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Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
In the fifteen years since his platinum debut, Trace Adkins has released ten studio albums, three greatest hits packages, thirty chart singles. He has racked up four Grammy nominations, five ACM and CMT awards. Accolades like that - along with sales in the tens of millions - explain the respect Adkins has earned from both Country fans and the industry alike.
But there's more. In recent years, Trace has made his mark as a TV and film actor, a voiceover artist, an author, a social commentator, a participant on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice -- and even the inspiration for a series of comic books.
Along the way, Trace has endured his share of well-publicized tribulations and the release of his latest album - Proud To Be Here - would be saddled with the same loss (and luck) that have shadowed Trace all his life. In June of 2011, as the finishing touches were being made to the upcoming album, the Nashville-area home Adkins shared with his wife and three of his five daughters was entirely destroyed by fire. True to form, Trace thought first of his family's safety, then steered the outpouring of fan's support toward the Red Cross...then got back to work.
Adkins' strength, focus and passion for fully-lived life infuse every bit of his new project. Proud To Be Here is the perfect distillation of Trace's art, displaying once again his ability to pour emotional truth into his music, whether it is of the tender or the rowdy variety. The project celebrates committed love in songs like "Million Dollar View," "That's What You Get," and "Always Gonna Be That Way," the joys of the simple life in "Days Like This" and "Poor Folks," the lighter side in "It's A Woman Thang" and "Love Buzz," and life's highest priorities in "It's Who You Know."
"There's so much on this record that's autobiographical," says the man with the soul-stirring baritone. "I draw from the best writers in town, and time after time they capture things I've experienced."
The CD's title track is a case in point.
"Chris Wallin, Aaron Barker and Ira Dean wrote that song for me," he says. "I've been close to death several times in my life, and they know me well enough to know what I've carried away from that."
Perhaps nowhere, though, do life and art come together as poignantly as they do with the project's first single, "Just Fishin'." The ode to father-daughter togetherness captures Trace's own approach to fatherhood--he taught his daughters to fish--and the video, filmed at the family's farm, where the family moved after the fire, features his youngest, Trinity.
"I think the reason she was so comfortable in the video," he says, "is because it's her place. It has been all her life. All of these people with the cameras and equipment were coming for a play day at her farm and that's the way we approached it."
In addition to the ten songs on the regular CD, fans wanting more can purchase a 14-song deluxe edition including four more tracks--two penned by Trace--or a 16-song package including those four plus two live cuts available at Target stores. The additional songs include Trace's "Semper Fi," dedicated to the Marine Corps, and "If I Was a Woman," a hilarious duet with buddy Blake Shelton, who teamed with Trace for the chart-topping "Hillbilly Bone."
For all but the first single, which was produced by Michael Knox, Trace worked with co-producers Mark Wright and Kenny Beard.
"Kenny was tireless in finding songs and in forcing me to put my nose to the grindstone, which resulted in me writing more than I would have otherwise," he says. "And once we were in the studio, he's just so much fun to work with because he loves the process and it's contagious. This was the first time I got to work with Mark in the studio, and I really liked his level of participation. He's on the musicians' side of the glass, putting himself in the center of the room, and I think that helps cement a feeling of teamwork."
The album is the latest in a career that continues to soar. With "Just Fishin'," Trace adds to a collection of hits that includes modern classics like "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing," "Then They Do," "Hot Mama," "Songs About Me," "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," "Ladies Love Country Boys" and "You're Gonna Miss This." It extends a journey that began in his hometown of Sarepta, Louisiana, and led through college football, the offshore oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico, the region's honky-tonks and finally to Nashville, where he was signed while playing in a small club in a working-class neighborhood.
His stardom, which includes membership in the Grand Ole Opry, is of the multi-media variety. He has received the fan-voted Top Video of the Year award three times on GAC, "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" was voted #2 Video of the Decade by CMT, and Trace has been voted "Country's Sexiest Man" by the readers of Country Weekly. He has turned his entertainingly articulated views on a variety of current topics into a seat on any number of TV talk shows, and into a well-received book, A Personal Stand: Obervations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck. He has narrated any number of TV documentaries and has been a commercial spokesman for products ranging from Kentucky Fried Chicken to BC Headache Powder. The comic book character he inspired, McBain, was featured in four well-received editions.
