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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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Sunday, August 15, 2010
My Life -- As Sung by David Nail on his CD "I'm About to Come Alive" ;) :)
“What’s this life I live?” – David Nail
*I REALLY wanted to do this justice, and after a month went by, I realized that time was of the essence, so I’m treating this as though it were under a real deadline, and although it is going to be more simplified, please know that there are just too many “technical” terms that go through my head for me to write a readable review at this time and that I just want to get the word out at this point about this talented artist/singer & this album as heard through my ears, seen by my eyes & vicariously lived through my imagination.
Jennifer Starr Martin
http://www.starrsound.biz
Blog #1 – Kies je pony
Starrlet66.blogspot.com
Topic: David Nail CD – I’m About to Come Alive
This is my first e-ver “legitimate” music review, which I will warn you in advance is more like an autobiographical story told by me that is accompanied by the soundtrack that is David Nail’s CD.
In an effort to concentrate on the subject at hand, I would like to first say that I plan to focus upon the technical as well as the audibly aesthetic aspects of each individual artist’s recorded & live performance(s).
*In time, if you would like to learn more about who & what I am, please feel free to read my other blogs (posts coming soon, so PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!):
♫In My Heart – 2inmyheart.blogspot.com
Plan de Fleur Sauvages – starr-garden.blogspot.com
Joyeux jardin – joyfulgarden.blogspot.com
Jardin de Etoiles – starrlette-66.blogspot.com
I have categorized these blogs for the purpose of making this all more organized. Let’s hope it works. Haha
…and on that note:
Let’s do this.
1. Mississippi (Scooter Carusoe/Dan Colehour/ChuckLeavell)
2. I’m About to Come Alive (title track) (Pat Monahan/Jimmy Stafford/Scott Underwood/Charlie Colin/Rob Hotchkiss/Clint Bennett)
3. Red Light (Jonathan Singleton/Melissa Peirce/Dennis Matlosky)
4. Again (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
5. Clouds (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
6. Summer Job Days (Neil Thresher/Michael Dulaney/Gary Levox))
7. Strangers on a Train (Scooter Carusoe/Aimee Mayo)
8. Looking for a Good Time (Sean McConnell)
9. This Time Around (David Nail/Lee Miller
10. Turning Home (my personal favorite ) (Kenny Chesney/Scooter Carusoe)
11. Missouri (David Nail)
First of all, I’d like to give you a little background about how I became familiar with David Nail, which is pretty much like any other average Country Music Fan: through the great medium of Public Radio.
There are some artists who release their first single (or the first one that I’ve heard), and I am either “wowed” by both the singer and the song –or- one or the other. In David’s case, I must admit that I was not overwhelmingly impressed by the song “Red Light” the first time that I heard it, but again it was the radio version, which is normally recorded within certain acceptable parameters to be heard by the masses, so it is always more redundant & does not always solidify my opinion about a “new” vocalist.
Certainly impressed with his voice & execution of the song, I quite honestly was waiting for some other reason why everyone seemed to making such a fuss about him.
Then I heard Turning Home.
“’Damn.’”
“’Wow.’”
…and that was just the album cut.
In true form, I immediately wanted to hear more. …more songs by David & more OF David’s performances – through whatever source & in whatever setting(s) I could.
A few weeks later, I was fortunate enough to have been listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio, and David Nail was one of the performers. His live appearance included Red Light, and I must mention that because to hear his soulful journey through the song was a pure joy to experience.
I just sat there. …eyes closed. …listening.
It was amazing.
…and I knew. THEN I knew.
This was not “your” every-day singer. There was something different about him – but as familiar as anything I’ve ever known as “home” (no pun intended).
It was around that time that I started thinking that David Nail would be the perfect artist to write my first review about, and then I was lucky enough to win a copy of his CD from my morning radio show (Tony and Kris in the Morning on 9.29 The Bear – Nashville, TN/Lexington, KY). “Lucky” because I was/am flat broke, and until then, I could not even download a song/album that wasn’t free, and I was going to be at the mercy of attempting to listen to all of the songs online, which would have been more difficult to write the review.
