Raw. Real. Rebelicious. County music’s newest outlaw, Jamey Johnson, belongs in the ranks of Hank, Merle and Walylon. His sophmore album, That Lonesome Song, is a train ride of hard-living, hard-drinking and heartache, the kind of music that can be felt in your gut no matter how many times you’ve heard the songs.
The first track, “High Cost of Living,” is a gritty account of a desperate man who finds himself teatering on the fence of his addictions. He succumbs to his demons by trading in his “9 to 5” and his “sweet wife” for “cocaine and a whore”. The title track, “That Lonesome Song,” paints a vivid picture of the heart of true country music. Elements of a pickup truck, whiskey eyes, ashtray breath and being parked on a gravel road opens the listeners eyes to Jamey’s self-reflection of his renegade lifestyle. “In Color,” the album’s debut single, gives the feeling that you’ve just watched an entire movie in less than 5 minutes. The story of a grandfather reminiscing through pictures of the chapters of his life, from his childhood in the great depression to being in the war to his wedding day. Jamey’s amazing storytelling abilities, somber vocal and simple melody pull at the heart strings and take you on an emotional ride through the characters life.
Jamey is currently nominated for three Grammys, including Best Male Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for “In Color” and Best Country Album for That Lonesome Song. Real country music is still alive, and it’s living and breathing in singer/songwriter Jamey Johnson.
[rating:5]
