Search - John Anderson :: Bigger Hands

"Bigger Hands" Behind John Anderson

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 06/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Better News, Missing Her Again, The Greatest Story Never Told



Bigger hands are behind John Anderson's career. Back in the early 90s, when Anderson was losing his grip on the charts, his traction was secured when he teamed with James Stroud to release a string of hits including "Straight Tequila Night," "Money in the Bank" and "I Wish I Could Have Been There." A few years ago when country was tilting towards experimental rock, Anderson joined Musik Mafia's John Rich to release the cutting edge "Easy Money." Now in 2009, he's back in square one teaming once again with James Stroud with the release "Bigger Hands." Though this new release does not stand up toe to toe with Anderson's "Seminole Wind" or "Money in the Bank" CDs, it's still a solid effort. These 12 cuts bring out Anderson patented southern drawl which shows no sign of wear or tear. One point of departure though is that here on "Bigger Hands," Anderson has a hand in co-penning all 12 cuts with Music Row champions such as Dean Dillon, Shawn Camp, John Rich, Billy Joe Walker Jr., Jerrod Niemann and the late Lionel Delmore.



Without a doubt, among this group of elite songwriters, the two Dean Dillon's co-writes with Anderson are a cut above the rest. "Better News" shows that the honky tonk barroom ballad tradition is still alive and well as Anderson indulges in his heartbreak with a beer in his hands. The other Dillon co-composition "Missing Her Again" sounds like material George Strait would kill for. Here Anderson hits the emotional streak on this tearjerker as the protagonist tries to wrestle out his hurts after the death of his beloved. It almost makes one guilty that a tragedy like this would sound so good. Another ballad that deserves to be sure fire hit is "The Greatest Story Never Told." A slow passionate reverie sung in praise of Anderson's Mrs. will have many of female fans swooning. Pundits of the traditional fare will have much to rejoice over "What Used to Turn Me On." Everything that makes country music country is here, delightful fiddles gracing a melancholic barroom weeper.



Not all is down tempo: on "How Can I Be So Thirsty" Anderson embarks on a rollicking romp with unmatched honky tonk bravado. Those who have been listening to country radio of late would be familiar with "Shutting Detroit Down" a song co-written by John Rich and Anderson. Here Anderson offers his own version which has more believability given Anderson's more mordant vocals when he decries the social ill of corporate greed. The tinkling of some honky tonk piano introduces the lead single "Cold Coffee and Hot Beer," which bops along quite well. But it's a little too ordinary for single material. And only a veteran like Anderson can get away with a rhyme between "string bikini" and "martini" on the jovial "Hawaia in Hawaii." While "Bar Room Country" is your average Saturday night party raver that boasts some heavy handed guitar virtuoso.



Regardless of how this album will fare chart wise, "Bigger Hands" is a vital addition to the canon of country music. Country music will be so much poorer without Anderson. Anderson's enthusiastic southern drawl crooning with a next door jocularity is still as charming as before. And with the majority of the songs this good, it's great to have him back. Indeed "Bigger Hands" are behind Anderson to continue to grace us such products.

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Comeback CD

Grant A. Bearden | USA | 06/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm going to keep this short, and to the point. I believe this could be John Anderson's comeback CD. That is if "Country Radio" would embrace it. Airplay Y'all! Call up the radio stations everybody! The production isn't as polished as some of his recent CDs, or sound like he's done a hundred takes on the songs. Thank goodness! I have every CD John has put out, and I think this is his best work since "Solid Ground". Only one filler{Duff}track in my opinion. Some of these songs would even fit into todays country music stations, but with more respect to what "Country Music" is..good heartfelt music. Not polished "Pop Country". I'm hoping for you Mr Anderson the best response from Country radio. Please play Mohegan Sun in CT again, or somewhere in MA CT, or RI, or put out a live concert DVD. John Anderson is the only Country artist I wait, with baited breath, for new prduct, and I buy right away.Thank You."