Customer Reviews

This Is Country Music

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Prime Cuts: Remind Me (with Carrie Underwood), Love Her Like She's Leaving (with Don Henley), Toothbrush

Over the years, many have attempted to give definition to country music. But no one has had the audacity to name their record "This is Country Music." Not until Brad Paisley. With such an overarching and dauntless title, Paisley has a lot to live up to. And over the course of these 15 tracks he rarely disappoints. If country music is defined as songs that deal with the issues of life, then these songs past muster. Just like his previous albums, Paisley rarely disappoints. On one hand, he continues to wax eloquence about his romantic felicity with great attention paid to details. Yet, on the other hand, he has the ability to keep things light and engaging with his wily take on some of life's keening observations. Watch especially for the ways of how Paisley can take a cliché, a thought, a cultural trend or an urban myth and turn them around into a song of fun and even of acute inspiration. And just like his previous 9 albums, producer Frank Rogers is again on the helm keeping the production lean and lanky, yet bringing out the consummate guitarist in Paisley is supernal ways.

One reason why Paisley excels as a songwriter is that he doesn't resign himself to singing the vanilla "I love you and I need you" songs. Rather, when he describes about the need to keep his connubial bliss alive, he does it by giving us so many practical ways in the power duet with Carrie Underwood "Remind Me." Expanding his scope of duet partners to Don Henley, on "Love Her Like She's Living" Paisley sits on the Dr. Love seat in diagnosing how to make love last. While on the Western swing-styled "Toothbrush" Paisley chronicles the development of a love affair with so much imagination and creativity. Calling to mind Paisley's "Little Things," "New Favorite Memory" is gorgeously romantic as Paisley gets into specifics why he likes his paramour. These are the details that will save floundering relationships. Adorned with some really appetizing fiddles and some sapid steel guitars, the regretful "I Do Now" is indeed a slice of traditional country done with modern sensibilities.

Though Paisley has often been noted for the humor in his music, but often they are jocular because they are social burlesques. "Working on a Tan," for instance, is a satire of how people have become so obsessed with their bodies that they would go to the extremes to look "tanned." With the call and response chorus and some delightful piano riffs, "Camouflage" deals with the issue of self image amidst its party sonic backings. On the spiritual invigorating "A Man Don't Have to Die," Paisley puts his finger on our society's problem: how our souls erode without Jesus. This is soul piercing stuff done in a way that is engaging without sounding judgmental. And on certain tracks, Paisley just lets loose. Though it has some really cheesy pick up lines (such as "I love to be the book on your chest"), Paisley could get away with it on "Be the Lake" as it is such an infectious hook that he'll have no trouble getting his fish. Being a traditionalist, on "Eastwood" Paisley even convinces Clint Eastwood to do a whistle of a Morricone melody on a spaghetti Western instrumental.

There are a couple of odes to country music per sec. Not the most original in its concept, the title cut and lead single "This is Country Music" is stacked with many other songs that tries to give definition to the genre. It's not bad just not one of Paisley's best. The same can be said of "Old Alabama" which is a tribute of sorts to the country group Alabama. Other than these quibbles, "This is Country Music" is dogmatically as good and as bold as the title suggests. Another solid effort from this neo-traditionalist.

I don't care for the new country music in general. It reminds me more of pop music from by-gone decades.
Brad Paisley is different. His music sounds a lot more like traditional country. He reminds me of a few country icons from the past that play guitar as well as they sing, something along the lines of Merle Haggard or Marty Stuart(who contributed on the last track).

The title track leads off an exceptionally strong cd. The song lyrics are something a lot of country fans can identify with personally. It winds down with Paisley listing some great song titles from country's past such as "I Walk The Line" and "Stand By Your Man" and more.
The guitar licks are well-played and flawless. This song is my favorite of many from Brad Paisley.

"Old Alabama" serves not only as a tribute to the band but also includes them performing. A very nice touch and a great song!

Another song that made an immediate impression was "Life's Railway To Heaven". It's a bluegrass song and I'm really happy that Paisley included a song from that category!

As always, he includes some "tongue-in-cheek" part humor,part love ballad tunes as only Brad Paisley can tastefully put them together."Toothbrush" and "Be The Lake" seem to fit the bill on this cd.

A gem on this cd that might get overlooked among the other songs that get a lot of airtime on country radio is "A Man Don't Have To Die." The gripping lyrics about everyday life for so many in these trying economic times make a sad point that Paisley didn't overlook.
"See a man don't have to die to go to hell.No you don't have to die to go to hell."

This cd is typical Brad Paisley featuring his versatile guitar skill on a Telecaster and his voice. I have come to expect those two qualities in his music and he never seems to disappoint those of us that really appreciate the traditional sounding country. This is my favorite Brad Paisley cd to date.
His lyrics are witty,sometimes funny, and always as entertaining as his guitar pickin'.
This cd is as versatile musically as the rest of his releases.
If you buy a cd from this year, it definitely should be this one!!!

Without a doubt, Brad Paisley IS the voice of country music in this decade. Every song on this album is phenomenal, and exemplifies the very core of the genre. I would be hard pressed to say that there is a single bad track in the bunch, indeed there are MANY single worthy numbers here. Camouflage, Remind Me, Love Her Like She's Leavin' and New Favorite Memory could easily be top 10 performers. This is country music at its finest.