Trace has appeared in many TV shows, including "King of the Hill" and "My Name Is Earl," and in movies ranging from 2008's "An American Carol" to 2011's "The Lincoln Lawyer." He has performed often for military personnel, including two tours through the Middle East with the USO, which has given him its Merit Award. He has taken part in an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" episode that rebuilt a home for a Dallas SWAT team member badly injured in a shooting, and he has performed in honor of those who died on United Airlines' Flight 93 on 9/11. Trace raised three-quarters of a million dollars for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and is a spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Project. His charitable endeavors earned him the 2010 Artist Humanitarian Award from Country Radio Broadcasters.
Still, he knows where he is planted.
"There are times when my schedule can't accommodate both music and the rest of what I do," he says. "Would I ever focus more on that and walk away from what brought me to the dance? No. I've always chosen to stay with what I do best, and I think that's the smartest thing I can do."
His ever-growing legion of fans would surely concur.
Product Description
Deluxe edition includes four bonus tracks. 2011 album from the Country superstar. Recorded in the Spring of 2011 the album was produced by Kenny Beard and Mark Wright. Trace's own co-writing is more prominent on Proud To Be Here than on previous releases - a fact he attributes to the creative environment he has established on his farm outside of Nashville.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Prime Cuts: Just Fishin', Days Like This, Always Gonna Be That Way
On his tenth album of original material Adkins has turned red necked to red eyed. No longer a mischievous lout, "Proud to be Me" finds a mature and sensitive Adkins. While this pony tailed macho man's previous disc "Cowboy's Back in Town" was a high octane belligerent effort filled with mostly rockers, "Proud to Be Here" is a reflective collection rifled with ruminations on true love, family life and the glorious bliss of living in the South. And for fans who have been beguiled by how Adkins' deep gruff baritone can cause a ballad to light up the heart, there are spades of them here for indulgence. Adkins is also wise enough not to fall into the perennial trap of penning too many tracks himself and thus diluting his song writing prowess. This time round Adkins has only written one song in the standard version and two more cuts on the deluxe version. As a result of garnering songs from some of Nashville's most able scribes such as Aaron Barker, Casey Beathard, Rivers Rutherford, Ray Scott, David Lee Murphy and Dallas Davidson, the quality of the songs are sturdier in their melodic structures and the lyrics show more depth and dimension.
Of the songs that really cause the heart to flutter, "Just Fishin'" is a turbo. Calling to mind Adkins' smash "You're Gonna Miss This," "Just Fishin'" is another brilliant father/daughter song that trumps on the details of how the protagonist tries to spend time and love with his daughter. To hear a big man like Adkins singing about ballet shoes, training wheels and kittens only testifies to the transforming power of a father's love. The gorgeous piano introduction to "Always Gonna Be That Way" leads us to heart warming romantic ode where Akins extols the virtues of small town living and eternal love. Idyllic, romantic and relaxing is the care free ballad "Days Like This" where Adkins softly croons "If the world's going to hell, let it go, I'll just blow it a kiss/Don't Want to think about things like that on days like this."
More precious moments are recalled on the title track "Proud to Be Here." A philosophical musings of how to live one's life with faith and meaning, "Proud to be Here" ought to be our personal anthem. Ray Scott, a brilliant traditionalist himself, co-writes with Philip Moore "Poor Folks"--one of the album's most traditional-sounding songs-- set on a slow country waltz pace. Nevertheless, producers Mark Wright and Kenny Beard do make concessions for radio. "That's What You Get," is a standard radio affair--a jaunty riled up number with an engaging melodic line and a chorus of female chorus to add heft to the chorus. "Damn You Bubba" finds Adkins strutting his rotund "badonkadunk" persona over an over-the-top rocking romp. Another mendacious misstep is the guitar heavy radio targeted "Million Dollar View." Nevertheless, Adkins does step out of the box with the bluesy Joe Nichols-esque "Love Buzz" that boasts some skittering snare drums.
The deluxe version finds Adkins transforming from Mr. Sensitive to his old rowdy self again. Throw all your political correctness out the window with "It's a Woman's Thing" where Adkins has his fun with the peculiarities of women. And he gets even more audacious with Blake Shelton on the somehow silly "If I Was A Woman" where they imagined themselves as women and the kind of men they would date. These additional tracks are fun to listen but they are by no means indispensable. On the other hand, "Proud to be Me"--the album proper--is Adkins at his most personal best. Mature, sensitive, heartfelt yet without being maudlin, this is a disc to be cherished.
