CD Reviews

Danni Leigh - 29 Nights        DECCA Records

There is just no way of reviewing the CD by newcomer Danni Leigh without at least a casual comparison to Dwight Yoakam. The album, titled "29 Nights", has so many things in common with Yoakam that you almost wonder if they are related. The first thing you notice is the cover artwork. Hat pulled low, completely hiding the eyes, long strands of blonde hair touching the shoulders. When the music starts, the similarities are even more evident.  The first single, "If The Jukebox Took Teardrops," has hit written all over it. It's an up tempo ditty that will have you shuffling across the dancefloor in no time at all. Watching the video on CMT will make you realize why so many people are making the Dwight comparison. Co-writing with people like Monte Warden, Jeff Stevens and Mike Noble definitely doesn't hurt. There's the obligatory cover tunes of Willie Nelson (Touch Me) and Merle Haggard (Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart) classics. To her credit, she handles these songs very well. She also does a solid version of the new "I Feel A Heartache" tune, written by Nashville icons Harlan Howard and Kostas.   Growing up on the East Coast, she was a fan of Patsy Cline's music. Recently she has been listening to a lot of Buck Owens music. When you put these two together, it's no wonder she sounds like Dwight. But, hey, this is a good thing. Give it a listen, you'll agree.

Billy Ray Cyrus - Shot Full Of Love       Mercury Records

For Nashville artist Billy Ray Cyrus, this past year has been one of many changes. From his appearance, his music, even his overall attitude about the music business. He took the first six months of the year off, to re-evaluate his career and future. He re-emerged in June to accept five awards on the TNN Music City News Country Awards ceremony. One of his decisions was to make an album that was completely different from anything he had ever done in the past. Using the best Nashville studio musicians as opposed to his road band, he carefully selected the best songs available. Together they completed "Shot Full Of Love," in record time. The album seems to have something for everyone. There's straight forward country songs like, "Touchy Subject," "His Shoes," and "How's My World Treatin' You." There are some rockers, "Under The Hood" and "Rock This Planet." He uses a string section for the first time on "The American Dream." The album is good, his best in years. Especially the first single, "Busy Man." That song is worth the price of the CD alone. Yes sir, old Billy Ray has done a great job. No line dancing here!

Jenny Simpson - Jenny Simpson    Mercury Records

With a voice very similar to a young Trisha Yearwood, newcomer Jenny Simpson enters the race of female vocalist with some heavy artillery on her team.  Produced by Garth Fundis, and featuring some of the finest musicians in Nashville, her debut record for Mercury shows tremendous potential. Leading off with the hit "Ticket Out Of Kansas," she offers a healthy dose of inspiration on this "country girls gonna make it" tune. On the inside jacket, she emits the thousand watt smile that gives her the girl next door look. Being from Nashville made her trip to music row a short one, but not before she got college behind her. Again, she seems to be following in the footsteps of Yearwood. She fills the album with songs of pain and pleasure.  "Foolish As That May Be" is simply brilliant. "One Word" tells the sad tale of a young man asking his girlfriend to marry him and being turned down.  Things get rocking on "So I Kissed Him," written by Jenny and Ray Methvin.  The CD ends with the beautiful ballad, "Til Then." This is a first class album from a star destined to shine bright.

