Song Review – Tyler Farr’s “A Guy Walks Into A Bar”
Last time I was paying attention to Tyler Farr, he was touching off a firestorm for singing about parking his truck in his ex’s yard and whipping beer cans at her window. Then Colt Ford and the cast of Duck Dynasty showed up in the video, machine gunning out rolls of toilet paper at this poor chick’s abode just because she finally figured out Tyler Farr had a big bag of nothing and gave him the boot. It wouldn’t have been possible for Tyler Farr to come across as more unlikeable. Even that guy from Staind, Aaron Lewis or whatever, was up Tyler Farr’s ass about how offensive the song was towards women. Sting’s “Every Breath You Take,” eat your heart out.
But you know, if you make it your business to share your opinions in a public forum, you better be willing and able to press the reset button on any artist and come to new material with an open mind. “Redneck Crazy” wasn’t written by Tyler, but a troika of professional songwriters like just about every country song is today. So whatever, I’m willing to give him another chance as long as he keeps the inferences to domestic violence on the down low.
Farr has a new record on the way later this month through Columbia Nashville, and ahead of it his opening salvo consists of a song called “A Guy Walks Into A Bar.” Once again written by three people, and none of which who carry the first name of Tyler, you immediately start to pick up on the disconnect between inspiration and delivery that plagues most of modern country. The punchline title could be easy to dismiss, or could reveal something a little deeper simply because it looks almost too cliché as the title of a modern country song.
“A Guy Walks Into A Bar” is sort of a slow tempo ballad, and does a fair enough job of sucking you in with a cyclical story about the heartbroken getting spun through the turnstiles of life repeatedly. Farr’s voice doesn’t offer much character, but he does his best to lather the verses with as much emotion as he can. And the idea of the sick jokes life can play, and the way you and others can sometimes see your fate coming but can’t seem to control it, shouldn’t go unrecognized as achievements for the track.
But once again we have a country song that wants to rely on the story to drive it, but is only willing to commit two verses before doubling up on the catchy chorus to pander for radio play. Even the astutely-added bridge offers some space for a resolution or further insight, but instead it’s filled it up with a wank-off guitar solo. In general, the music of “A Guy Walks Into A Bar” is pretty terrible. It sounds like Tom Scholz of Boston shows up, turning his pick sideways to grate it down the fretboard and evoke visions of early arena rock, which is only fitting seeing how Farr’s backing band looks like it was platooned together from various Billy Idol tribute projects.
Tyler Farr’s vocals abilities are pretty average, and aren’t complimented by the fact that when he hits certain notes, he looks like he just stuck his face in a heavily soiled baby diaper. Not his fault, just saying. This all emphasizes once again that we live in a country world where ragingly average male singers are superstars, yet women can barely eek out 2 spins per hour. Cole Swindell now has more #1’s than Miranda Lambert, and Tyler Farr is on his way to his third Top 5.
“A Guy Walks Into A Bar” is like a really important PSA done by a professional wrestler. It’s not even that it’s disingenuous as much as it just doesn’t work as well as it should. It’s an emotional haymaker that only lands a glancing blow. I feel sympathy for listeners who find this song rating high on the “depth” chart of their musical ethos because there’s just so much better out there that doesn’t carry as much baggage along with it. “A Guy Walks Into A Bar” feels like three professionals brainstorming around a legal pad instead of a guy walking into a bar, coming to an aching realization, and pouring his heart out onto a whiskey-stained cocktail napkin.
But as easy as it is to use Tyler Farr as a whipping boy, this song isn’t Bro-Country, it does alright telling its story, and it does illustrate improvement from “Redneck Crazy” and other singles. Farr offers something a little different. It’s “little” difference mind you, but if you’re moved by this song, that’s all that matters. My only point is there’s so much more out there that could move you so much more.
1 Gun Up, 1 Gun Down.
Jake
April 2, 2015 @ 9:45 am
This is one of those instances where I think you’re being far too extreme.
This song is a POSITIVE step for country radio. Tyler didn’t have to record this song, but he did, and I wish we could just commend that rather than picking apart every little thing that isn’t perfect.
I also can’t believe you said you “feel sympathy for listeners who find this song rating high on the “depth” chart of their musical ethos.” As much as you might want it to happen, radio will never again feature songs with layered complexity like a Shakespeare play. It just won’t. So when a song comes out that does have some substance and decently clever writing, I’m going to praise it rather than pompously suggesting that my taste is far too “deep” to be compatible with the masses.
