Search - Gretchen Wilson :: I Got Your Country Right Here

Is this "your" country?? As your here - probably yes!

O. MICHAEL | UK-Peru-Japan | 04/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Its about 3 years since her last album - which seems a long time - she has moved from Major Label to her own label and I guess more control over her career and sound. Its hard to believe, given the start she had in the business (around 2004/5) that she is still not on a major label. But as her last album didnt chart that well with singles, I guess shes a victim of Nashville's ever shortening attention span.



On the title track, the first track, she mentions her influences - deep fried southern rock, Charlie Daniels, Lynryd Skynrd, ZZ Top and Waylon - That is "your" Country. And if it is "your" country I am sure you will be tapping your toes along to most of the numbers. This is where Country meets Southern Rock. Its a very modern sound - definitely not the Tammy or Loretta strain. The producer is John Rich and 'the blue collar song' seems to mine the same vein as his 'closing Detroit down' song from a year or so ago. A few years back Gretchen appeared on a CMT outlaws special and here she gives a nod in that direction again with "Outlaws and Renegades". Overall the album has a very rocking sound and if you like that you will not be disappointed.



Having said that, the third track is an excellent ballad - which has a more traditional country sound - think I almost caught the sound of a steel guitar on there - which seems very gentle and touching set against the rest of the album. Its a cheatin' song from the other womans point of view.



The fourth track "The Earring song", is also great - not so heavy and I would say more country - she doesnt want to take her earrings out, but she will, and show the woman what a cat fight is all about. Its a light hearted song and will bring a smile to your face - excellent stuff!



The final song is also a ballad - and is an acoustic number. I can imagine it goes down well as an encore number at concerts.



I think with the "Earring Song" and "I'm only human" she has two potentially big hits on her hands. This is a very good album and if you are a Gretchen fan, you will love it!



--- Highlights ---

Earring Song

I'm only human

I'd Love To Be Your Last

I Got Your Country Right Here"

What happened here?

Andrew Ellington | I'm kind of everywhere | 06/04/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Is it just me or has Gretchen Wilson kind of been reduced to a gimmicky stereotype? I mean, when she released `Redneck Woman' back in 2004 I was floored. I still love that song. Sadly, it appears that she can't let that song go. Instead, she seems to hold onto its premise and so a lot of her songs seem rather regurgitated. Granted, I have not heard every song she has released. In fact, I kind of thought she had disappeared until I saw this album for sale the other day. I had heard nothing from her or about her and than WAM, here she is. Listening to `I've Got Your Country Right Here' kind of seems like a dissected version of `Redneck Woman'.



Yes, I know that you love good ol' southern rock and that you play in the dirt and drink beer and live in a trailer park and buy everything you own at Walmart, but seriously...can you sing about anything else?



Sadly, not only has her lyrical content run dry, but her songs themselves have become very dated and very old fashioned. There is no edge to them. The pacing is off putting. Even the Honky-Tonk jams like `Work Hard, Play Harder' wind up feeling rather dull. There is no `oomph' in any of these songs. `The Earrings Song' is a trashy disaster, lacking any and all charm or needed energy. Gretchen comes off feeling tired and lazy in a lot of these songs. They are bland and dry.



The first half of the album is extremely disappointing.



Thankfully, for a small stretch, the second half of the album seems to pick up. `Walk on Water', `Love on the Line' and `As Far As You Know' are all pretty good, slightly redeemable songs. She elevates her southern influences with some nice vocal work and she actually edges out these songs with some catchy chorus lines and a nice pick up musically.



The only song here that is great is `I'd Love to Be Your Last'. It is a beautiful song that is tender and passionate and stirring. I could listen to Gretchen smolder all over that track for hours.



But that's really all this album has to offer.



I love Lynyrd Skynyrd as much as the next guy, but Gretchen's homage to their greatness comes off rather forced. She just doesn't have what it takes to last. She has become nothing more than a one-hit-wonder really. `Redneck Woman' is still a great song, but it is apparent she is desperately chasing after that one moment, and I don't see it resurfacing for her."

REAL country music (the good kind)

armywifefor7 | NC | 04/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not your average country fan. I love me some George Strait, Miranda Lambert and Gretchen Wilson. I prefer story songs and honky tonk jukebox songs to the remade pop songs you hear on country radio nowadays. Beauty seems to trump talent in most cases, but Gretchen Wilson is the exception (not that she's not cute (;)



This might be my favorite of her albums yet. She has a way of singing songs that is so genuine you believe she's been there. The Earrings song is great, and so is I'd Love to Be Your Last. I'm Only Human is probably my favorite.



What I like about this album, and all of hers really, is that you can play them all the way through and not want to skip songs. Plus, they're great for a girl's night out.



GREAT album from a real musician.

"