See If I Care

Gary Allan

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 30, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B0000CD5HG
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,156 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While Nashville hitmakers Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney rose from clunky B-level stars to bankable stadium fillers, Gary Allan quietly tapped his foot waiting for the rest of the world to get hip to his cool. On his fifth album, the California surfer/singer--finally nominated for the CMA Horizon award in 2003--gets back to the smoldering alt-country-goes-mainstream groove that made 1999’s Smoke Rings in the Dark so brilliant, but which he’d abandoned on 2002’s Alright Guy. In a taut tenor, roughed up by cigarettes, liquor, and 3 A.M. ruminations, Allan sings about the inevitable surrender to romantic pain. On "Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey," he swaggers with roadhouse libido, bragging of "tellin’ white lies" as a blistering electric guitar break mocks it all. But by the next song ("Can’t Do It Today"), in which he angrily vows forgiveness won’t come soon for a cheating mate, the lyrics belie his torment: "I can see you dancing in that stranger’s arms/My world hasn’t stopped turning, but it’s fallen apart." Elsewhere, he sings of the joys and fears of fatherhood ("Tough Little Boys") and hauls in Jim Lauderdale for harmonies on the Buck Owens-meets-the-Texas Tornadoes romp of "Guys Like Me." But as the last cut shows, when the lights go down he’s the itinerant musician of Jesse Winchester’s stark "A Showman’s Life" desperate to stave off loneliness. It’s in the album’s blue notes that Allan shows himself to be country’s most important New Voice, superstardom be damned. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss out on the best country album of 2003, February 23, 2004

By	Jenny B. "Cowgirl Jenny" (Boston, Ma) - See all my reviews

I fell in love with Gary Allan after seeing his video for Tough Little Boys. However, I didn't really like the song. Then Songs About Rain was released and I was sold. I also saw the great review this album got in Blender Magazine and was intrigued. Blender is not known for singling out Country artists. So, I proceeded to Amazon, purchased the album and haven't stopped listening to it since. I love it so much, I burned a copy for each one of my CD players, so I don't have to carry it around and worry about it getting damaged. If I had any say in the matter, every song on this album would be released as a single, they're all phenomenal. My favorite by far though has got to be the first track, Drinkin' Dark Whiskey. If you're a fan of country music this is a must have for your CD collection, don't overlook it!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid album, November 29, 2003

By	"gemini_j" (Canada) - See all my reviews

I think it's pretty offensive when Gary Allan is nominated for HORIZON awards, when he's been releasing albums since 1996. If anything he should be up for Entertainer of the Year or Male Vocalist of the Year at the country awards. But that's part of Allan's appeal, is that he isn't overplayed like other male acts, yet he still brings in the solid hits time after time. SEE IF I CARE is Allan's follow up to 2001's ALRIGHT GUY.

The album opens with "Drinkin Dark Whiskey", a strong contender for a single, a nice honky tonk to open the album with. The first single is the sentimental ballad "Tough Little Boys", which was a big hit for him. The title track is a great ballad that would also make a nice single. "Can't Do It Today" is an excellent country song, that pushes his vocals. Other highlights on the set include "Songs About Rain", "Nothing On But The Radio", "I Can Love You", and "Don't Look Away". Overall another solid set, with any justice he will find a lot of success with this album and get the acclaim he deserves.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gary Allan's 5th finds him as good as when he started out!, September 30, 2003

By	DanD - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

It's easy to underestimate Gary Allan. After all, he's been called one of the sexiest men in country music, and that title usually means all looks and no goods (if you catch my drift). If you look at the album credits, you figure that this guy's a one man show: doesn't write much, doesn't play, just sings. Maybe you think him inferior because he detours around mainstream country music, and does his own honky-tonk/alt-country thing.

It isn't until you listen to one of his albums that you realize that he can sing better than any of his peers. It isn't until you see him live that you realize he can play guitar as good as he can sing. And it isn't until you've listened to mainstream country that you discover Gary Allan's music is BETTER than what most radio stations play.

On his fifth album, SEE IF I CARE, Gary Allan delves into a mixture of contempory country/alt-country/honky-tonk. The album kicks off with the enchanting and rollicking honky-tonker "Drinkin' Dark Whiskey," and moves easily into the mournful, "i'll get over you some other time" tune "Can't Do It Today."

From there you hit the first single, "Tough Little Boys," an ode to fatherhood that, although an excellent song, stands out on the album as the only one of its ilk. The title track is in a similar vain to "Can't Do It Today," an "uncaring" kiss-off to an old flame seen on the street with her new lover.

"Songs About Rain," "You Don't Know a Thing About Me" (which features Allan's songwriting talent), and "Don't Look Away" explore the dark side of love, while "I Can Love You" explains that loving his woman is the thing this guy goes best.

"Guys Like Me" (penned by Trent Summar) was made for Allan: a song about how honky-tonkers with their guitars are disappearing. "Nothing on But the Radio" suggests a little rough-housing (You and me and the lights down low/With nothing on but the radio). And "A Showman's Life", about the downside of honky-tonking that isn't always revealed, is a duet with the one and only Willie.

So, are you interested yet? You should be. Gary Allan is one of the most underestimated--yet talented--country singers today. His distinctive voice lends his songs the air of experience, even if he doesn't write them himself. SEE IF I CARE is yet another masterpiece by this "California boy with [his] old guitar". Gary Allan promises on this album--and delivers. Boy, does he deliver!