Search - Trace Adkins :: Songs About Me

It's Called HONOR, not Exploitation!

LINDA VANTASSELL | Rustburg, VA USA | 08/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While compelled to write a review of this album, I was further compelled to write a review after reading the review by Mrs. A. Browning, a supposed wife of a soldier, who denounced the album as exploitation and suggested that others not buy the album.



Country singers such as Trace and Toby are not exploiting our soldiers in an effort to "cash in," as Mrs. Browning suggests. Rather they are among the rare and the few who have the glandular fortitude to honor our men in uniform in this age of political incorrectness and anti-war fervor.



A true wife of a soldier would honor the sacrifice that her husband is making for his country. She wouldn't denounce it. No, it's not romantic, but it's something to be honored. This is specifically what Trace does in his song, "Arlington." He honors the sacrifice that our soldiers have made. He honors their lives and their deaths. He not only honors it, he memorializes it, capturing it in a song that will bring anyone to tears. It's a tearful subject, and it's not one that should go unappreciated.



We need to remember. We need to remember the men, their sacrifices, and their lives. Most of all, we need to remember that we wouldn't be celebrating our lives as free Americans were it not for those buried at the Arlington National Cemetary.



Trace ... thank you for honoring the dead by capturing their essence in song. I appreciate your willingness to honor the dead by singing of them in song. The hearts of those men were beautiful, and they willingly gave all for many who will never give any.



Purchase the album for the quality of the music, which is excellent. If you're anti-war and anti-Bush, perhaps, you should go visit Michael Moore's site. He has more than enough hatred to drown you in."

"Songs" Has A Universal Appeal

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 03/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Arlington, Honky Tonk Badonkadent, I Learned How to Love You



Despite the stiff and often aggressive competition, country music has remained sacrosanct. On the title track, "Songs about Me," Adkins uncovers the genre's tenacity: "(they are) songs about loving and living/and good hearted women and family and God/yeah they're all just songs about me." Not since Clinton Gregory's "(If It Weren't For Country Music) I'd Go Crazy," has there been a better apologetic paean. With a finesse that is moving, this bluesy guitar driven midtempo title track is only proleptic of the arête material to follow. On the whole, "Songs about Me" is perhaps this lanky Texan's most balanced and amicable CD. Attributive to the album's affectation is that most of these songs come from Music Row's finest scribes including River Rutherford, Tim Mensy, Tom Shapiro, George Teren, Shane Minor, Tony Martin and Ed Hill amongst other maestros.



Charming as the title track is, "Arlington" is even more beguiling. A sensitive ballad told from the perspective of a fallen soldier being laid to rest a "thousand stones away" from his granddad in the same field of honor, this is heart wrenching stuff. Adkins' muscular yet mesmeric baritone has never been utilized to greater effect than on the sensitive power ballad "I Learned How to Love You." Co-written by Tim Mensy and Steve Nathan, this piano and string laden number is postcard perfect for being a radio darling. Possessing the same romantic vibe is the more upbeat Shane Minor and Wendell Mobley's "Find Me a Preacher;" this time finding a lovesick Adkins ready to pounce on the thought of tying the knot.



In the wake of the successes enjoyed by more maverick acts such as Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson, it's assuring to find major acts starting to color outside the lines. Suspending all rules of political correctness (that have given so many of Nashville's products such an artificial sheen) "Honky Tonk Badonkadent" is a salacious and rowdy barnburner that ought to make every red-blooded male proud. Packed with punch over some macho pounding drums, the feminine vile has not much celebrated with such honesty since Confederate Railroad's "Trashy Woman." On the other extreme, you will find a more sensitive Adkins on the limpid "My Heaven." Coming from the pens of Jim Collins and Chris Wallin. "My Heaven" finds a homely dad likening the celestial city with the comforts of home.



However, not all works. Veering too close to Toby Keith's in-your-face bawdy terrain is the "Baby I'm Home." Unlike Keith who is often interesting, Adkins' bluesy-rock "Baby I'm Home" with its uncalled for sensuous storyline is on the patronizing side. Equally forgettable is River Rutherford and George Teren's "Bring It On"--an average 70s rock number with that occasional fiddling just to remind you that it is country.



Nevertheless, despite a few tarnishes, there's much to savor on Adkins' sixth CD bearing the Capitol Nashville logo. This is perhaps Adkins most lyrically diverse album with all the major themes of country music covered ranging from romance to family to the honky tonks to the military. Also, there's a deeper sense of maturity evident in Adkins' nuances. This has added an emotional heft to his delivery making listening to his ballads such as "Arlington" and "I Learned How to Love You" a real treat."

Wonderful!

TrueFan | Ohio | 04/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great mixture of pure country music....you will feel like dancing, you will cry when you listen to the song "Arlington" and be reminded to take time out and be romantic all from this one CD!



Trace Adkins does it again!!! That smooth baritone voice singing "Bring It On" will make you feel secure and loved..regardless of what you may have faced...I highly recommend this CD for everyone!!!!!







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