Trigger
April 2, 2015 @ 9:50 am
I do think this is a positive step for country radio, and Tyler Farr, and I thought I expounded on this a number of times. But “better” doesn’t always translate into “good.” But if the song is good to you, who cares what my opinion is? This song isn’t bad enough to argue with someone why they shouldn’t like it.
Clint
April 2, 2015 @ 1:59 pm
Trigger,
Don’t listen to all these crybabies. Country music is dead, so we might as well speak our mind about it. My only complaint is the 1 gun up.
Rant on buddy. Rant on.
Hawkeye
April 2, 2015 @ 3:48 pm
It’s comments like this that make me wish for a dislike button
Clint
April 2, 2015 @ 3:54 pm
I feel your pain.
Hawkeye
April 2, 2015 @ 6:46 pm
Please excuse the following
How the h€ll can you feel my pain when I’m talking about you you ignorant self centered @$$hole
That felt good
Sorry I’ve been going through some stress lately
Clint
April 3, 2015 @ 10:25 am
Are you upset?
Jesse
April 3, 2015 @ 1:23 pm
No I’ve just been having a rough week at school
Yes this is the same dude as hawkeye
Bill
April 2, 2015 @ 9:48 am
I have zero interest in defending Tyler Farr or the garbage that passes as mainstream country day.. What completely frustrates me about all of your anti mainstream country columns is that their is so much room in your columns to share and promote the amazing music that is actually out there that you will never find on mainstream country radio. You mention that there are better storytellers and songs that tell stories out there, but you completely fail to list them and fail to make a comparison between the two songs where a massive difference can be seen. Why be solely destructive when you can give the readers the opportunity to see the contrast between a poor attempt at a song with a story being played on country radio and the incredible writing of a Jason Isbell master peace? Just doesn’t make sense to me..
Trigger
April 2, 2015 @ 10:10 am
Bill,
I see what you’re saying to a certain extent, but I don’t think a song review is necessarily the right place to extrapolate upon other artists that people should be listening to in my opinion. In many instances it comes across as unfair to both artists, and even though you may think I have the space to do so, nobody writes song reviews that stretch to eight paragraphs these days. Nobody does. Because nobody reads them. The majority of the folks who come to this article will note the grade, maybe watch the video, and then go back to whatever they were doing before. There are other articles—think pieces and such—where I think it’s much more appropriate to compare and contrast artists. Sure I could have slipped Jason Isbell’s name in here somewhere, but it’s not like I haven’t spilled tremendous ink for Isbell over the years, and certainly will do more so in the future. I don’t want to beat a dead horse or be constantly repeating myself.
Before this song review, I did two other positive song reviews for independent artists: Raelyn Nelson, and the Wade Bowen/ Randy Roger collaboration (which by the way, is excellent). My last two album reviews were for Allison Moorer and some guy named Roo Arcus. I spill tons of ink trying to turn on readers to new artists, and believe it or not, I obsess over trying to design Saving Country Music to where when people end up here, they get turned onto something new they might like, or something better than what they like already, even the Jason Isbell fans.
And lastly, it is not my job to promote ANYONE. Promoters make money promoting music, and right now there’s not one artist, label, management company, promotional company, or other music entity supporting or promoting Saving Country Music. In fact the independent industry regularly sidesteps sites like SCM to give their money and exclusive content to corporate-owned sites like Rolling Stone Country, CMT, and The Boot.
I am a journalist, and a critic, and it is my job to attempt to stay impartial when it comes to talking about music. If music is promoted inadvertently because I happen to be talking positively about it, then so be it. But that’s not my job. That is the job of promoters.
Jordan Kirk
April 2, 2015 @ 11:02 am
I agree with Bill, but I also definitely agree with you. We need objective folks like you giving honest opinions, doing it all not just bashing pop or constantly promoting either. Appreciate it, good read.
Albert
April 2, 2015 @ 10:24 am
Another half-written lyric ( as you’ve pointed out with your two verse-no resolution/payoff comment Trigger ) relying on the cliche title to do the heavy lifting …which most cliches are too tired to pull off .
Prosody ( marriage of lyric and music ) is non-existent ( see Trigger’s Tom Scholz reference ) and is ultimately just another nursery rhyme cranked to 11 to get a listener’s attention with the aforementioned Schloz -like accompaniment spearheading THAT aspect of the mission . This thing isn’t supposed to be a ‘wall-of-sound’ assault with a lyric like this . EVERY song lyric good or bad ,completed or half-completed, has the right to be served by the musical accompaniment . I’m pretty sure that’s written in the Declaration of Independence . Unfortunately Twangtown missed this clause with almost ALL of its current output but particularly when it comes to lyrics screaming “WAIT !! WAIT !! …You don’t understand..I’m just a harmless reflective country ballad ….its not me you want …its the Kruise Kids or Aldean that need to hammer everything home with a Les Paul Army to make their generic points . I’m trying to be SWEET and heartfelt and hold back my tears and just get along with everybody “. Hate when they turn ballads into banshee-like arena anthems .
