If any rock fans out there are looking for a temporary break without feeling that they’re being disloyal to their favourites they could do a lot worse than dipping into the new album by country artist Eric Church.
Country fans have been championing this guy for two albums already and the latest edition to his catalogue is the one to share him with the rest of the world.
Whilst the album cover shows a moody Mr Church wearing a baseball cap, cheap sun glasses and a week’s growth of beard, the two guitarists that are part of his band shred with the best of them and have more tattoos than most. With song titles like ‘Drink in my Hand’, ‘Jack Daniels’ and ‘Springsteen’ those that are apprehensive about dipping their toe into American Country could get by without feeling too guilty.
If any die hard Country fans are looking for the next big hit to take to the hoe down they may well be a little disappointed though as Eric’s new album is definitely full of stories but they rock rather than sway and lean towards Friday night honky tonks and a session on the demon drink than simply sitting on the porch or riding the range.
The aforementioned ‘Drink in my Hand’ will undoubtedly become an anthem, with concert going fans raising an imaginary glass of good cold beer, ‘Hangover and Hard up’ is self-explanatory and his duels with Jack are celebrated as if the listener was looking in on a bar room brawl.
The obvious and almost statutory single is ‘Springsteen’ which rather than pay simple homage to the champion of blue collar America uses the suggestion of a Bruce song as a flavour of summer and as most good songs do provides a memory spark to a romantic encounter. I’m sure there are many out there that can identify with that.
One of the less commercial, but for me stand out tracks, has a more reverential subject matter. With ‘Country Music Jesus’ conjuring up the vision of the next big thing taking his place at the pulpit of Country music, passionately playing his acoustic and ‘preaching from the book of Johnny Cash’. I’d certainly pay good money to attend that gathering… praise the Lord.
I strongly believe that with this album we’re seeing the rising of a new star in the west and one that will lead from the front rather than simply be a guest on the next Motown artist’s attempt at gaining sales for his back catalogue.
Look out Tim McGraw there’s a new sheriff in town.