Thirty Miles West [+digital booklet]

Alan Jackson | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: June 1, 2012
• Release Date: June 1, 2012
• Label: EMI RECORDS NASHVILLE
• Copyright: (C) 2012 EMI Records Nashville
• Total Length: 52:22
• Genres:
  • Country
• ASIN: B0083L8866
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,357 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "One of Alan's Best" June 5, 2012

By Terry Richard TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

I am by no means the biggest fan of country music, but when people ask me who my favorite female and male singers are in this industry I quickly respond by saying Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson. Both have had long distinguished careers and I never tire of their music. I also own everything the two have ever put out.

From the moment I saw Alan Jackson opening for Randy Travis in 1991 I knew he was destined to be one of the greatest singers in music history and his record sales, number of awards and his consistent chart toppers prove all that. His latest CD, "Thirty Miles Out", is simply one of his best.

In 2012 Alan Jackson found his life at a crossroads: his children were growing fast (his eldest daughter graduated college), his wife battled cancer and he left his recording home of Arista Records because he felt the label wasn't promoting him like they should. So, like Dolly, he started his own record company named ARC (Alan's Record Company). The result is this, his 17th studio record.

Featuring 13 tracks one of my favorites is the second single released to radio called "You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore". Other highlights here include "Long Way to Go" (the first single which went to #24), "Her Life's A Song", "Everything but The Wings" and "Look Her in the Eye and Lie", the last 3 composed by Alan. The best track is the finale, "When I Saw Her Leaving", a song Alan wrote for his wife while she battled cancer, which is probably his most personal composition of his career.

There is also a duet with Zac Brown called "Dixie Highway" that many will enjoy.

Not many can say they write and sing the way Alan does as there is simply no other like him. A great man, a great talent and simply a legend. Welcome back Alan!

On the very first week of release "Thirsty Miles West" debut at #1 on the Country Billboard Charts signalling the album's initial success.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Alan's the best, hands down! June 7, 2012

By Heilford80

Format:Audio CD

Being that Alan Jackson is my favorite artist of all time in any genre, I am a little bias when a release of his comes out because I believe I will automatically like it (for readers looking for an unbias review, don't read this lol). This album as a whole is just a genuine piece of work. It isn't just Alan that makes it great, it's also his band the Strayhorns that contribute so much to his music. Being an artist that primarily writes his own songs, ironically for this album, the best tracks in my opinion aren't written by him. Track by track each song stands on its own:
1. Gonna Come Back As a Country Song: Great opening tune! This was not written by him but it would be a great future single. "When the good Lord calls me home, I'm gonna come back as a country song" classic.

2. Your Go Your Way: Great song, not written by Alan, typical song about a break up where the man is saying basically "you go your way and I'll go crazy".

3. Everything But The Wings: Wonderful ballad written by Alan showcasing his great song writing and voice. Great one to slow dance to I am sure. One of those that lyrically has been done a million times but Alan makes it different and new somehow.

4. Talk Is Cheap: My favorite tune on the album, not written by Alan. I couldn't wait for this album simply for this song. Just hits me all around, lyrically, musically. Great message "talk is cheap and time is flyin". Basically, save the talk, just love the one you're with. I'm at work typing this and I wanna hear that song now, that's how good it is!

5. So You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore: The first single not written by Alan but a very stand out song. It didn't hit me very hard but people that I've spoken to who aren't big AJ fans love it. Already being compared to He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones, that speaks of this songs' weight if someone has thrown that kind of comment out there.

6. Look Her In The Eye And Lie: One of Alan's own, I haven't given this one much of a listen but one of those that says yeah, look her in the eye and tell her you don't miss her even though inside you're going crazy.

7. Dixie Highway: I thought this one was a cover because it sounds like one that's been done before but Alan wrote it and it features a fellow Georgia boy, Zac Brown. Over 7 minutes long, this one's a rocker and will have you singing along.

8. She Don't Get High: Wonderful song, one of the best on the album, great all around. Not written by Alan, song with the idea that she don't get high anymore from the love I use to give.

9. Her Life's A Song: One of Alan's own, maybe a little cheesy kinda like I Still Like Bologna off of Good Time (2008). Catchy tune that you'll sing along to anyway.

10. Nothin' Fancy: Not one of Alan's, just a simple song that says we don't need anything fancy just you and me and that's just fine.

11. Long Way To Go: A single which Alan wrote that was released over a year ago, this needs little explanation, I think most people are familiar with it. Despite that bug in my margarita "I got a woman I'm tryin' to drink away and I got a long, long way to go". Now who hasn't done that??

12. Life Keeps Bringing Me Down: A groovy little tune that will get you singing. Not one of Alan's but a fine song that has a positive message and beat, despite the negative song title.

