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I Love It - Craig Morgan | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
Craig Morgan first arrived on the country music scene in 2000 with the song "Something To Write Home About." After a couple moderately successful singles, Craig heard the devastating news that his label, Atlantic Records, was going to close its doors. As a "retired" (IE a reservist) military man, Craig was undaunted by this event and kept plugged along. Later that year, 2001, secured a recording contract with Broken Bow Records, a new record label committed to country music.
Immediately after signing the deal, Craig released a single called "God, Family And Country" and it was a moderate hit. While he took most of 2002 to complete his debut record for Broken Bow, Craig did release his second single from the CD towards the end of the year.
"Almost Home" is that single and is a picturesque song about a homeless man and how he's perfectly content to be where he is. What this song, which Craig co-wrote with Kerry Kurt Phillips, is basically telling us that you cannot judge a book by its cover and sometimes it's better to leave people alone then to try and "help" them.
"I Love It" is a song that first appeared on Clay Walker's 2001 release Say No More. While Clay's version was pretty good, Craig's own take of the song is stunning. It's like it's a twin to Lonestar's "Unusually Unusual" with lyrics about a girl who's "unordinary, so predictable it's scary." "I Love It" should be a nice hit for Craig when it is released.
With its persistent banjo rhythm section, some nice Dobro and plenty of fiddle and steel guitar, "Look At Us" couldn't be construed as anything but country music. The lyrics are cute and are about a couple that "beat the odds" levied against them when they got together.
On his first record, Craig showed he knew his way around a ballad, with the new record, I Love It Craig has decided to add to that repertoire. "In The Dream" is one of those songs that will just hit you in the gut. It's about the way we all dream to be something only to turn out to live a life that's better than anything "in the dream." This is a great story song full of emotion with a nice twist at the end (which I won't spoil for you).
"What You Do To Me" is a traditional waltz ballad about the many ways a woman can make you feel. It sounds like something straight of a George Strait record. The instrumentation is as traditional as a country song can get with the Charlie Rich-styled piano, the searing fiddle, the crying steel guitar and twangy lead guitars.
Written by the men behind Mark Chesnutt's "She Was" (Neal Coty and Jimmy Melton), "Every Friday Afternoon" is another emotional ballad. This time instead of a song about a good relationship, it's about a divorced father who learns that his ex is taking his son away to another town. Craig sings it like he's lived through it. Those who are divorced parents, or products of divorce, like me, will surely relate to it just like they did to Doug Supernaw's "I Don't Call Him Daddy".
"Where Has My Hometown Gone" is a fun romp about a guy who has left his one horse town in favor of the city only to return later to it to see it totally gone. The lyrics are cute while also being true in this age of knocking down trees and "down home" areas in favor of shopping malls and interstates. Craig co-wrote this song with Jeff Carson and Phil O'Donnell.
While it came out around the time of 9/11/01, "God, Family And Country" wasn't written about that terrible tragedy. It is written about a patriotic man, Craig's father or grandfather and how he loved God, his family and his country. It is a fitting way to end a CD by a man who's lived the lyrics in the song.
With the eleven songs presented on his debut for Broken Bow Records one thing is certain, Craig Morgan is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and has lived virtually every song he's sung. This means, Craig is a convincing vocalist who has recorded a special record that deserves to be heard. Those who are looking for another of those "pop star" country musicians will have to look elsewhere for Craig Morgan is pure country.
Song List:
Album cover courtesy of Broken Bow.
Soundclips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
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