Search - Matt King :: Hard Country

A wonderful variety of great music!

brockway@gpcom.net | Stratton, NE | 09/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the second album of Matt King's I have purchased. The first album "Five O'clock Hero" was awesome and his new album "Hard Country" has proven to be even better in my opinion. There is a variety in the selections that show off Matt's versatility as a musician and performer. I highly reccomend this album and hope you enjoy it as much as I have."

MATT KING = "THE FUTURE OF COUNTRY MUSIC"

Christopher Rolen (rolenincountry@w | East Tennessee | 07/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When a new artist comes along, they have to have a certain sound to make it big. They have to be able to jump out and make a name for themselves. For the past 5 years, Nashville has been churning out some pathetic excuses for country acts. Examples.......David Kersh, Bryan White, Shania Twain, Joe Dee Messina Warren Brothers, Chris Cummings, and Lonestar. These acts have brought a POP-sound into "COUNTRY" music, and I think it's a disgrace. For the longest time, I thought that it wouldn't get better. That "traditional country" was a thing of the past....an urban legend, some would say!!!Then, in July of 1997, I was given a CD. It was called "FIVE O'CLOCK HERO". The artists' name was MATT KING. The CD had no insert.....no liner notes.....not even a picure. Just a CD and a case. Later that day, I put it into my pickup, and fell in love. For weeks, it stayed in my truck's CD player. I played it for some clients, and they loved it. My friends loved it!!!! Even my family loved it!!!!!To our dismay, radio stations wouldn't play Matt King. When asked why, they would respond...."he doesn't fit our style of "country". My question is this: Why do these stations call themselves "COUNTRY RADIO", when all they play is "kiddie/pop country?There are some great songs on "FIVE O'CLOCK HERO". From the tear-jerking "A WOMAN'S TEARS", the light-hearted "I WROTE THE BOOK", to the beautifully sincere "A WOMAN LIKE YOU", this CD is a must-buy!Just like "FIVE O'CLOCK HERO", Matt's second album, "HARD COUNTRY" is as traditional as you can get. It is a mixutre of hurt, remorse, happiness, sadness, pure joy, and afterthoughts! "BURYING BONES BY THE DOZEN" (written by MATT and CRAIG KARP), is a cute song; telling the story of a man who has to get rid of all his old flames before his woman finds out. With it's strong fiddle and steel guitar arrangement, this song has "RADIO" written all over it! One of my favorite songs on the album is "SWEET PERFUME"! The song, written by MONTY CRISWELL and BILLY YATES (One of the best songwriters I've ever met. Check out his self-titled cd!) is the perfect song for anyone who's been forced to let go of the bottle after their loved one leaves. Only a good "country" singer could pull off compare the strength of a woman's purfume to Jack Daniels and Jim Beam!!!!If I had to pick a favorite song from this masterpiece, I couldn't. So, I will say that the one song that hits home is "FROM YOUR KNEES"!!!! If you've not had the chance to hear this song, let me paint you a picture.... An empty house. COMPLETELY EMPTY!!! Nothing on the walls. No furniture. All you see is a man on his knees talking with the Lord!!!! The following is the chorus:{"THERE WERE EMPTY CLOSETS AND EMPTY DRAWRES. A TEARFULL CONFESSION ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. AND BURNING MEMORIES IN THE FIREPLACE. HE WAITED TOO LATE TO SAY HE WAS WRONG. HIS HOUSE WAS STILL STANDING, BUT HIS HOME WAS GONE. BROTHER YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE. WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM YOUR KNEES"}"HARD COUNTRY" is one of those albums that no one gets to hear, because it isn't marketed properly. If you purchase this CD, LET PEOPLE LISTEN TO IT!!!!!! Play it loud!!!!!! It's a true work of art, that needs to be heard!!!!!!! This is pure, uncorrupted, country music!!!!!!!!!!!!MATT, Knoxville loves you, and we wish you the best!!!"