| The Hummingbirds - Jim Lauderdale | |
|
Reviewed by Jennifer Webb
If you do not recognize Jim Lauderdale as the great artist he is, you have more than likely heard some of his successful songs he has written that have been performed by other country artists. Danni Leigh loves to collaborate or perform his songs ("Sometimes" and "He Used to Say That to Me") and recently Gary Allan included "What's On My Mind" on his Alright Guy album. However, two of the most popular songs written by him have been "Hole In My Head" by the Dixie Chicks and "What Do You Say To That" by George Strait.
When you hear the chorus on the album's introspective first track, "Midnight Will Become Day," and feel like there is a familiar voice amongst the background vocals, that is because Emmylou Harris lends her talents in this song about having enough courage to live a life you have always talked and dreamed about, even if it fades away like night into day. "The garden is starting to flourish, and midnight will become day."
"There And Back Again" is the type of song that I love to hear with its upbeat pace and positive subject matter throughout. The couple has had a perfect relationship from the very beginning, because not only did they get through the good times, they also went "there and back again" during the bad times. Because they know they can last throughout any situation, they will stay together for the rest of their lives and remain a happy, normal, couple.
There are some great instruments such as a mandolin, fiddle, and arch top guitar in "It's A Trap," which warns men not to fall for a woman's "trap" because it will be like a cat and mouse game. According to Jim, all that women ever do is back the men into a corner and force them to be their "catch of the day." "I hate to have to see you feel the zap" he sings as part of the song's catchy chorus.
With a title like "Hummingbird," you better be ready for a song that is almost as fast as the bird itself. One could describe the song in many ways, but I see hummingbird meaning love. After a breakup, sometimes you do not expect to get tingly feelings about someone so soon, but sometimes it just happens: "They are coming back faster than expected." The bird, or love, brings a laughter and sweetness that makes everyone feel good inside, because when you are in love, you feel like nothing in the world could make anything get you down.
The rockin' "Rollin' The Dice," is a song that is sure to be a honky-tonk bar favorite. From the beginning we know with a subject of a girl being the rebound, it will have some neat ways of saying how he feels about her. Once he was done being wild and cooling his heels, he instantly fell in love with the girl and starts talking about how she has him acting out of character: "You're like a midnight doctor on a sick call, you're like a big flash flood upon the river" are just some of the things he says.
Proving that Jim Lauderdale can write and perform any type of country, "New Cascade" features none other than Tim O'Brien on fiddle and Richie Sterns on banjo. I like it when there is a song at the very end of an album that is different and will be a bit of a surprise, and this one was certainly a nice one. The song itself is about moving on and seeing the pool's crystal clear reflection as you greet the family members you have not seen in quite awhile.
Continuing the fine tradition of solid and pure country music songs as well as the occasional touch of bluegrass, Jim Lauderdale is an artist that would, no doubt, gain more and more fans if people would spread the word out about him. Hopefully I am one of many out there that enjoy this artist and will do what they can to get him the attention he deserves.
Song List:
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble
Album cover courtesy of DualTone
Click on the button below to find the best price for this CD and purchase it from a retailer on the Internet.