13. When I Saw You Leaving (For Nisey): One that will be a signature song of his, but I don't think ever a single, this song is written by him dedicated to his wife about her battle with cancer. Unlike his songs that hit me very emotionally: Where Were You, Remember When, Drive (For Daddy Gene), Sissy's Song, this one hasn't hit me yet which is odd because it's just one of those song only Alan can deliver with such emotion and honesty and simplicity. This song will spread and maybe by popular demand be a single someday.

Again, for major Alan fans like me and also fans of just great traditional country music, this is a great album. One more unique aspect of this album is that it seems to feature more music than lyrics. It seems as if Alan likes to showcase his bands' talent instead of his voice. This sticks out on Long Way To Go, Talk Is Cheap and ESPECIALLY Dixie Highway being over 7 minutes. After all these years, I think Alan enjoys the musical breaks in songs so when he is live in concert he can stand back and let the band take the praise and also to throw numerous guitar pics out into the audience which has become one of his favorite things lately.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Jackson on Ground Zero with "30 Miles West" June 5, 2012

By Timothy Yap TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Prime Cuts: When I Saw You Leaving, Everything But the Wings, She Don't Get High

Though the album may be entitled "Thirty Miles West," Alan Jackson hasn't moved far from ground zero. This new release, his first for ACR Records and EMI, is still a solid country awash with unadorned honky tonk, stone cold country ballads and eased with Jackson's ever adoring southern twang. Other than his detour to his late-night saloon CD of "Like Red on a Rose," Jackson has always been the reliable icon of unadulterated country par excellence. Teaming with his long time producer Keith Stegall, Alan Jackson has again wilfully ignored the haggles of modern bombastic rock to release what we have always loved about him. The backings are delightfully rustic with a preponderance of fiddles, steel, guitars and piano. They are never intrusive but yet so engaging complimentary drawing out Jackson's never aging vocals to a glorious shine. However, this time Jackson has only penned 5 out of the 13 songs with the remaining coming from his nephew Adam Wright, his hero Guy Clark and some of Nashville's most sort after scribes such as Terry McBride, Al Anderson, Shawn Camp and Chris Stapleton. Yet, if truth be told, the Alan Jackson compositions are still a shoulder above the swath of material coming from other pens.

The obvious highlight of this record has to be Jackson's self-penned "Everything But the Wings." Pouring rain, stars, halos, angels and a litany of everything Hallmark would kill for "Everything But the Wings" soaks with a deep romantic delight. Coupled with Jackson's intimate and warm vocals, this is one of the songs that will seep right into your marrow and never lets you go. Lyrically falling into the other end of romance is the Vern Gosdin-stone cold esque "She Don't Get High." Grammar aside, there's not much to fault here. This is a traditional song about a romance that has gone stale; Jackson has to be congratulated for delivering the ache inherent here with a tortured palatability. The weepy steel guitar of "When I Saw You Leaving" is enough cause some teary eyes on this movingly sad tale of how Jackson almost lost the love of his life. Even though fans have touted Jay Knowles and Adam Wright's "So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore" as the modern day "He Stopped Loving Her Today," frankly it is a good song but such adulation is premature. Though there are some gorgeous piano riffs calling to mind Jackson's "Monday Morning Church," "So You Don't..." just doesn't have the emotional equity as say "Everything But the Wings" and it doesn't pack the heartbreaking punch of "She Don't Get High."

After all these emotionally heavy ballads, Jackson does let go for some moments of levity. In fact, he has never sounded more fun than on the nostalgic over 7 minute tribute to his hometown "Dixie Highway." Zac Brown who has scored a number one with Jackson with "As She Is Walking Away" sound delightful as they trade lines with their musical hero. One has to admire how Jackson can take some simple ideas and make them irresistibly memorable. Case in point is his self-penned "Her Life's A Song." Frankly, it is an overtly simple song about a girl who loves all kinds of music, including hip hop, country and the songs "that go round and round in riddles," yet Jackson can get you singing to it in a couple of listens. Another of such gem is "Come Back as A Country Song"--a kudos of sorts to the genre--has an addictive melody that makes you want to constantly press the repeat button.

Jackson does go for the island territory with the lead single "Long Way to Go." It is a light hearted piece about a man trying to get away from the blues with an amusing story to boot. Honestly, it is a nice album track but it is just not "Five O' Clock World" or "Drive." "Long Way" is just not one of those contenders for lead single material. Other than some minor mishaps, "Thirty Miles West" is a solid effort. In a market so crowded with radio made cookie cutter clones, it's refreshing to have artists like Alan Jackson. It's people like Jackson who makes country music authentic, fun, traditional yet not backward.