| Then Came The Night - Tommy Shane Steiner | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
It seems that every year there is a whole slew of new artists who arrive on the Country Music scene and take their chances at stardom. The first new artist of 2002 to have a Top 10 Hit is Tommy Shane Steiner. Coming from a family of rodeo stars, it was a little strange that 28 year old Tommy Shane chose music for his path to stardom.
While his family was out on the cattle ranch, Tommy was in the Texas bars honing his sound to make it perfect. After a short time he moved to Nashville where he was signed by RCA Records which quickly released "What If She's An Angel." Instantly becoming a hit, the song made the whole Country Music genre stand up on its ear and take notice.
"What If She's An Angel" is one of those songs that makes you think. Similar in theme to Collin Raye's "What If Jesus Came Back Like That," this track is destined to be Tommy's signature song. As a first single, he couldn't have done better than this ballad.
For a new artist in any genre to record a Diane Warren written song, they must be good. You see, Diane Warren is the writer of such country songs as "Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me," "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing," and "There You'll Be." Diane Warren is also a hugely successful pop songwriter. "Tell Me Where It Hurts" is written by her and is a great mid-tempo track that Tommy Shane masters. Sounding a little like Tim McGraw on the chorus, Tommy Shane is singing about his girlfriend telling her he will "love all her hurt away" if she "tells him where it hurts."
Written by some of Nashville's best writers, including Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio, "Let Go" again finds Tommy Shane sounding a little bit like another artist. This time however, he sounds more like Collin Raye than Tim McGraw. This track could be a big hit for Tommy Shane.
As story songs go, "The Mind Of John J. Blanchard" is one of the best of the recent ones. Written by Mercury Nashville recording artist Anthony Smith, ("I'm Tryin'," "Didn't I,") this track is simply one of those uplifting songs. While there's a dearth of songs about death on the radio right now, this one is one of those uplifting types that will leave you feeling good and singing along to the chorus. This is another track that should be a hit.
One of the strangest songs I've heard in a long time, "What We're Gonna Do About It" features spoken verses by the Bridgette Wilson-Sampres. The spoken verses are what make this song work and as catchy as Tommy Shane's vocals are on the chorus you will be humming along before the CD ends.
"I Don't Need Another Reason" is a duet with Randy Travis. I hope that this duet will be a hit. While they have different voices, Tommy Shane and Randy sound good together. The theme of this duet is Tommy as a patron talking to everyone's favorite psychologist, the bartender.
As a song that's been on no less than four CDs in the last year and also appearing on Steve Azar's 1996 debut CD, "I Go Crazy" is not a song that I expected to find on Tommy Shane's CD. However, the version appearing on this CD is quite different that writer Paul Davis' version. That alone makes this tired song sound refreshing.
With a variety of songs, some about love, death, and life's lessons, Then Came The Night by Tommy Shane Steiner is sure to become one of the finer releases of 2002.
Song List:
- That Just Wouldn't Be Me
- Tell Me Where It Hurts
- What If She's An Angel
- Let Go
- The Mind of John J. Blanchard
- What We're Gonna Do About It
- I Don't Need Another Reason (Duet with Randy Travis)
- Havin' A Good Time
- I Go Crazy
- And Yet
- Then Came The Night
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