Don't waste your money. There are maybe two okay cuts on this album, Morlix should stay on the other side of the board.
this album rocks. if you are looking for hard country that isn't so twangy, this is great stuff. pat is awesome.
this album is great! from college station he puts on a good show and a very good songwriter buy the album. a george jones voice and texas music
This is by far the best CD that I have bought this year. I bought it about two weeks ago after seeing it on this site. "Tuscola" is the reason they made repeat and continuos play buttons on your CD player.
"Cheap Bourbon Whiskey and pearl snap shirts are two things that stay the same, so when the world starts spinnin' and your head hurts, there's cheap bourbon whiskey and pearl snap shirts."
That is how the title songs starts, and trust me this is the CD OF THE YEAR! After reading all the reviews, I decided I would take a chance and buy a Jason Boland CD. I must admit, that Johnny Hambone guy is right (and I HATE to admit that) this is truly the best CD purchase I have made this year. The CD starts out with "Somewhere Down in Texas" which has Terri Hendrix singing harmony and quite frankly is my new favorite song. Just when you think this may be a mellow album we go straight into some good old fashinoned Honky Tonkin'. The songs, "Drinkin' Song" and "Pearl Snaps" really drive the message home. After that the album goes back into introspective mode with "Proud Souls" (I love the line "I got drunk by myself last night, they say it's no way to make things right, I just didn't have anything better to do.") and follows that with the buttkicking "Ponies". The CD then goes back to introspective, and trust me these are WELL WRITTEN songs, with "Backslider Blues". The album then takes a strange turn with a song about long distance love over the phone (some might call it phone sex, but I like to think otherwise) which may be the weakest track on the CD, but Boland's weakest track would be one of the best for most artists on this site. It doesn't matter because what follows is my other favorite song (After thinking about it it ranks up there with "Somewhere Down in Texas"), "Devil Pays in Gold". If you like REK's "The Road Goes on Forever" (even though we are all tired of it by now) this will be your new favorite song. Nothing beats a good story where someone is going to get killed or be killed trying, and these boys make the story come alive. Next track is "If I ever get back to Oklahoma", which means little to me being from South Texas doncha know, but I admit is a catchy song, and if I were from Oklahoma I would buy this CD just on this song alone (If you are from Oklahoma and have any pride at all this is a MUST LISTEN). The last two tunes listed are going to leave you wanting more. "No Damn Good" is a tale of the road and the single life outweighing suburbia, and "Change in the Weather" is a fun song which really showcases the dobro playing of Roger Ray, who I must say is quite the talented musician. He plays lead and rythm guitar, pedal steel, and of course that awesome dobro. If his dobro and steel playing (Since Lloyd Maines produced this album, I thought I was listening to Lloyd Maines playing steel until I saw the credits. Roger Ray is going to be getting a lot of work whether this band stays together or not) don't get you, just listen to the bonus track. Roger Ray's lead guitar is brilliant, and if this is a one take, which bonus tracks traditionally are, then Brian Setzer needs to watch out, cause this up and comer from Oklahoma will BLOW YOU AWAY, he freakin' wails!
This CD contains 12 (counting the bonus track) of the most polished songs I have listened to all year. Do yourself a favor and get "Pearl Snaps", after one listen you'll be writing a 5 Star review, TRUST ME.
I have heard a lot of people say how great Mr. Green is and heard many say that he had no depth. I agreed with both of those statement s for a long time. I loved his good time party hard texas drinking songs but I wanted more. I knew he had it in him to dig deep and really do something with his craft. Not to say he hasn't done anything. I had big expectations for the latest release "Carry On". My expectations were met. I think we now find a little bit more mature Green here. He still is rowdy too but has shown that he can dig deep and not be afraid to have a good amount of slow songs on his cd. I was very impressed. The only thing is, I want more. I know he can go so much deeper and entertain people with his ideas and stories. I hope Pat keeps expanding as a songwriter and not locking himself into a stereotype of just doing party song. It's obvious he is moving away but I hope continues to improve and blow people away with it. Good job Pat. For what it's worth, I loved the CD.
I had got this CD based on many people I had heard saying this guy was something great. A throw back to old style country. I liked the sound of that thought. Wayne has the voice of Hank Williams and that is cool by me. The only thing that got me was that on virtually all of the songs on the CD he had almost the same exact delivery and style as Hank. It's one thing if your voice sounds like Hank, but to do the same exact style as Hank seemed overwhelmingly unoriginal. There were some songs on the CD i liked but I couldn't get over how he would not vary his style from the beloved Williams.
If you think Roger Creager, Owen Temple, Cory Morrow, or even Pat Green is good, you better buy this CD. Jason Boland and the Stragglers are simply the best thing to come out of Oklahoma since I-35!!!!
Excellent song writting. Some of the best to come along since the likes of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. Dub's authentic Texas style truly comes from the heart.
