Joe Nichols - Man with a Memory

It's not just that this Arkansas native's leathery, edgy voice conjures up Haggard, Jackson, and Travis. Too many recent case histories demonstrate that such traditionalism won't necessarily survive Music Row or radio's dictatorial requirements. Joe Nichols provides a heartening exception to that depressing rule. The songs may cover predictable ground, yet their spicy ingenuity and Nichols's hardy voice prove consistently satisfying. He tackles the philosophical tune "The Impossible" with understated finesse. The same applies to his spins on loneliness ("You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet"), love ("Can't Hold a Halo to You"), barroom nostalgia ("Joe's Place"), and impossible women ("She Only Smokes When She Drinks"). What could have been a predictable Western-swing two-step on "You Can't Break the Fall" appears in an unexpectedly elegant, '50s cool-jazz veneer. His rendition of Tom T. Hall's loopy, satirical "Life Don't Have to Be Nothin' at All" fits glovelike into this mix. Few debuts are flawless, but this comes so close that it whets the appetite for the next time. --Rich Kienzle Amazon.com

Devil drives a Coupe de Ville

Devil drives a Coupe de Ville was stuck in my head for almost a week.
It got so bad I had to actually google at what a coupe de ville is.

Without passing a judgment on the artistic merits, it is safe to say that
this (and companion 'Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off') are clearly going to be some of those rare records that people truly associate with, an American Classic in other words.
April 6, 2008

Decent contemporary country for someone who doesn't care for contemporary country

Trust me, I am not a big fan of today's country music. If I do listen to country, I prefer classic country such as Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson (and I am young man). But I am a big Joe Nichols fan, mainly because I caught him on Austin City Limits. He has a wonderful voice, and there are some great songs on here. Life Don't Have to Mean Nothing At All gets me every time. I know it's a bit of a country rap, but the refrain has great harmony, and there's a nice guitar break. February 6, 2008

Feel Good Music

Every song on this CD is worth listening too. The Impossible is inspiring. Brokenheartsville still makes me chuckle---it is somewhat humurous. I rarely listen to country. But this is country worth getting and enjoying. June 30, 2007

Great 4 Country lovers

This CD is a very nice change from my past listenings........... 8-) February 18, 2007

Could he be the next big thing? The CD's not

After Impossible hit the radio I just had to have this CD.
The beginning is the best, but then it's followed by a bunch of weak average album fillers and after that it never tops the beginning.

1. This is a strong ballad with great lyric work and is obviously a single. 5/5

2. Mid-tempo song about life at the bar. It's very catchy and fun. Very country-ish. 5/5

3. My favourite. About the one that broke your heart, but with attitude in the song. Cheaky up-tempo song. 5/5

4. About a guy thinking he's about to get it on with a girl, but "she only smokes when she drinks". It's a slow ballad you can listen to, but why would you want to? 2/5

5. This one could be cool, but it's just gay. "Everything's a thing if you know what I mean. You can't do nothing cause there's no such thing." It's uptempo and you might think it's good the first 2-3 times you listen to it, but gets old very fast. 2/5

6. Yuck. 1/5

7. Very country-ish, catchy, fun and mid-tempo tune about being a fool. Can get annoying after a while. 4/5

8. Yuck. 1/5

9. Slow/mid-tempo album filler. 1/5

10. This is a reflecting song about the lonesome life. It's slow, but not so catchy. It grows. 3/5

11. Another cool upbeat song that could be cool/stupid. For me it's somewhere in the middle. It gets annoying too fast. 3/5

12. To be the title track I think it's pretty weak. It's a slow song about a relationship gone wrong. I can never remember it after I'm done listening to it. 1/5 October 25, 2005

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