Search - Mark Chesnutt :: Outlaw

Mark Chesnutt..a Product of the Outlaws..

Misty Brooks | 06/27/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mark Chesnutt..the Good Ole Boy from Beaumont with Honky Tonk in his blood isn't no stranger when singing real country music..and he definitely isn't no stranger at singing the outlaws before us who were well at it while alot of us were still in diapers. This album is precisely that, a tribute to the country music icons and personal heroes of many. This album gives a chilling tribute to Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr, Willie Nelson and others in which the outlaw era will appreciate and the younger generation can use as a tool to re-live the familiar tunes they grew up on themselves, thanks to the help of a name and voice that was once familiar in everyone's household; Mark Chesnutt.



His voice is solid as ever as he delivers voices from the past, and that solid country drawl still exists in his voice that won fans over years ago. Mark's voice and style of country was very well missed and Outlaw is one album you should definitely buy more than one copy of. One to listen to, and one to store on your shelf of favorites."

Chesnutt's Domesticated "Outlaw"

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 06/25/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: A Couple of Good Years, Sunday Mornings Comin' Down, Only Daddy That Will Walk the Line



By today's standard, "Outlaw" sounds domesticated. Eight years after Chesnutt parted from Columbia Records, Chesnutt has never stopped churning out one album after another, albeit on smaller labels. "Outlaw" is Chesnutt's first covers CD whereby he tips his Stetson to the movers and shakers of the outlaw movement in country music. Started as a reaction against the slick strings-laden Nashville sounds of the 60s, outlaw country is a deliberate attempt to puts dome teeth and grit back to the genre. Up until the movement's abeyance, this subgenre has seen its share of sonic gems by artists such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, and Kris Kristofferson among others. Nevertheless, in the light of today's rock based anthemic country, these dozen songs sound pretty laidback and mind you very country. Perhaps it's producer Pete Anderson's retro-style touches on these songs giving them a late 70s/early 80s feel, these songs sound pretty much like they had lived through a time warp with an old fashioned feel yet interpreted by Chesnutt's contemporary nuances.



As with all cover albums, there is conundrum of how much creativity do you have with these chestnuts? One could easily be accused of irreverence if innovative readings were proffered. On the other hand, one could also be damned if a religiously close interpretation is mimic. On the whole, Chesnutt has chosen the latter with a slight dose of the former. Chesnutt's take of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" is the exemplar. With his slow and thoughtful nuance of each syllable of this tune, Chesnutt has captured the angst of the song's lyrical depths. And if there could ever be another improvement on Kristofferson's "Lovin' Her Was Easier" this is truly it. Pete Anderson has taken away the dreadful string arrangements of the original and has some rustic sounding fiddling. Kudos are also in order for Chesnutt to turning Dr. Hook's "A Couple More Years" into a duet. Though there's some awkwardness to it, but Chesnutt's barroom muffled tenor is well contrasted with Amber Digsby gorgeous soaring twangy soprano.



It goes without saying that Chesnutt is indeed a Waylon fan. He has even named his son after his hero. Thus, it is not surprising that half the songs on this disc come from the late Jennings' catalog. Chesnutt is judicious in his choice: he has taken a fair number of more familiar numbers balanced with a few obscure selections. Chesnutt's stays close to Jennings' original with "Only Daddy That Will Walk the Line." Yet, despite the numerous covers of this magnum opus, it's still such a classic that it's hard to get tired of hearing. "Black Rose" and "Freedom to Stay," on the other hand, are lesser known songs. Chesnutt's bluesy and seasoned interpretations are well worth repeated listening.



With his clean cut image, Chesnutt's out of place on David Allan Coe's "Time Off for Bad Behavior." Chesnutt just doesn't have the ruggedness to do this song justice. In fact, the best cover of Coe's hit is by far by Confederate Railroad on their debut album. Despite Anderson's meatier guitar riffs, Chesnutt just doesn't seem to have the zest to tackle Hank Jr.'s "Are You Ready for the Country." Knowing that the outlaw movement had often been associated with male artists, but there were a few women outlaws such as Sammi Smith and Jessi Colter. Chesnutt could have shaken the barrel even more if he were to tackle some of their music. That would have been something. Other than that, "Outlaw" ironically is quite a safe effort of generally good coverage of the material from this era of country music.

"

Mark Chesnutt: Outlaw

Ronald Giranio | Chicago | 07/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I admit I am biased, because I love Mark's music ever since his debut of "Too Cold At Home 2 decades ago. This cd has lost none of his country roots and reflects the homage he pays to predecessors such as George Jones, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings. A super album if you enjoy traditional country."