With its breakout single, "Feels Like It Should"--a high-octane driving anthem in which he sings of putting "the Boss" on the radio and singing along to "Born to Run"--Pat Green leaves no doubt about this album's primary i... more »nfluence. The opening title track offers hard-riffing guitars over hard-driving drums in another Springsteenesque anthem of love's redemption. The rest of the album is strong and consistent enough that it could well catapult Green to the sort of nationwide popularity with both country and rock fans that he enjoys in his native Texas, where what started as a grass-roots following among the college crowd has turned him into an act capable of filling stadiums. Whereas his material once extolled the joys of living in Texas and drinking beer, he now displays a lot more range and maturity, with the heartfelt balladry of "Dixie Lullaby" eulogizing his father and a duet with Sara Evans on "Finder's Keeper" reinforcing his country credentials. Producer Don Gehman worked with John Mellencamp on many of his biggest hits, with the combination of Stonesy guitar and country fiddle on "Won't Let Love" evoking that artist's musical progression. What Springsteen is to New Jersey and Mellencamp is to Indiana, Green could become to Texas. --Don McLeese« less
With its breakout single, "Feels Like It Should"--a high-octane driving anthem in which he sings of putting "the Boss" on the radio and singing along to "Born to Run"--Pat Green leaves no doubt about this album's primary influence. The opening title track offers hard-riffing guitars over hard-driving drums in another Springsteenesque anthem of love's redemption. The rest of the album is strong and consistent enough that it could well catapult Green to the sort of nationwide popularity with both country and rock fans that he enjoys in his native Texas, where what started as a grass-roots following among the college crowd has turned him into an act capable of filling stadiums. Whereas his material once extolled the joys of living in Texas and drinking beer, he now displays a lot more range and maturity, with the heartfelt balladry of "Dixie Lullaby" eulogizing his father and a duet with Sara Evans on "Finder's Keeper" reinforcing his country credentials. Producer Don Gehman worked with John Mellencamp on many of his biggest hits, with the combination of Stonesy guitar and country fiddle on "Won't Let Love" evoking that artist's musical progression. What Springsteen is to New Jersey and Mellencamp is to Indiana, Green could become to Texas. --Don McLeese
"Am I red in the face because I got sucked into buying this CD. Starting with Wave on Wave I thought Pat's anchor had come loose and he was starting to drift.
I don't expect college drinking songs on every cut...wouldn't like it if they were. But, if I want commercial shrink wrap I go with Toby Keith.
Take a lesson from Jimmy Buffett, Pat. Sing what YOU know is right for you, not what some sleazy Nashville promoter is feeding to you.
Think I'll pass on the next CD from Green. He's gonna have to prove himself to me again. Money's too hard to come by to waste it on this drivel."
We all gotta grow up sometime...
A. Gammill | West Point, MS United States | 08/26/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Pat Green has always been something of an anomaly in the music world. Too country for people who don't like country, but full of enough folk/rock grit to turn off hardcore country fans. Green has made his name largely through word-of-mouth and his energetic live shows. He's also released 3 very solid studio albums (with a handful of popular tunes getting played on CMT) and a few independent-label records.
For CANNONBALL, it seems Green decided to try something a little different. Virtually gone are the raucous beer-drinkin', hell-raising story songs that were the hallmark of his earlier albums. In their place, we have a more mature, reflective (though, happily, never too somber) Pat Green. He still doesn't mine telling you about his checkered past--in "Love Like That" he refuses to judge a group of rowdy kids in a parking lot, because he knows he and his buddies were the same way--but he's also thankful for the love of a good woman to keep him on the right track. This theme resonates throughout CANNONBALL; and while it's not groundbreaking in terms of the songwriting, Green sings with such conviction that he can almost make the cliches seem fresh.
The duet with Sara Evans, "Finders Keepers" is also a highlight, although the always-powerful Evans threatens to overwhelm her host at times. "I'm Trying to Find It" would be at home on a Bob Seger album. "Virginia Belle" is classic Pat Green, as he fumbles over the right way to introduce himself to a lovely lady. . .only to let the moment slip away.
And of course, the first single, "Feels Just Like It Should," simply soars. In fact, it perfectly encapulates the album's theme, although none of the other tracks do it with quite such gusto.
Like John Mellencamp (whose frequent producer, Don Gehman, produced Cannonball), Pat Green makes dependable, occasionally great heartland music. It's a fine progression of an artist who probably still hasn't reached his peak.
"
Pat green seems to have gone mainstream.
Kyle Standridge | tx | 12/10/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I have boycotted nashville country music now for the past 10 years. Probably around the time mark chestnut and sammy kershaw started to fade away. I don't know what happened to country music, but it seems that Pat, who I thought was going to bring country music back, has really started to go all rascal flatts on us. If you think this album is good, try his older stuff back before nashville could get theyre badonk adonk, toby keith lovin money snatchin pop genre lotion soaked hands on it. I only hope cory morrow doesn't fall into this landfill. Check these real texas singers out like randy rogers, steve earl, robert earl keen, kevin fowler, roger crager, towns van zandt, stevie ray vaughn,jack ingram, jerry jeff walker, gary p. nunn,rodney crowell, chris knight, derryl dodd, charlie robison, to name a few. I guarantee you'll like any these bands"
Sounds Just Like It Should!!
Fairly Feisty | PNW | 10/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great CD! People who say Pat Green "sold-out" are the same people that would complain if he churned out CD's that all sounded the same. When you're on top, people want to see you fall and some people are bothered by him earning a wider range of success. The music is great, it's just not like his early stuff. He writes songs about where he is in his life and he's grown up just like you'd expect. But the new songs are still the great sing-along in your car at the top of your lungs quality we love Pat Green for."
Come back Pat
T. Hocker | Burnet, TX | 01/27/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I have all his CD's and once was a good friend of Pat's before he got real big. I lost touch with him and Brendon Anthony(who was a friend of mine at Texas A&M) since he's gone new Pat. I like some of these songs but feel like he's trying to hard to impress nashville. I not saying he has to sing about drinking beer all the time but at least stick to what got you here alittle. I remember seeing Pat Green play and only about 20 people in the joint. He played back then with fire and this amazing energy that I have never seen. I still support Pat and he's still one of my Favorite guys to listen to but I keep hoping the old Pat will come back."