Patriotic Country

I note with amazement the negative reviews related to this product. The vitriol, hatred, anger are obvious. If that's your bag, fine. But there are some of us who are proud of their country, aware of strengths and weaknesses but coming out strong in favor of our homeland, and this CD is for us. When we have heard just a little too much of the constant drumbeat of the terminally angry, we can pop this into play and enjoy.

I've toured in and lived in other nations. This is the land I love the best. I've watched the news, read newspapers, been in DC... and I've lived and worked with Americans from the heartland, working hard and doing the best they can. I vastly prefer the company of these people, who this CD does a good job of honoring. Sure, I can name some songs I'd have preferred were on here, selections of Toby Kieth come readily to mind. But this is a CD I'm proud to own, because it's positive, upbeat, and reminds me of home. I've looked for such a collection, and I'm glad it's arrived.

Only a handful of the songs, surpisingly, deal with America in a direct way. The album kicks off with probably it's most patriotic number: a newer version of Lee Greenwood's immortal "God Bless the USA." Martina McBride delivers a stunning performance of "God Bless America," while Aaron Tippin keeps it simple (yet effective) on "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly". Randy Travis reaches inside us all with his stirring voice on "America WIll Always Stand," with Phil Vassar's "American Child" reiterating American pride and life. Hank Jr. and the Charlie Daniels Band are the flag waving rebels with their respective tunes, and BlackHawk tells of daily life in "Days of America." The Warren Brothers offer a respectful look at the presidency (thank God; there's too much criticism out there) with their powerful "Hey Mr. President," and Kenny Rogers sums things up with his emotional "Homeland."

Other songs deal with rural/country life (urban listeners might feel a little left out). Montgomery Gentry's smash "My Town," Chesney's "Back Where I Come From," and Alabama's "Born Country" all tell of backwoods boys who love their simple lives.

Still other songs are here for their emotional punch. Neal McCoy's back with "I'm Your Biggest Fan" (I saw him perform this one live; by the end, everyone, McCoy included, had tears in their eyes). Lonestar's "I'm Already There" and Dusty Drake's "One Last Time" both offer tears (the first of joy, the second of sorrow). David Ball's "Riding With Private Malone" and Kix and Ronnie's "Til My Dyin Day" don't really fit in with the rest of the album, but they are both entertaining songs nonetheless.

"Patriotic Country" may not be an entirely patriotic album; it detours now and then, in an effort to attract more listeners. And there were some songs that could be replaced by others; Toby Keith's "American Soldier" (or "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue", if the album compilers wanted to risk sales drops), or Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning" could easily have fit in. But their absence isn't much noticeable, as you've got 18 great country songs, about life, pride, and family--three things country's always been about.

Two reasons you should buy this album: one, a portion of the proceeds will go to a great cause; and second, this is an album filled with superb music. With those reasons behind you, why haven't you bought the album already?