Album Review – Jessi Alexander’s “Decatur County Red”
Beware of the women who write songs for the mainstream of country. To make it in that evil world often dominated by men, you’ve got to be a real tough mother cut from a different cloth, capable of being told “no” over and over again and still continue on, and agile enough to deliver songs that can succeed despite the virtually impenetrable bulwarks in place beating back songs of substance.
This is the world that Lori McKenna comes from, that Natalie Hemby, Brandy Clark, and Caitlyn Smith come from. And it’s also the world that Jessi Alexander has survived in for some 15 years now to pen some pretty memorable songs during an otherwise forgettable era.
Columbia Records tried to make a star out of Jessi Alexander back in 2005, releasing a couple of singles that couldn’t make it into the Top 50. But that’s okay. Some artists are just too good for the radio. So screw it. There’s more dignity in keeping it low key, writing songs for others, playing bar rooms and clubs when you can, and doing it your way instead of compromising to commercial playlists.
A long line of country superstars have Jessi Alexander’s name in their liner notes, but it’s more the songs than the names that’s impressive. We’re talking about Lee Brice’s CMA Song of the Year-winning “I Drive Your Truck,” Trisha Yearwood’s “Prizefighter,” and the title track from Tim McGraw’s 2015 album, “Damn Country Music.” Maybe these impress you, and maybe they don’t if you’re a hardcore independent fan. But they happen to make up some of the better songs released in the mainstream in recent memory.
What’s great about albums from mainstream women songwriters is with the jingle jangle in their pockets from song royalties, when they hit the studio, they can do whatever the hell they want, and that tends to be treading out their best material regardless of commercial applicability, and cutting songs to their own specifications as opposed to some label’s expectations. And in the case of Jessi Alexander and Decatur County Red, that also means the songs are unabashedly country with the crust still on and the grit of the real world caked in the treads.
Great writing highlights Decatur County Red of course, and across all the tracks, from the account of a redneck upbringing with Rebel flags as curtains found in the title track, to the harrowing heartbreak found in “The Problem Is You.” “Mama Drank” makes great use of setting and character, and the record also isn’t afraid to have a little fun, especially when Jessi teams with Randy Houser on the loose and sweaty “Country Music Made Me Do It.” This is the kind of record you wish Miranda Lambert would make.
What leaves you a little wanting is this album comes in with only eight songs. Sometimes that’s ample, but in this case, it feels like Jessi Alexander didn’t finish the thought. And with a couple of the final songs featuring stripped-down production, you just feel like a little bit more effort could have been expended here to get this record to the next level. It’s not like Jessi doesn’t have enough material to pull from.
But everything you do get on Decatur County Red is pretty damn great. Tim McGraw continues to be one of the most confounding of the mainstream country stars, because he’ll cut a song like the terrible “Truck Yeah,” and then turn around and record Lori McKenna’s “Humble and Kind,” or the Jessi Alexander co-penned “Damn Country Music.” Similar to “Humble and Kind,” the McGraw version was fine, and you were happy he even had the fortitude to cut it. But McKenna’s was much better. Hearing “Damn Country Music” from Jessi Alexander, it sends you straight to country music heaven.
In a just world, it would be Jessi Alexander standing there in the spotlight at center stage in an arena singing the songs she helped pen as opposed to someone else. She proves she has the talent and appeal for such a fate in Decatur County Red.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8/10)
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Purchase Decatur County Red
RWP
April 1, 2020 @ 8:12 am
Her last album all has her versions of songs she’s written. “Drink on it” “Mine would be you” by Blake Shelton “Drive your Truck” by Brice and even “The Climb” by Miley, among others. And you’re right, they all just sound better when sung by the original songwriter
Mark Gardner
April 1, 2020 @ 8:44 am
Totally agree, I was listening to Decatur County Red and when it ended I was like what only 8 songs. DCR is a great album though. Her previous album Down Home, make you appreciate the songwriter in her (and yes Down Home is the Bros Osburne tune).
wayne
April 1, 2020 @ 9:20 am
Good review. Been a long time fan of hers. I first heard her sing with Jon Randall, her now husband for several years, on his single “Baby Won’t You Come Home” which was a great tune. That was many years ago.
Trigger said, “This is the kind of record you wish Miranda Lambert would make.” Well, we don’t need her. We got Jessi.
Dan Morris
April 1, 2020 @ 11:37 am
The main reason it would be nice to see Miranda make an album like this is it would expose Real Country to what is still a very large audience. Turning more people onto good music is always a positive no matter the artist it is coming through.
wayne
April 1, 2020 @ 12:15 pm
Dan,
I agree with your premise. I do think that Miranda’s time has peeked, but I agree that any good music coming through any artist is a good think for folks like us that like real country.
I hope Jessi gets some traction. Such a good artist. However, releasing new music now certain has more headwinds than normal. I think Ashley McBryde will find this out.
DJ
April 1, 2020 @ 9:31 am
That’s some “Damn Country Music” right there!
Benny Lee
April 1, 2020 @ 9:32 am
Enjoying this one. Don’t mind the shorter length, I think I actually prefer it. Why have any fluff on an album?
Kristin
April 1, 2020 @ 9:49 am
Thanks for all your reviews, without them I would miss so much new music. I use apple music and they are awful at including new releases, they are still showing Wildcard in their “new” slider, but this album is no where to be found or featured anywhere?
Matt F.
April 1, 2020 @ 10:36 am
Looking forward to checking this out.
IMO, having only eight songs–one of which was a relatively unimaginative cover of a wonderful song (“London Homesick Blues”)–was a meaningful drawback to “Cheap Silver.” It’s a very enjoyable album, but I thought this should have kept it from the top spot in AOTY.
