Customer Reviews

Freight Train

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Prime Cuts: Every Now and Then, Taillights Blue, It's Just That Way

Despite Alan Jackson's denial that there was any enigmatic motive in entitling his 14th album "Freight Train" but it is still an appropriate album title. Just as a freight train is not about speed but about going the long haul, these 12 tracks are not about chasing the latest trends, they are quality songs that are going to be etched into the memories of fans for years and years to come. Just as freight trains hearken back to the days of old-fashioned gait, these paeans belong to the best of traditional honky-tonk country sung in Jackson's most affectionate southern-drawl tenor. If you like steel guitars, soft strumming of the guitar and everything rustic--this is a feast for the ears. Jackson once again delivers 7 solidly self-written cuts, one a co-write with Roger Murrah, and 4 well-chosen covers, one of which coming from Adam Wright (Jackson's own nephew).

If there was ever any doubt if Alan Jackson is the best thing that has had ever happened to country music, just take a listen to "Every Now and Then." In the tradition of Jackson's heart-tugging signature ballads such as "If I Could Back Up" and "Gone Crazy," "Every Now and Then" brings out all the bittersweet memories of a love that has ended with so much realism that you swear Jackson has had read your own diary. Another absolute charm is the Adam Wright co-write "Taillights Blue," a devastating piece of heartache, which calls to mind Clint Black's "Nothing But the Taillights" but done at a slower pace with an even more gorgeous melody. Romance in its more blissful moments do get a mention on "It's Just That Way." Written by producer Keith Stegall, Kylie Sackley and Vicky McGehee, this slow descriptive ballad takes its time to spell out long lasting love with rich blend of pastoral metaphors: "That ole sun comes up every mornin'/And goes back down at the end of every day/It's just that way/Stars show up every evenin'/Man in the moon comes out to play/It's just that way."

Even when Alan Jackson lets go of the brakes for some rip and roar moments he again proves that he has not lost an iota of his energy. "After 17"which tells the story of a girl starting life on her own finds Jackson telling this tale with youthful zest. More moments of levity abound with "That's Where I Belong" -an Alan Jackson staple that pays tribute to his roots in the lines of previous hits such as "Where I Come From" and "Small Town Southern Man." The brisk rollicking strut of "Hard Hat and a Hammer" continues the blue-collared theme giving some grits to the album. Roger Murrah who co-penned Jackson's magnum opus "Don't Rock the Jukebox" reunites with Jackson again on the extremely catchy hit-bound "True Love is a Golden Ring."

Noteworthy of mention is Jackson throw back to the past: this time it is Jackson's cover of the Vern Gosdin's duet with Janie Fricke "Till the End." Lee Ann Womack with her traditional bend is the perfect choice as Jackson's duet-partner on this country chestnut; though their performance religiously stays too close to the original. In a time when artists evolve with the latest trends and whistles, it's good that Jackson stays committed to one single goal: to continue to make great music that is country to the core. With such a lofty goal as its destination "Freight Train" is certainly heading in the right direction.

This album is a return to a very classic country sound. Not a lot of rocking, beat heavy tunes. Just good easy listening music that reminds me of Alan's early career. I'm thrilled with it.

In Spain country music is not very appreciated, but there is people like me that enjoy listening this music.I think Freight Train is a very good record.Alan Jackson back to traditional country with it.My favorite songs are "Every now and then","After 17","Freight Train"....It is a record that I can not stop to listen.If you want listening good country music,don't let pass this in your records collection.From Madrid with love to my friends at Amazon.

Packin' up the Freight Train after more than 20 years with Arista Records, Alan bids a consistent farewell to a Remarkable chapter of his career! This album (out now for just a day) most admittedly does not hit you like "Good Time" the best country album from 2008-2009. In terms of Country Music awards "Good Time" was the most over-looked album in over a decade. Why? Maybe the Nashville-elite didn't like the fact that Alan Jackson went it alone and wrote all 17 tracks on the album with great success! It was a career first for him, although he has always been a prolific writer of "simple-songs" and most of his own biggest hits. Well, on "Freight Train" he lets a handful of others into the mix on 3 tracks and pulls off a fantastically country-to-the-core cover with Lee Ann Womack on the Gosdin penned "Till the End."

