly AMAZING gigs!! I think Cody and the boys have MAYBE played NYC once, and I unfortunately missed em...sniff...thinking they'd be back soon enough...nope...

As everyone else had said, CCR are the real deal, I wholeheartedly agree!! Country?? No way in HELL, at least by Nashville-country standards!! That's a BIG part of their appeal for me...this band is NOT SLICK, all raw, punky, ELECTRIC guitars, killer songwriting, and true-to-life lyrics/stories, equally influenced by classic country, southern rock (as much Georgia Satellites as Skynyrd), LOUD rock + roll a la AC/DC, powerpop a la Cheap Trick, punk rock/grunge a la Nirvana...add their in-the-blood southern/Texas/Okie sensibilities, put it all in a blender and you have CCR...

AMAZING band, period!!

All the tunes on this "Purple" album are kickass, from the killer opener "Anywhere But Here" (pure Georgia Satellites, and Cody sounds like Dan Baird!!), to the moving, true-to-life "17", the Nirvana-ish "Don't Need You", the melodic, pure "Constantly", and a somewhat overlooked fave "Other Side". I really enjoy the two epic closers "Carry You Home" (not religious/gospel, but spiritual and honest in his somewhat conflicting/contradicting feelings and beliefs...not easy to put across, espesh in song), and "Freedom" (love the feedback-ridden opening bit, pure punk rock/grunge...)

If you LOVE CCR, like I do, do yourself a favour and check out AZ legends Roger Clyne + The Peacemakers (www.rogerclyne.net), NJ legend John Eddie, and sisters Alison Moorer + Shelby Lynne...I REALLY think CCR should tour with RCPM, John, and Alison + Shelby...it will expand their audience among likeminded fans and bands/artists...they would go over well...

I just have no one else to turn em on to here, except alt-country fans, and those few friends are already fans...I would attend every CCR gig I could, but there are none...

I love "Soul Gravy" too, and the live DVD rocks, makes me itch for the CCR live experience in the flesh all the more...they seem like fun and come across as genuine, good guys, and actual Democrats, not bogus Republicans that Nashville crappers seem to all be, and I don't relate...all the good alt-country artists like Steve Earle, they're all liberal Democrats...I can't imagine CCR not being that as well...

Now, I will struggle and find their 4 independent releases too, as those songs from them on the DVD kick ass!!

I just started listening to Cross after years of listening to Jack Ingram, Pat Green, REK, etc. I really like a lot of their stuff, but this album just didn't really do it for me. Don't get me wrong, there are some really good songs on here (17 being the best), but some of the songs just miss and as a result the album is not as strong as it should be. I would recommend you get another Cross album before getting this one - but if you are a fan then it is a must own.

Recommend owning all these guys CD's -- even the live stuff is good!

Another fantastic album from good ol' CCR. I got hooked on them at a show in Seattle, where this kind of music really should belong, but the Country label so often associated with Texas bands probably scares some. I managed to see them from 6 feet away, separated by only a 3 foot elevated stage and a microphone. Great in concert, even better on this CD. If you are considering getting into this band, this and all other CDs are worth the money.

I'm pretty new to the country music scene as I grew up listening to heavy metal and hard rock and am still a fan of the genre. I swore I'd never listen to country music. Recently I started broadening my listening tastes and have found I actually like some of the newer country artists out there. I've purchased CDs from Kenny Chesney, Chris Cagle to Keith Urban, but I must say--when I saw CCR's video Constantly on CMT--I was blown away. I had to have their CD. For those of you who like your music with a bit more edge, this is a must have for your CD collection. I haven't heard a song on the Purple Album that I don't like. And Cody Canada has a soulful voice that I could listen to for hours. Great job, guys! I'll be looking for more from this talented bunch of guys--and if they ever make their way North--I'll definitely be seeing them live!