Customer Reviews

Somewhere in the Middle

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

 

 

For those who don't know, Jason Boland and The Stragglers music will kick you right in the tail. "Somewhere in the Middle" is not my favorite album of theirs, but it still smokes. Check out "Dirty Fightin' Love" and "Stand Up To The Man" if you want to know how its done down here in Texas. This album seems to be a bit more mature and polished (not in a bad way) than is previous material with a diverse selection of straight up roadhouse to western swing to rock. Billy Joe Shaver guests on a remake of his "Thunderbird" and that alone is worth the price of admission (Good to see BJS finally start to get his due). Check out "Pearl Snaps" and "Truckstop Dairies" also, they are exceptional.

Jason came out with a classic country album "Pearl Snaps" some years ago, and I really thought at that time that we had ourselves a new, young "Outlaw" type of country music saviour. Yeah, that disc was that good. His next release, "Truckstop Diaries" was good, but it didn't quite match his debut, plus there was 'something" a little different about it. Since then, there's been this huge "Red Dirt Music" scene happening in Texas that's really big with the kids, mostly high-schoolers, and college students. Many (and I mean many)of these artists just don't have that much talent, and some of it is downright terrible but as long as they make music that is different than Nashville music, and there's a fiddle or two, the kids think that this is some kind of outlaw thing. I know many of Jason's buddies are writing this stuff, and hey, I do believe it's better for the kids to get into this rather than the bubblegum stuff coming out of Music Row, but I just thought Jason and the band were too talented for this. He seems to be gravitating to this genre, and to be honest, he's a better "country" artist than where he seems to be headed. Even though Billie Joe Shaver's on this, it doesn't save the album from being a disappointment for me. I still like this band, I just hope he gets back to writing some material I believe he's capable of writing; honest, hard-core redneck country. 3 1/2 stars.

Jason Boland and The Stragglers have long been one of my favorite "Red Dirt" bands. Boland's "Proud Souls" is one of the best songs ever written (in my humble opinion!).This latest CD, "Somewhere in the Middle" carries on the tradition of excellent songwriting (most are Boland compositions)and a steamy hot mix of Southern Rock and Texas-style Country. One thing that really caught my ear on this CD is Jason Boland's remarkable voice...like a young Waylon Jennings. Excellent musicianship from the Stragglers, who are obviously one of the tightest bands around. Hopefully, "Somewhere In The Middle" will open up a much wider audience to Red Dirt music in general. If you're not satisfied with the "Corporate Country music" so common on the radio these days, you owe it to yourself to give Jason and the Stragglers a listen. Prepare to fall in love with music again...I sure did !

Jason Boland is one of my favorite country singers. However, this album isn't as strong as some of his previous albums are. This is still a good album and its fun to listen as it is full of songs you'd expect from the straggler himself. If you like Boland or Outlaw Country then you will find this album enjoyable at the least.