The Guitar Song [+Digital Booklet]

Jamey Johnson | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: September 14, 2010
• Release Date: September 14, 2010
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Mercury Nashville
• Copyright: (C) 2010 Mercury Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 1:45:38
• Genres:
  • Country
• ASIN: B0042CYX0A
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,089 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WAYLON + PAYCHECK + HANK - SWIFT - SUGARLAND - FLATTS = JAMEY JOHNSON! September 18, 2010

By K. Carlucci

Format:Audio CD

We needed Jamey about 15 years ago when country music really started turning to crap. There are many gifted artists out there but they seem to have lost that country "feeling" in their music. The music seems to be going "pop" and being a classic country fan that makes my stomach turn. Jamey has brought that "feeling" back in his songs and the songs that he writes for others. I knew since his first album "The Dollar" that this guy was stone cold country and I have been a loyal follower since. How many new songs on the radio now have the pedal steel guitar in them? None. "The Guitar Song" is some of the best true country music that I have heard in years and I love it. You just can't listen to the first song "Lonely At The Top" (co-written by Keith Whitley, remember him?)without wanting to open up a cold beer and sit back and relax. Thank you Jamey for giving us some awesome country music and I'll be waiting for more to come. I can't wait to see you live soon!!!!!!

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars AN AMERICAN TREASURE September 14, 2010

By SPORTS GIFTS

Format:Audio CD

In my humble opinion, this singer-song writer is what country music is about. Straight forward lyrics, writeS what he knows and not some creative fantasy with shitkickers on, great renditions of some classic country. Jamey is a breath of fresh air for a music genre that is getting too pop. The torch or country music has been passed on to a new generation.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A double-dose of genuine, soulful country music. September 14, 2010

By DanD VINE™ VOICE

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

The problem with releasing a double album is that not all of the songs are bound to be of the same quality. As amazing as Jamey Johnson's THE GUITAR SONG is, it suffers the same fate. Most of the weaker tunes appear on the second disc (the "White Album"), simply because it isn't as cohesive as the first. "The Black Album" is mostly about economical hard times, living day-to-day (California appears as a theme throughout both discs). The second album eases up a bit; it's by no means a slouch, but just can't keep up with "The Black Album's" haunting depth.

Still, overall, THE GUITAR SONG is easily one of the best country albums released this year (I won't say THE best because, off the top of my head, I can't really remember any others). For such a talented songwriter, Johnson relies on quite a few covers: Keith Whitley's "Lonely at the Top," Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times," Mel Tillis's "Mental Revenge," Vern Gosdin's "Set 'Em Up Joe," etc. He re-interprets the songs ("Mental Revenge" is no longer whimsical, but is in fact genuinely disturbing, as the lyrics would suggest) to fit his own sonic vein. Surprisingly, his originals tend to stand toe-to-toe with the classics. "Playing the Part" is a brilliant skewering of California culture (as is "California Riots," which may or may not have political undertones). "Can't Cash My Checks" narrates the contradictory pride often felt at the bad end of poverty, while "Poor Man Blues" hits on the anger. "Macon" is a beautiful Johnson-style power ballad (almost spiritual in nature), while "That's Why I Write Songs" is a haunting ars poetica, featuring just vocals and guitar. (Which leads me to another point: Johnson actually plays on most of these songs; most artists would've left it all up to studio musicians.)

Some songs kind of fall flat; "Dog in the Yard" is amusing but shallow. Even the title track (featuring a fantastic performance from Whisperin' Bill Anderson) comes off as trite. Still, Johnson at his worst (we'll ignore "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, which he purposely chose not to record) is better than most anything country radio will see these days. In the end, THE GUITAR SONG comes off as an album chock-full of die-hard country music. You'll hear plenty of steel guitar, lyrics that cut straight to the marrow, and melodies that conjure George Jones and Waylon Jennings. This is an album for people who like their music raw and unedited. It isn't quite as masterful as THAT LONESOME SONG, but it's still Jamey Johnson, and that says all you need to know.