CD Reviews- Jack Ingram- Big Dreams & High Hopes

The Background:
When accepting his 2008 Academy of Country Music Award for "Top New Male Vocalist," singer/songwriter Jack Ingram dedicated the honor to "anyone who has ever dared to dream big dreams and have high hopes." After years grinding his way onto an elite list of country music's most hardworking and respected touring acts, Ingram will release his third Big Machine studio project Big Dreams & High Hopes today on August. 25th. "I'm proud of this album like crazy," says Ingram. "We started to put it out a few times earlier this year, but then I'd hold everything up and go back to the studio and tweak this or mess with that, but now I'm finally ready. There are a few rowdy barroom sing-a-longs on there and also a few songs that are meant to be listened to when you're all alone...lots of long days and fun nights were spent making this one." Ingram's robust list of top-notch co-writers, producers and collaborators for the new project includes Americana heroine Patty Griffin on the Ingram-penned "Seeing Stars," and mainstream country music chart-topper Dierks Bentley on the honky tonk party anthem "Barbie Doll" with Little Big Town, Randy Houser, James Otto and The Lost Trailers (also known as The Little Big Lost Beat-Up Ford Funky Times Freedom Choir) contributing gang vocals. Jay Joyce, Jeremy Stover, Doug Lancio and Radney Foster all get production credits.

The Review:
On Jack Ingram’s Big Dreams & High Hopes, there’s some stuff that’s great, some stuff that’s good and some stuff that… well… just doesn’t measure up to the other stuff on the album. First up, the great: the title track “Big Dreams and High Hopes” is a phenomenal Bryan Adams-ish ballad that is an autobiographical first person self analysis of the motivation behind what drives “this cowboy riding down the road.” It’s a great self-reflection on why music moves Ingram and the acoustic beauty moves us too. Also receiving great kudos is “Seeing Stars.” It’s a gorgeous acoustic song with Ingram playing the hopeless romantic astronomer. With touching and meaningful lyrics like “wishing on stars only when you see em’ is like asking God for help only when you need him,” it’s a winner. The absolute highlight of the album, however, is Patty Griffin singing harmony behind Ingram on the track. She’s heavenly. The good? Current single “Barefoot and Crazy” is unabashed chick magnet summer anthem fluff. But it’s really damn good at being what it wants to be. It’s like cotton candy, pretty sweet fluff. “Free” is another decidedly introspective song, somewhat resembling Ingram’s acceptance speech from his ACM win. It’s an expression of appreciation for the gifts he’s been given and very representative of his experiences. The misses? A duet with Dierks Bentley on the raucous barroom anthem is fun, but it is fairly critically empty. It certainly won’t stand the test of time like some of the other material. And the last track, “In The Corner” seems a bit out of place, a psychedelic uneven ballad. Overall, it’s a very entertaining listen and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend for a country collection.

Sounds Like:
A Country Bryan Adams

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):

Barefoot and Crazy
Seeing Stars
Big Dreams and High Hopes
King Of Wasted Time

The Verdict:

Three Stars Out Of Five