I love Brad Paisley but haven't always bought his CD's - just singles. However, with so much buzz about This Is Country Music I decided that I was going to jump in and get the full CD. LOVE IT!!!! Not sure what that other guy has against Carrie Underwood - Remind Me is my favorite song off the CD. The knowledge that Brad delayed release of this CD because he wanted Remind Me on it means it is a song Brad wanted recorded and wanted to record it with Carrie. IMO their vocals mesh perfectly. The vulnerability of Carrie and Brad mixed with the desire to reconnect with the passion and romance in their marriage/relationship is incredible. I also love Love Her Like Shes Leaving, A Man Don't Have to Die, One of Those Lives, New Favorite Memory. Brad's fun songs and his rocking songs also just hit home.

Great job Brad! Thanks for including wonderful partners (especially Carrie and Don Henley and Alabama!). Hope others appreciate your work as much as I do!

Naming your album This Is Country Music takes a lot of guts that not many current country stars could pull off,but Brad Paisley rises to the challenge and passes with flying colors.

Whether it's Commercial Country,Pop Country,Classic Country of even Bluegrass,Brad makes sure he touches base with every country sound there is.
There's the clever take on Alabama songs Old Alabama,and the seriously catchy Working On A Tan which also has a little Beach Boys vibe to it.The other great up tempos include Be The Lake,Don't Drink The Water(with Blake Shelton),Camouflage and Toothbrush.

There's also some classic soppy Brad ballads, such as New Favorite Memory and Love Her Like She's Leavin' with Don Henley providing some awesome harmonies.
Plus the standout power ballad Remind Me with Carrie Underwood.This song will easily be in the run for Song of the Year!
Brad also touches the heart with A Man Don't Have To Die and the heart breaking One Of Those Lives,both will leave you thinking.
He rounds off the album with the Bluegrass themed Gospel song Life's Railway To Heaven.

This album is an all round example of what real Country music is all about.This will satisfy long standing Brad Paisley fans and introduce new ones.
THIS is country music people!

Prime Cuts: This Is Country Music, A Man Don't Have To Die, Remind Me, One Of Those Lives.

I'm going to amend this review later to include more details....but right now I'm in such a state of shock and awe I can't say more at the moment. This Is Country Music is one of the greatest country albums I've ever heard. After a few what I thought were fairly formulaic and weaker efforts, This Is Country Music just blew past Time Well Wasted as Paisley's best album. There are a number songs on this record that are beyond incredible both lyrically, atmospherically and instrumentally and as far as I'm concerned Paisley has forever cemented himself as one of the 3 or 4 greatest country artists of his generation with this record. It is a refreshing pleasure to listen to this album Mr. Paisley-thank you for being such a great ambassador for country music and quality music in general.

Was expecting Paisley to run out of steam because he has put out albums so close to each other the past 4 years. Really felt he need a very, very long break to freshen up. But nope, he still has the creative cookware on the stove. Ya know, you can always hire other writers when you are running low on strong melodies and lyrics - but you can't ask anybody to write new guitar chops for you. And somehow, with his insane schedule, he has found time to come with new licks and make his tone even more distinctive. So he is working it. No lazy boy, he.
There is a lot of material here and it covers a lot of sonic territory. His collaborations are nice, but he really does not need them. His vocals and playing, along with the highly polished "Drama Kings" band is enough to sustain a long collection.
This effort is probably going to be his biggest seller. I loved "Mud" and "Time Well Wasted" and this offering is as good or better. Production is better....lotsa niftly little sonic Easter eggs throughout. The producer and engineers have been learning new tricks and there is a clarity to the mixes that I don't hear in his early-earlier work. It just seems that this is technically a better record as well as it is creatively better record.
Paisley devotees will be pleased. New fans will be highly engaged. How ya' gonna keep him down on the farm?

Fabulous!! Fabulous!! Fabulous!! Love it!! "Mud on the Tires" is my favorite album and "This Is Country Music" is equal to that for sure! Brad and Carrie's duet is second to none!! They are great together! Love all of the other songs too!

I've been listening to Brad Paisley for a few years now, and I wish I can say this is my favorite album so far but that would be putting his other ones down. His songs are both funny and moving at the same time and can really put me in a good mood. Camouflage is probably my favorite song on the album haha just because I think its hilarious. Obviously the first two songs were the singles and they are both awesome. Working on a Tan, A man don't have to die, one of those lives, toothbrush (very cute song), be the lake, all great songs. Heck the whole album is great! I recommend it haha.

Brad Paisley's done it again, another wonderful album. Radio worthy songs, all of them. Traditional country music, homage to his roots and heroes (wonder why Old Alabama did not win a collaboration award yet??), a little surfer fun, even gets the boys in on it with an entertaining song featuring whistlin' Clint Eastwood (yes THAT Clint Eastwood).
My only complaint is the outro or intro on some tracks (cool to hear the first time, but after playing it's like, OK please get to the song now...)
Nice CD and one that will be in my player for a long time. Yes, THIS is country music!