Customer Reviews

Off To Join The World

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Goodbye cruel circus/I'm off to join the world" Larsen sings on the title track to this credible debut album. It's a perfect fit, too--he's leaving the wacky world of high school and entering the equally-messed-up world of music. And so far, he's doing good!

OFF TO JOIN THE WORLD features, more than anything, Larsen's superb vocal skills. A guy of only 18 years (my age; finally, someone from my generation who can actually SING), he brings surprising maturity to such songs as "How Do You Get That Lonely," which deals with dispair and suicide. He sings "If Merle Would Sing My Song," penned by songwriter-extraordinaire Skip Ewing, with such conviction you know its coming straight from his heart. Larsen himself has more than a touch of the songwriter's gift; he penned "The Man He'll Never Be," which surprisingly avoids the cliches; "In My High School," which--if you haven't been in a high school in a while--paints a pretty acurate picture of adolescent life; "Yessireebob," a funny little diddy about jobs you never think of (but dream of having); and several others. Not the best songwriter in the world, no...but not too bad.

OFF TO JOIN THE WORLD is Blaine Larsen's major-label debut. His voice--a blend between Blake Shelton and Wade Hayes, with just a touch of Waylon Jennings thrown in there for good measure--cuts through the sometimes over-produced songs, lending this album a credibility that debut records rarely have. This is country music with a traditional side, sung by a guy who obviously loves the music. Could Blaine Larsen be the future of country music? I'll tell you in a few years...but I have my hunches.

Larsen is unusual in a number of ways. First, he's one of a very few Nashville country stars to hail from Washington state (Seattle-born session player Mark O'Connor is the other one that comes to mind). Second, despite his slight years (just 18 at the time that most of these tracks were recorded) and baby face, you'd be hard-pressed to call him a child star. In particular, his baritone voice has a surprisingly fetching honky-tonk edge, and his songs (both his own, and those he corralled) are quite sophisticated. Larsen leaves the gate with the same sort of jaw-dropping maturity offered by LeAnn Rimes on "Blue."

The album's treasure is a reading of Mark Sanders and Shawn Camp's "Off to Join the World (The Circus Song)." This whimsically tragic waltz features acoustic guitars and mandolin, supplemented by march-styled drumming and the occasional ringmaster's whistle. Larsen sings with a depth that belies the relatively few times his heart could have been broken in his first 18 years. Throughout the album his age provides an interesting dichotomy - on the one hand, he hasn't yet lived through all of these emotions, on the other, as an adolescent he's bound to feel things more fully and immediately than most adults.

Several songs play off of Larsen's adolescence, exploring a teenager's contemplation of a first kiss, step-fathers, peer groups, and another teen's suicide. Sung in such a burnished first-person voice, they transcend their teenage viewpoint. Larsen has the easy confidence of George Strait but with a tone and edginess that takes in Randy Travis, Clint Black, and Alan Jackson. The album is polished, but surprisingly rootsy for a Nashville production, with plenty of guitar, mandolin, steel and fiddle. This reissue of 2004's "In My High School" adds one track ("That's All I've Got To Say About That") to the original 10.

Whether or not Larsen can sustain a career is more of an issue for the winds of industry than his innate talent. At least he won't have to make the awkward transition from child-voiced prodigy to full-throated adult, as he's already got the latter nailed.

If you like Alan, George, or Brad you are sure to enjoy this CD. His voice is excellent and it sounds like he is older than he actually is. While I listen to this CD I actually feel like he is feeling what he's singing, which is unusual for me. The songs are all good, especially the slow ones, which are powerful. This is the best CD I have bought in a long time.

I got the album today and has just listened to it for the 5th time in a row and all I can say is wow! A lot of people mention his age first of all but that is really a minor detail; had he been 12 or 87, his voice would still be amazing and there is a sincerity and emotional maturity to it which makes the hairs on my neck stand up at least once during each song. An equal mix of fun and reflection, love and sorrow, this is a truly outstanding album and I can't wait for his next one to come out. It's been a while since the last time a singer touched all of my emotions this way and I believe he has a great career in front of him

This was just one of the songs I loved on this CD. I haven't listed to one CD over and over in my life before! I just love this guy. The deep, rich voice just blows me away. And the songwriting that comes from a teenager, it's just hard to believe. He has the potential to be one of the greats during his career. I can't wait to see and hear him when he's 40!

not alot of new country artists are even country. but when i put this cd in my car i was pleasently suprised. he has one of the most amazing voices ive hurrd in quite awhile. his southern roots truly show. how do you get that lonley is a great song on a tuff subject but i think he does it justice. the man hell never be an teaching me how to love you are sum of my favorites but anybody who enjoys good country vocals an strong lyrics will deffitnaly enjoy this cd so i would recommend this cd to anybody from track 1 till the very end its great if this kid keeps it up i look forward to the direction of country music.

I bought Blaine's CD after hearing "How Do You Get That Lonely?" on the radio. This is the first CD in a long time that I've liked every song. If it weren't for the song "In My High School", you'd never know he was only 18. He sounds so much like a seasoned vet. I liken him to Skip Ewing, Brad Paisley, King George. I highly recommend this CD and look forward to his future CDs. I hope he's around for a long time.

Country in the more classic sense-- Style of Brad Paisley, very "Clay Walker-ish". Great words, serious stories, fun. Great music. Heartfelt.

This cd, if you were to pick it up without knowing a thing about Blaine, I bet you would be suprised to hear that he is only 18 (19 on Feb. 2!). Blaine has unbelievable talent. He is what country music needs. He puts the country back into country. By far the best song on this cd is "How Do You Get That Lonely". Another excellent song is "The Man He'll Never Be" which he wrote completely by himself. It is hauntingly beautiful. I guarantee you that Blaine will be around for many years to come.

I first heard Blaine on this site as I was reviewing different country albums. I was taken back by his baby face and the maturity of his deep baritone voice. This is one of the best country singers I have heard in a long time. I had to go to two Wal-Marts looking for this album and finally found one copy at Target. Every song is great but the most enjoyable to me was "How Do You Get that Lonely" "The Best Man" and "Yessireebob." Suggestion to Alan Jackson...Have Blaine tour with you this summer. Congratulations Blaine on a job well done.Looking forward to hearing more from you....