On his tenth album of original material Adkins has turned red necked to red eyed. No longer a mischievous lout, "Proud to be Me" finds a mature and sensitive Adkins. While this pony tailed macho man's previous disc "Cowboy's Back in Town" was a high octane belligerent effort filled with mostly rockers, "Proud to Be Here" is a reflective collection rifled with ruminations on true love, family life and the glorious bliss of living in the South. And for fans who have been beguiled by how Adkins' deep gruff baritone can cause a ballad to light up the heart, there are spades of them here for indulgence. Adkins is also wise enough not to fall into the perennial trap of penning too many tracks himself and thus diluting his song writing prowess. This time round Adkins has only written one song in the standard version and two more cuts on the deluxe version. As a result of garnering songs from some of Nashville's most able scribes such as Aaron Barker, Casey Beathard, Rivers Rutherford, Ray Scott, David Lee Murphy and Dallas Davidson, the quality of the songs are sturdier in their melodic structures and the lyrics show more depth and dimension.
Of the songs that really cause the heart to flutter, "Just Fishin'" is a turbo. Calling to mind Adkins' smash "You're Gonna Miss This," "Just Fishin'" is another brilliant father/daughter song that trumps on the details of how the protagonist tries to spend time and love with his daughter. To hear a big man like Adkins singing about ballet shoes, training wheels and kittens only testifies to the transforming power of a father's love. The gorgeous piano introduction to "Always Gonna Be That Way" leads us to heart warming romantic ode where Akins extols the virtues of small town living and eternal love. Idyllic, romantic and relaxing is the care free ballad "Days Like This" where Adkins softly croons "If the world's going to hell, let it go, I'll just blow it a kiss/Don't Want to think about things like that on days like this."
More precious moments are recalled on the title track "Proud to Be Here." A philosophical musings of how to live one's life with faith and meaning, "Proud to be Here" ought to be our personal anthem. Ray Scott, a brilliant traditionalist himself, co-writes with Philip Moore "Poor Folks"--one of the album's most traditional-sounding songs-- set on a slow country waltz pace. Nevertheless, producers Mark Wright and Kenny Beard do make concessions for radio. "That's What You Get," is a standard radio affair--a jaunty riled up number with an engaging melodic line and a chorus of female chorus to add heft to the chorus. "Damn You Bubba" finds Adkins strutting his rotund "badonkadunk" persona over an over-the-top rocking romp. Another mendacious misstep is the guitar heavy radio targeted "Million Dollar View." Nevertheless, Adkins does step out of the box with the bluesy Joe Nichols-esque "Love Buzz" that boasts some skittering snare drums.
The deluxe version finds Adkins transforming from Mr. Sensitive to his old rowdy self again. Throw all your political correctness out the window with "It's a Woman's Thing" where Adkins has his fun with the peculiarities of women. And he gets even more audacious with Blake Shelton on the somehow silly "If I Was A Woman" where they imagined themselves as women and the kind of men they would date. These additional tracks are fun to listen but they are by no means indispensable. On the other hand, "Proud to be Me"--the album proper--is Adkins at his most personal best. Mature, sensitive, heartfelt yet without being maudlin, this is a disc to be cherished.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By M. Ash
Format:Audio CD
Trace continues to impress me with his ability to sing meaningful songs like Semper Fi, touching like Just Fishin' and fun songs like Dam* you Bubba. I rarely like every song on a CD, but I do enjoy this one.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Music
I have to say I really love this new (at the time I'm typing this review up) album. From beginning to end, it's a great compilation and just further seals my status as a fan of this very genuine artist.
Radio listeners and video watchers got earlier exposure to Just Fishin', which is just one of several songs on here with much deeper meanings.
Starting out with the title track, Proud to Be Here, this album begins with a track that is, in the words of the artist, fairly auto-biographical. At this point in Trace Adkins life, as he has noted in interviews, he's just proud to have stuck around in the music business and be as successful as he has. Looking a little deeper though, he is also, as with Just Fishin' singing about much more.
Million Dollar View is a fun song that is the type that I've offered up to my fiance as my own opinion of her. It's a non-traditional love song that tells a woman just how valuable she is to you.
Days Like This is a fairly quiet ballad that is just calming to listen to. Yet another love song in disguise.
That's What You Get picks up the tempo and pace and gets back to a more rockin' sound. Another song about giving your woman what she needs.
Just Fishin' is a beautiful ballad about quality time spent with your children. Something that many people don't remind themselves to do as frequently as they should.
It's a Woman Thing is another up tempo fun Trace Adkins song. In this case, as a member of the male portion of the population, I suppose the song is more fun for me, but most woman would probably enjoy the tune as well as there's just so much truth buried in the lyrics. Guy's just don't understand so much that women do ;-)
Love Buzz slows things back down a little, with a bit more of a bluesy sound. I don't want to spoil the song any more than the title already does, but I think it's a great tune that again packs a lot fun into its lyrics.
