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29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Spirit of Country, May 20, 2005
I wasn't sure what to expect from CT, in part b/c I have little use for most of the stuff being churned out by the Nashville Machine. Much prefer the unfinished, retro hard country sounds of Dale Watson, etc. But I'm real big on the classic stuff, from Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Wills on through to the Johnny Darrows, Greg Sohns, and the dudes radio didn't have a clue what to do with in the early '70s.
CT is every bit as REAL as Lefty or Cal Smith or any of the A&R be damned, I'm doing it my way stubburn spirits from back in the day. NOT that he sounds like '50s honky tonk, any more than '50s Honky tonk sounded like whatever folks were gettin down to in 1905.
What CT is is ORIGIONAL. He's taken the music he likes, never mind that it spans several genres, and put the sounds together in the same way the Bob Wills once did (indeed, he's helped me see for the first time that the Bob Wills / Tommy Duncan vocal interplay is linked accross time to some of the vocal / rap studio mixing of our era). Elvis blurred genres, Jerry Lee Lewis blurred genres, as did Johnny Cash, ditto Patsy Cline, Jerry Reed, Charlie Pride. . . the list goes on.
Thing is its been done enough over the past 50 yrs that where marketting folks once had a difficult time getting their minds around it, now the idea is seen as almost passe, and it can be when it is calculated. I don't hear calculation here, what I hear is someone who has an ecclectic CD collection and a mind numbering assembledge of radio presets, and the curage to make the music he wants to make . . . and that pure and simple gives him far more in keeping with someone like Jerry Reed or Jerry Lee than he does with a prison load of hat acts.
For what its worth, I'm a huge fan of Ian Tyson and I'll give CT's musical bridge building a much higher ranking than I give Ian's current melding of Cowboy Culture and Jazz.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shake A Hand, Not a Fist -- Cowboy Troy deserves to be congratulated!!, June 26, 2005
If you try to compare Cowboy Troy's debut CD Loco Motive to rap or country separately you are missing the point. The enormously talented Troy, who's "hick-hop" is only continuing to increase in popularity, does not lend himself to face value comparisons to either genre. This is the key to the heart of the sensation that he is creating. Despite what several people here have said, CBT's album is extremely original.
Okay, now you're saying "What?". The album is loaded with musical and lyrical "quotes" (defination: brief eludes to other artists) but that is part of its intelligence and charm. Troy's extremely ecclectic taste and fearlessness in blending the various forms of music he loves are what make his own music such a remarkable breath of fresh air. Imagine this, boys and girls: an album where each song has its own sound and will not be confused with any other cut on the disc. Wow! Some of you probably think that is retro and passe with all of the garbage currently filtering through current music (generally, at least) of any genre right now. Well ... Troy discards this 'fashionable laziness' entirely.
That said, though, the album fits together very well. If you like the first single "I Play Chicken With The Train" it is likely that you will like the whole thing. There is no 'fat' here. All of the material is, looking directly at the music and either lyrical insight or wit, quality stuff. Lets have a brief look at the tracks...
1. " I Play Chicken With The Train " -- This is upbeat, positive and a very feel good number. Big and Rich are featured here, which for anyone who first heard Troy on "Rollin' " the opener of their album "Horse of a Different Color" is a welcome 'visit' to the album. I am glad that this song was released as a single. I loved it the first time I heard it and it convinced me that yes, I would be buying this album.
2. " Crick In My Neck" -- This song is funny. What guy hasn't been caught checking out another girl at some point in his life? A welcome departure from the usual rap womanizing or mother killing junk, this talks about a somewhat-"naughty" guy behavior that listeners might actually understand. My sole complaint with this song is the number of times Troy says "got a crick in my neck". The first time I heard this I was scared me CD player was skipping. Worry not, though: you do (well, I did anyway) get use to it.
3. " Ain't Broke Yet " -- Who hasn't had a shortage on cash before? I know the credit card descriptions can definately relate to me. This song also includes a witty line "If it don't make dollars then it don't make sense". How true in our modern world! This is another piece featuring Big & Rich and while I'm not as fond of it as I am of "I Play Chicken With The Train" or "My Last YeeHaw" it is still well done and makes a valid and relatable point.
4. " If You Don't Wanna Love Me " -- This is my pick for best song on the album. While most of Troy's stuff (also excluding "Somebody's Smilin' On Me") is about having a good time or is mostly surface level fun, this song leaves us all with something major to think about. Is there anyone in your life that might not know how much that you love them? How would you feel if they just up and went away? The vocals from Sarah Buxton are very good and work well with the song. Very very good stuff.
