Customer Reviews

Melonie Cannon

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Prime Cuts: Tennessee Road, I'll Be Back, Separate Ways

Melonie Cannon's eponymous CD is an assault on the acoustic/bluegrass turf that thrushes such as Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss have cusped for such a long time. With her Martina McBride-like soaring alto and her well chosen songs, Cannon has made a conspicuously stake. Though this is Cannon's debut CD, this red headed Tennessean isn't puerile. Rather, being the daughter of distinguished songwriter/producer Buddy Cannon, save for a short stint in the army, Cannon had always been involved in music. With a repertoire including copious session works, the years of experience have generated an affecting élan to Cannon's performance.

Among the tracks that navigate more towards acoustic country the highlight is the Matraca Berg and Jim Photoglo penned single "Tenenesse Road." With its picturesque lyrics, "Tennessee Road" is elevated from being one of those nondescript tunes of homesickness. Similarly fetching is the gospel ballad "I'll Be Back" which has an arresting storyline revolving around the promise of Christ to return to those He loves. The charm of "I'll Be Back" lies in its amalgam of its narrative poignancy and its tuneful simplicity all rolled together. Abetted by a relentless fiddle, Cannon on "Separate Ways" finds the courage to draw her paramour an ultimatum to work on their relationship or "go their separate ways." And perhaps the most familiar track must be "Whiskey Lullaby," a top 3 hit for Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. This dark tale of booze related murder is told even more startlingly by Cannon's mellifluous yet delicate vocals.

When Cannon's on the more bluegrassy acreage, she is just as enchanting. Recounted with a wry bite, Cannon on the upbeat "Westbound Trains" avoids the reality of her departed lover by trying to convince herself that he was adverse to trains heading home. Interesting is perhaps an understatement for the Leslie Satcher and Harley Allen's "Nobody Hops a Train Anymore." With its uncanny melodic riffs and chord changes, "Nobody" tells the story of a Native American Indian lady who rose from poverty to become a famous author.

Above all, Cannon has an alluring presence in her vocal nuances that draws the listener to her well crafted and often unexpected stories underlying her often catchy tunes. Not since Kathy Matthew's award winning "Willow in the Wind," has a country music been more rustic and pictographic. On "Melonie Cannon" you can almost smell the grass, picture the byways, and feel the wind as she takes you on a musical tour around the inroads of a gaudy life.

The production of Melonie Cannon's acoustic county and bluegrass album is first rate. A singer of breathtaking ability, Melonie vocalizes with a soft touch of satin and silk. She sings with honesty and conviction in an unadulterated and soulful style. Her memorable songs are drawn from some top songwriters - Kim Fox, Ronnie Bowman, Buddy Cannon, John Scott Sherrill, Bill Anderson, Harley Allen, and others. She mixes up the set nicely. The sounds of this crossover fusion of bluegrass and country utilize standard acoustic instrumentation with percussion, with fiddle and dobro taking very central roles for breaks and fills. The folks who assume these key roles are top session musicians. Deanie Richardson or Stuart Duncan play fiddle. Rob Ickes, Jerry Douglas or Randy Kohrs are on dobro. Other string wizards featured here and there include Dan Tyminski, Ronnie Bowman, Jesse Cobb, Wyatt Rice, and Jeff White. Banjo played by Dave Talbot, Elmer Buchett or Robbie McCoury appears on four tracks. The central focus, however, is Melonie and her singing which evokes considerable confidence, faith and persuasion.

Hailing from Tennessee, Melonie is the daughter of record producer Buddy Cannon. Raised in the wings of the Grand Ole Opry, Melonie mingled as a young girl with the Olympians of country music in a city known as "The Athens of the South." She sang at her first recording session (with Dean Dillon) at age 14. A few years later, she sang a duet with Sammy Kershaw on "Cry, Cry Darlin'." After a stint in the U.S. Army where she learned respect for not only herself but also for others, Melonie returned to Nashville and befriended Ronnie Bowman. Her lead vocals for this album were cut live with the band, without any separate overdubbing. After Ricky Skaggs heard some of Melonie's singing on WSM-AM radio, he asked her to be on his record label. Skaggs also invited her to open for him at the Ryman Auditorium.

