Southern Voice [Import]

I have to admit, before listening to this CD, I was extremely pessimistic. Never have I wholly enjoyed a McGraw album from Track 1 to the closing. Not even his Greatest Hits Collections. But this had me in shock come the end. The set of songs are sheer genius: a formulaic perfection. Think Texas Country Themes; a production that hits somewhere between haunting folk and the contemporary sophistication of an Alan Jackson or George Strait collection; and a vocal performance that is so individual you'd think McGraw wrote every track. It's a seriously good affair.

From the album opener, you feel the voice this album is going to speak through. `Still' is transient: it talks of a place the narrator goes back to for salvation, for release. The concept isn't overly original, granted, but the delivery and melody behind it is perfection, and releases the concept beautifully. McGraw's vocal is serious but inviting - the production speaks volumes: it's almost a way of life - that way of life maintained throughout the album with this wonderful format of production. `Ghost Town Train' is a folksy melody that plays off the lyrics perfectly. Oh so George Strait in theme, but utterly original in delivery. Superb.

`Good Girls' is possibly McGraw's best song. Ever. A haunting, masterly clever concept: a masterpiece, it really is.

`I Didn't Know It At The Time' is another fine, fine song. Very emotional lyrics, and a stirring melody. Gallimore's production is vital here: the track could have been very pop/rock, but it is reined in and smoothed out gracefully. Fabulous. `It's A Business...' is probably the weakest song on the album. It's a wee bit annoying in theme, as it doesn't really fit the album's feel. It is a catchy song, but ultimately disposable. Radio will lap it up, but it won't go down in history.

`If I Died Today' is poignant. To me, it channels Willie Nelson. The lyrics are moving, the production hitting the emotions as hard as the words. Breathtaking. `Mr Whoever You Are' is a surprising highlight. A truly original piece, that you just don't expect from McGraw. It's moving, actually on many levels. Addressing the feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, emptiness the woman in the song feels; the story follows her seeking happiness and joy, from a complete stranger. The melody is touching, and the whole feel of the chorus is gorgeous.

`Southern Voice' is the album's second single, and is racing up the country charts as I type. With its off-beat rhymes and phrasing, it tackles the pride of being southern: keeping well away from cliché and `hick-talk', with a sizeable list of name-drops. `You Had To Be There' is Merle Haggard in jail with contemporary emotion and depth. The story is of prisoner having his estranged father come to visit him, and explaining to his father it's too late. The damage has been done, and he should've been there. It's heartwrenching - the best line being `My Mama couldn't throw a ball, even if she had the time'.

`I'm Only Jesus' is another interesting selection, but phenomenal. The theme is complex, and hard to summarise. I'll let you delve into it. It's so artistic: philosophical, but almost cynical in tone. Captivating.

`Forever Seventeen' is a lovely love song. It follows the narrator observing his lover's ways: how she doesn't see her age, nor the things she does to keep herself feeling young, nor, ultimately, how beautiful and real she is. A very nice track. `Love You Goodbye' is classic country in format: using the chorus in three different ways. Each story being told with creative lyrics, and an interesting twist, it finishes the album off superbly.

Although this CD is McGraw's best by far, you can't help but sense from the commercial response that McGraw may have already had his chance, and kind of blown it with the wider audiences. It is a shame. I believe however that even if McGraw did still have the commercial appeal he had early naughties, this album probably wouldn't be huge commercially. Because it's musically fantastic. You find it's rare that a masterpiece of a country album is a commercial success. Perhaps it gives McGraw a new charm though. He may evolve as an individual musically now. Something he's lacked before - individuality. Now he has that, he must maintain such amazing song selections, and he MUST stick with Byron Gallimore - no matter what anyone else says, he is THE best producer country music has. Keep this up McGraw, because it's absolutely killer.

5 Stars.

We first heard Tim McGraw on a country radio station in our hire-car as we crossed Florida, being chased by Hurricane Katrina. The sound of his voice and the sheer cleverness of his song-writing stopped our conversation - we simply had to hear who'd been singing. As soon as we returned home, we had to get his CD and we've got every one since. There's not one 'duff' song on this album. Every one is thought-provoking and wonderfully produced. I wouldn't even say we were big country fans, but we'd travel a long way to hear this gentleman sing live!

The CD opens with the slow opening chords of 'Still'-great guitar solo half way through and continues with the more upbeat 'Ghost town' a song contemplating life without a lost love.'Good girls'- women scorned by unfaithful partners.'I didn't know at the time' a song about life's ups and down's and the unpredicability of it all.
A high maintenance women is the subject of 'Its a business doing pleasure with you' and is one of the CD's standout tracks. The other standout track is the title track another upbeat country song.
The CD's other tracks all maintain the high standard once again proving there's no such thing as a bad Tim Mcgraw album.