Real - The Tom T. Hall Project

Sire Records has just released an incredible new CD of classic Tom T. Hall songs recorded by some of todays most versatal artists. Titled "Real - The Tom T. Hall Project," it collects 17 of his songs. Hall, easily one of the most successful and prolific songwriters in Nashville, has over 1,000 songs to his credit. Artists like Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, Dave Dudley and Perry Como have recorded his songs.  Seventeen of Hall's songs are covered here, all with suprising results.  Opening with a solemn version of "I Washed My Face In The Morning Dew" by Johnny Cash, recorded at his log cabin in Hendersonville, Tn. Kelly Willis does an amazing version of "That's How I Got To Memphis," which was a hit recently for Buddy Miller. Rocker R. B. Morris covers one of Tom's best songs, "Don't Forget The Coffee Billy Joe." Another rocker Jonny Polonsky does a solid take on "Old Enough To Want To, Fool Enough To Try." Songbird Iris Dement tackles the hit from 1970, "I Miss A lot Of Trains." Tom T's biggest hit, "Harper Valley PTA" is cranked up a notch by "Syd Straw & The Skeletons." Mammoth recording artist Joe Henry does a fantastic version of "Homecoming," one of Hall's most personal tunes. Hot newcomer Mary Cutrufello handles "Candy In The Window." Easily the best cut on the collection is by country rockers Whiskeytown. They do a blistering seven minute version of "I Hope It Rains At My Funeral." The album ends with Mark Olson and Victoria Williams doing a duet on "It Sure Can Get Cold In Des Moines." After one listen, you'll be tempted as I was to search out the originals and see for yourself why Tom T. Hall is considered by many to be the finest songwriter of this era. The Pine Valley Cosmonauts: Salute The Majesty Of Bob Wills Blooshot Records is another label that has chosen to honor an important figure in musical history. On their new collection, "Salute To The Majesty Of Bob Wills," a wide variety of talent has combined forces to record their favorite versions of classic tunes first made famous by Wills and the Texas Playboys. With backing music on each track provided by the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, vocals are handled by a rather diverse bunch of musicians. I must be honest here and admit that the majority of them are unknown to me. However, this didn't stop me from dropping the CD in and giving it a listen.    For a bit of history on the Cosmonauts, they are based in Chicago, where they are regulars in the music scene, playing music by some of their heros like Wills and Johnny Cash. Of the vocalist I am familiar with, Jimmie Dale Gilmore is an excellent choice for "Trouble In Mind," while Chris Mills does an incredible job on "Home In San Antone." Austin sensation Alejandro Escovedo easily handles the beautiful "San Antonio Rose." The Meat Purveyors put their trademark on the classic "Take Me Back To Tulsa." The collection ends on a haunting version of   "Faded Love" by Jane Baxter-Miller. This collection goes the full length to confirm what Waylon said so Eloquently back in the '70s. It don't matter who's in Austin, Bob Wills is still the King.

Ricky Skaggs - Ancient Tones

When it comes to classic country music, few artist can capture the purity of Ricky Skaggs. Releasing a new album on his own label makes perfect sense,  given his intense desire to preserve country music in it's barest of roots. As a followup to his successful "Bluegrass Rules" collection of last year, "Ancient Tones" takes the idea one step further. Ricky again picks a handful of country and bluegrass standards, only this time he injects a few newer sounds and ideas that are uniquely his own. Ricky also penned a few tunes himself to round out the package, including the fantastic "Connemara" and the traditional arrangement on "Little Bessie." The other songs covered here were mainly written by Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe, each monumental figures in the world of bluegrass music. Just listen to the high harmonies on "Carolina Mountain Home." A Stanley classic for decades, Ricky makes it his own by the end of the first verse. A superb vocalist and picker, Skaggs has the ability to copy a classic, yet be totally original at the same time.  If you think no one is recording pure bluegrass music anymore, you haven't been listening to the right artist.

Lee Ann Womac - Some Things I Know

George Strait claims she's one of his favorite female vocalist and invited her to be a part of his Music Festival. That exposure, playing before thousands of fans, plus having several top ten hits off her debut album on Decca Records, has boosted Lee Ann Womack to the top of the pecking order in country music. On her second album, "Some Things I Know," she shows no signs of the sophmore slump. Guest like Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White-Skaggs help make this album a mixture of traditional and contemporary country. The first single, "A Little Past Little Rock," hit the charts running and made it's way into the top ten in just a few weeks. The new single, "I'll Think Of A Reason Later (To Hate Her)," is a funny little tune that reveals the way female jealousy really works. With a voice that is both smooth and achingly country, Lee Ann sings each song as though she has lived the experience first hand. Listen to "Don't Tell Me," written by Buddy and Julie Miller, and you'll see what I mean. In a crowd of Shania wanna-be's, Lee Ann stands apart based simply on her originality. A talented singer songwriter, she possess all the strengths needed to maintain a long successful career in country music.