MP3 Chris Vaughn - CHRIS VAUGHN 1

REAL COUNTRY...Traditional Sound,with a Modern Edge.Songs About REAL life.An Artist with REAL Experience.Track #1 Dedicated to Americas Truckers.This Album Takes a Journey Through All Genres of Country Music.From Bluegrass, to Traditional...Modern to Rock

10 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Traditional Country, COUNTRY: Modern Country



Details:
By Chip Withrow - 07/02/06 - 08:50 AM EST

Listening to Chris Vaughnâs self-titled CD, I find myself thinking about the randomness of country music success.

Hereâs a guy who, unlike many of the big names in Nashville, writes almost all of his own songs. Vaughn creates contemporary-sounding country music that is still firmly rooted in tradition.

To my ears, Vaughnâs disc is as good as what I hear on the radio. Itâs closer to Dwight Yoakam than Kenny Chesney, a well-produced effort that is slick but with some serious twang as well.

So why isnât this guy on CMT? As far as potential hits, Vaughn gives us the clever and catchy âBackwardâ and âOut of Your Mind.â Iâm playing these songs over and over again instead of tuning into the local âfrom the latest to the greatestâ country station.

I like the ode to a truckerâs life, â500 Miles,â to start the album. Itâs a straight-ahead rock and roll number, a punchy attention-getter. Later in the disc comes the other barn-burner, the bluegrassy âPicture in My Mind.â

The cover of Johnny Paycheckâs âIn Memory of a Memoryâ is a perfect choice. Vaughn pours out an aching vocal of one of the best country lyrics Iâve heard lately. That song and the pretty âI Still Love Youâ (dig the soulful piano work) show that Vaughn can deliver a sensitive ballad.

Even the song that I think gets too cute lyrically, âMaterial Cowgirl,â is a musical romp. And maybe Iâd appreciate the tune more if I were a cowboy. I have to stress that Vaughn's band (piano in the spotlight again, this time fun and strolling) absolutely swings.

I can imagine the closing track, the mid-tempo âThe Wind,â being a big hit. Itâs a bittersweet look at a couple who don't see eye to eye, and it has crisp drumming and a crying guitar solo.

The musician who is all over this disc, whose riffs blow me away, is pedal steel player Steve Easter. Check out how he makes âBackwardâ (my favorite cut) absolutely cook. Anyone who wants to have a country band needs to find a guy like this.

Every number is worth a listen. If you like popular country music, and you give this disc a chance, you will see that Chris merits a shot at big-time success. Heâs his own man, in charge of his own sound and image, and thatâs refreshing.