It's Who You Know is another of those great songs with such a deeper meaning. It may take a little while for it to hit, but eventually it smacks you in the face (as it turns out, it will definitely smack you in the face with that extra message). Suffice it to say I could call that song one of my favorites from this album, but then again I could just about label this a greatest hits album if given the opportunity (even though it's all "new" music as I write this).
That's a general run down of the first 8 tracks. Rather than keep going through the individual tracks here, try sampling them for yourself. In my opinion this is a MUST purchase and required addition to most country music fan's libraries, so wasting more time writing about it here (or reading through my review) seems fairly pointless. Hit the purchase button already!
Radio listeners and video watchers got earlier exposure to Just Fishin', which is just one of several songs on here with much deeper meanings.
Starting out with the title track, Proud to Be Here, this album begins with a track that is, in the words of the artist, fairly auto-biographical. At this point in Trace Adkins life, as he has noted in interviews, he's just proud to have stuck around in the music business and be as successful as he has. Looking a little deeper though, he is also, as with Just Fishin' singing about much more.
Million Dollar View is a fun song that is the type that I've offered up to my fiance as my own opinion of her. It's a non-traditional love song that tells a woman just how valuable she is to you.
Days Like This is a fairly quiet ballad that is just calming to listen to. Yet another love song in disguise.
That's What You Get picks up the tempo and pace and gets back to a more rockin' sound. Another song about giving your woman what she needs.
Just Fishin' is a beautiful ballad about quality time spent with your children. Something that many people don't remind themselves to do as frequently as they should.
It's a Woman Thing is another up tempo fun Trace Adkins song. In this case, as a member of the male portion of the population, I suppose the song is more fun for me, but most woman would probably enjoy the tune as well as there's just so much truth buried in the lyrics. Guy's just don't understand so much that women do ;-)
Love Buzz slows things back down a little, with a bit more of a bluesy sound. I don't want to spoil the song any more than the title already does, but I think it's a great tune that again packs a lot fun into its lyrics.
It's Who You Know is another of those great songs with such a deeper meaning. It may take a little while for it to hit, but eventually it smacks you in the face (as it turns out, it will definitely smack you in the face with that extra message). Suffice it to say I could call that song one of my favorites from this album, but then again I could just about label this a greatest hits album if given the opportunity (even though it's all "new" music as I write this).
That's a general run down of the first 8 tracks. Rather than keep going through the individual tracks here, try sampling them for yourself. In my opinion this is a MUST purchase and required addition to most country music fan's libraries, so wasting more time writing about it here (or reading through my review) seems fairly pointless. Hit the purchase button already!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this man
Have all his music think he is the greatest. Good singer has wonderfl family man kep up the goo work, wil lalways buy your music.
Published 5 days ago by Angie
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorites
Great album. I wish I hadn't bought any of the "Best Of..." albums, because now I'm buying the originals and I have two copies of most of Trace Adkins songs.
Published 3 months ago by S. Ron Schaaf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas present
Husband is one of Trace Adkin's biggest fans. This is a cd he asked for, and I was so happy that it was available!
Published 4 months ago by Grrr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Trace Adkins
I'm not a big fan of Country/Western music, but the one song on the CD that I liked was "Semper Fi". So I bought the CD and that's the one I listen to.
Published 5 months ago by Conrad T. Heslin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Proud To Be Here
Another great one from Trace, I saw him in Concert in August, after hearing many of these songs, I had to buy the CD, has a couple of redneck hits on it too.
Published 8 months ago by Maples
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love Trace and Love this CD
I saw Trace Adkins in concert, on the Storytellers tour, in Denver. A lot of his performance was from this album. It was fantastic, so I had to have the CD. Read more
Published 12 months ago by zoe80127
5.0 out of 5 stars
CD
Great gift for my husband. Good songs by a great artist. We have many of his CD and happy to add this one to our collection.
Published 12 months ago by BB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh my.... TRACE!!!!
What a great CD!!!!! Trace still has his game on. Got the product sooner than I expected and I have been so enjoying it!!!! Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ann L.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Trace Adkins - Proud to be here
We enjoy all Trace Adkins music and this cd was a great edition. The cd came as pictured and there was no damage. Read more
Published 17 months ago by T. Seigler
5.0 out of 5 stars
He's done done it again!!
This CD shows that Trace can sing anything he wants! I saw him sing "One In A Million" on TV and could not believe how beautiful he performed that ballad. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Boots
