| On a Mission - Trick Pony | |
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On a Mission is the sophomore project for Trick Pony. Following up their self-titled debut, which sold over 500,000 copies, On a Mission continues with the same traditional style that earned the group three Top 20 songs a Gold record for their first release.
On their debut album, they enlisted help from Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings on the Cash-penned "Big River." On this album, Willie Nelson steps up to the mic, adding his vocals on "Whiskey River."
The title track is the first single off the album, and is currently sitting at 30 on the Billboard Country Singles chart this week. It's a typical Trick Pony honky-tonk tune. Heidi sings "I'm on a mission, I got a cause. I'm gonna hit every rockin' little honky-tonk bar, and the way I'm thinkin', it might be against the law."
Upbeat rockin' songs are what the band is known for. But, that doesn't mean they don't have a tender, sensitive side, and they show it with two of the slower songs on the album. The first was written by all three members of the group, and is called "Love Be Still." Heidi softly sings Let's get lost, just lay back and let it all slip away. Slowly watch the night roll into day." I sure hope they release this as a single. The second one is called "The Devil In Me," which Ira sings the lead on. This one is about having a drinking problem. He sings "I'm too tired to fight it, and too ashamed to pray. And I'm sure the Lord must be bord with the promises I've made."
Of the twelve songs on the album the members of Trick Pony are responsible for co-writing nine songs. This is another thing they carried over from the previous album.
In "Nobody Ever Died Of A Broken Heart," Heidi has no sympathy for the girl that broke up with her boyfriend. She tells her "Girl you're lookin' like a walkin' dead. You need to drag a brush across that head."
"I'm Not Thinkin' Staight Anymore" is a song you would think would be from a man's perspective, so it's refreshing to hear a female singing about drinkin' to forget things when your relationship ends. This was co-written by Keith.
"Love Is A Ball" is another song that I think should be a single. It's upbeat and fun, and the words are just catchy. It was co-written by Keith and Ira.
You know Heidi is having fun singing "A Boy Like You." She co-wrote the song, and sings about the good old girls, and asks "What's a good ole girl supposed to do with a boy like you (bad, bad boy like you.) It's another catchy tune and I think it would make a good single.
Back to the honky-tonk-style, "Hillbilly Blues" was co-written by Ira and there is a thumping bass in it. Heidi sings "That ain't nothin' but a lovesick heart broke hillbilly blues. It ain't nothin' but a lowdown sad-song she's-gone attitude." Love this one!
You can tell that all the members of Trick Pony, as well as Willie had a ball singing "Whiskey River." It's a definite repeat song.
The album ends with "Fast Horse," which is a mid-tempo tune that talks about living in a small town, and really wanting to get out to someplace where things are happening.
The album doesn't bog down with too many slow songs, nor does it rely only on upbeat thumpers, but has a steady mix of great music. All in all, I think it's safe to say that Trick Pony need not worry about the sophomore jinx with this collection of music.
Song List:
Sound clip is a Windows Media full-length version of the song,
and you'll need to license it to download. It's free to license.
Album cover, used with permission of Warner Nashville.
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