| I Want My Money Back - Sammy Kershaw | |
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Reviewed by Jolene Downs
Sammy has signed on with Koch/Audium records for his eleventh album, and it seems to be a really good move on his part. I Want My Money Back goes back to more of the old Sammy sound. It is definitely more country, and has the Louisiana Bayou flavor in several songs. Sammy grew up in Louisiana, and that is the sound he is most comfortable with, and that style suits his voice extremely well. If the fans are looking for something that goes back to the country, then this is an album they will be happy to have.
The first single release to radio is, "I Want My Money Back." It is a lighthearted song about how money just seems to slip through your fingers leaving you to wonder what it was you got for all your hard work. The first example used is the high cost of a night out to see a favorite star, not only in the time spent waiting in lines for tickets, but also the high cost of the tickets. This is only to find your self in nosebleed seats, looking down at an antlike person onstage for a 90-minute show. Is it really worth it?? Then, after financing time and money into four years of higher education, you are then qualified to say, "Would you like fries with that?" Again, it is definitely a fun song that relates to the lifestyles of today.
"Miss What's Her Name" is a song Sammy has been performing in his live shows for a while now, and is a heavy fan favorite for a single release. It uses the echoing style of music in the chorus and has an up-tempo beat as he pines for the "new girl in town." He has had his eye on her and she doesn't know he exists. He just knows that he's in love with "Ms. What's her Name." It is a fun song.
"Metropolis" starts the song with a low, rhythmic tempo that levels off into the song. It is a slower song about growing up in a smaller town, then leaving it for the big city when you grow up. When you think about starting a family, the small town doesn't seem so bad anymore and you head back there so your kids can grow up safe.
"Sunday Morning on Bourbon Street" takes Sammy back to his roots of Louisiana. It uses some horns and a little of the 'New Orleans' sound to talk about what life is like without his love.
"Beer, Bait and Ammo" is a song that will do well in the 'redneck' areas of the Deep South. It is about the little shacks that are found all over the area. These 'stores' will carry everything the good ole' redneck could possibly want for their weekend out. The title pretty much says it all. This has been another fan favorite at Sammy's live shows.
"I've Never Been Anywhere" is my pick for favorite song on the album. The guy with the cool car takes the lonely waitress from her small, contained world and shows her the universe. She falls in love with his worldliness, and the ending of the song is just so perfect. It is one you just have to listen to in order to find out what will happen with the world traveler and the stay at home lady. The tempo of the song draws you into it and keeps you there.
The bottom line for this album is that Sammy Kershaw has definitely hit the jackpot with his musical choices. While there are some different techno sounds used in some of the songs, the overall flavor is back to the country sound. He also went more acoustic with the whole thing. All of the songs are great, and the whole CD just flows, making it a fun listen no matter what you are doing.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of Audium.
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
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