A Cowboy Culture Classic for all!
AMERICAN WESTERN MAGAZINE - ReadThe | 07/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Known for putting an honest brand to his songs, Jon Chandler is a man on a mission, and with WESTERNS, his third album, the shootin' is straight from the hip. While his first two albums focused on the pastoral terrain of the American West, WESTERNS ventures deeper into the cowboy culture and explores the historical aspects as well. The rich essence of his deep voice has served him well in the voiceover work he has done in commercials for Coors Light beer and Ford trucks, and it is that same special resonant quality that immediately grabs listeners and draws them right into the song. Beginning with a visit to the historical west, the CD starts with "He Was No Hero", a song about a widow whose husband was killed by Jesse James during the Northfield bank robbery. All too often in the past the likes of Jesse and Frank James have been glorified, their deeds sugarcoated. But you'll find none of that sentiment within the truthful lyrics that Chandler pens. "Crazy Woman Creek" is the heartbreaking tale of a pioneer woman who was driven mad by the relentless wind which often intensified the sheer loneliness of the frontier. Chandler's voice shines on this cut, and the Native American flute, drum and fiddle arrangement will send shivers down your spine. Leaning towards the contemporary west are offerings such as "Pineywood Mountains", a snazzy tune co-written by Kenn Hayes and Jon Chandler. The mountains mentioned here may be made up, but the fiddle on this cut is as real as it gets and sure to set your foot to tapping. In "The Dreams Die Hard" Chandler teamed up with poet Tina Wills to create this haunting ballad. The song comes together beautifully with Mollie O'Brien singing the lead vocals."Snow Sky" is a really cool and kicky arrangement. Originally written to accompany the audio novelization of Cameron Judd's western of the same name, the guitar sound here is reminiscent of the music scores behind some of the spaghetti westerns of the sixties, yet the song has an updated edge to it.Baxter Black's narrative in "Cowboy Christmas" is everything you'd expect from Baxter and more, as he reads the part of a young cowpuncher who faces a Christmas alone out on the prairie. It's a great tune that received a lot of airplay during the holiday season and is sure to become a classic holiday favorite. Other notable cuts include "Forevermore", "The Plain of Illium", "Whisper His Name" and "Lady's Got Blues (In Her Eyes)".Westerns offers something for everyone. The CD is like an anthology of compelling stories put to music around a varied arrangement of guitar, steel guitar, harmonica, fiddle and mandolin, with occasional touches of piano. It richly depicts tales of bad men, good horses, pioneer women, old ranchers, young cowboys, lost loves, broken dreams and quiet hope. ...In fact you might be inspired to put away all those worn out western videos and give your eyes a rest, because the music on this CD offers up a whole passel of fresh western adventures that you can truly enjoy with your eyes closed. ENJOY!"
Great Voice and a Novelist's Eye
Garry Lafollette | Winchester, VA | 05/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ordered the disc on a curious whim, being a fan of the Ian Tyson/Marty Robbins/Don Edwards western culture music. This ones a stunner. Captures the old west in sound the way Charlie Russell captured it on canvas. First off the man can sing, great voice, and he can write with depth and perception. Where as Ian works the contemperary cowboy side of the fence line, Chandler is anchored in the later 1800's. From the widow of a man shot by Jessie James, to the first person account of a solder in the Civil War's "Stonewall Brigade" leaving his wife a widow. No, its not a maudlin disc, in many ways the themes and melodies are as majestic as the Rockies and the landscape they celebrate. Performance and production at top notch. In it's own way its everybit as rich and vibrant as Marty's Classics like "El Paso" and "Big Iron" were when they were new. Quality wise this work merits classic status. Whether or not it becomes one in termps of popularity will depend on whether or not enough people do themselves the favor of buying it."
Terrific western flavor!
westerngirl | 05/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like true western music (not necessarily country music), then you'll like this CD, and this artist. The writing is thoughtful, emotional, and quite original. The quality of the music and voice is outstanding. I'm always looking for new artists to add to my music collection, and this discovery was pleasant, indeed. I liken the music to something Michael Martin Murphey would do, but the voice quality is much richer. I look forward to more from Jon!"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1