Customer Reviews

What I'm For

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

While listening to Pat Green's latest CD, it occurred to me that there are two kinds of Pat Green fans: those who've been with him since his independent-label days, and long for him to return to the kind of Texas bar anthems of that period; and there are those who discovered him in 2003, when "Wave On Wave" swept the CMT airwaves.

If you accept the above premise, you might find yourself confused as to just who this album is aimed at. On the one hand, it's got the more polished, radio-ready country/rock that characterized Green's last couple of albums. But the rowdy old Pat Green shines through occasionally, admitting (in the disc's lead single "Footsteps of Our Fathers") "I'm making this sh** up as I go." The album also offers up a totally unnecessary remake of his 2000 single "Carry On," which lacks the youthful energy and carefree vibe of the original, and risks alienating hardcore fans by replacing the line "Come down to Texas and drink with me awhile" with "Come on over and drink with me awhile."

While these will seem like minor quibbles to most folks, I thought I would point them out for those who might care. Meanwhile, musically, WHAT I'M FOR is actually a very solid production. Green has always seemed most comfortable with mid-tempo roots-rock guitar numbers, and these form the core of about half the songs here.

Green has also typically surrounded himself with talented songwriters--though he's no slouch with the pen & paper himself. The Brad Paisley-ish "Country Star" name-drops all the big modern country heroes, while Green's hardcore fans (myself included) secretly hope he'll never completely forsake his roots and join such an elite club. The title track, in which Green lays out all he holds dear, stands quietly in defiance of modern real-world cynicism.

No matter which kind of Pat Green fan you are, you're bound to find some good and bad here. At under 40 minutes, it's a lean batch of country/rock that doesn't wear out its welcome. Despite a sizable following and sold-out shows, Green has yet to become a household name. And for better or worse, WHAT I'M FOR will probably keep him right where he is.

Sorry to disagree with some other reviewers, but having enjoyed some of Pat Green's earlier work, I think this is an over-produced product aimed at the mass market...strictly commercialized noise. IMHO this is why Green hasn't really made it to a wider CW audience, i.e., he has raised anchor and is adrift. He needs to take a look at other successful folks like Strait, Jackson, and others. They started with a solid foundation and built on it. Green reminds me of the ball in a pin ball machine who keeps bouncing from one point to another, with no good purpose and no point of reference.
I saw Green at our state fair where it was just him and some guy on guitar. Great...better than a lot of full concerts I've attended. There's a message in there for Green. Music, yes. Noise, no.

The song writing on this CD is as good as anything he's done. But...and its a big but...ditch the electronic fiddles, amplified drums, and the rest of the noise and make music instead of racket.

This will be the last new Pat Green CD's I will be buying...been burned too many times now with these recent releases.

As a longtime Pat Green fan, I will continue to support his music and see him in concert, where PFG truly shines. However, this latest effort is another example of how Nashville producers can influence an artist to move farther and farther away from the sound that made them fresh and unique to begin with. I wish those who claim to be big Pat Green fans would go back beyond the "Wave on Wave" album and discover what Pat Green once sounded like. His music was raw, much more stripped down, and a lot more honest. Listen to the passion in his voice in older songs like "Southbound 35", or the sincerity in "Dancehall Dreamer", or the honesty he sings with in a personal favorite of mine he has covered called "Nightmare". There just isn't anything on this album that compares, and unfortunately, I feel this album is a continued departure away from Pat Green's original sound. Every album since "Three Days" has slowly moved more and more away from that gritty Texas sound.

This remake of "Carry On" is the most obvious example of how Pat Green's music has become too over-produced. Listen to "Carry On" on the 2001 "Three Days" album, it was sung with passion that doesn't exist on the version on this album. By the way, the song lyric "My buddy Walt" was changed from "Walt Wilkins". Walt Wilkins is a Texas artist who has written a couple hits Pat Green recorded. Walt still plays that rootsy Texas country that Pat used to. I know what Nashville can do to an artist, and it's almost like Pat has lost touch with the sound that made him so popular to begin with. Sure he needs some radio friendly tracks, but I have a feeling Pat could still sell records quite well if he mixed in some tracks that were more true to his roots. Plus, that would help define what makes him unique with the fans of Nashville country. We have enough Rascal Flatts / bubble gum pop country artists already. Here's hoping Pat brings back some Texas/Red Dirt country songs on future albums.

It is apparent Pat Green has sold out to Nashville. This album sounds like a cross somewhere between Rascal Flatts and Phil Vassar,not "the" Pat Green I know from George's Bar,Southbound 35,Songs About Texas or the OLD Carry On--"Come on down to Texas and drink with me a while".

This album is way too polished, over produced. It is made too appeal to the mass market. If Pat wants to set his career on fire he should just make a duet with Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift--she seems to be the hottest thing these days, if selling out to Nashville isn't enough. I find it hard to listen to the old Pat Green music now. Pat should look to George Strait on how to make it in Nashville while staying true to his roots. This album sounds just like all the other pop passing for country coming out of Nashville.
Hey Pat enjoy Nashville, but don't mess with Texas.

