Search - Alan Jackson :: Freight Train

Jackson's "Train" Freighted With Great Tunes

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 03/30/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Every Now and Then, Taillights Blue, It's Just That Way



Despite Alan Jackson's denial that there was any enigmatic motive in entitling his 14th album "Freight Train" but it is still an appropriate album title. Just as a freight train is not about speed but about going the long haul, these 12 tracks are not about chasing the latest trends, they are quality songs that are going to be etched into the memories of fans for years and years to come. Just as freight trains hearken back to the days of old-fashioned gait, these paeans belong to the best of traditional honky-tonk country sung in Jackson's most affectionate southern-drawl tenor. If you like steel guitars, soft strumming of the guitar and everything rustic--this is a feast for the ears. Jackson once again delivers 7 solidly self-written cuts, one a co-write with Roger Murrah, and 4 well-chosen covers, one of which coming from Adam Wright (Jackson's own nephew).



If there was ever any doubt if Alan Jackson is the best thing that has had ever happened to country music, just take a listen to "Every Now and Then." In the tradition of Jackson's heart-tugging signature ballads such as "If I Could Back Up" and "Gone Crazy," "Every Now and Then" brings out all the bittersweet memories of a love that has ended with so much realism that you swear Jackson has had read your own diary. Another absolute charm is the Adam Wright co-write "Taillights Blue," a devastating piece of heartache, which calls to mind Clint Black's "Nothing But the Taillights" but done at a slower pace with an even more gorgeous melody. Romance in its more blissful moments do get a mention on "It's Just That Way." Written by producer Keith Stegall, Kylie Sackley and Vicky McGehee, this slow descriptive ballad takes its time to spell out long lasting love with rich blend of pastoral metaphors: "That ole sun comes up every mornin'/And goes back down at the end of every day/It's just that way/Stars show up every evenin'/Man in the moon comes out to play/It's just that way."



Even when Alan Jackson lets go of the brakes for some rip and roar moments he again proves that he has not lost an iota of his energy. "After 17"which tells the story of a girl starting life on her own finds Jackson telling this tale with youthful zest. More moments of levity abound with "That's Where I Belong" -an Alan Jackson staple that pays tribute to his roots in the lines of previous hits such as "Where I Come From" and "Small Town Southern Man." The brisk rollicking strut of "Hard Hat and a Hammer" continues the blue-collared theme giving some grits to the album. Roger Murrah who co-penned Jackson's magnum opus "Don't Rock the Jukebox" reunites with Jackson again on the extremely catchy hit-bound "True Love is a Golden Ring."



Noteworthy of mention is Jackson throw back to the past: this time it is Jackson's cover of the Vern Gosdin's duet with Janie Fricke "Till the End." Lee Ann Womack with her traditional bend is the perfect choice as Jackson's duet-partner on this country chestnut; though their performance religiously stays too close to the original. In a time when artists evolve with the latest trends and whistles, it's good that Jackson stays committed to one single goal: to continue to make great music that is country to the core. With such a lofty goal as its destination "Freight Train" is certainly heading in the right direction.

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Once again, Alan shows he's got what it takes

Kenneth A. Gregory | BROOKSVILLE, FL, US | 03/30/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a return to a very classic country sound. Not a lot of rocking, beat heavy tunes. Just good easy listening music that reminds me of Alan's early career. I'm thrilled with it."

A Most Consistently Good Album from a Consistently Great Art

musicismylife | the US of A | 04/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Packin' up the Freight Train after more than 20 years with Arista Records, Alan bids a consistent farewell to a Remarkable chapter of his career! This album (out now for just a day) most admittedly does not hit you like "Good Time" the best country album from 2008-2009. In terms of Country Music awards "Good Time" was the most over-looked album in over a decade. Why? Maybe the Nashville-elite didn't like the fact that Alan Jackson went it alone and wrote all 17 tracks on the album with great success! It was a career first for him, although he has always been a prolific writer of "simple-songs" and most of his own biggest hits. Well, on "Freight Train" he lets a handful of others into the mix on 3 tracks and pulls off a fantastically country-to-the-core cover with Lee Ann Womack on the Gosdin penned "Till the End."



"Freight Train" might lack many of the number 1 knock-out hits that made "Good Time" great, however, I think that it is more consistently good... There isn't a weak track of the new album's 12 tracks, while the last had a couple of "I Still Like Bologna" & "Nothing Left to Do" type tracks that weren't horrible yet put a few kinks in an otherwise outstanding 17 track line-up. [For my tastes, anyway] "Hard Hat and a Hammer" is another in a line of tribute to the "working class hero"-type songs that Alan has been so good to put out over the years... This gets the album off to a decent enough start which highlights include, but aren't limited too the first single "It's Just That Way," "Freight Train," "Taillights Blue," "Till the End," "Big Green Eyes," and my personal favorite upon my first listen "True Love is a Golden Ring!" Alan Jackson's songs make a great soundtrack to the life a "simple-man" which probably explains why he's my favorite living country artist. For me he is up there with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson; Patsy Cline; George Strait; Martina McBride and any other Country Great in any conversation on the topic. His discography just got that much deeper and its as important as any body recording in any genre of music today. In one word this album is "Genuine" country... This is a buy, even if the 12 clips that Amazon let's you hear don't get you, the quality of the effort as an artistic whole will!



Lastly, if this doesn't convince you, then just go back and listen to or buy "Drive" and your mind will be blown. It's the best country album in the last 15 years, bar-none... Then just work your way back up to this and you'll be glad you did. -A great, heart-warming American songbook is the summation of Alan's first 16 studio albums for Arista. From "Here in the Real World" to the current "Freight Train" Alan has given us a lifetime of www.memories put to music. So Thank you and here's to the future... Best of luck to you Alan and God Bless!



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