Darryl Worley

Darryl Worley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dreamworks Nashville
• ASIN: B00065JTA6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,245 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Worley's self-titled effort begins optimistically enough with "Awful Beautiful Life," a microcosm of life's joys, frustrations, and sorrows that he co-wrote with Harley Allen. It and the throwaway "Was It Good for You" cover the upbeat side. Otherwise, this is a dour, dark collection fraught with shattered relationships, occasional violence, death, and alcohol-soaked pessimism. The album's war song, "If Something Should Happen," personalizes overseas troops' anxiety about family at home. Clever arrangements mesh with Worley's flawless performances, particularly the sparse New Orleans-flavored "Work and Worry," a clever cautionary about laboring oneself into the grave. "If It Hadn't Been For Love," the lament of a stalker who went too far, is both lyrically and musically foreboding. Worley clearly doesn't see patriotism merely in terms of flag-waving. He co-wrote "Wake Up America," which graphically laments small-town America's raging hard-drug epidemic. Given radio's continuing obsession with upbeat, flippant fluff, it's to his credit he eschewed rose-colored glasses to focus on what Porter Wagoner once called "The Cold Hard Facts of Life." --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of modern country's best singer/songwriters!, November 13, 2004

By 

DanD - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Darryl Worley (Audio CD)

For some reason, Darryl Worley has yet to obtain the spotlight as have other talented singer/songwriter traditionalists, such as Alan Jackson and Dierks Bentley. Not to fear, though--Worley doesn't seemed too concerned about his lack of recognition. In fact, it's downright ironic that his self-titled release is his best yet--not only did he write/cowrite most of the tunes on here, but this is a better representation of his live material than his other three albums.

Known primarily for "Have You Forgotten?" and "I Miss My Friend," Worley's best material has always been those upbeat, swinging, make-you-smile numbers. Take the not-too-sublte "Was It Good For You," or the tongue-in-cheek "I Love Her, She Hates Me" ("and I drink"). Yet, there's enough heart on here to last you a lifetime--"If Something Should Happen" will move you to tears in its honest portrayal of a man facing possible death. "Find Me" is a plea from a man who's almost given up. "What Makes a Man Do That" ponders how the unverse of love revolves, while Worley's own "Whistle Dixie" is yet another look at a man's mortality...with a more gospel edge. "Wake Up America" is a lament of the destruction of small towns across America.

Not that this album is without its flaws, of course--"Work and Worry" is a bit TOO lighthearted and frisky, while "Better Than I Deserve," while an honest country song, is a bit cliched. However, on the whole, DARRYL WORLEY is a terrific country music album. Produced by Frank Rogers (who's made a name for himself with such artists as Brad Paisley, Trent Willmon, and Josh Turner), and featuring some of Worley's best vocal deliveries and songwriting chops, this album is not only the best of Worley's career so far, but one of the best albums to come out this year. Caution, though: this is only for those of you who enjoy your country music raw and uninhibited. You pop-leaning fans need not apply.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Darryl Worley" - Well worth a listen, July 27, 2005

By 

Sundownred - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darryl Worley (Audio CD)

The self-titled album, "Darryl Worley" does a wonderful job at highlighting Darryl's talent as a singer/songwriter. From the opening song, an upbeat, toe tapping, "Awful Beautiful Life", to the final song, "Whistle Dixie", with it's wonderful opening harmonies, "Darryl Worley" serves up a remarkable collection of songs. "If It Hadn't Been For Love" illustrates a different perspective of love gone wrong. "I Love Her, She Hates Me" features Earl, lamenting his lost wife, while "Was It Good For You" puts a smile on your face asking the million dollar question that most people are afraid to ask. The poignant "If Something Should Happen" tells of a man facing his own mortality.
Each song on the album showcases Darryl's rich voice and evokes a wide range of emotions from it's listeners. I would highly recommend this album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darryl Worley At His Best, July 24, 2005

By 

Wanda Keith (Gainesville,GA. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darryl Worley (Audio CD)

I have all of Darryl Worley's previous work because I like the way he puts real life and real emotions into a song. This latest music does that and then some. Every song could easily be a single. If you want to hear songs put to some great music that talk about what most of our lives are really about, get this CD. Like real life, you get to experience through this work, the saddest of times and the happierst of times. You will also smile a lot when you hear songs like Was It Good For You and I Love Her, She Hates Me, I Drink. This is a must have for country music fans.