Just Let Me Be in Love - Tracy Byrd, Martin, Tony [1]
Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo - Tracy Byrd, Beathard, Casey
Wildfire - Tracy Byrd, Cansler, Larry
How Much Does the World Weigh - Tracy Byrd, Miller, Lee Thomas
Summertime Fever - Tracy Byrd, Brown, Marty
Crazy Every Time - Tracy Byrd, Beathard, Casey
A Good Way to Get on My Bad Side - Tracy Byrd, Rutherford, Rivers
Needed - Tracy Byrd, Mobley, Wendell
Tryin' Not to Love You - Tracy Byrd, Cotton, Gary
Never Gonna Break Again - Tracy Byrd, Martin, Tony [1]
Keeper of the Stars [*] - Tracy Byrd, Lee, Dickey
East Texas traditionalist Tracy Byrd's beefy, muscular voice had the goods and could deliver them. Everyone knew it and that's still true. That said, the faint whiff of compromise has always dogged his records. The need to... more » satisfy marketing concerns with generic songs and arrangements consistently nudges out the edgier fare Byrd is and has always been capable of. Here, that whiff becomes a full-fledged scent. While "Somebody's Dream" succeeds as social commentary, "Ten Rounds with José Cuervo" is yet another predictable Buffettesque sing-along drinking ditty. Byrd himself chose to revive Michael Martin Murphy's 1970s whiny hippie wussfest "Wildfire," but it doesn't fit his style. He recovers with a strong performance of "Never Gonna Break Again" and an enjoyable duet with Mark Chesnutt on "A Good Way to Get on My Bad Side," with the piquant line "A little sissy in a cowboy hat ain't country." True. By the same token, a great country singer in a cowboy hat ain't well served by so much throwaway material. --Rich Kienzle« less
East Texas traditionalist Tracy Byrd's beefy, muscular voice had the goods and could deliver them. Everyone knew it and that's still true. That said, the faint whiff of compromise has always dogged his records. The need to satisfy marketing concerns with generic songs and arrangements consistently nudges out the edgier fare Byrd is and has always been capable of. Here, that whiff becomes a full-fledged scent. While "Somebody's Dream" succeeds as social commentary, "Ten Rounds with José Cuervo" is yet another predictable Buffettesque sing-along drinking ditty. Byrd himself chose to revive Michael Martin Murphy's 1970s whiny hippie wussfest "Wildfire," but it doesn't fit his style. He recovers with a strong performance of "Never Gonna Break Again" and an enjoyable duet with Mark Chesnutt on "A Good Way to Get on My Bad Side," with the piquant line "A little sissy in a cowboy hat ain't country." True. By the same token, a great country singer in a cowboy hat ain't well served by so much throwaway material. --Rich Kienzle
Neal C. Reynolds | Indianapolis, Indiana | 07/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are a few still around trying to keep the country sound from being merged with pop pap, and Tracy Byrd's one of them. This is a really strong album. "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo" is a natural party song, one ranks with Tom T Hall's "I Like Beer".Then at the other end of the stick, there's "Somebody's Dream", a truly serious type song that definitely works here. Then there's the duet with Mark Chesnutt, "A Good Way To Get On My Bad Side". Definitely enjoyable. I think I'd pick "Never Gonna Break Again" as my favorite here, but really, they're all good...well, maybe "Wildfire" was unnecessary, but other than that, there's hardly a song you'd want to skip here."
Better than the last!
E. Mullins | 08/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love Tracy Byrds music and have from 1993's self titled album. He's got a real western swing/cowboy/traditional country sound. I love Somebodys's Dream it's a Chris LeDoux kind of Cowboy Rock swing song.
Ten Rounds is the Jimmy Buffet-esque party song you have to dance to.
His rendition Michael Martin Murphys wildfire is better than the original, and manlier too!
Summertime Fever is Watermelon Crawl-esque and I am not crazy about it.
A good Way to get on my Badside is a great in your face manly song to sing with your buddies.
The way I see it youve got 11 new songs and a better Keeper of the Stars.
I like 10 of the new songs and just bought his first album to get the Keeper of the Stars. So I am estatic about it all.
The only song I can't get excited about is Summertime Fever."
The Best CD of Tracy Byrd's Career.....So Far
Austin Hayes | Rancho Mirage, CA | 08/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tracy Byrd has recorded and released the best CD of his career. "Ten Rounds" is both musically and lyrically the most consistent album Tracy has produced. There is not a single song that is not likeable and listenable.I started listening to this CD ... when it was first released. It is perfect for driving because it just flows perfectly from country rockers to slow romantic ballads to fun party songs. The best single release off this CD is "Just Let Me Be In Love" which was a top 10 ten hit last winter for Tracy. He produced a cool video which took off immediately on CMT. This song returned Tracy to the radio playlists and rejuvinated his career. The latest hit song is "Ten Rounds of Jose Cuervo" which has just reached the top ten also. This song is a real crowd pleaser and perfect in a bar or concert setting. My other favorites from this release are "Tryin' Not to Love You", "Somebody's Dream" and "Crazy Every Time". This CD "Ten Rounds" is Tracy Byrd's second RCA Records release and it has brought back this wonderful musician and vocalist to the spotlight in which he belongs in. Tracy is one of the best performers in country music today.Trust me, buy yourself a copy of "Ten Rounds" put it in the player, kick back and enjoy!"
Keeping it Country
Marque | Quartz Hill, CA USA | 10/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tracy Byrd has yet another hit album, Ten Rounds. As your driving in your car listening to this CD there won't be a single track that you want to skip over. Ten Rounds has the perfect the perfect blend of Byrd's soft and sweet ballads; in addition to, toe-tapping country bogie. Tracy Byrd recreates such classics as "Wildfire" and "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo" with superior musical abilities. This CD is most definatley made for the working class and those who aren't ashamed to be country. With songs such as "How Much Does the World Weigh" and "Somebody's Dream" you are reminded that life is a precious thing and to carpe diem. The CD also celebrates love with songs like "Just Let Me Be In Love." and "Needed." To remind all of his fans of how great he is, released "Keeper of the Stars." for this album. This hit single was his claim to fame and paved his way to his very triumphant career. You can feel the emotion of his words as he eloquently sings in his strong voice. Mark Chesnutt joined Byrd on the album for the duet "A Good Way to Get On My Bad Side." In this sizzling single Byrd and Chesnutt show their distain toward [dishonest] politicians, boy bands, and country [imitator]. This CD is a sure hit for all those who appreciate true country."
Pulling out all the emotional stops . . .
Ronald Scheer | Los Angeles | 04/10/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's hard to characterize this CD because it touches so many different bases and extremes of emotions. After the stereotype-breaking lyrics of social consciousness in "Somebody's Dream," there's the poignant anthem of the aching heart, "Just Let Me Be In Love," followed by the rollicking "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo." The unexpected cover of the old pop hit "Wildfire" just about makes sense in this company as it embraces both folk-myth and magical realism.
And the CD just goes on like that, like a symphony orchestra hitting one big emotional chord after another until after a fed-up outlaw harange with Mark Chestnutt ("A Good Way to Get On My Bad Side"), we end on a note that mixes true love and a nod to the Higher Power ("Keeper of the Stars"). This is pull-out-all-the-stops sentiment, not for the faint-hearted, and Bryd sings it for all it's worth."