My first reaction to David Nail’s singing of “Turning Home” was that he sounded very similar to Elton John, which I hope is taken as the honorable compliment that it is meant to be. Later, I read on David’s myspace website (www.myspace.com/davidnail) that Elton John was indeed one of “(his) influences,” which seems like an obvious observation, but to see that stated by the artist is validating when I am attempting to listen & judge a specific singer, band or show. …some of the time. On other occasions, it is gratifying to hear things that other listeners have not noticed or that the singer/band has not commonly made known at the time but then somehow gravitates toward as I have seen happen time & time again thanks to television, radio articles & reviews.
Since I am very newly off the Audio Engineering School train, it is difficult & complicated for me to just spout off a bunch of terminology that would do David Nail justice at this point, but as a fan of music, also, I will attempt to break down each song on his CD for you, and maybe since I am not quite as versed as a Music Major nor a (yet) “seasoned”“professional Audio Engineer, that will actually make it easier for us both before it’s over. ;)
Off the beaten path, it’s been interesting to try to make the transition from listening for entertainment purposes to taking in all of the sounds & silences on a CD that I would have normally purchased & would have done all of the same things to/about anyway – but knowing it is, for the first time, an assignment. …a WRITTEN assignment. …a “commitment.” –gasp-
If you knew me personally, you would know that I have only made it as far as two years “maximum” in my personal “relationships” – with the exception of my daughter, my cat (“crat”) & now my dog (2+ years & counting – “Yay!”). …and until now, I haven’t even lived in the same place for more than that amount of time either – other than the first four years of my life and the last four years of high school.
Wait. That didn’t sound right. High school only took four years.
…for the record. hahaha
Not that I’m knocking anyone who took longer nor did not finish high school, but I have a way of saying things that way in person, so I figured I’d probably better leave it that way. It’s better that you know that about me now -- as well as my futile attempts to “correct” myself. ;)
Back to the review:
What I plan to do, now that I’ve familiarized myself pretty well with David’s CD, is play the songs one-by-one on my stereo & just write. I’ve been listening to all of the songs while I’ve been out walking my dog, and there are just some things that a listener will only hear when he/she is wearing headphones (or ear buds) verses on a stereo with speakers.
That is one major thing that I learned when I was in Audio Engineering School, and I will take that with me for the rest of my life: placement of sound. It gave me an even greater appreciation for the artists/musicians, engineers, producers & directors, but it also gave me the perspective of the artistic & technical labor & love in general that goes into each & every note and beat of every song that is recorded, compressed, mixed, & mastered on every CD that is played &/or sold in this and every other country.
One of my FAVORITE parts of Audio Engineering is Panning. I am very thankful to one of my teachers for taking the time to stress the point that space & placement of each instrument/track is “key” to a successful mix. He also told me that I would never be the same after taking Audio Engineering classes; that I would never be able to listen to anything the same again, and he was right – for the record. …but I am more thankful every day for that & the greater appreciation that I have for music as a result. Placement IS key, and without it, there would be no drama, comedy nor harmony, and without that, none of us would be here at all.
…so as I mentioned, there are aspects of Panning that I was able to hear & experience on I’m About to Come Alive when I listened to it through my headphones & ear buds that I just cannot fully take in through my speakers, and I have some pretty kick-ass stereos – if I do say so myself, which is beside the point, but if I were a guy, you’d expect me to brag about my equipment a LITTLE BIT, and I am all about Equal Opportunity. Haha
Mississippi
What I like about this song is that, as a transplanted “city girl,” I can totally relate to the lyrics. I have spent the majority of my life in Kentucky, and most of those years were in Eastern Kentucky, which is very rural, and being a Native Californian, I have had to basically “prove” myself both to others & TO MYSELF in many ways. The town that I call my hometown is just North of San Francisco (Larkspur, CA), and even though it was very close to the city, “My Town” was as different to San Francisco as night is to day. Since it WAS in California, though, and because I told people how near it was to San Francisco, people (have) automatically presumed that I’d done a lot more “living” than I had – in the outside world anyway.
…which I had not. One thing I HAVE figured out is that a kid is a kid is a kid… …and at the tender age of 9 years old, I hadn’t had a chance to really differentiate myself, but I was definitely on the dirt road to doing so.
