The Background:It has been two years since Joe Nichols released his last album, Real Things, but he’s had lots of life experience to draw on as he’s built his newest release, Old Things New. Nichols appeared on Broadway, married his longtime sweetheart Heather Singleton, and got his demons in line with a stint in rehab. "I feel like I'm in a really cool position," Nichols says in his current bio. "I've found my place by moving deeper into the kind of music I love, which are songs that draw on the traditional side. A lot of country music at the moment is real aggressive and hard. I love that music, but it's not what I do. I've found my niche by doing something outside of what everyone else is doing." Co-produced by Brent Rowan and Mark Wright, the project includes Nichols' latest single, "Believers." Vince Gill sings on the title track, which was written by Bill Anderson, Paul Overstreet and Buddy Cannon. Jamey Johnson also contributes a song, "Cheaper Than a Shrink," which he co-wrote with Anderson and Cannon.
The Review
Every once in awhile, I review an album that at first listen, I’m fairly neutral about, but the more I listen to it the more I genuinely like it. Old Things New is like the first time you ever tasted beer for the first time. At first you wonder what the big fuss is about, but after two (maybe three) listens, it goes down smooth and you have a new appreciation for it. The album opens up fair with “Gimmie That Girl,” a Rhett Akins co-written upbeat but fairly non-descript radio friendly tribute to wishful thinking. “It’s Me I’m Worried About” is a great lonesome feeling George Strait-ish early 90’s tune. “Old Things New” is the first standout track- it has a great classic country feel far from country radio’s current center. Its lyrical shout-out to Merle Haggard is representative of its sound and while it’s a terrific song, I worry about its relevancy in today’s country landscape for Nichols’ sake. The first single to radio, “Believers” is top 20 material and is a terrific track celebrating the power of one person’s ability to change the world. Its music video is one of the cooler ones released this year. “Cheaper Than A Shrink,” penned by Jamey Johnson and Bill Anderson, is a sure-fire radio hit where a cool tall one can “get you just as messed up and having a lot more fun.” The last two songs are a couple of the best, however. While neither are unlikely to get any radio play, Nichols rich baritone voice and personal lyrics make them a terrific album-ender. “We All Go Home” talks about remembering our roots and that we never really get away from the land we’re born on. It’s a touching reflection of remembering where we came from without being too cliché. On the Ray Charles-feeling piano ballad recorded in a single take in the studio, “An Old Friend Of Mine,” Nichols reveals his heart on his sleeve. It’s a song about beating the demons inside a bottle and Nichols says, “Sometimes in a song, you play a character, and sometimes you play yourself. This time, it was all me. Every time I sing it, I feel every moment of it. It probably will always be that way.” Overall the album isn’t anything new. It’s not a “concept” album in any sense of the word. It’s classic definitive country music in the modern world. And like that analogy with the first beer, the more you partake, the more you like. Call it auditory Corona…
Every once in awhile, I review an album that at first listen, I’m fairly neutral about, but the more I listen to it the more I genuinely like it. Old Things New is like the first time you ever tasted beer for the first time. At first you wonder what the big fuss is about, but after two (maybe three) listens, it goes down smooth and you have a new appreciation for it. The album opens up fair with “Gimmie That Girl,” a Rhett Akins co-written upbeat but fairly non-descript radio friendly tribute to wishful thinking. “It’s Me I’m Worried About” is a great lonesome feeling George Strait-ish early 90’s tune. “Old Things New” is the first standout track- it has a great classic country feel far from country radio’s current center. Its lyrical shout-out to Merle Haggard is representative of its sound and while it’s a terrific song, I worry about its relevancy in today’s country landscape for Nichols’ sake. The first single to radio, “Believers” is top 20 material and is a terrific track celebrating the power of one person’s ability to change the world. Its music video is one of the cooler ones released this year. “Cheaper Than A Shrink,” penned by Jamey Johnson and Bill Anderson, is a sure-fire radio hit where a cool tall one can “get you just as messed up and having a lot more fun.” The last two songs are a couple of the best, however. While neither are unlikely to get any radio play, Nichols rich baritone voice and personal lyrics make them a terrific album-ender. “We All Go Home” talks about remembering our roots and that we never really get away from the land we’re born on. It’s a touching reflection of remembering where we came from without being too cliché. On the Ray Charles-feeling piano ballad recorded in a single take in the studio, “An Old Friend Of Mine,” Nichols reveals his heart on his sleeve. It’s a song about beating the demons inside a bottle and Nichols says, “Sometimes in a song, you play a character, and sometimes you play yourself. This time, it was all me. Every time I sing it, I feel every moment of it. It probably will always be that way.” Overall the album isn’t anything new. It’s not a “concept” album in any sense of the word. It’s classic definitive country music in the modern world. And like that analogy with the first beer, the more you partake, the more you like. Call it auditory Corona…
Sounds Like:
George Strait & Joe Diffie
Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Believers
Cheaper Than A Shrink
Old Things New
An Old Friend Of Mine
We All Go Home
The Verdict:
Three & A Half Stars Out Of Five
Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Believers
Cheaper Than A Shrink
Old Things New
An Old Friend Of Mine
We All Go Home
The Verdict:
Three & A Half Stars Out Of Five
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