Customer Reviews

Shock'n Y'all

5 star:		(117)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(108)

 

 

I would wager that you will either really love this album or really hate it. The promotional idea of playing it on the radio the day before it hit the stores was a stroke of genius. It had me going straight from work the next day to buy it. I already knew I liked the songs so when I loaded it in my PC and found approximately 15 minutes of video, I was doubly pleased. The songs are definitely unique so if you weren't privy to the preview, listen with an open mind. We all know "I love this Bar" so it doesn't need an introduction but the others..... "Taliban" gave me a different prospective on the War. An "American Soldier" pays tribute to our fighting men as only a song can do. "If I was Jesus" has to speak for it's self. How he mixed blasphemy with heavenly praise and got away with it is beyond me but the God fearing woman in me was not offended. No Toby Keith CD is complete without at least one or two that make you want to crank up the volume and put the pedal to the medal. Those would be "Time for me to Ride" and "Sweet". The Willie Song tops it off with a laugh. In my opinion, there is something for everyone, except maybe a Dixie Chick fan. My summary would be "This is Toby Keith Bone Deep" and I am definitely on the "loved it" side of the fence.

Toby Keith, once again, shows off his wit and his wonderful songwriting ability to say nothing of his incredible vocal talent. The compilation of songs seems to fit Toby's rowdy, fun loving side and the addition of the bus songs is strictly for the fans. This is a great CD to add to your Toby collection or a wonderful start on the journey to Toby Keith appreciation.

Anybody that listens to a Toby Keith CD once and writes a review about it is a FOOL. A true TK fan knows that you have to allow the music to breathe like a fine wine to get the flavor out of it. This CD is no different.

Keep in mind that Toby is a singer-songwriter, and that 95% of his songs are his own. The man is no songwriters whore like some of the artists out there today. And the man is true to the country roots of the music he writes. OK, so The Critic is a jazzy piece, but thats the point, why waste a good country song on a group of people that wouldn't know one when they heard one.

One reviewer criticized his soldier songs, but myself being the son of a decorated WWII soldier, and hearing the stories, I can tell you, we can never do enough for our Armed Forces. Toby is a Proud American, the rest of you need to get with the program.

Toby chose this album to write songs he feels good about. Granted it's more of a guy's album than what the ladies are used to hearing, but you always know how Toby feels about a subject by the music he writes. The Taliban and Weed with Willie had me laughing in the car so much I almost crashed.

It was sad that Toby didn't win any CMA awards, but it was obvious another fine country gentleman by the name of Alan Jackson gave Toby the credit he deserves.

Keep em coming Toby.

If you're a Toby Keith fan, you'll like this record. No, it's not classic country. He says it best himself in the enhanced CD, "This is the CD that mainstream artists wouldn't put out." He doesn't care what people think about him, his political views, his crude language, ect. To me, that makes him even better. I'd recommend going out and buying the CD if you enjoy a good time.

If you haven't boarded the Toby Keith bandwagon, this is a good time to join up. Shock'N Y'all is full of the controversially funny lyrics that makes Toby country music's top bad boy. But there's also the patriotic side that comes out in American Soldier, which is the best cut on the whole album in my opinion. If you aren't proud to be an American after hearing that song, you haven't been paying attention. Definitely buy this cd!

"Shock 'N Y'all" is Toby Keith's 10th album release. When u use the enhanced options from your PC's, TK has alittle introduction of the new record. You can also see photo shoots from The "I Love this Bar" video & his Ford Truck commercial ... deffinatly someone who knows how 2 use modern media.

But what about the music ???
TK states "This is the groviest record I ever made" ... totally true ... the album flows from start 2 finshing flawlessly. Each song in order is a perfect list.

Let's start from the beginning.

The CD opens up with TK's new #1 song "I Love this Bar". As Keith himself says in concert "There aint enough drinking songs. So I'm gonna change that". Which he does. If ya havent heard this song yet ... WHERE HAVE U BEEN ... this is sure 2b a true Anthem in bars & salloons all over the place.

The best part of the album version of ILTB is the 5th verse, which radio refuses 2 play.

That just sets up 4 the next song "Whiskey Girl". Hey guys ... I think we've all had that Whiskey Girl once or twice. Another mid tempo, laid back, pour me a drink & let's have some fun song.

Next up is "American Soilder" ... not the ole Angery American song, but a true tribute 2 our Men & Women in the Armed Forces. The song is thru the eyes of an American Soilder, what he does day 2 day ... & what it means 2 him/her 2 serve this Country ... A MASTER PIECE !!!
Should be the next single, in fact radio has already been playing this song.

"If I was Jesus" is a song that TK didnt write, but in his own words "I listened 2 this song about 40 times, I just had to record it". In a bit of a sinicle way it crosses the line of religion and polictics, but in the end all is forgiven.

