Tim McGraw - Not a Moment Too Soon

It's best to think of McGraw as the Paul Revere of modern country music: dumb, derivative and too much fun to be easily dismissed. Just as the Raiders made up for their lack of sophistication with an overabundance of enthusiasm, McGraw's attractive tenor and unerring commercial instincts transform tearjerkers like "Don't Take the Girl" and "Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way" and novelty numbers like "Indian Outlaw" and "It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This" into hard-to-resist, low-brow entertainment. --Geoffrey Himes Amazon.com

Breakthrough album still fairly traditional

After an unsuccessful debut of solidly traditional country music, Tim added a contemporary edge to his music for his second album (this one) although the overall sound is still fairly traditional. Tim's music became much more contemporary with subsequent albums, leaving the traditional stuff to Alan Jackson and others. But all that came later - this should please all but the die-hard traditionalists.

The song that gave Tim his breakthrough, Indian outlaw, is sometimes dismissed as a novelty song but it's great fun, if somewhat controversial (some say it's an insult to Native Americans).

The album opens with It don't get any countrier than this (actually about a woman), followed by Give it to me Strait, about drowning one's sorrows while playing a jukebox full of George Strait records - it mentions several song titles including Unwound, Fireman, Baby's getting good at goodbye and Fool hearted memory. These two songs should dispel any doubts about Tim's credentials as a country singer.

The rest of the album is in similar style. I particularly like Down on the farm (about having a good party), the title track (a superb ballad), Don't take the girl (a classic country ballad) and Refried dreams.

If you don't like traditional country music, you should give this a miss even if you like Tim's later music. Conversely, if you enjoy traditional country, don't ignore this just because Tim is the singer. It's a great album. February 16, 2005

Dont stop now

This was the first album i owned of Tims and now thanks to all the great music on this album I am a die hard fan of Tim McGraw December 10, 2002

Oh my gosh!!!!What an awful thing to say!!!

Ok well, in defense of Tim McGraw, country and myself.......I am not a sheep and I certainly liked this CD.Not his best but definitly one of his better.Whiny?I think not.I'm sorry to tell you this Scott but not everyone likes the cry in your beer stuff from 40 years ago.I'm not down on it but cmon.......you gotta be kidding...Tim McGraw is EXTREMELY talented. November 20, 2001

Not A Moment Too Soon

With his high lonesome yodel, and jacked-up honky tonk groove, singer Tim McGraw is the latest in a new generation of country heartthrobs to capture the imagination of today's young country fans. From the opening notes of "It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This"--with its skinny dipping, roll in the hay, crank my tractor sexual imagery--NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON showcases McGraw's drawlin' good time delivery on a section of party-hearty arrangements.

The key element in young McGraw's appealing country synthesis is the persistent undercurrent of chicken-fried rock'n'roll in the mix, as on the bluesy "40 Days And 40 Nights" and the pulsating "Ain't That Just Like A Dream," with its big, ringing arena gestures (descended from bands the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd). Not that McGraw can't get next to a ballad, as he demonstrates on the steel-guitar inflected "Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way" and the nostalgic "Don't Take The Girl."

But it's the hard-charging, dancing "turbo tonk" of tunes like his big hit "Indian Outlaw"--with its shifting tom-tom groove, shuffling blues jig and fiddling square dance breaks--that best captures the rowdy spirit and rough-and-ready delivery of Tim McGraw. Daddy Tug McGraw must be proud. October 20, 2001

My review

I am not really here to rate this CD(lets just say its awesome like all the other Tim McGraw cds). Scott, how can you say that? Tim McGraw is talented and if he is so "awful" how come people who don't even like country like him? For all the people out there who are wondering if buying his CD's are worth it, they are. This is an older of his CD's so it's more deep country. His newer CD's are more modern country. It really depends on what you want. "Don't take the girl" was the first song I heard from him and it was when I was in first grade. From then on it has been one of my favorites and Tim has been at the top. I would buy this CD if you know a good country artist when you see one. Oh, and Scott, are you sure you aren't talking about yourself? April 14, 2001

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