5. " My Last YeeHaw " -- This is a great upbeat party song. My aunt, who listened to this album with me, was somewhat annoyed with the "get on the floor and grab that hottie" line, but considering what other people incorperating rap talk about that is generic and tame. Besides, what it seems he is actually saying is to do what it is you want to do and not be afraid to do it. He is not openly promoting (as I tried to explain to her) going into a bar and grabbing a woman without getting slapped. (*laughs*) This is another visit from Big & Rich and (if memory serves) Larry the Cable Guy (whom I personally want to strangle every time I hear him but lots of other people like him)
6. " El Tejano " -- This song is cool and different. Not only does Troy's blending of Spanish and English make the song witty and artistically interesting, it also makes it a relatively original piece. The only other blend like this I can think of is from the Beatles "Sunk King".
7. " Somebody's Smilin' On Me " -- In the opening number Troy mentions Time McGraw saying he likes his music and here that seems to be varified since McGraw is featured here with Big Kenny. This is a beautiful song about having faith in God and in turn in oneself. The sound is different from everything else on the album making it a memorable piece.
8. " Do Your Thang " -- The woman's voice in this (not sure who it is) is a type of sound that has probably never entered country music before, which is very fun when contrasted with Troy's voice. The underlying beat for the song prepels it and makes the contrasting elements blend together into a unified whole.
9. " Beast on the Mic " -- My aunt mentioned that there are pieces of vocalation here that remind her of a "kinder, gentler Rob Zombie". That mixed with a Japanese section and a slightly more dark and edgy Sound to the music without actually leading to talking about anything mean or violant is great for those who like the Sound without really wanting to hear about anything that will upset or depress them.
10. " Whoop, Whoop " -- This is probably the most sexy / sexual this album gets. It is tame in comparison to what those who listen to rap will be use to and is probably a bit more sexy, while still maintaining respect, for those who are use to country. It is upset, happy and catchy and is one of my favorite things on this album. Another "I liked it the first time I heard it" pieces.
11. " She's Automatic " -- I love the sounds here. Spanish guitar, classical violin, another more dark, smokey rock type sound. The lighter lyrical sections given to Troy are interesting when placed against the edgier lyrical and accustics that are given to Atom. Smooth, sophisticated and intelligent stuff. Another personal favorite.
12. " Wrap Around The World " -- This sounds like rap meeting Ray Stevensen and it is a nice closure to the album. Troy is interested in world-wide brotherhood / friendship here and we yet again get to see the variety of languages he has no fear of using in his music.
As one can see after taking the album 'apart' putting this whole thing together creates a very unique sound. I once read in a book for aspiring authors that "there are no new ideas, only new interpretations". I feel that this can be related to music. The concept of the love song, the spirital song, the success song, the "I'm broke" song, the "message song", etc. are universal. It is the artist's style and each individual song's quality that will either make or break it, ideally.
Cowboy Troy is not traditional country. He is not pop country. He is not rockin' country. He is not folk country. Cowboy Troy is hick-hop, exactly as he says. For those who are disappointed that Troy did not make rhymes about tractors and life on the farm, I say keep waiting. Those may not be Troy's songs to sing but if this genre is given a chance perhaps someone will pick up your cause. Troy, like any good artist, seems interested in focusing on what matters to him. If he had done what you are saying without truely believing it then he would be a parody like Weird Al. But Troy is not interested in being a parody or a fad. He is a 100% authentic, talented and extremely unique artist who wants his Music -- not some silly here today and gone tomorrow fad -- heard.
All in all, I am going to close this by saying that I truely love this album and I would highly recommend that anyone with an open mind check it out and give it a chance. It is not for everyone but it is very well done. I sincerely hope that he does well as I would love to hear more of this new and innovative sound.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Somebody IS smiling on CBT!!, June 17, 2005
Loco Motive is a new and refreshing look at music. I give him props for putting his music out there and labeling it country.
People say he's a "gimmick" or a "novelty", but he's just an artist, making music that he loves. And he's made some great tunes... CBT's music, hick-hop as he labels it, is fun. From the rocking/rapping sounds of "I Play Chicken With The Train" to "Ain't Broke Yet" CBT shows us his lyrical skills.
CBT also has a softer side on this CD in "If You Don't Wanna Love Me" and "Somebody's Smilin' on Me."
I love this CD and recommend it to everyone who likes music!
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