Back 2 the fun, so get in your Big Ole Truck, cuz it's "Time For me to Ride". Just a simple little dittie that will make ya tap your toes & smile. Call it one of the "Crusin' songs. Feels real good 2 pop it in your car, crank up the 50,000 watts of Power & just drive.

As all musicians ... we think with our crotches ... which brings us 2 the fun loving "Sweet". A fun loving, boy sees girl & wants 2 bang her song. "Whoever gets a taste of that cup of Sugar/ Sure is a lucky man/ She's SWEEEEEEET". Gotta love a song like that !!!

"Don't Leave, I think I Love You", is a slow one. Another one of TK's ballads that shows the soft side of himself. This one is deffinatly 4 the ladies.

"Nites I Can't Remember, Friends I'll Never Forget" ... I think the title says it all !!! Toby paints a good picture of some friends growing up, drinking & having a good time ... then leads 2 the resonsibilities of adult hood. One of my favorites on the record.

If clothes make the man, then it's his "Baddest Boots". A fun loving, honky tonk, bad ass type of song. That's all about how he has "The Baddest Boots".

My favorite song on the record is "The Critic". In Toby's tounge in cheek, comical kinda way, basically tells everyone that has written bad press about him 2 KISS HIS ASS. Musically very different from what TK has done b4. Simple "lounge act" type of grove, that again shows off TK's sense of humour.

Now in my mind, the album could of ended there, but as he states on the liner notes, he included live versions of 2 of the "Bus Songs" ... that being "The Taliban" & "Weed with Willie".

Where its cool of TK's intentions 2 include these tracks on the new record ... I dont like it that he did ... I'll tell u why.

1st, these songs where made as songs that he once said he'll never release ... now they are.

2nd, it was used in his live shows, & has been a staple part of the shows ... which makes them alittle more special 4 those that see TK Live. Also if u heard the original recordings of these songs, like I have ... it has a different feel than the live recordings ... & also changes some of the words live.

3rd, He didnt include my favorite "Bus Song" ... the infamous, contoversial, misunderstood (even with the name of the song) ... the cleverly written "Star Kist".

Despite that ... over all it gets a grade of "A" from me.TK takes this in a different direction, that is unlike any of his previous albums.

A deffinate recomandation 4 your CD collection on my part.

I like Toby Keith, and I like this CD. The main criticism of this CD seems to be that Toby is doing hard edged, rhythm based songs more predominantly than romantic slow country ballads, or alternately that he is outspoken and pointed in his song writing. Well, no kidding. He takes the theme of patriotism to heart once again on this CD with songs such as the wry 'Taliban Song' and 'American Soldier.'

The best two up tempo crossover songs on the CD are 'Time For Me to Ride' and 'Sweet.' There is a very amusing (and generally justified) stab at media critics in 'The Critic,' that takes the axiom that 'those who do, do; those who can't do, teach' to a new level. Lastly, another 'Bus Song,' 'Weed With Willie,' is an account of meeting Willie Nelson in his tour bus, and is not to be missed (although his in concert introduction does add quite a bit to the track, and I wish they would have left it in the track).

If you like hard edged country music or country-rock you will like the CD. If you want some politically correct, rose-tinted view of the world, save your money.

Toby Keith hits the nail on the head in this one! Instead of writing what people want to hear, and what will sell the most records, he sets the standards and records songs that he likes and agrees with about how he feels. A lot of people are giving false bad reviews only because the album does not follow their political views. Chances are, they've never heard a Toby Keith song, let alone this album. Ali207, you tell TK to go to war and then see how he feels. Well, I did it for him, and I still agree! Take your politics out of the review and review the music, not the politics. .... Also... Dixie Chicks must go!!!

In my opinion, this is Toby Keith's best cd yet! His great songwriting and singing ability is just outstanding and it shows it all on this wonderful cd. A must buy for any country music fan!

To all of the negative reviews of this cd, what did any of you expect? This cd is not that far from anything TK has done since switching labels! The only thing that is missing is the romantic love songs, and frankly I've had my fill of that junk lately with country music! TK has a hand it writing almsot all of his music therefore if it's "cookie cutter" it's his own cookie, not the manufactured songs off of music row, written by the same handfull of writers. TK has a strong belief in Patriotism, and therefore you knew he was going to add another song of that type. Now I'm not sure what "If I Was Jesus" is really there for but nonetheless it's there, and some may find fault with such a song, which is understandable. But anyone that has ever been a TK fan, especially in the last few years, should enjoy this cd, and to say things like you'll never buy another TK cd after this one is pure crap. Go listen to The Dixie Chicks, talk about killing a husband and stuffing him in the trunk of a car etc.. I'm with TK on this one point, until people write their own songs, their opinions about songwriting doesn't really matter.. And to any potential TK or country fan reading this, the music on "Shockin' Ya'll" is not crappy, it's well produced and written. It is more of the same that country music fans have come to expect from Toby Keith. Give the samples a listen and decide for yourself, and not let a bunch of anti TK people decide for you! DA