That’ll cost you two cents.
Trigger
April 1, 2020 @ 12:16 pm
It’s not just about the amount of songs. Jaime Wyatt’s “Felony Blues” was seven songs with a Merle Haggard cover, but you still felt satiated when you were finished. But I do agree, less songs is better than simply filler.
Euro South
April 4, 2020 @ 2:09 pm
I have to disagree with your “relatively unimaginative cover” comment, Matt. My initial reaction was similar – the first two or three times I heard it, the Moonpies cover just made me wanna listen again to the great ¡Viva Terlingua! version. But then on the 4th or whichever it was listen I picked up on what was special about the Moonpies version: they (beautifully) tease out a deeply melancholy, wistful streak in that song that stays in the background on Jerry Jeff and the gang’s rowdy rendition. Maybe if you give it a few more listens.
Matt F.
April 4, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
Thanks. I’ll definitely try it out again and keep an ear out for that wistful streak. It doesn’t surprise me that it’s in the song somewhere, but as you say, the original emphasizes goofy much more than melancholy.
I listened to someone the other day whom I thought you would like–but can’t remember who it was now. Well, I’ve been listening to Gill Landry A LOT, and am very taken by his stuff. And I just caught up with Carson McHone’s 2018 album, “Carousel.” I’ve listened to it twice through now, and am thinking this may be a real, real keeper.
Hope you’re staying safe and healthy.
Euro South
April 5, 2020 @ 12:50 pm
I’ve been checking out Gill Landry’s self-titled. I really like the duet with Laura Marling, who is a big favorite of mine. Thanks for the recommendation. Hope you’re staying safe too.
OlaR
April 1, 2020 @ 10:50 am
Better 8 good/great tracks than an album filled with 3rd rate material.
Jessi Alexander delivers. I’m impressed & Randy Houser sounds damn good on “Country Music Made Me Do It” too.
New Stuff:
Fanny Lumsden – Fallow – Album (12 Tracks) – Released (03/12)
The australian alt-country artist & Golden Guitar winner is back. “This Too Shall Pass” is the current single & a new entry on the Country Songs Top 40 charts this week (#34).
The album mixes more or less country (less) with pop (more), folk & “americana”. It’ not bad…but not my kind of music. I was pretty annoyed after a couple of tracks. The production is too inconstant.
Bradley & Adair – Oh Darlin’ – Album (10 Tracks) – Released (02/20)
Dale Ann Bradley & Tina Adair together on one album singing bluegrass versions of “Apartment #9” , “Oh Darlin'” & “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down”. Solid as a rock music.
Wilson Phil…oops… The McClymonts – “I Got This” – Single/Track – Released
Australias favourite country music trio is back with an uptempo track in the style of Wilson Phillips & the trademark harmony vocals. Pure pop with banjo. A guilty pleasure & next Top 10 single for the sisters down under (#10 – week 2 – Country Songs Top 40).
Carolyn Dawn Johnson – “Light Changes Everything” – Single/Track – Released
After a 8 year long break canadian award winning singer/songwriter Carolyn Dawn Johnson is back. She had a short career in Nashville too (Arista Nashville, 2001-2004 with 2 Top 10 albums & a handful of charted singles). “Light Changes Everything” is a country-pop middle-of-the-road track. Sounds like country mix of an 90’s swedish european song contest entry.
Trigger
April 1, 2020 @ 12:04 pm
Randy Houser has been singing the hell out of songs lately.
618creekrat
April 1, 2020 @ 3:23 pm
Crust, indeed. Can’t have great pie (or bread) without that.
Hadn’t listened to her before, but I think it’s a very strong effort, closing tracks included. Enjoyed the soulful/bluesy elements – reminded me of Julie Roberts. Overall, I felt like I was getting to know the artist throughout the tracks.
This Jon Randall dude sure married well!
Ian
April 1, 2020 @ 5:46 pm
If any of you have Amazon Prime, Verlon Thompson has a great series called Barnegie Hall featuring a bunch of legendary songwriters. Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall are featured twice. Well worth watching.
Dawg Fan
April 2, 2020 @ 8:43 am
She and Ashley McBride sound an awful alike. And I mean that as a compliment.
King Honky Of Crackershire
April 2, 2020 @ 1:34 pm
All I know is, nipples and white tank tops sure make a good pair, don’t they?
But seriously, it’s embarrassing that this is what passes for deep these days. Oh your poor mama; she was driven to drink by her children who loved her and her husband who worked his a$$ off to provide…the poor woman. Too bad she couldn’t have lived the good life those pioneer women lived. On second thought, maybe it’s better that mama had the “tough” life she lived, that way her millenial daughter would have something “deep” to write about.
Trigger
April 2, 2020 @ 1:45 pm
Not to bring up a lady’s age, but I believe Jessi Alexander is solidly Gen X. She just doesn’t look it.
Happy Dan
April 4, 2020 @ 9:59 am
“My Problem is You”, what a great great song. Damn!
Euro South
April 4, 2020 @ 1:21 pm
On first listen, I liked Jessi Alexander better than Jesse Daniel (though I really liked him too. Both are great. Just couldn’t resist the coincidence of names.)
Bruce Bremer
April 5, 2020 @ 5:46 pm
Check her performances with 18 South. There’s a You Tube of her singing Woodstock and she just nails it. Also her singing, I Wanna Be Blue, stunning. She doesn’t need country. Country needs her.
Woogeroo
April 9, 2020 @ 9:01 am
Those are both good… but that Mama Drank is hilarious.
Bruce Bremer
April 21, 2022 @ 11:56 am
She sings the heck out of this- https://youtu.be/HPvbgw1kf3w