Search - Joe Nichols :: Old Things New

Nichols Mixes Old and New Well

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 10/27/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Old Things New, It's Me I'm Worried About, An Old Friend of Mine



Over the years, Joe Nichols has carved for himself a niche. While many country artists think that traditional side of the genre is immiscible with the more polish modern sounds, Nichols has found a way to astride both sounds. Nothing best sums up Nichols' approach to country music than the title of this disc, "Old Things New." Taking the rudiments of traditional country laced with twangy guitars, fiddle and pedal steel, Nichols sings about contemporary issues that are invigorating, relevant and age-defying. Not only just sonically, but in terms of the songs' lyrics, Nichols does not just sing the grand swath of themes that safely fall in the canon of country music. Often he would give tried and true subjects a fresh twist. Just like his contemporary Brad Paisley, Nichols is not too reserved enough to throw in a few humorous novelties into the barrel too. This means that there's hardly a dull moment while listening to this new disc. All of this is thanks to producers Mark Wright and Brent Rowan who had helped Nichols secured top notched songs from a red carpet of Nashville scribes such as Paul Overstreet, Bill Anderson, Victoria Shaw, Rhett Atkins, Gary Burr, Jamey Johnson and Shawn Camp.



Without any reservation, the title track "Old Things New," is Nichols' mission statement in song. As Nichols sings about giving fresh spins to his old Haggard vinyls, he is tacitly describing his approach to country music. This Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Paul Overstreet co-write is a slice of traditional country steeped with bittersweet nostalgia. Waxing further sentimentality is the steel driven country ballad "We All Go Home." Nevertheless, the much talked about track here is the album closer, "An Old Friend of Mine," a Ray Charles-piano type ballad finding Nichols parting company with alcohol personified as a much cling to friend. Shades much brighter is the Tony Martin, Tom Shapiro and Mark Nesler penned "It's Me I'm Worried About" which sounds like a hardcore Vern Gosdin-ballad made interesting with its unique lyrically twist.



Radio's appetite will be wetted with "Gimmie That Girl" a pulsating slinky rhythmic track that is upbeat and youthful sounding. A couple of tracks reside in familiar tuff: "Believers" is a sonic cousin to Mark Chesnutt's "Thank God for Believers," an inspirational ballad that pays homage to the faithful. As a lead single, it's not Nichols strongest cut as single material. While "Man Woman" is Nichols' take of Brad Paisley's "I'm Still a Guy" a humorous take on the gender divide. Without the wit of Paisley, Nichols' "Man Woman" is passable without being exceptional. Victoria Shaw and Gary Burr's contribution "This Bed's Too Big" is a jazzy-infused seductive ballad. Again it's more on the non-descript side despite the famed writers.



On the whole, "Old Things New" is spliced with threads of traditionalism yet it's not too antiquated that it has no contemporary currency. Nichols certainly has the right balance here in "Old Things New." Though not all the songs are perfect, this is still a viable album as the fresh coat of paint Nichols brushes over the old is fresh yet respectable to the bygone past.

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SOULFUL COUNTRY

Thierry Guggenheim | France | 11/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The new album from Joe Nichols is a rare piece of soulful and refined music.Production is fine and gives the opportunity to show the artist at his best.Acoustic sound is beautiful and musicality of melodies is great.It's much more than the usual one/two hit(s) album with fillings.It's a collection of great songs played by great musicians."

Old Things New

W. Miller | 11/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is a good cd but some of his older ones are better. Some of the songs take on a pop sound and I expect a country sound from him."