Customer Reviews

Rollin With the Flow

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

COUNTRY MUSIC IN ITS PURITY!

Mark Chesnutt started life in Country Music with considerable promise. Early on, with albums like LONG NECKS AND SHORT STORIES and TOO COLD AT HOME, Chesnutt wowed the Country world, was a Horizon Award winner and was heralded by such legends as George Jones as someone with the ability to place his star high in the Country heavens.

Then something happened. He got even better while seeming to ignore Nashville and all of the trappings that seemed necessary to make the moguls of Music Row happy. First to go was the mainstream recording company in favor of a smaller, less known studio. He then discarded the visibility that many assumed necessary to succeed.

To make a long story short, with his latest offering, ROLLIN' WITH THE FLOW, Chesnutt proves again that, despite taking charge of his life and career, he is absolutely a bona fide Country Star with the continuing smoothness and sound that made him famous in the first place. From the title track, an excellent cover of Charlie Rich's original, to "Live To Be 100" and, my favorite, "When I Get This Close To You" this album is a natural addition to Chesnutt's already impressive discography, seamlessly interweaving what modern Country Music should be with his roots in the classic Country genre.

It goes without saying that if you are into Carrie Underwood or Rascal Flatts, Mark Chesnutt's ROLLIN' WITH THE FLOW will be far too deep a river for you to swim in. Stick with the puddles that you are used to and leave Chesnutt to those of us who appreciate Country Music in its purity!

THE HORSEMAN

Prime Cuts: Things to Do in Wichita, When You Love Her Like Crazy, Rolling with the Flow

Hardcore country fans are rolling with delight in hillbilly heaven with Chesnutt's new CD. With huge spades of rinky-tink honky tonk piano, shafts of twangy guitar riffs, and loads of mournful pedal steel commentary, producer Jimmy Ritchey has again made the traditional genre emblematic of this release. Country waltzes, slow romantic ballads, and sawdust kicking two-steps - genres almost becoming extinct these days are thankfully revived here. After spending more than two years finding these 12 tracks, Chesnutt has indeed a gem of an album with tracks coming from some of his favorite writers such as Roger Springer ("It's A Little Too Late") and other note-worthies such as Dean Dillon, Tony Martin, and Mark Nesler, all of whom have made their mark in the country music business. Most significant in terms of its historic value is "She Never Got Me Over You," a traditional cheating ballad earmarked by acute observations. Apparently this was the last song the late Keith Whitley wrote before his death and Chesnutt's sensitive read has lived up to Whitley's honky-tonk drenched legendary excellence.

Right from the get-go, Chesnutt not only established his country cred but he demonstrates his mastery of strong melodic paeans. Album opener "Things to Do in Wichita," coming from the pens of Ritchey and Bob Regan, an infectious mid-tempo detailing the frivolous things the protagonist tries to do to pass time waiting for his lady to call. Chesnutt's sympathetic vocals are a tour de force. Echoing shades of Waylon Jennings with its pulsating bass line, "Live to Be a 100" is a delightful hedonistic smirk at those health-watching addicts. In line with Chesnutt's tradition to include at least one cover in each album, the lucky contestant here is from the oeuvre of Charley Rich, "Rolling with the Flow." , With measured doses of aguish in Chesnutt's phrasing, "Rolling with the Flow" is a reflective song of regret of a man facing the ugly assaults of aging and emptiness.

Yet not all is doleful, Chesnutt indulges in some tomfoolery with the rambunctious "(Come on In) The Whiskey is Fine," with some belly-laughing lines all over. However, for those who love the romantic side of Chesnutt, "When I Get This Close to You," resurrects those butterflies in the stomach on this slow romantic confession of love. The flurries of fiddles and the smooching undergirding of steel guitars give this romantic excursion a old timey feeling that is just enthralling. Also beautiful is the current single "When You Love Her Like Crazy" strings together a singalong melody and Chesnutt's passionate delivery seamlessly. After such romantic extravagance, Chesnutt's ode to the feminine form "Woman" is made believable with its finger snapping melody.

Despite being on an independent able, Lofton Creek, Chesnutt as not let go the reigns of what makes a great album. In the sea of non descript rockers disguised as country, this CD is truly country. More importantly, the songs chosen here are stellar. Engineered with care and performed with seasoned emotions, it's hard to make a wrong move here. "Rolling with the Flow" is definitely a contender for one of 2008's best country CDs.