As a matter of fact, other than accents & the childlike surface view I had of people, my first of impression of Kentucky was that it wasn’t much different than the place I was from. In Larkspur, we had lived on a street lined with a LOT of trees (like a “holler,” which can be paved or not), somewhat small houses & even a creek that had a swimming hole, which of course we all had utilized at some point. Whenever I look back at that, I consider myself to have been in training for when I later moved to my uncle’s farm where I went hiking & swimming in the hills with my cousins. “…totally awesome” to an outsider.
Looking back now upon those years in Larkspur, I do see that my mother’s Kentucky roots were resinating in & around us all, so I’ve come to understand that my love for the country was not only environmental but inherent.
It had started then & out there, but by the time that I had actually moved to Kentucky, it was like I had really come “home” for the first time in many ways.
That is how I feel when I listen to David’s songs Mississippi & Missouri – for better or worse. What I mean by THAT is not by any means that the songs nor the recording is BAD but just the opposite. I get so lost in the lyrics when I’m listening to those two songs & am out walking my dog that it is impossible to put into words all of the emotions & memories that flow through my body & mind – and spirit.
…and it IS a “spiritual” experience. Music always is for me, but there are some vocalists that make me instantly aware of this, and from the moment I now listen to this CD from beginning to end, I am taken to that feeling from the first note – even by just the anticipatory instrumental prelude to David’s progressively building rendition of every song.
Make note that the reason I have paired these two songs together in some ways is that I am once again a resident of a state that is considered part of “the South” but is also seen as somewhat “North” & even “Central” in its location & belief systems in the United States. Therefore, although the themes of Mississippi & Missouri are somewhat contrasted, they both give the listener a genuine impression of what it’s like to grow up in the “Heartland” & experience all of the “firsts” in life.
They both also explore what it is like to be attached to one place for the rest of one’s life – whether the person is originally from there or has experienced some kind of special memory there – or both.
From the instant that Mississippi begins to play, I can feel my dad who passed in 1995 surround me. He was a musician who was the song of a music teacher, and in true fashion, I am, too. My first love as far as playing an instrument has gone has been the piano, and whenever I hear one being played, I am taken back to the days of Americana, Jazz & Blues, which were the eras that my dad, grandmother & great-grandparents grew up in.
The style of Mississippi classically reflects this time by introducing the song with a solo piano part then fades out with one as well. If I had arranged this piece, I would not have done one thing differently.
…and for those who are not as big of piano lovers as I am, don’t worry; it is not the only instrument that is heard throughout the song, but for those who want to hear it & remember that time in history, it is there – complimenting the composition as well as the vocalist – as it should be.
One personal comment about the dialogue of Mississippi: I have not spent any time in places like Mississippi, Missouri nor New Orleans, but when people use words like “The Delta,” “The Bayou” & even “The Gulf” after all of the recent tragic events that have happened in these areas, I still get jealous. What can I say? You can take the girl away from the ocean, but you will take the ocean away from the girl.
…much like when I hear Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay – or Lights by Journey. OK. I probably just lost my cowboy hat carrying card on that one.
Either way, Dixie Land music is a part of me, and it always will be. My grandmother told me that my great-grandmother (her mom) used to play piano at the movie theatre & accompanied silent movies, so either way, Dixie Land music is a part of me & always will be. Piano music may change throughout the years as it reflects society’s evolving styles, but it remains the common thread that connects them as heard in Mississippi in true form.
On to I’m About to Come Alive:
When I first heard this song as sung by David Nail, my first impression was that it was a little slow-paced – but in his defense, I was watching the video, which was filmed in that slow-speed way that makes you feel like you’re moving in slow motion – or under water. Sometimes that’s cool, but I was probably too anxious to hear David sing, and the video totally took me back because it impressed me as being kind of a “city” or pop-type song, which duh: it is. I felt so stupid when I looked it up online & saw that it was by Train. No wonder it sounded familiar: I have the dang CD. Hahaha
The lesson learned for me there was that a person can spend a lot of time focusing on one thing or genre and rightfully learn about so many things that are specific to that area but forget that it as a whole is universal & that every group borrows from the other in one way or another – or several. It also reminded me that I always have too many irons in the fire, and if I were 10 years younger, I would have caught that right away, but a lot has happened in my life since then – including the harsh reality that I am just plain 10 years older, so such is life.