Melonie Cannon is proud of the reception she's received in Nashville, also called "The Dimple of the Universe" because of the beauty of the city's rolling hills, pleasant seasons, and long, white picket-fences, and farms with horses and cattle. Melonie and her beautiful singing are two more reasons for Nashville's special place in the Universe. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Melonie Cannon's debut CD is a good collection. "Tennessee Roads" is a slow acoustic # with Melonie's lovely voice delivering the lyric with passion & a bit of longing, "Restless woman just trying to be someone." "What Took You So Long" is a classic country weeper about loneliness relieved with a lovely melody penned by John Scott Sherrill & Dan Tyminski's moving mandolin. Melonie's father Buddy wrote the toe tapper "Westbound Trains" that bursts with pep & punch. "I'll Be Back" is a sentimental tear-in-your-beer track that makes you think it's about a young man making a place in the world. By the last verse when Melonie sings, "They say he walked up that hill at Calvary," we finally understanding that this is a song about Jesus. The set concludes on an upbeat acoustic #, "Nobody Hops a Train Anymore." Cannon honed her craft singing with artists as diverse as Dean Dillon & Shania Twain. Her self-titled debut walks a country road surrounded by bluegrass. She has selected excellent material that works well for her. Enjoy!

Sometimes I think there is something kind of unbelievable and lowbrow about the song Whiskey Lullabye, but through her sincerity and gentle touch Cannon still manages to leave you liking it, or at least wanting to like it. I'm not sure I agree with some of what is expressed in the lyrics to Separate Ways, but it's still a great song. It and Sweeter than Sugarcane are absolutely gorgeous, as well as totally irresistable, and Cannon sings them so well there would be absolutely no point in anyone else ever recording them in the future, and I mean for all time, however long that may be. Cannon's voice is mesmerizing, the fiddling and picking are delightful, and the songs are interesting and compelling bluegrass/country fare. If you're an alternative country and/or bluegrass fan, I can't imagine you won't love this beautiful album.

I bought this CD two months ago and it never got slipped away from my component! Every song was worth listenning especially 'Tennessee Road', which I like the most. Quite frankly, I think it's the beautiful song with the sweetest melody I've ever heard in my life. My hat off to both the writers, Matraca Berg & Jim Photoglo as well as Melonie who sang it from her heart and soul. If you're a country & bluegrass fan, missing this one will make you regret for your whole life. Even if you're not into this genre, try it anyway because it is beautiful!

A must have bluegrass CD. Although a newcomer, Melonie exhibits all the qualities of a seasoned bluegrass singer. With a beautiful haunting voice, wonderful lyrics and a fantastic back-up band, her first debut CD will captivate you. Buy it today!

I had read some reviews of this album and it sounded interesting but nothing prepared me for the gorgeous songs, brilliantly chosen to suit Melonie's rich Tennessee voice, and the incredible backing from some of the best bluegrass musicians around. Can't think of a standout favourite, each song is beautifully crafted and lovingly presented. If pushed I'd go for Whiskey Lullaby (her version being more than a match for the two other versions I've heard) and Nothing to Lose.

The album reminds me of Irene Kelley, who has produced two of my all time favourite albums. Melonie Cannon looks like doing the same , especially if she fulfils the promise made on the enhanced video part of the cd - to make a better album next time. Can't wait! A must buy album if you are a fan of acoustic country music

This isn't a bluegrass album in my opinion. Seeing the Skaggs Family label on the CD I was expecting much more bluegrass than I got. Don't expect Alison Krauss or any of the guys from Union Station here. This is much more like old-time country along the lines of Tift Merritt or some Allison Moorer. That said, it is great country. I am NOT a fan of the newfangled country and the pop stars that come from it. Melonie is much better than her buddy Kenny Chesney, who seems to be obsessed with beaches and booze. Mel describes herself as a country singer on the video on the CD and I have to agree. May she has great success in the future.

Melonie has the voice of a seasoned professional and with the great bluegrass musicians here(Jerry Douglas,Dan Tyminski,Rob Ickes, just a few) she has created a CD with the sound of a seasoned veteran. Her vocals are sweet, country and just plain down home. This ten song masterpiece was put together in 3 sessions with no overdubs. My favorites are the beautiful "Tennessee Roads", her version of "Whiskey Lullabye" and a beauty of a slow ballad " I'll Be Back". Her vocals sound like a cross between Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss. If you like bluegrass,a MUST.

Alway's a pleasure to listern to a great voice,if it wasn't for online country music i would never have heard of Melonie Cannon, thank's to her and amazon.com for there product's and packaging,as I live in Melbourne Australia we dont alway's get to hear great artist's, I love both these album's of her's, regard's Thomas Buckley.