Customer Reviews

Harleys And Horses

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4 star:		(1)
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I have this CD and I LOVE it!!!!! Every song on this CD is fabulous! Zona Jones brings country music back to life. It seems now days that everybody is trying to jump on the "country music train" putting out just about anything they think they can sing and I'm not too impressed with what I've been hearing lately. In my opinion there isn't a new artist that I've heard that stand out more than Zona Jones. I wish a BIG label would pick Zona up and put him on the radio. He has an amazing voice and I love his music. He's a true Gentleman with a good heart; who always takes time to meet and talk with his new fans and catch up with the fan's who have been following him for years. I believe he's just what Country Music needs. So here's to a GREAT CD "Harley & Horses"!!!

Prime Cuts: Two Hearts, I'll Give It to You, My Hat's Off to Him

Due to the lack of supervision, some independent records can give in to artistic indulgence resulting in songs that have little or no commercial appeal. Also, the shoe-string budget of such products might result in lackluster production and song quality. However, such fears can be laid to rest when it comes to D-Records, Zona Jones' debut effort. With such heavyweights like Bryon Gallimore (producer for Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Teresa Harris and so on) and Randy Boudreaux on the helm, "Harleys and Roses" is a well produced album worthy of abundant accolades. And with the right promotion, it could be commercially explosive. "Harleys and Roses" fills a lacuna country radio has yet to fill in recent years-earthy, honest to life songs infused with the traditional soundings of the fiddle and some tasty steel guitars.

Facially Jones looks a little like former BNA records artist Doug Supernaw. Vocally, Jones' tenor timbre augmented with a deep southern drawl reminds one of Tracy Lawrence and to a lesser extent, Clint Black or Mark Chesnutt. After paying his dues in the smoky bars in Nashville and keeping his day job as a lawyer for years, this debut album truly is a labor of love. And a labor of love it truly is!

5 out of the 13 tracks here are covers. Such covers were well selected as they were not overtly recognizable. Further, Jones added his own signature to them, claiming their ownership. The best of the covers is an old Doug Stone chestnut, "My Hat's Off to Him." A gentle ballad sung from the perspective of a dejected lover, Jones' performance here is par excellence--filled with verve and passion.

In contrast, "Honky Tonk Baby," a former minor hit for country group Ricochet, is an effervescent love ditty. Something you would expect from a George Strait repertoire. Also, Lionel Cartwright's "In My Eyes," a song of unwavering devotion, is noteworthy. However, I was less enthuse about Jones' cover of Turner Nichols' "Harleys and Roses" and Keith Gattis' "Back in My Arms." Both of which are not offensive, but a little redundant.

Amongst the originals, the Texas shuffle "Two Hearts" finds Jones in a more romantic light. The same goes for beautiful "I'll Give It to you." On the other hand, proving that his time spent in honky tonks was not in vain, "A Whiskey Kind of Way" and "One Fool on a Stool" are so country that you can almost swear you could smell the saw dust and the poured whiskey.

The title of the lead single "House of Negotiable Affections" may sound like a philosophical treatise, but in reality, it's a Friday night country party romp. Though I find it a little pedestrian; truth be told, "Honky Tonk Baby" might be a better contender for the debut single prestige.

Bottom line, if you are tired of the Nashpop and you want your ears to be tingled by some unadulterated country music that is still commercially viable, "Harleys and Roses" is my hearty recommendation. "Harleys and Roses" is country music that would make the giants of country music like George Strait and Alan Jackson proud!

I must echo one reviewer's thought: If you're tired of the Nash-pop (...) the radio stations are sadly paid to play -- and want some good ol' Texas-style honkey-tonk country music, this is one for you. It is an up-to-date yet traditional Texas sound that is great listening and great for the dance floor. Zona Jones comes from the proud Beaumont honky-tonk tradition that bore the likes of George Jones, George Strait, and Mark Chestnut. Don't let this one slip by you.

I have been a fan of Zona Jones ever since 1995, when I first heard him sing. To correct the above review.... Zona has been playing in local bars for years, but in Beaumont, Texas.... not Nashville, TN.
I am very impressed with his new CD and his original song "Two Hearts" is my absolute favorite. Zona reminds me of how country music use to be and how it should be.

Having grown up in Beaumont with Mark Chesnutt and the Texas Honky Tonk venues, I am qualified to say that this is a great CD. It's not as hard core Honky Tonk as Mark's Savin the Honky Tonk. I saw Zona in Moe's Place in Katy before I ever bought his CD. He and the Swing West Band cover all the Texas HT classics in a bar. This CD is a great romp. A couple of good Western Swing style songs, some great love songs and a couple of good Honky Tonk songs. My Hat's Off To Him is one of the great country waltzes originally recorded by Doug Stone. This CD is a must own. Somebody please save country music from the music executives!

Zona Jones has a great voice and can deliver a country song with complete conviction, and if the smoother sentiments of Nashville suit you, you'll love this CD. But if your idea of honky tonk leans toward the rowdy, raunchy and rebellious, this set of songs will seem a little tame.

There are a couple rousing numbers that flirt with socially questionable behavior ("One Fool On a Stool" and "House of Negotiable Affections") and the title song is a lament about "movin' on" and the solo life of the independent cowboy soul more in love with the road than women.

But most of the CD is devoted to songs about loving feelings fulfilled ("Two Hearts," "Honky Tonk Baby," "I Said All This," "In My Eyes," "All of Me"), unfulfilled ("Whiskey Kind of Way," "Now We're Even," "My Hat's Off to Him") or in between ("Back in Your Arms," "I'll Give It to You"). Altogether, Jones is easy on the ears, but if you're more in the mood for real down and dirty Texas honky tonk, try Ed Burleson and Kevin Fowler.