"Freight Train" might lack many of the number 1 knock-out hits that made "Good Time" great, however, I think that it is more consistently good... There isn't a weak track of the new album's 12 tracks, while the last had a couple of "I Still Like Bologna" & "Nothing Left to Do" type tracks that weren't horrible yet put a few kinks in an otherwise outstanding 17 track line-up. [For my tastes, anyway] "Hard Hat and a Hammer" is another in a line of tribute to the "working class hero"-type songs that Alan has been so good to put out over the years... This gets the album off to a decent enough start which highlights include, but aren't limited too the first single "It's Just That Way," "Freight Train," "Taillights Blue," "Till the End," "Big Green Eyes," and my personal favorite upon my first listen "True Love is a Golden Ring!" Alan Jackson's songs make a great soundtrack to the life a "simple-man" which probably explains why he's my favorite living country artist. For me he is up there with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson; Patsy Cline; George Strait; Martina McBride and any other Country Great in any conversation on the topic. His discography just got that much deeper and its as important as any body recording in any genre of music today. In one word this album is "Genuine" country... This is a buy, even if the 12 clips that Amazon let's you hear don't get you, the quality of the effort as an artistic whole will!

Lastly, if this doesn't convince you, then just go back and listen to or buy "Drive" and your mind will be blown. It's the best country album in the last 15 years, bar-none... Then just work your way back up to this and you'll be glad you did. -A great, heart-warming American songbook is the summation of Alan's first 16 studio albums for Arista. From "Here in the Real World" to the current "Freight Train" Alan has given us a lifetime of www.memories put to music. So Thank you and here's to the future... Best of luck to you Alan and God Bless!

Alan Jackson has made a career out of doing Neo-Traditional Country for 20 years.He deserves to be in the upper pantheon of the country greats and is also one of America's greatest singer-songwriters regardless of genre.
My biggest problem with this album is that there are no real stand out tracks and the songs seem
to blend together.
While this is not his best album to date if you are a fan of traditional country with a down home sound with good lyrics you will not be disappointed with this album.
I would give this album 3 and a half stars if amazon let me.

Alan Jackson's country music train rolls on, another superb effort from Alan who continues to fly the real country music flag from Nashville, a city where Nashpop and Nashtrash usually rules the day. You would think that the music executives would take notice of Alan Jackson's continued success with his real country music approach, but they won't .... Oh well, one day the wheel will turn again as it always has done in the past.

So if you're looking for real country music from a modern day superstar, then here you are, "Freight Train" from Alan Jackson; or indeed any other Alan Jackson product.

GB, radio presenter, Australia

This much anticipated CD from Alan Jackson is "Vintage Alan Jackson". No one who is a fan will be disappointed in any of the songs on this CD. I gave it as a gift and wish I'd purchased one for myself too, as there really isn't a bad track on it. This is exactly what we've come to expect from Alan Jackson, country music at its' best!

This CD is classic Alan Jackson music - no real surprises but it nestles in nicely with his previous albums. He is such a creative and wonderful composer and I never tire of his songs.

Awesome! Of course, everything Alan Jackson does is awesome! We love Freight Train (even tho' the writer gets steam & diesel locomotives mixed up a bit :-) ) Alan Jackson Rules Country Music! If y'all don't have this CD, y'all need to get it now! Brian in Wimberley, Texas

(hey! why isn't the "Tag..." field active on this web page?" bL

I've been a huge Alan Jackson fan since about 1995. I don't know how I missed him before that, except I was being inundated by the heavy metal eminating from my teenagers' rooms! Still I never really paid close attention until my brother-in-law loaned me his Drive (For Daddy Gene) CD. I was instantly hooked! While my AJ library is still relatively small (I buy when I can afford to), I lean toward greatest hits albums. But once in a while, a title reaches out and grabs me, an I have to have that particular CD and don't rest til I get it. Sometimes, that takes a while.

A couple of years ago, without ever having heard a single cut from the album, I bought the Good Times CD. It might have been the best purchase I had made up to that point. The title song just about says it all, or as I've heard said in the south: He said mouthful! Even thought I'm no longer able to dance, that single song makes my toes tap as if they have a mind of their own.

Yesterday, I received my copy of Freight Train, and although I've only had time to listen to it straight through once, I picked out three of the best on the album: Freight Train, Tail Lights Blue, and Hard Hat and a Hammer. If ever any one singer/songwriter knew how to connect to his audience, Alan Jackson has to be that ONE.

Of course, my opinion of him is based on a couple of things we have in common, as well: His birthday is October 17, while mine is October 12, he was born in the south. I was born in Alabama and raised by southern parents, though not in the south. And I think his daddy and mine would have gotten along wonderfully. Drive (For Daddy Gene), and Small Town Southern Man, could easily have been written about my own dad.

Alan: I hope you have many more in you. Keep 'em coming!