The Train CD that I’m About to Come Alive was originally released on was something that I used to listen to quite often, but that was also a transitional time in my life – as all times are really.
As far as what I think about David Nail’s version of “I’m About to Come Alive,” it would be an understatement to say that it has grown on me. Thankfully, I keep unusual (or uncommon) hours & live in front of a big field, so when I’m out walking my dog with my MP3 player blasting while I sing along, not many people are near enough, outside nor are home to be subject to my poor attempts to mimic my favorite singers. …lucky for them. …because when I do like a song, I tend to not be able to resist the urge to sing certain parts. …and I find myself doing that a lot lately with that song.
(To Be Continued – Part 2 of Review/Article COMING SOON –
12. Red Light (Jonathan Singleton/Melissa Peirce/Dennis Matlosky)
13. Again (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
14. Clouds (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
15. Summer Job Days (Neil Thresher/Michael Dulaney/Gary Levox))
16. Strangers on a Train (Scooter Carusoe/Aimee Mayo)
17. Looking for a Good Time (Sean McConnell)
18. This Time Around (David Nail/Lee Miller)
…sorry this is taking me so long. Like I said, I have a lot of irons in the fire right now, and I’m being pulled in a million different directions, but they always lead me back to one place, and that is music, so I might not do things the same way in the amount of time that some other people do, but I usually get there eventually. …even if I’ve usually forgotten something at home. Haha …and I’m never late wherever I am. ;)
*Without giving anything specific away, I do highly recommend this CD, and I am taken away not only by the vocalist but also by the melody, music & mix of each & every song. If you are looking for a smooth, fresh album to listen to whether you are at home, in your car or on a date, David Nail’s I’m About to Come Alive would be a perfect addition to your music library.
http://www.davidnail.com
http://www.tonyandkris.com
http://www.929thebear.com
Footnotes/Credits/Quotations:
♫ “My Town” is by Montgomery Gentry
(Complete footnots/credits will be included when the post has been finished...
*I REALLY wanted to do this justice, and after a month went by, I realized that time was of the essence, so I’m treating this as though it were under a real deadline, and although it is going to be more simplified, please know that there are just too many “technical” terms that go through my head for me to write a readable review at this time and that I just want to get the word out at this point about this talented artist/singer & this album as heard through my ears, seen by my eyes & vicariously lived through my imagination.
Jennifer Starr Martin
http://www.starrsound.biz
Blog #1 – Kies je pony
Starrlet66.blogspot.com
Topic: David Nail CD – I’m About to Come Alive
This is my first e-ver “legitimate” music review, which I will warn you in advance is more like an autobiographical story told by me that is accompanied by the soundtrack that is David Nail’s CD.
In an effort to concentrate on the subject at hand, I would like to first say that I plan to focus upon the technical as well as the audibly aesthetic aspects of each individual artist’s recorded & live performance(s).
*In time, if you would like to learn more about who & what I am, please feel free to read my other blogs (posts coming soon, so PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!):
♫In My Heart – 2inmyheart.blogspot.com
Plan de Fleur Sauvages – starr-garden.blogspot.com
Joyeux jardin – joyfulgarden.blogspot.com
Jardin de Etoiles – starrlette-66.blogspot.com
I have categorized these blogs for the purpose of making this all more organized. Let’s hope it works. Haha
…and on that note:
Let’s do this.
1. Mississippi (Scooter Carusoe/Dan Colehour/ChuckLeavell)
2. I’m About to Come Alive (title track) (Pat Monahan/Jimmy Stafford/Scott Underwood/Charlie Colin/Rob Hotchkiss/Clint Bennett)
3. Red Light (Jonathan Singleton/Melissa Peirce/Dennis Matlosky)
4. Again (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
5. Clouds (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
6. Summer Job Days (Neil Thresher/Michael Dulaney/Gary Levox))
7. Strangers on a Train (Scooter Carusoe/Aimee Mayo)
8. Looking for a Good Time (Sean McConnell)
9. This Time Around (David Nail/Lee Miller
10. Turning Home (my personal favorite ) (Kenny Chesney/Scooter Carusoe)
11. Missouri (David Nail)
First of all, I’d like to give you a little background about how I became familiar with David Nail, which is pretty much like any other average Country Music Fan: through the great medium of Public Radio.
