I saw Roger the other night at the Gypsy Tea Room in Dallas. The show was incredible. His album "Having Fun All Wrong" translates into an incredible live experience. I respect a guy that will go out there and play his heart out. Roger Creager has the sound, look, and energy to be EXTREMELY BIG! Can't wait to see him with Jack Ingram in College Station

WEST 84 rocks! These guys put on a great show ,with Wade singing his heart out, to Matt's awesome guitar playing and Shane giving them some of that bass guitar, to Evin pounding like a rock star on his drums and of course who could forget that sexy piano player who gets the crowd on its feet with just one "Great Balls of Fire." If you haven't already seen these guys, you need to check them out! Their album, "Just for Fun," is great to listen to with an ice cold beer. If you want to hear these guys on your favorite radio station, call them up and request one of their songs, we need to get some of their great country songs on the radio for everyone to hear!

I saw Dub and his Highway 6 Band play at a real small bar in Gainesville on the eighth of July, and they were damn good. They played songs from everybody - from Buddy Holly to Bob Wills, from Robert Earl Keen to Billy Joe Shaver. It was a helluva good time, and if you buy the band drinks at the break, they play FASTER as the level of intoxication increases. We bought his album, and he is a writer. His strength, it seems to me, is in the story song tradition - kind of like Tom T. Hall, he can write songs that tell you about a person of some shit that happened, and it can make you laugh or cry or feel like you were there. It's a gift, and he's got a good band. They're worth going to see.

"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.

Al Barlow is a genius.We could all learn something from him.He is a master of his craft and one hell of a nice guy.I'm proud to call him a friend and I learn something each time I see him perform. I could listen for now on and never tire of his music.He's the "real deal" !!!!!

No comment needed.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk here. I just thought I should point out that whether you agree with Hambone's reviews or not they are his. That is what this board is all about. Expressing opinons on artists and CDs. I don't agree with all of Hambone's reviews but he has the right to state them here. I think Owen Temple is an excellent songwriter. His CD General Store was fantastic. I fell in love with it. Me And Maria is a great song along. I loved the stories he told , like Dry Creek, and When I Hit San Antone and his cover with his buds Pat and Cory on the classic Jaded Lover. To be honest I myself couldn't find fault with any song on the CD. I haven't heard all of his newest CD but the few songs I heard sound fairly good but i haven't heard them enough to really give an opinion.

I hate to say it,but the hambone is pretty bad..What does he think he is,some rebelious alternative country critic...the next time I read one of his little articles will be way too soon..By the way the "Hey You CD" is a must...if you like PG,CM,OT,RC..(Pat,Cory,Owen,Roger)

I hate to say it, but Owen Temple is just another second rate performer (along with Roger Creager, Cory Morrow, and Pat Green). An earlier reviewer said, "For two people to bicker about who is better live wise or anything else is pretty dumb anyway". Is that not what reviews are all about? I mean, I for one can't afford to purchase every CD at lonestarmusic.com so I need to be a little choosey on how I spend my hard earned money. All I am saying is that before I waste $13.99 on another Live Pat Green CD where I get to yell the word "Shinerbock" a dozen or so times, maybe I should MAKE SURE I own a quality artist like Jason Boland Or Cross Canadian Ragweed. That is all I was trying to say :)

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.