For a meat 'n' potatoes country singer like Toby Keith, he does a pretty good job of showing a sensitive side, though his ballad baritone goes slightly shaky when left out too long. Even so, with a basic mixture of beery b... more »raggadocio and tender sentiment Keith (who cowrites most of his material) seems to have hit his stride and has found a formula that commercial country has finally embraced. On this follow-up to his 1999 How Do You Like Me Now, production values remain slick, considering how much testosterone is involved, but there's still room for this Oklahoma boy to strut while a handful of heavy metal arpeggios punctuate the proceedings. --Henry Cabot Beck« less
For a meat 'n' potatoes country singer like Toby Keith, he does a pretty good job of showing a sensitive side, though his ballad baritone goes slightly shaky when left out too long. Even so, with a basic mixture of beery braggadocio and tender sentiment Keith (who cowrites most of his material) seems to have hit his stride and has found a formula that commercial country has finally embraced. On this follow-up to his 1999 How Do You Like Me Now, production values remain slick, considering how much testosterone is involved, but there's still room for this Oklahoma boy to strut while a handful of heavy metal arpeggios punctuate the proceedings. --Henry Cabot Beck
Jerry S. from OCEANSIDE, CA Reviewed on 12/13/2010...
Toby Keith W0W!
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CD Reviews
Toby Keith does it once again!
DanD | 09/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In a day where singer/songwriters aren't as popular as they once were, Toby Keith has been unfortunately overlooked until recently. This CD follows up his hit "HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?!", and is even better.
"PULL MY CHAIN" opens with the catchy "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight", and follows with the rap/country mix of "I Wanna Talk About Me." "I Can't Take You Anywhere" follows the same beat, but the album slows down (tempo-wise, not quality) for "You Leave Me Weak", probably one of the best country love songs of the year. "Tryin' To Matter" is about trying to make it all work out. "Pull My Chain" is one of the highlights of the album, combining humor and wit and love (as do a lot of the songs) into four minutes of fun. "The Sha La La Song" is also a great tune to listen to. "Pick 'Em Up and Lay 'Em Down" will get you dancing and singing along, which, I know from experience, is tricky to do at the same time! "Forever Hasn't Got Here Yet" sounds like it was made exclusively for radio, whether that be good or bad. "Yesterday's Rain" is about how love never fades away, even when your love one does. "My List" is a song for all of us--how, even though we have things to do, we must always make time for those we love. "You Didn't Have As Much To Loose" is another love-gone bad ballad, showing Keith's emotional side. And don't forget Keith's writing abilities; he cowrote nine of the album's twelve songs. THAT's talent! For Toby Keith fans and nonfans alike, this is one album you don't want to miss. So buy it and PULL MY CHAIN!"
TOBY KEITH COMES THRU AGAIN!!
Mary E. Nicotera | Western New York | 09/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even though I'm a long-time Toby Keith fan (way back to his initial release, "Should Have Been a Cowboy"), I still feel that I can be objective when it comes to his new material. Order "Pull My Chain" NOW--you won't be disappointed. And...PLAY IT LOUD! How better to listen to his deep, clear, resounding voice?The instrumentation on this particular CD is outstanding, and the production is crisp and top-notch. Toby really branches out on this one, trying some different musical paths. This CD will appeal to the "die-hard country fan", as well as to those who are just starting to test the country waters. My particular favorite tracks are--
"Pick 'em Up & Lay 'em Down"--written by Dave Loggins, but Toby makes this one his own. Play this one VERY LOUD!
"I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight"--this one RACED up the charts, and is currently "stuck" @ #2 on Billboard.
"I Wanna Talk About Me"--sure to be a crowd pleaser, and will certainly appeal to the male persuasion (and to the women of the world who like to laugh at themselves...like me).
"You Didn't Have as Much to Lose"--one of Toby's signature power ballads.I could go on because there are several more songs that could easily become hits on this CD. PICK UP THIS CD...YOU WON'T LAY IT DOWN! You don't just get "Meat and Potatos"...you get dessert, too!"
Still Likin' Him
James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 08/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Toby Keith's output at Mercury Records (1993 - 1998) brought him steady - if unspectacular - success. Keith finally broke through to country's elite level with his 1999 award-winning Dreamworks' debut How Do You Like Me Now? It's follow-up, Pull My Chain, looks to continue that momentum. The CD gets off to a strong start with a double dose of Keith's sharp wit. "I'm Just Talking About Tonight" tackles commitment-phobia in a light-hearted manner, while "I Wanna Talk About Me" is a rip roaring rapper (think "Getcha Some" on caffeine) about a guy tired of hearing his self-absorbed woman's raving. Keith settles down quite a bit thereafter, with some nice ballads detailing love in various stages: lost ("I Can't Take You Anywhere"), devoted ("You Leave Me Weak"), and struggling ("Tryin' To Matter"). Best of the lot is "The List," a gentle rumination about finding time for the important things in life. The ability to effectively blend sass and substance keeps Keith a couple of step ahead of the cookie-cut pack. How do I like you NOW? Just fine, Toby. Keep up the good work."
Toby Has Guts
Toby fan | Oklahoma, USA | 03/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I think this is one of Toby's better efforts in that he dares to put out songs a little different like "I Wanna Talk About Me". In a genre of music where today, girl singers mostly sneer at guys with attitude songs and the guy singers mostly sing schlocky, begging at her feet, love ballads, this is a nice change to see someone say what alot of guys really think in a humorous way without being afraid of ticking off anybody. "I'm just Talkin' About Tonight" is song that revisits the old now taboo theme of one night stands that used to be prevailent in country music. Whether you agree with it or not, it's still showing of Toby's daring, and gutsy choosing of songs. Also, Toby shows a liking of some southern rock style music with tunes like "Pull My Chain", "Pick "Em Up And Lay 'Em Down", and a bonus track about riding the rodeo that really rocks!
But Toby also showed a little of his SENSITIVE side on here (obviously you gotta have 'em) with tunes like "My List", "Yesterday's Rain","You Didn't Have As Much To Lose" etc. Toby Keith is definitly showing he's in this for the long term as one of country music's most original and sustaining performers."
Attitude, Attitude, Attitude = Breakthrough
Matt Wagner | Lawton, Ok United States | 11/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Good ones follow, great ones influence and create change. Give Toby Keith credit - he has established and demonstrated the power of bringing attitude into lyrics and releasing them as singles. Conservative Nashville held him back - hello Mercury - thankfully Dream Works and James Stroud gave Toby the greenlight, and the results speak for themselves."How Do You Like Me Now" - Huge huge record. Toby CMA/ACM Male Vocalist of the Year. All because of attitude."Pull My Chain" is all about attitude. This ones goes up a notch. Very relatable songs. Who isn't singing "I wanna talk about ME" right now? Who hasn't gone through the 'pickup' process "I'm Just Talking About Tonight" speaks of. "My List" hits home with anyone over 30 who appreciates life's frailties and shortness. And Toby has mastered the ability to say things in songs that men wouldn't normally be caught dead saying that make women melt - and create the fantasy for the man. Genius. Pure genius. Hats off to Toby for an innovative, creative, funny, and entertaining CD."