| Wayne Warner - Wayne Warner | |
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Reviewed by Kathy Coleman
Wayne Warner looks more like a soul man than a country singer. But when you play this
disc you'll know right away that this is a real country singer.
The opening track, "I Wanna Do That Love Thing" is a song that should be able to bridge the gap between mainstream country and the real hardcore country that mainstream has been lacking for so long. Wayne's voice is sincere and strong, and filled with real emotion; the song
twangs, but it bounces, too. It's very cheerful, completely modern country music, but it's REAL, as well, which is so important when making good music.
Wayne's been performing since he was only six years old; he started playing with his father's band at Warner's Dance Hall, "the largest dance club in Vermont." At age 16, Wayne headed to Nashville to try for the big time. With clarity not usual for one so young, Wayne
understood he was not yet ready for the pressures of the music business. He decided to go back
to being a "kid" full time, and live a little before trying to be a country music star. When Wayne
next stepped up to the microphone, he was ready, and this album, produced by Harold Shedd and
Troy Lancaster, shows that.
Wayne takes on some light, modern country-pop tunes, including the opening track, "I Wanna Do That Love Thing" and the infectious "Slip'n N Slid'n," but the pop flavor is not heavy-handed, and the whole point is that it's very good! Wayne's singing is superior; he very
obviously enjoys what he's doing when he plays with his music, and that enjoyment shows.
But it's not all Wayne can do. Along with the light songs are rich, pure country tunes
such as the mournful "No News To You" and the heart-wrenching, "Life After You," which
demonstrate Wayne knows country's roots and he revers them. He knows how country music is
supposed to sound, and that is the reason he can deliver such lighthearted "pop" country with as
much ease as he can the heavier, hardcore style.
The disc is completely enjoyable. Each song demonstrates Wayne's superior vocal
range, and his musicians are tremendous. He wrote all the songs on this disc, sharing credit on
some tunes with Alden Warner, Troy Lancaster, and Jason C. Powers; he also writes with
George Ducas on one song, "Do It Like We Did It."
Wayne closes the album with the moving country ballad, "If I Believed in Santa Claus." It's somewhat out of place here, and probably should have been saved for a Christmas release, but it's such a wonderful song I really have no complaints about it.
Wayne Warner is something that's been missing from Nashville, good real country music that is totally accessible to the mainstream. This isn't a cookie-cutter faux-cowboy; he's not forced "crossover"; this is crossover that is natural because it's just good. Wayne Warner
sings great songs right from the heart, forwarding no agenda but the sound of good music.
Song List:
Album cover, used with permission of Madacy.
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