There are some artists who release their first single (or the first one that I’ve heard), and I am either “wowed” by both the singer and the song –or- one or the other. In David’s case, I must admit that I was not overwhelmingly impressed by the song “Red Light” the first time that I heard it, but again it was the radio version, which is normally recorded within certain acceptable parameters to be heard by the masses, so it is always more redundant & does not always solidify my opinion about a “new” vocalist.
Certainly impressed with his voice & execution of the song, I quite honestly was waiting for some other reason why everyone seemed to making such a fuss about him.
Then I heard Turning Home.
“’Damn.’”
“’Wow.’”
…and that was just the album cut.
In true form, I immediately wanted to hear more. …more songs by David & more OF David’s performances – through whatever source & in whatever setting(s) I could.
A few weeks later, I was fortunate enough to have been listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio, and David Nail was one of the performers. His live appearance included Red Light, and I must mention that because to hear his soulful journey through the song was a pure joy to experience.
I just sat there. …eyes closed. …listening.
It was amazing.
…and I knew. THEN I knew.
This was not “your” every-day singer. There was something different about him – but as familiar as anything I’ve ever known as “home” (no pun intended).
It was around that time that I started thinking that David Nail would be the perfect artist to write my first review about, and then I was lucky enough to win a copy of his CD from my morning radio show (Tony and Kris in the Morning on 9.29 The Bear – Nashville, TN/Lexington, KY). “Lucky” because I was/am flat broke, and until then, I could not even download a song/album that wasn’t free, and I was going to be at the mercy of attempting to listen to all of the songs online, which would have been more difficult to write the review.
My first reaction to David Nail’s singing of “Turning Home” was that he sounded very similar to Elton John, which I hope is taken as the honorable compliment that it is meant to be. Later, I read on David’s myspace website (www.myspace.com/davidnail) that Elton John was indeed one of “(his) influences,” which seems like an obvious observation, but to see that stated by the artist is validating when I am attempting to listen & judge a specific singer, band or show. …some of the time. On other occasions, it is gratifying to hear things that other listeners have not noticed or that the singer/band has not commonly made known at the time but then somehow gravitates toward as I have seen happen time & time again thanks to television, radio articles & reviews.
Since I am very newly off the Audio Engineering School train, it is difficult & complicated for me to just spout off a bunch of terminology that would do David Nail justice at this point, but as a fan of music, also, I will attempt to break down each song on his CD for you, and maybe since I am not quite as versed as a Music Major nor a (yet) “seasoned”“professional Audio Engineer, that will actually make it easier for us both before it’s over. ;)
Off the beaten path, it’s been interesting to try to make the transition from listening for entertainment purposes to taking in all of the sounds & silences on a CD that I would have normally purchased & would have done all of the same things to/about anyway – but knowing it is, for the first time, an assignment. …a WRITTEN assignment. …a “commitment.” –gasp-
If you knew me personally, you would know that I have only made it as far as two years “maximum” in my personal “relationships” – with the exception of my daughter, my cat (“crat”) & now my dog (2+ years & counting – “Yay!”). …and until now, I haven’t even lived in the same place for more than that amount of time either – other than the first four years of my life and the last four years of high school.
Wait. That didn’t sound right. High school only took four years.
…for the record. hahaha
Not that I’m knocking anyone who took longer nor did not finish high school, but I have a way of saying things that way in person, so I figured I’d probably better leave it that way. It’s better that you know that about me now -- as well as my futile attempts to “correct” myself. ;)
Back to the review:
What I plan to do, now that I’ve familiarized myself pretty well with David’s CD, is play the songs one-by-one on my stereo & just write. I’ve been listening to all of the songs while I’ve been out walking my dog, and there are just some things that a listener will only hear when he/she is wearing headphones (or ear buds) verses on a stereo with speakers.
That is one major thing that I learned when I was in Audio Engineering School, and I will take that with me for the rest of my life: placement of sound. It gave me an even greater appreciation for the artists/musicians, engineers, producers & directors, but it also gave me the perspective of the artistic & technical labor & love in general that goes into each & every note and beat of every song that is recorded, compressed, mixed, & mastered on every CD that is played &/or sold in this and every other country.
