I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Jamey Johnson is simply playing on a whole different, and superior, level than the rest of the mainstream country music world. I think it’s nothing short of a miracle that Johnson can even be lumped into the mainstream, to be honest.
This new album, due in a couple of weeks and entitled The Guitar Song, is nothing short of brilliant, period. I’m not ready to go too deep right now with why I’m so blown away by this 25 song, double LP. Really, every song has been a gem, so far. Perhaps I’ll tire of a couple of tunes, but man, this is a serious collection of pure, honky-tonk gold. I love that Johnson has decided to use the momentum gained from all of his awards and his gold-selling status for something this ambitious and decidedly unsafe. A couple of excellent covers, mixed with authentic tunes that deal with heartache, the foils of fame, love for his daughter and also his love of songwriting, make up an insanely well constructed album, even if it’s a mammoth one, with a running time of over an hour and a half.
Much has been made about Johnson’s alleged status as the saviour of modern country music, and after this new release, I’m not sure about what he is or isn’t saving, but I know that this album represents much more than what is typically represented when other Nashville hitmakers predictably and generically release their yearly, committee-created piles of crap.
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[...] After listening to The Guitar Song, The Gobblers Knob Kelly Dearmore believes Jamey Johnson exists on a level superior to the rest of mainstream country music. [...]
Totally agree – I spent a Friday night taking it in for the first time and have a hard time talking about it outside of fangurl exclamations. I did have a few questions about song placement and had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to “Happy Jamey,” but it’s quite an album.
Yeah, I actually didnt have much of a problem with that, for soem reason (though I thought I might). I guess it’s cuz I dont see it as perky, but naturally, normally happy.
I’m with Karlie on the “Happy Jamey” concept. “Front Porch Swing Afternoon” made me pause a little bit. It’s not a bad thing, just different. Overall, still some stellar stuff.
I pre-ordered this off of Jamey’s website and cannot wait until it arrives! The bits and pieces I have heard of it I already love!
I am someone who just don’t like “New Country” and I thought when Conway Twitty, Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings passed on that it would just be a matter of time until everything that was great about country music would just be forgotten !! The first time I heard Jamey Johnson sing it was like a breath of fresh air and I do believe he is a savior for true country music and “Old Country” fans like myself. When he sings it draws me in and just like the classics he can make you feel what he is feeling at that moment. If and when I get to meet him I will simply say Thank You !! Oh yeah !! I almost forgot … I ordered three copies of the new album so I could have one for the house, one for the car, and one for the truck !!