Search - Joe Diffie :: Tougher Than Nails

Terrific new release from Diffie

Cindy | Arizona | 06/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Title track (first single) is a terrific song with strong family values and a Christian theme. "What Would Waylon Do" is a fun duet with the great George Jones...traditional country at its finest!On the fun side, enjoy honkytonk flavor in "The More You Drink the Better I Look" and "My Redneck of the Woods," and some fancy pickin in "Movin' Train." If you like the classic Diffie hits "Prop Me Up..." and "Pick Up Man" you'll love these tunes, too.Like Diffie ballads, like "Home" and "Ships...?" Well that's here, too, especially in "Something I Do For Me."All in all, a terrific album!"

Diffie Nails A Welcomed Return

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 06/22/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: If I Could Only Bring You Back, Something I Do For Me, This Time Last YearThe 90s saw an aggressive onslaught of neo-traditionalists trying to put a contemporary edge spin to traditional honky tonk. Joe Diffie, with his southern flavored baritone, has certainly left an indelible mark with novelties such as "Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox," "Honky Tonk Attitude," "If the Devil Danced in Empty Pockets" as well as his more solemn "Home," "Ships That Don't Come Home" and "Is It Cold In Here." However, due to the copious release of tepid material, Diffie's popularity waned at the turn of the millennium. His last album, 2001's "In Another's World" was not acerbic enough to set this Okie apart from Nashville's saturated crooners. After being released from his contractual agreements with Epic Records, Diffie returns three years later with his first independent effort "Tougher Than Nails." With drummer and Diffie's seasoned producer, Lonnie Wilson still on the helm, Diffie continues what he does best: honky tonk with an attitude. However, unlike his last couple Epic outings, this time the material is a tad stronger with entries from Diffie as well as some Nashville heavyweights such as Leslie Satcher, Frank Myers, Wynn Varble, Harley Allen, George Teren amongst others. Sprightly, finger-picked acoustic guitar lines, insistent fiddle quotes, a taste of moaning pedal steel, constitute the mise en sc?ne for the title cut and single "Tougher Than Nails," a moral tale of forgiveness crafted around the story of a father giving advice to a son to "do as Jesus would have." Diffie showcases his own gritty vocal prowess on "Nothin' On But the Radio," a catchy hard-rocking scorcher. Without any trace of slowing down, Diffie locks in high gear on his self-composed "Moving Train," a song describing the feelings of a man in love. Not a man to abandon his paternal upbringings, Diffie pays his tribute to his dad on the midtempo "Daddy's Home," a track reminisce of his earlier hit "Home" both in terms of lyrical content and melody.

However, the better moments of "Tougher Than Nails" are the ballads. A sonic cousin to Diffie's biggie "Is It Cold In Here," "This Time Last Year" finds a passion-packed performance by Diffie over a picturesque tune of heartbreak. Equally provocative, though a tad more clich? is "If I Could Bring You Back." With its wailing steel guitar forming the backdrop of the song, Diffie's plea for his lover's return is heartfelt. "Something I Do For Me" is another powerhouse ballad coming from the pens of Diffie and Harley Allen (writer of John Michael Montgomery's "Little Girl").However, George Jones' presence as Diffie's duet partner on the Leslie Satcher/Wynn Varble composition "What Would Waylon Do" is predictable and tiresome. Though "What Would Waylon Do" is a 2004 copyright, but hasn't such a title and song idea been used before? "The More You Drink, the Better I Look," "My Neck of the Woods" and "Good News, Bad News" are obligatory uptempo numbers. They are by no means offensive, just humdrum. "Tougher Than Nails" finds a rejuvenated Diffie displaying some of his finer moments. Though not as outstanding as his first couple of albums, "Tougher Than Nails" is a definite improvement from his last few lack lustrous CDs."

Joe's best studio album period

phatmandrumming | The Sooner State...........OKLAHOMA | 11/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I could write a bunch of worthless nonsense, but simply put: Joe Diffie's best studio album yet. The title tract hits home for those whose faith and family are of primary importance. The rest of the CD contains some of Joe's best ballads yet, especially the stirring "If I Could Only Bring You Back", which moves me to tears every time I hear it. Joe also includes some of his good time numbers, such as "What Would Waylon Do" and "The More You Drink, the Better I Look". My 3 year old and I start every day with the first two tracts, Tougher Than Nails and Nothing But the Radio. We sing at the top of our lungs while driving down an Oklahoma highway on our way to preschool and work. Great job, Joe.

"