One of my FAVORITE parts of Audio Engineering is Panning. I am very thankful to one of my teachers for taking the time to stress the point that space & placement of each instrument/track is “key” to a successful mix. He also told me that I would never be the same after taking Audio Engineering classes; that I would never be able to listen to anything the same again, and he was right – for the record. …but I am more thankful every day for that & the greater appreciation that I have for music as a result. Placement IS key, and without it, there would be no drama, comedy nor harmony, and without that, none of us would be here at all.
…so as I mentioned, there are aspects of Panning that I was able to hear & experience on I’m About to Come Alive when I listened to it through my headphones & ear buds that I just cannot fully take in through my speakers, and I have some pretty kick-ass stereos – if I do say so myself, which is beside the point, but if I were a guy, you’d expect me to brag about my equipment a LITTLE BIT, and I am all about Equal Opportunity. Haha
Mississippi
What I like about this song is that, as a transplanted “city girl,” I can totally relate to the lyrics. I have spent the majority of my life in Kentucky, and most of those years were in Eastern Kentucky, which is very rural, and being a Native Californian, I have had to basically “prove” myself both to others & TO MYSELF in many ways. The town that I call my hometown is just North of San Francisco (Larkspur, CA), and even though it was very close to the city, “My Town” was as different to San Francisco as night is to day. Since it WAS in California, though, and because I told people how near it was to San Francisco, people (have) automatically presumed that I’d done a lot more “living” than I had – in the outside world anyway.
…which I had not. One thing I HAVE figured out is that a kid is a kid is a kid… …and at the tender age of 9 years old, I hadn’t had a chance to really differentiate myself, but I was definitely on the dirt road to doing so.
As a matter of fact, other than accents & the childlike surface view I had of people, my first of impression of Kentucky was that it wasn’t much different than the place I was from. In Larkspur, we had lived on a street lined with a LOT of trees (like a “holler,” which can be paved or not), somewhat small houses & even a creek that had a swimming hole, which of course we all had utilized at some point. Whenever I look back at that, I consider myself to have been in training for when I later moved to my uncle’s farm where I went hiking & swimming in the hills with my cousins. “…totally awesome” to an outsider.
Looking back now upon those years in Larkspur, I do see that my mother’s Kentucky roots were resinating in & around us all, so I’ve come to understand that my love for the country was not only environmental but inherent.
It had started then & out there, but by the time that I had actually moved to Kentucky, it was like I had really come “home” for the first time in many ways.
That is how I feel when I listen to David’s songs Mississippi & Missouri – for better or worse. What I mean by THAT is not by any means that the songs nor the recording is BAD but just the opposite. I get so lost in the lyrics when I’m listening to those two songs & am out walking my dog that it is impossible to put into words all of the emotions & memories that flow through my body & mind – and spirit.
…and it IS a “spiritual” experience. Music always is for me, but there are some vocalists that make me instantly aware of this, and from the moment I now listen to this CD from beginning to end, I am taken to that feeling from the first note – even by just the anticipatory instrumental prelude to David’s progressively building rendition of every song.
Make note that the reason I have paired these two songs together in some ways is that I am once again a resident of a state that is considered part of “the South” but is also seen as somewhat “North” & even “Central” in its location & belief systems in the United States. Therefore, although the themes of Mississippi & Missouri are somewhat contrasted, they both give the listener a genuine impression of what it’s like to grow up in the “Heartland” & experience all of the “firsts” in life.
They both also explore what it is like to be attached to one place for the rest of one’s life – whether the person is originally from there or has experienced some kind of special memory there – or both.
From the instant that Mississippi begins to play, I can feel my dad who passed in 1995 surround me. He was a musician who was the song of a music teacher, and in true fashion, I am, too. My first love as far as playing an instrument has gone has been the piano, and whenever I hear one being played, I am taken back to the days of Americana, Jazz & Blues, which were the eras that my dad, grandmother & great-grandparents grew up in.
The style of Mississippi classically reflects this time by introducing the song with a solo piano part then fades out with one as well. If I had arranged this piece, I would not have done one thing differently.
…and for those who are not as big of piano lovers as I am, don’t worry; it is not the only instrument that is heard throughout the song, but for those who want to hear it & remember that time in history, it is there – complimenting the composition as well as the vocalist – as it should be.
