Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, solid roots music, June 16, 2008
I've been a fan of Billy Bob Thornton's music ever since I stumbled across PRIVATE RADIO at the local Wal-Mart several years ago (a copy was tucked away behind some more contemporary country CDs). I picked it up, gave it a spin, and was forever changed. BBT doesn't give a rat's petoot what you think of him; he makes music like he wants. Each one of his four solo albums has sounded different than the other: RADIO was mostly acoustic, THE EDGE OF THE WORLD was more pop/country, HOBO was rather bluesy, and BEAUTIFUL DOOR leaned heavily on folk.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that The Boxmasters' self-titled debut album sounds completely different than anything BBT has put out before (despite the fact that it revists RADIO, thanks to an up-dated and electrified "That Mountain," sans the spoken intro). Along with guitarist/bassist J.D. Andrew and lead guitarist Michael Wayne Butler, Thornton (drums and lead vocals) has created an album that dwells within the confines of the Bakersfield Sound, with a few forrays into Sixties pop coming near the end of the first disc. The first disc is certainly the album's highlight: 12 originals, all written or co-written by Thornton (with a couple co-writes going to Andrew) that deal with the highs and lows of hillbilly life. Some of them are laugh-out-loud hilarious; some of them are the dark and depressing material that Thornton has previously explored (PRIVATE RADIO is not an album to listen to while you're depressed). It's be a bit of a challenge to go through the first disc and pick highlights; they are all stellar tracks, expertly written and performed.
The second disc features 11 cover tunes, and this is where THE BOXMASTERS flounders a bit. The trick is to listen to the second disc (titled "Theirs") as a whole. If you do this, it sounds like a garage band playing a medley of some of their favorite songs by other people. I'm sure that was the idea; it would have been better to make disc two one long track. It just seems a bit too experimental, if taken track-by-track. Best to take it in as one long, continuous listen. That'll give you time to savor some of the more minor details, such as the murder ballad "Knoxville Girl" segueing into the Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," or Loggins and Messina's "House at Pooh Corner" given an up-tempo country shuffle (not to mention Thornton going "Pooh! Oooooh!"). If you take disc two for what it is--a group of buddies enjoying the music that inspired them--you'll appreciate it more.
Still...it's the first disc that will hold your attention. As well it should. Billy Bob Thornton and the guys aren't going to become filthy rich off this record--let's face it, radio won't play it. It's "too country." It's uncensored. It's raw and real and gritty. It's good, in other words. The Boxmasters have created some real, genuine country music, minus the glitter and glammer that comes with pop-culture influence. You can take this record as another BBT release, or you can look at the group as a band; either way, you're bound to appreciate what Thornton and his cohorts have crafted. Take a few listens. Laugh a little. Cry a little. Either way, you're going to think a lot. And you're going to have a damn good time.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
As a musician he's a great actor, January 28, 2009
I love Billy Bob Thornton's acting. I will buy any dvd that he has a significant role in. I also enjoy him in the doc's, interviews and real life stuff he does. We have similar backgrounds and attitudes. But he just does not have it as a musician. His stuff sounds like paraody's of real music. His voice is not terrible. It's just not very good. The music is completly uninspired. Putting curse words in the music is o.k. with me if they fit. By the same token simply including profanity does not automaticaly lend validity to the material. Some of my favorite artists are not great singers in the classic sense. Prine, Kristopherson, Dylan, etc. But their SONGS are great. Great lyrics and often great music to boot. For any of you who like the style they are trying to do here, get anything by the "hangdogs", especially "same old story". They broke up awhile back but they achieved on several albums what the boxmasters are trying to do and missing badly. Or even some of the stuff Cash did at the end of his career. It is the same sort of stuff but hits homeruns compared to the 3 pitch strikeout that this "boxmasters" sillyness is. Sorry Billy Bob, I really do love you and as a frustrated karaoke singer I understand you but the cold hard facts are that music aint your calling bubba.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hard Review, April 1, 2009
This is the hardest review I've done. I saw this band back in March 09 here in my hometown of Lufkin, Texas. A small town with the concert on Sunday nite. There was about 200 people there which I thought was good for my town on Sunday nite. The show was really good. A great band, & Billy Bob's vocals were good to. But he never said one word to the audience, just played one song after the other for an hour & 1/2. They left the stage, didnt come back & didn't sign any autographs for anyone. I thought this was very not professional. I do have a copy of this double cd of the Boxmasters. I like both cds. I'm glad he is a good actor because this kind of music simply won't make him a living. Don't get me wrong the music is listenable but it's more of what I call Hobby music. So buy it if music is your hobby like mine.
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