I've listened to many country albums on the market that were released recently, but this one is amazing and more inspirational than other popular albums. This CD is the best because it makes you fell in love and matches your state of mind. I ordered a fiddle along with this CD and now I practice some songs. When I go for a walk and i see falling leaves and gray sky here in october i just turn my player to my favorite one: "When I Get This Close To You" and i feel happy. The only dissapointing thing about this CD is that liner notes don't contain lyrics! I just can't understand why one should make secret of it, and the CD itself is not properly fixed in the case and falling out when you open it. Other than that, music is amazing, real country in every bit of it. i give 5 stars! My favs: "When I Get This Close To You", "Things To Do In Wichita", "Man In The Mirror", "Woman", "When You Love Her Like Crazy" and of course "Rollin' With The Flow".

Mark Chesnutt is truly one of the few country singers left not to cross over....he is pure unadulterated country. Rollin with the Flow is a perfect example of this genere.

MARK CHESNUTTS 'ROLLIN WITH THE FLOW' CD IS THE BEST ONE YET. I LOVE IT.
HS 'THE WHISKEYS FINE' SONG IS A HOOT....WISH THEY PLAYED MORE OF THAT TYPE ON THE RADIO AND LESS OF THE 'SCREAMIN' WOMEN'...

This is an excellent cd for country music fans! Why Mark Chesnutt isn't a superstar is beyond me. I have all but one of his cd's and this one is one of his best releases. A remake of "Rollin' With The Flow", a new hit "When You Love Her Like Crazy" are great along with an upbeat two-steppin' hit "Going On Later On". A can't miss and if you love country music, you should get this one!

As Chesnutt's hit-making years wound down at the end of the `90s, his MCA releases crept away from the neo-traditional honky-tonk that originally made him famous By the end of his tenure, and on his one album for Columbia, he was neither true to his country roots, nor finding crossover material that could catch the fickle ears of country radio. That all changed with his reemergence in 2004 as an indie artist. "Savin' the Honky Tonk," with its front cover nod to Waylon Jennings' "Honky Tonk Heroes," found Chesnutt rededicated to the sort of music that first energized his career: two-steps, shuffles and twangy ballads about loving, cheating, drinking and all manner of behavior in between.

The revival continued with 2006's "Heard It in a Love Song" for CBuJ, including a number of terrific covers that showed Chesnutt wasn't planning to pick up contemporary country's style any time soon. And now with this third indie release, waxed for Lofton Creek, Chesnutt continues in the same direction, though with a larger helping of original material and a vibe that hews more to the radio-friendly neo-traditionalist ideas that exploded on country radio in the `90s. In hindsight, it's easy to see how these sounds stood out from Nashville's crossover productions, and in the goes-around-comes-around vein, Chesnutt's new music stands out from the now-dominant rock-oriented and MOR sounds of Nashville's current stars.

The leadoff "Things To Do In Wichita" is a catchy update of the Statler Brothers' "Flowers on the Wall," providing an inventory of distractions for a man's broken heart. This gentle shuffle would get lost on today's country radio, but would have been a solid hit in the `90s. The album's other catalog song, "Live to Be 100," lists all the things a modern man has been told to give up, such as cigars, alcohol, burgers, fries, sugar and salt; Chesnutt lends the lyrics an irascible vibe ala Waylon Jennings. Chesnutt writes of his first meeting with Jennings in "Long Way to Go," and the advice the veteran gave to the budding star. A faithful cover of Charlie Rich's "Rollin' With the Flow" is turned mellow, with the song's signature instrumental lick accompanied by piano, steel, baritone guitar and a complementary string arrangement. The strings turn heavier for the countrypolitan "When I Get This Close to You," and the album's ballads are highlighted by the love song "When You Love Her Like Crazy" and the sentimental "Man in the Mirror," the latter written by Chesnutt about his father.

The disc's upbeat songs include the Cajun beat and tongue-twisting lyrics of "Going On Later On" and the can't-live-with-her, can't-live-without-her "If the Devil Brought You Roses." The album closes with the weeper "She Never Got Me Over You," the last song written by the legendary Keith Whitley. Chesnutt really connects with Whitley's lyrics of unrequited loss, offering up an understated by tremendously emotional vocal. And that's a good description of the entire disc: Chesnutt sounds effortless as he roams over his country influences, never imitating, but always tipping his hat. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]

Mark Chesnutt is an awesome singer. His version of the Silver Foxes song Rollin' With The Flow is right on. He has so many romantic songs it's easy to see why he is a heart breaker. He can really reach your heart. He has a lot of the good old honky tonk songs too. This guy is truly a country singer, he's been around for a long time and he's here to stay a lot longer with the quality of his singing. He's one of the greats and well worth listening to. Keep up the good work Mark!

This is yet another amazing cd by mark chesnutt. He hasn't lost a single thing since he first came out with too cold at home, in fact he somehow manages to only get better! "goin on later on" is just one of my favorites! I have been listening to him since the first album and he NEVER fails to impress me. Doesn't hurt that the man is just unbearably hot, but I do still love to listen to him sing!!

I really liked this cd and I like Mark Chestnutt. The seller was good and on time.