One personal comment about the dialogue of Mississippi: I have not spent any time in places like Mississippi, Missouri nor New Orleans, but when people use words like “The Delta,” “The Bayou” & even “The Gulf” after all of the recent tragic events that have happened in these areas, I still get jealous. What can I say? You can take the girl away from the ocean, but you will take the ocean away from the girl.
…much like when I hear Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay – or Lights by Journey. OK. I probably just lost my cowboy hat carrying card on that one.
Either way, Dixie Land music is a part of me, and it always will be. My grandmother told me that my great-grandmother (her mom) used to play piano at the movie theatre & accompanied silent movies, so either way, Dixie Land music is a part of me & always will be. Piano music may change throughout the years as it reflects society’s evolving styles, but it remains the common thread that connects them as heard in Mississippi in true form.
On to I’m About to Come Alive:
When I first heard this song as sung by David Nail, my first impression was that it was a little slow-paced – but in his defense, I was watching the video, which was filmed in that slow-speed way that makes you feel like you’re moving in slow motion – or under water. Sometimes that’s cool, but I was probably too anxious to hear David sing, and the video totally took me back because it impressed me as being kind of a “city” or pop-type song, which duh: it is. I felt so stupid when I looked it up online & saw that it was by Train. No wonder it sounded familiar: I have the dang CD. Hahaha
The lesson learned for me there was that a person can spend a lot of time focusing on one thing or genre and rightfully learn about so many things that are specific to that area but forget that it as a whole is universal & that every group borrows from the other in one way or another – or several. It also reminded me that I always have too many irons in the fire, and if I were 10 years younger, I would have caught that right away, but a lot has happened in my life since then – including the harsh reality that I am just plain 10 years older, so such is life.
The Train CD that I’m About to Come Alive was originally released on was something that I used to listen to quite often, but that was also a transitional time in my life – as all times are really.
As far as what I think about David Nail’s version of “I’m About to Come Alive,” it would be an understatement to say that it has grown on me. Thankfully, I keep unusual (or uncommon) hours & live in front of a big field, so when I’m out walking my dog with my MP3 player blasting while I sing along, not many people are near enough, outside nor are home to be subject to my poor attempts to mimic my favorite singers. …lucky for them. …because when I do like a song, I tend to not be able to resist the urge to sing certain parts. …and I find myself doing that a lot lately with that song.
(To Be Continued – Part 2 of Review/Article COMING SOON –
12. Red Light (Jonathan Singleton/Melissa Peirce/Dennis Matlosky)
13. Again (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
14. Clouds (David Nail/Scooter Carusoe)
15. Summer Job Days (Neil Thresher/Michael Dulaney/Gary Levox))
16. Strangers on a Train (Scooter Carusoe/Aimee Mayo)
17. Looking for a Good Time (Sean McConnell)
18. This Time Around (David Nail/Lee Miller)
…sorry this is taking me so long. Like I said, I have a lot of irons in the fire right now, and I’m being pulled in a million different directions, but they always lead me back to one place, and that is music, so I might not do things the same way in the amount of time that some other people do, but I usually get there eventually. …even if I’ve usually forgotten something at home. Haha …and I’m never late wherever I am. ;)
*Without giving anything specific away, I do highly recommend this CD, and I am taken away not only by the vocalist but also by the melody, music & mix of each & every song. If you are looking for a smooth, fresh album to listen to whether you are at home, in your car or on a date, David Nail’s I’m About to Come Alive would be a perfect addition to your music library.
http://www.davidnail.com
http://www.tonyandkris.com
http://www.929thebear.com
Footnotes/Credits/Quotations:
♫ “My Town” is by Montgomery Gentry
(Complete footnots/credits will be included when the post has been finished...
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
EASTON CORBIN CD -- For Sale at Amazon.com
If you're looking for
a GREAT COUNTRY CD,
Check This Out:
(I had this joke on here
before I found out
that Easton was married:
He needs to make enough money
to support my daughter someday.
haha)
a GREAT COUNTRY CD,
Check This Out:
(I had this joke on here
before I found out
that Easton was married:
He needs to make enough money
to support my daughter someday.
haha)
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