Search - Pat Green :: What I'm For

Mixed feelings

A. Gammill | West Point, MS United States | 01/29/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While listening to Pat Green's latest CD, it occurred to me that there are two kinds of Pat Green fans: those who've been with him since his independent-label days, and long for him to return to the kind of Texas bar anthems of that period; and there are those who discovered him in 2003, when "Wave On Wave" swept the CMT airwaves.



If you accept the above premise, you might find yourself confused as to just who this album is aimed at. On the one hand, it's got the more polished, radio-ready country/rock that characterized Green's last couple of albums. But the rowdy old Pat Green shines through occasionally, admitting (in the disc's lead single "Footsteps of Our Fathers") "I'm making this sh** up as I go." The album also offers up a totally unnecessary remake of his 2000 single "Carry On," which lacks the youthful energy and carefree vibe of the original, and risks alienating hardcore fans by replacing the line "Come down to Texas and drink with me awhile" with "Come on over and drink with me awhile."



While these will seem like minor quibbles to most folks, I thought I would point them out for those who might care. Meanwhile, musically, WHAT I'M FOR is actually a very solid production. Green has always seemed most comfortable with mid-tempo roots-rock guitar numbers, and these form the core of about half the songs here.



Green has also typically surrounded himself with talented songwriters--though he's no slouch with the pen & paper himself. The Brad Paisley-ish "Country Star" name-drops all the big modern country heroes, while Green's hardcore fans (myself included) secretly hope he'll never completely forsake his roots and join such an elite club. The title track, in which Green lays out all he holds dear, stands quietly in defiance of modern real-world cynicism.



No matter which kind of Pat Green fan you are, you're bound to find some good and bad here. At under 40 minutes, it's a lean batch of country/rock that doesn't wear out its welcome. Despite a sizable following and sold-out shows, Green has yet to become a household name. And for better or worse, WHAT I'M FOR will probably keep him right where he is.

"

Sorry to disagree, but...

Hoosier Redneck | 03/16/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Sorry to disagree with some other reviewers, but having enjoyed some of Pat Green's earlier work, I think this is an over-produced product aimed at the mass market...strictly commercialized noise. IMHO this is why Green hasn't really made it to a wider CW audience, i.e., he has raised anchor and is adrift. He needs to take a look at other successful folks like Strait, Jackson, and others. They started with a solid foundation and built on it. Green reminds me of the ball in a pin ball machine who keeps bouncing from one point to another, with no good purpose and no point of reference.

I saw Green at our state fair where it was just him and some guy on guitar. Great...better than a lot of full concerts I've attended. There's a message in there for Green. Music, yes. Noise, no.



The song writing on this CD is as good as anything he's done. But...and its a big but...ditch the electronic fiddles, amplified drums, and the rest of the noise and make music instead of racket.



This will be the last new Pat Green CD's I will be buying...been burned too many times now with these recent releases.

"

Too Much Nashville Production / Not Enough PFG

Music Fan 1973 | Chicago, IL | 08/12/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"As a longtime Pat Green fan, I will continue to support his music and see him in concert, where PFG truly shines. However, this latest effort is another example of how Nashville producers can influence an artist to move farther and farther away from the sound that made them fresh and unique to begin with. I wish those who claim to be big Pat Green fans would go back beyond the "Wave on Wave" album and discover what Pat Green once sounded like. His music was raw, much more stripped down, and a lot more honest. Listen to the passion in his voice in older songs like "Southbound 35", or the sincerity in "Dancehall Dreamer", or the honesty he sings with in a personal favorite of mine he has covered called "Nightmare". There just isn't anything on this album that compares, and unfortunately, I feel this album is a continued departure away from Pat Green's original sound. Every album since "Three Days" has slowly moved more and more away from that gritty Texas sound.



This remake of "Carry On" is the most obvious example of how Pat Green's music has become too over-produced. Listen to "Carry On" on the 2001 "Three Days" album, it was sung with passion that doesn't exist on the version on this album. By the way, the song lyric "My buddy Walt" was changed from "Walt Wilkins". Walt Wilkins is a Texas artist who has written a couple hits Pat Green recorded. Walt still plays that rootsy Texas country that Pat used to. I know what Nashville can do to an artist, and it's almost like Pat has lost touch with the sound that made him so popular to begin with. Sure he needs some radio friendly tracks, but I have a feeling Pat could still sell records quite well if he mixed in some tracks that were more true to his roots. Plus, that would help define what makes him unique with the fans of Nashville country. We have enough Rascal Flatts / bubble gum pop country artists already. Here's hoping Pat brings back some Texas/Red Dirt country songs on future albums."