Search - Jeff Bates :: Rainbow Man

Lorelie L. from CLINTON, MA
Reviewed on 12/5/2006...

A wonderful album from The Rainbow Man. Can't beat this song.

Not bad at all...

DanD | 06/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jeff Bates obviously has some talent. His debut single, "The Love Song" (a highlite of this album) shows us that. Maybe we can even say he's the next Conway Twitty...no doubt Bates would appreciate that. Because not only does he sound amazingly like Twitty, and not only does he seem to almost worship him with every song, but he WRITES like Twitty did--songs that cut to the truth of love. No downers on here. It would have been nice. But not all of these songs deal with love, either, which is a relief. How about "Country Enough," which puts some drive in traditionalism? Or "My Mississippi," a reminiscent song of home still cherished? Or "Already Spent," about the money problems we have? There's "My Inlaws are Outlaws," which has a surprising amount of humor. "The WIngs of Mama's Prayers" is a bit too sentimental, but it fits the down-home mamma's boy image Bates seems to evict. And the title track tells us of America's heart, from a man who always finds "something to hate" about his heritage.Those are really the best. The love songs (and, yes "The Love Song") provide another side of Bates. Take "Lovin Like That" and "Your Lovin Talks to Me," two rockin' songs that just avoid being sentimental mumbojumbo. There's "Long, Slow Kisses," as well, a tune that Conway Twitty would have been at home singing. Bates' songwriting isn't something worth dying for, but it is an added bonus. Really, you gotta buy this CD for his voice: it is amazing how much the "Rainbow Man" resembles Twitty. But Jeff Bates stands on his own, as a new artist ready to hit it big in a market just aching for some traditional, down-home country music."

The second coming of Conway?

DanD | 05/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"From hearing Jeff's solid, if a little trite, first single "The Love Song", I thought his voice bore a strong resemblance to fellow (late) Mississippian Conway Twitty. After hearing his debut CD, I'd say it's more than a strong resemblance... it's an uncanny kinship, in voice and in subject matter. More than once, Jeff says 'darlin' or 'baby' in that old familiar way that Conway used to drive the women wild back in the day. Jeff's his own man, though, and his individuality and spirit shines through every song. The only negative I found about this album was the lack of variety... a heartbreaking ballad or a drinking song wouldn't have been out of place here, but they surely were missed. Despite the too rosy atmosphere of the record, it's worth the buy. The standouts are "Already Spent", a humorous take on the age old struggle to make ends meet; "I Want to Make You Cry", a song Conway would have killed for(!); and "The Wings of Mama's Prayers", a touching confessional. This is a strong debut for an artist with unlimited potential in the country market. The material could be a little stronger next time out, but he makes even the clunker lines sound good."