Country is the pimple on the butt of American music. Most country artists don’t pen their own lyrics and instead have songs written for them. This is a severe pet peeve with me and is right up there with calling RAP music or Elektronica good. There are instances though of Country artist’s writing their own music and lyrics. This can go down in 1 of 2 ways:
1. It’s really good or
2. It’s really bad
Unfortunately there really is no middle ground and for poor Luke Powers he seems to snugly fit into the #2 choice. “Knoxville Girl”, track #1 on his CD, is interesting in lyrical content and the music isn’t too lousy but the entire time I was yawning and thought I was about to lapse into a coma then it ended and I was OK again. It seems as if the song was recorded on a much slow RPM – like 8. Speed it up! Country music is louder, faster and bolder than it’s ever been since before it was being called Southern Rock! “CeCe’s Song”, like “Knoxville Girl” isn’t poorly written but just too damn slow, tired and just all around sleepy time. He could sell this CD as bedtime music for toddlers in Croatia.
Luke Powers does manage to get me to like one song: “Man Behind”. I like the music and the vocals actually fit the pace. It’s a military-based song, old school and with emotion and feeling. It’s pertinent to the world today and relevance helps.
“Mr. Yeah Yeah Yeah” is an obvious poke at the Beatles and 60’s peace movement music. But the song is actually good and paced great – shame I was already mid-coma when it came up.
Luke Powers is an old school style of country folk (otherwise known as Hillbilly Country). As I listen I can imagine a lone man sitting on a stool with a guitar in hand and playing to a small personal crowd. Michelle Branch was the same type of chick until she changed things up and wham! Success.
Don’t let my criticisms fool you. I do not hate this album. I think it’s good stuff, but instead of being a cheap Bob Dylan meets Johnny Cash he needs to be himself – speed up the music and the vocals and it would be so much better! I actually filtered it faster and it was so much more appealing. If you like coffeehouse country folk then, by all means, it’s a 10. If you like the current taste of country then no – this sails in at an 8 which is not sucky by any means.
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