Montgomery Gentry - 'Back When I Knew It All'

Back When I Knew It All Bottom Line:

If you are a fan of high octane, full throttle Country Music you should have a listen to Back When I Knew It All. This album marks the return to that rockin' Montgomery Gentry music that was found on earlier albums and if it doesn't get you moving then you're not listening with the right set of ears.

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are back with one of their best albums to date. Their last release was a bit of a departure from the "hard rockin'" brand of Country listeners were accustomed to, but now they are giving us the sound we all love and it's comin' atcha at full throttle speed. This is another one of their collections I won't be able to stop playing.

First on the album is "The Big Revival" and it is a big way to start off things. The song gets you pumped up for the other what's to come on Back When I Knew It All. I was already a fan of the song thanks to hearing John Anderson's version, but Montgomery Gentry's has more of a boot-stompin', hand clapping vibe mixed in with great some guitar riffs and some banjo work.

The man says "Now You're Talkin'" when the woman he's with suggests ditching the stuffy country club crowd for a country dive bar. Instead of torturing themselves by having to sit through a band playing "The Girl From Ipanema"," they decide it's time go for some beer and a little "Sweet Home Alabama." At least they can loosen up and enjoy themselves, which was not going to happen at a black tie affair.

Title track "Back When I Knew It All" is about realizing that as you get older, you also become wiser and learn to appreciate the most important things in life. Through time and experience, folks see just how little they knew when they were "young and bulletproof." I like the line: "I've done some growing up and I'm still growing up. So I know I'll never be as smart as I once was."

When you least expect it, of the blue something will hit you like a ton of bricks. In this instance, the man in "Roll With Me" says it's time to be the man he wants to be. Life can be short and it can be taken away from you at a moment's notice so he's going to slow things down and focus on making the best out of the time he has on this earth. The life he wants includes settling down with a certain woman so he says: "It sure would be nice if you would roll with me" and "Who knows what's up ahead. I think I'd rather not know instead."

There can't be a Montgomery Gentry release without some sort of party song. This time around it's found in "One In Every Crowd," which tells the story about that one person who can walk into any type of gathering and instantly become the life of the party. That "Goodtime Charlie" can get a little crazy climbing up onto the bar after a couple (or few) drinks, but people wouldn't have it any other way. This is a great sing-along crowd song.

Toby Keith gets in on the fun with the aptly titled song, "I Pick My Parties." Somehow the song seems more believable when these guys get together to sing about staying out all night at only the best kinds of parties. They can't pull those all-nighters like they could when they were younger, so to prevent them from "pushing up daisies" they pick and choose very carefully. Watch out though when they go out because they give it their all. I hope this song will be released as a single at some point in time. It's just too fun not to hear on the radio.

When it comes to life, one thing is certain - "It Ain't About Easy." A young man, who isn't even thirty years old starts talking with a veteran he sat next to at the bar about the problems he has and winds up getting some of the best advice he's ever been given. Just by listening to a man tell his own life's story and what he's learned through the years. The premise of the song reminds me a lot of "Tattoos & Scars" from Montgomery Gentry's debut album, only the lyrics are a bit "lighter" on "It Ain't About Easy."

Though the album began with an upbeat "Revival" song, it ends with the slower tune "God Knows Who I Am." "From my knees I know where I stand" is what the man says as he talks about how he may not always be a winner, but he sure isn't a loser either. God knows that his heart and intentions are good so it doesn't matter what others think. A good quality to have in an album is the ability to take listeners on a musical journey from the first song to the last and that's what happens with Back When I Knew It All.

Release date: June 10, 2008 - Columbia

Back When I Knew It All Track List:

1. The Big Revival
2. Long Line of Losers
3. Now You're Talking
4. Back When I Knew It All
5. Roll With Me
6. One In Every Crowd
7. Look Some More
8. I Pick My Parties - (featuring Toby Keith)
9. One Trip
10. It Ain't About Easy
11. God Knows Who I Am - (featuring Lillie Mae Rische)