Customer Reviews

The Guitar Song

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

We needed Jamey about 15 years ago when country music really started turning to crap. There are many gifted artists out there but they seem to have lost that country "feeling" in their music. The music seems to be going "pop" and being a classic country fan that makes my stomach turn. Jamey has brought that "feeling" back in his songs and the songs that he writes for others. I knew since his first album "The Dollar" that this guy was stone cold country and I have been a loyal follower since. How many new songs on the radio now have the pedal steel guitar in them? None. "The Guitar Song" is some of the best true country music that I have heard in years and I love it. You just can't listen to the first song "Lonely At The Top" (co-written by Keith Whitley, remember him?)without wanting to open up a cold beer and sit back and relax. Thank you Jamey for giving us some awesome country music and I'll be waiting for more to come. I can't wait to see you live soon!!!!!!

In my humble opinion, this singer-song writer is what country music is about. Straight forward lyrics, writeS what he knows and not some creative fantasy with shitkickers on, great renditions of some classic country. Jamey is a breath of fresh air for a music genre that is getting too pop. The torch or country music has been passed on to a new generation.

The problem with releasing a double album is that not all of the songs are bound to be of the same quality. As amazing as Jamey Johnson's THE GUITAR SONG is, it suffers the same fate. Most of the weaker tunes appear on the second disc (the "White Album"), simply because it isn't as cohesive as the first. "The Black Album" is mostly about economical hard times, living day-to-day (California appears as a theme throughout both discs). The second album eases up a bit; it's by no means a slouch, but just can't keep up with "The Black Album's" haunting depth.

Still, overall, THE GUITAR SONG is easily one of the best country albums released this year (I won't say THE best because, off the top of my head, I can't really remember any others). For such a talented songwriter, Johnson relies on quite a few covers: Keith Whitley's "Lonely at the Top," Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times," Mel Tillis's "Mental Revenge," Vern Gosdin's "Set 'Em Up Joe," etc. He re-interprets the songs ("Mental Revenge" is no longer whimsical, but is in fact genuinely disturbing, as the lyrics would suggest) to fit his own sonic vein. Surprisingly, his originals tend to stand toe-to-toe with the classics. "Playing the Part" is a brilliant skewering of California culture (as is "California Riots," which may or may not have political undertones). "Can't Cash My Checks" narrates the contradictory pride often felt at the bad end of poverty, while "Poor Man Blues" hits on the anger. "Macon" is a beautiful Johnson-style power ballad (almost spiritual in nature), while "That's Why I Write Songs" is a haunting ars poetica, featuring just vocals and guitar. (Which leads me to another point: Johnson actually plays on most of these songs; most artists would've left it all up to studio musicians.)

Some songs kind of fall flat; "Dog in the Yard" is amusing but shallow. Even the title track (featuring a fantastic performance from Whisperin' Bill Anderson) comes off as trite. Still, Johnson at his worst (we'll ignore "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, which he purposely chose not to record) is better than most anything country radio will see these days. In the end, THE GUITAR SONG comes off as an album chock-full of die-hard country music. You'll hear plenty of steel guitar, lyrics that cut straight to the marrow, and melodies that conjure George Jones and Waylon Jennings. This is an album for people who like their music raw and unedited. It isn't quite as masterful as THAT LONESOME SONG, but it's still Jamey Johnson, and that says all you need to know.

Truly an amazing feat to collaborate, write and produce what could very well be the most significant country album of the last 20-25 years. I was completely exhausted after listing to Guitar Song (though, I think it will be refereed to as the Black & White album). An emotional roller coaster that will make you laugh, cry, think and harken back to days when wit, grit and tenderness were the backbone of country & western.

Tough & Tender, Mean & Sweet, Funny & Sad, Rich & Poor, Good & Evil, Stoned & Sober, Past & Present, Love & Hate, God & Godless, Condemned & Redeemed, Life & Death..........It's all there in Black & White.

A MASTERPIECE!

Jamey real grows on this cd, and it shows. Its a fantastic cd from beginning to end that I cant wait to listen through again. This is what real country is supposed to sound like.

The Guitar Song is a terrific album. Anyone who likes Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, or even the Allman Brothers will just love the songs here.

I was surprised when my "U2, Cure, Elvis Costello" loving husband asked for this country album for Christmas but purchased it anyway. I bought on Amazon because all the stores were a couple weeks behind on their orders for this album. I've listened to it as well, and I have to say for me (a country music loving gal), it's one of, if not THE, best country album I've ever heard. It reminds me of the good ole Hank Jr & Merle Haggard sounds. Don't even think about it. Buy it!

I bought the 3 lp vinyl version. This week my wife and kids were out of the house for a couple hours. I sat down and listened top to bottom. Read along with the lyric sheet. I don't get to do that much anymore. Every detail of the storytelling, production, the choice of songs, and the custom packaging/vinyl (the 2nd lp is half black, half white) fits together. The songs are slightly terrifying before the levity breaks. It all makes this thing a true item of American art. I'm not saying Jamey Johnson is Bruce Springsteen--but I am saying this might be his Nebraska. The songs are all there. The despair and the lift. It is a simple thing. Like growing funny flowers to pay the bills or hatin' on those who got what you want. I also think the production is subtle and more inspired than the other reviewers are letting on. There is gold in those long solos and outtros and in those transitions. Take the time to dig in to. Have a seat and pay attention like records used to make you do. Curious to hear what Nashville really thinks. Up here in Seattle I'm runnin the needle through The Guitar Song.

This is such a great collect. A collection of life as he lives it on the road. I have listened to this over and over. This CD will make you cry, It will make your dog cry, It will make you drink bourbon and cuss. It just don't get any better than this. This is the greatest music since Steve Earle and Dale Watson. WELL DONE. Album of the year. What are you waiting for buy it. Really Now!!!!!!!

Jamey Johnson has awards for co-writing "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" for Trace Adkins and "Give It Away" for George Strait. Then came "That Lonesome Song" and more awards for "In Color". He didn't exactly shoot straight to the top. He lost his orginal recording contract after scoring a hit with "The Dollar". He went through a painful divorce and a dark period of heavy drinking which became the inspiration for 'That Lonesome Song". Hell raiser and poet, Johnson grew up on gospel music yet drank beer and played his guitar at the tombstone of Hank Williams and later served in the Marine Corps. Johnson and The Kent Hardly Playboys recorded "The Guitar Song" while criss crossing the country, touring behind "That Lonesome Song". The self described "black and white album" starts out in the dark and slowly re-emrges in the light. Sandwiched in between Johnson songs are his versions of the late Keith Whitley's "Lonely At The Top", Vern Gosdin's "Set Em Up Joe" and Kris Kristoferson's "For The Good Times". There's so much to talk about here. There's the heartache of "Cover Your Eyes", "Baby Don't Cry" and "Heaven Bound". There's the poor man's defiance of "Can't Cash My Checks" and the deliciously dark and menacing "Heartache" that starts with a cave man catching his cave woman loving on a missing link. There's the sweet nostalgia of "Front Porch Swing Afternoon" and the sexy soul groove of "Macon". I haven't even really scratched the surface here because I'm still taking it all in. This thing bares repeated listens. It's a genuine work of art in a time when I didn't think the music industry really cared about the fans anymore. In a year that has seen stand out releases by Ryan Bingham and Justin Townes Earle and saw a country star like Dierks Bentley actually dare to put out a country album, this thing stands alone. They're going to be talking about "The Guitar Song" for a very long time.