Clint Black - Killin' Time

When this debut album came out in 1989, Clint Black was poised to be bigger than contemporaneous debut artist Garth Brooks. It didn't happen--Garth had friends in low places--but of all the talent-rich Nashville Class of '89 (which also included Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt), Black's built the most consistently top-of-the-line body of work. The foundations are all here, inside the album's odd bookends (the honky-tonkin' strained analogy of "Straight from the Factory" and the country cabaret of "Live and Learn"), starting with his first hit, "A Better Man," a gracious breakup song blessed with a nifty descending guitar line. Another hit, the title track, boasts an even niftier, Duane Eddy-style hook; while a third hit, "Nobody's Home," displays Black's knack for power-shifting a slowish tune into overdrive with an unexpectedly dramatic chorus. "I'll Be Gone" features snappy guitar and foreshadows another Black trademark, the fiercely played instrumental takeouts that grace many of his later numbers. With an expressive, warm Texas drawl, enduring songwriting abilities (almost uniquely, Black cowrites all his material), and music steeped in country's past but attuned to present-day influences, Black is one of contemporary country's consummate artists. Killin' Time shows he had the complete package from the start. --Ken Barnes Amazon.com essential recording

The Best debut album to date!

Well i started out with Clint Black's Greatest Hits and I was so impressed that I decided to collect all this masterpiece albums starting from the earliest. AND i was not disappointed! I live in NZ where country music is widely unappreciated ...therefore it is tough-going to find Clint Black. But I managed to find it on CD AND on original vinyl!! CLASSIC collectors item I say! ANYWAYS... i love all tracks especially "Nobody's Home" which has great lyrics and is very soulful cowboy in style. My other faves are of course: Better Man, Killin' Time, Winding Down and Live and Learn. An all-round great country album...deserves to be bought and enjoyed! June 14, 2006

Classic Debut

Clint's debut was a huge breakout hit (selling over 3 million copies to date) and still sounds fantastic today. Some of his all-time best songs are here, and the CD yielded four #1 country songs - "A Better Man" (1 week), "Killin' Time" (1 week), "Nobody's Home" (3 weeks), and "Walkin' Away" (2 weeks). In addition, "Nothing's News" went to #3; however, every song on the CD sounds like it could have been a hit. Clint's voice sounds terrific, and the sound is classic country replete with twangy guitars and steel bass. His voice was initially compared to Merle Haggard, although he also developed his own style right off the bat. In fact, "A Better Man" made history as the first debut single in 13 years to hit #1, since Freddy Fender with "Before the Next Teardrop Falls."

What I admire most is that the collection is remarkably cohesive and the songs flow together so well. At the same time, a variety of styles are represented, including the playful honky-tonk of "Straight from the Factory," the bluesy "Nothing's News," and the danceable "A Better Man." I still frequently listen to this collection, although I rarely listen to Clint's other CDs. Unfortunately, the "Killin' Time" CD is so great that it somewhat overshadowed his subsequent releases, but just sit back and enjoy some great country music. Most highly recommended. June 24, 2004

For fans of Merle Haggard

History will record 1989 as the year that the Berlin wall came down but country music fans know that it was also the year that American country radio stations abandoned most of the established stars (with a few exceptions) and started playing the music of a younger generation, led by Clint Black but also including Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and others. Garth and Alan started more slowly but ultimately overtook Clint, though he has still had a lot of success in the intervening years. With this debut yielding five number one country hits, Clint's career got off to an unbelievably successful start.

Clint sounds very like Merle Haggard but it clearly didn't do him any harm. Actually, the emergence of Clint coincided with the end of Merle as a major contender in the country charts. This album contains ten outstanding original songs. Clint wrote some on his own and others with the help of one or two of his musicians. There is a mix of up-tempo songs and ballads. The five big hits were the title track, A better man, Nobody's home, Walking away and Nothing's news. You could get these hits via the two volumes of Greatest hits (the first volume contains two of them with the other three on the second volume) but the other five songs here are not available elsewhere and they are definitely worth hearing.

The five non-hits are Straight from the factory (a song using a lock and key as a metaphor for a relationship), You're gonna leave me again (about an unfaithful woman), I'll be gone (about a relationship on the verge of breakdown), Winding down (about people drinking after work) and Live and learn (a philosophical song).

Clint's overall record doesn't match Merle's and I doubt if it ever will, but this particular album is as good as any of Merle's original albums. If you enjoy Merle's music, buy this album. June 10, 2004

One of the best debuts ever...

Without a doubt, this one of the best debut efforts in country music. This is by far Clint's best CD. Every song, from beginning to end, is strong.

This CD is a perfect blend of old and new (for 1989) country music. It's all here. If you're a fan of country music, this Cd must, repeat must, be in your collection December 19, 2002

It's the Best....

I have loved this Clint Black album for a long time. I had the tape and thought I had lost it so I bought another one. Ended up finding it and then I had two and still bought it on CD. I know all the words to these songs and the CD version comes with an extra song that the tape doesn't. I think it's the greatest. Most CDs you buy, you end up only liking 1, 2 or 3 songs. I like all the songs and this is the only CD where I don't skip over a song to get to the next one. July 16, 2002

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