"Your travel guide for this Texas trip is john Arthur martinez, recently a contestant on Nashville Star. This is the third of his independantly releassed CD's, and the most diverse of the three. Your first stop is a dance hall outside of Austin, Texas, where you can listen to the upbeat Western Swing tune "A Girl Named Texas". If you are very fast on your feet, you may be able to keep up with john Arthur's "Armadillo Song" a tounge-twister of a ditty sung at breakneck speed. This is the song that wowed the Nashville Star croud during the finale episode. To cool yourself off, enjoy two slow dance numbers, "Show Me" and "Every Day is Christmas". AS you leave the Dance hall, you drive along through the country roads and small towns of the Texas Hill Country; enjoy the songs of small town life "Here's to the Boys" and "The Man Who Holds the Bow". These songs evoke the charm and heart to be found in friends and family. Visit the San Antonio Riverwalk in the Spanish "Rio Amour" (The River of Love). This tune is to be in the move "Box of Miracles". Ladies, hold on to something sturdy when you listen to this one...a friend tells me her knees turn to jelly when she hears john Arthur sing a romantic spanish song. And this sure is one. "Married to Your Memory" is perhaps the most traditional Country-type tune on the CD. There's no room to describe all the great music on this CD- listen after the last track for a hidden fun song. All in all, the best Country/Western CD I have heard in the last 10 years."
Unique Country Singer
Sherry | Great Lakes Region | 05/01/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Since the onset of Nashville Star, I have followed JAM. Which led me to purchase 2 of his 4 CD's currently available on jamrecords.com This man is a wonderful & unique talent, from his songwriting, to his music, to his soft velvet voice, to his 'laid back' personality, to his good looks, he will capture
your emotions. Even if he doesn't take the title of "Nashville Star", I'm sure he is on his way to a recording contract. He's a rising star on the country music scene...when he arrives, the world will recognize and acknowledge his god given talent."
A Humble Man with Great Talent.
James L. Miller | Hyattsville, MD United States | 05/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"John Arthur Martinez has a loyal following. After listening to
this CD you'll know why! He is a prolific songwriter (over 500
songs and counting). He writes about real things that people
can relate to. If you ever have trouble getting going one morning listen to, "The Armadillo Song". It will wake you up!
My favorite song on this CD is, "The Man Who Holds The Bow".
John Arthur came in #2 out of 8000 in the Nashville Star competition. If you don't give him a listen you are robbing
yourself."
"Stand your Ground" stands for Pure Listening Pleasure
pat6731 | Coconut Creek, Florida United States | 02/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Stand Your Ground" by Nashville Star 2nd place winner John Arthur Martinez is pure listening pleasure. From the beginning cut of "Man who holds the B... Read full review"Stand Your Ground" by Nashville Star 2nd place winner John Arthur Martinez is pure listening pleasure. From the beginning cut of "Man who holds the Bow" --one of those songs that I immediately find myself singing along with-to the fast-paced, tongue-twisting, kid-pleasing Armadillo Song, to story telling of "Spinning Our Wheels", this album holds something for everyone.
Some of the songs made me an instant fan; others grew on me each time I listened to them. "Jack of All Hearts", "Man Who holds the Bow", and "El Rio Amor" fit the first category.
"Every Day is Christmas" and "Stand your Ground" fit the second.
"The Armadillo song" is in a category of its own and is pure fun to listen to, clap to, and to sing--if you dare to try!!
john Arthur proves himself an extremely versitile artist, able to master everything from the Texas swing of "A Girl Named Texas", to the rockin'beat of "Wild" to the thought-provoking ballad title song. "El Rio Amor" reminds me of the late-great Marty Robbins and john Arthurs voice is at its perfection in this song.
Though "Pool Hall" seems to attract some listeners, it was not among my favorites. Even so, I have to admit I did find myself "singing along" after a dozen or so plays.
My least favorite "Married to her Memory" is a beautiful ballad, but I found it a little depressing for my taste.
I highly recommend this album and john Arthur martinez. Due to his signing with Dualtone Records and recent release of his first single, this upcoming artist should be among the charttoppers in the near future."
Genuine and Sincere Music
Ella Greggs | Washington, DC | 07/04/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's such a shame that you don't get to hear John Arthur's music on mainstream country radio. He's just got such a genuine, sincere style. Not every song is a home run. Some are fun but forgettable, like "Pool Hall." Others, though, like "Stand Your Ground," and "Spinning Our Wheels" are truly touching. And I love the 'hidden' track "Beans and Rice" too. If you want to hear great music that is original, unusual and not excessively commerical, buy this artist."