After spending a little time in Texas, in particular Houston and Dallas, I really was excited about the artists who seemed not to have leaked outside the State. The Music and talent is so refreshing. Thanks to Lone Start 92.5 in Dallas I had the opportunity to hear Pat Green. He offers a really nice mix of country roots with some modern rock.. the music just felt good and not over produced. I own "Three Days" and "Cannon Ball"... While Cannonball may be a little more produced it still remains a little raw and possibly edgy.. But Three Days is a great collection and offering in music and "just right" production, it has "LIFE" on this album!
This New offering "What I'm For" seems to be missing the freshness and life that immediately drew me to Pat, and this was just listening to the samples! I know that I may have not given the album a fair shake yet but I can hear mass production and "canned" pop country music... the soul is missing... So I am not sure I want o buy this album...maybe I will pick it up used and then listen hard for a little gem to jump out.

There's a feeling you get...a feeling I used to get while listening to Pat Green, of feeling your body actually get lighter and tingly all over with happiness. You know and feel the lyrics, and you can tell the singer feels them too. You just feel elevated in a way, and you sing along. That's how I used to feel about Pat Green. Just not with this CD.

Don't get me wrong, I used to love Pat Green's music, and still do. When I was 13, Pat Green was the first concert I ever went to, and Pat's music was solid and strong. You really felt every song he sang, right down into your bones. Wave on Wave remains one of my favorite songs, and feels heartfelt. My favorite author, Mr. Stephen King couldn't put my thoughts about it better than he did in his favorite songs list, "You can't not love a song about the power of love and redemption." King has good music taste, I guess!! All this being said, I was very, very excited for the release of What I'm For, as were my parents, as we've bought all Pat Green's music over the years. Turns out, we only enjoyed one song on this album. Let Me, the first single, was good. Otherwise, I am very unimpressed with what Pat Green proclaimed would be his best album.

What I'm For is his worst album.

The songs are corny, and felt to me like a backround music. I didn't have a reason to listen or care or WANT to sing the lyrics. This seems to me like some overproduced songs mixed with Pat's musings on wanting to become "a big country star." Indeed, one of the songs on here is devoted entirely to this point, and it makes me cringe to listen to it. What I'm For feels like a corny sell out to me. It's a sell out to long term fans, who just want heartfelt music of the type that Pat used to make. He doesn't need to appeal to the masses, which I believe he was trying to do here. Just keep it simple and real, are my thoughts, but sometimes artists feel they have to gun for big time popularity.

Barely any of the songs appealed to me.

His revision of an old song, "Carry On" wasn't as good as the original. What was the point anyway? Why do it worse, and why do it again when it was so good the first time? He changes a couple lines, beeps out a couple curse words, but why?

I'm disapointed to say that I'm disapointed in this album. I hope Pat Green thinks about the fans next time, instead of the popularity wagon.

From a long time fan, I am very, very disapointed. You really let me down this time, Pat Green.

Has anyone who calls ol' P. Green a Texas "Songwriter" ever heard of Guy Clark, Townes Van Damn Van Zandt, Willie, or Waylon? (and I could name 50 others) Patsy couldn't carry their jock strap, and it makes my stomach turn to hear people fall all over themselves gushing over him. I just don't get the fascination. So, the point is, if you are new to Texas music, try one of the folks I mentioned above and forget Green. If you already consider yourself a fan of Green's, then you are already lost and I can't help you.

personally for me. I own 2 Pat Green cds. I own Wave on Wave and this one, and just for me personally though this is a short cd, I like this one better. I really was only a fan of like 2 songs on Wave on Wave, but for me less is more, there are 5 or 6 songs on this cd that I really truly do like. I guess Im a more upbeat country rock fan moreso than low tempo stuff. For me I just really am not a Universal South fan, my favorite singer, Phil Vassar is on that label now, and I personally think his cds with them have gone downhill, and I think once Pat changed over, his stuff has actually gotten better. Just my opinion though.

I absolutely love this CD. Pat Green's true essence shines through on every song. I'm particularly fond of the title track "What I'm For" which for me speaks many truths. The upbeat "Lucky" is destined to be a big hit and is "point on" in reflecting today's American reality. There are no filler songs on this album. They are all awesome and showcase Pat's versatility as a super-talented singer/songwiter. I own every CD that Pat Green has released and I beleive this is his best work to date.

Pat Green just keeps getting better and better, and "What I'm For" clearly shows the evolution of his unique and charming style.

"What I'm For" beautifully presents songs representative from the first album (Dancehall Dreamer 1995) to the most recent (Cannonball 2006) while also moving beyond to the Pat Green of 2009. His amazing talent and winning personality continues to win over fans of all ages, from all parts of the country, from different walks of life -- yet all are touched by his music.

From the inspiring first song "Footsteps of Our Fathers" to the final goose bump raising "In The Middle of The Night", this album is pure Pat Green and a pure pleasure to listen to!