Your 1 gun up 1 gun down rating is probably a tad more favourable than I’d have been to this , Trigger …but not far off IMO .
Melissa
April 2, 2015 @ 10:28 am
This isn’t *bad*. Which by current country radio standards means it’s awesome, best country song everrr!
SHUPE
April 2, 2015 @ 10:45 am
He has an older song titled “Camouflage” which I liked. Didn’t do any research on who wrote it, but it always sucks to “like” someone before they become popular, just to watch them completely sell out.
Charlie woods
April 6, 2015 @ 4:20 pm
It would be the same “camouflage” song released by brad paisley as a single. Tyler’s was not.
SHUPE
April 8, 2015 @ 8:53 am
No, that’s a completely different song. That Brad Paisley song is garbage.
jimmy row
April 2, 2015 @ 10:48 am
Same chord progression as baba o’reilly?
On another he even says cliche in the song.
BwareDWare94
April 2, 2015 @ 12:06 pm
As far as resolution is concerned….some of the best literature is very, very open-ended (Tim O’Brien, anyone?). Who says music needs closure, or that the character in its story needs to change?
Trigger
April 2, 2015 @ 12:17 pm
Open-endedness can be fine, but it’s still got to say something. I actually think this song does say something, but I felt like it had to opportunity to say more, and decided to instead serve the listener an unnecessary and self-indulgent guitar solo and another chorus.
And I just want to emphasize here, the song didn’t get a negative review, though mixed reviews always seem to be taken that way. I don’t think this is a bad song. I just don’t think it’s a good one either.
Albert
April 2, 2015 @ 1:20 pm
I think the point with this lyric and ” closure ” is more that its a lazy write using a guitar solo rather than a lyric to make it complete. Its a poor write . But so many are that it slides by as such and none notices , cares or comments . Songs were , ARE, and should be far better than this one in terms of a complete effort that DOES make a strong point in a strong way .
Sam Jimenez
April 2, 2015 @ 3:27 pm
The writing is absolutely terrible. The chorus isn’t so bad, but neither verse has ANYTHING to say – nothing.
“The joke’s on me and it ain’t funny
Everybody but me could see the punch line coming a mile away
I’ve heard it so many times I can tell it to the T
Believe me I could sell it all day
It goes
I’d laugh too if my heart would let me
Keeping it light will probably help to get me over you
I’m walking, talking, drinking proof
A cliché in a corner booth
Ain’t nothing new”
…yea…great story…
Most of those lines are just, “Well come on guys! We’ve got stick something in there to fill the space!”, lines.
My guess is that they found the song on an old napkin left over from one of those goofy songwriter workshops where you have to try to write a song in under 3 seconds based on whatever was in your fortune cookie from the buffet.
Hawkeye
April 6, 2015 @ 6:10 pm
How do you get those pictures on the left side of your comment, I know triggs posted it before but I forgot how
Trigger
April 6, 2015 @ 7:13 pm
Go to http://www.gravatar.com
Clint
April 2, 2015 @ 12:39 pm
The miserable suckiness of the song is really irrelevant here. What stands out to me is how obnoxious this guy’s comedically fake voice is. His vocals could be a parody for the modern male “country” template: fake rasp, fake accent, fake emotion.
I’d love to take a nasty, diarrhea shit, right down his throat.
Brad
April 2, 2015 @ 12:54 pm
Dammit Clint you make a valid point for three sentences and then cant resist making it irrelevant .
BwareDWare94
April 2, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
You know the crazy thing about guys like Tyler Farr and Brantley Gilbert? They actually have very very good higher pitched singing voices, but both adopted the cookie monster country vocal. Both sound like shit live, and both are so adamant about proving to us that they have testicles that it’s hilarious.
I do like this song, but I’ll never understand why Tyler Farr doesn’t just sing when his actual singing voice calls Vince Gill to mind.
Hawkeye
April 2, 2015 @ 6:50 pm
Have you ever read something you’ve typed and thought “holy cramp, why did I say that?” Or “I can’t believe that just happened”
Cause if you haven’t then you need to take a good long time reading a certain book that comes to mind
dukes
April 3, 2015 @ 12:49 am
Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Tyler Farr … and I feel like there was one more. All three kind of appeared at the same time on mainstream radio, as if Cumulus decided “we’re gonna toss this rasp at the wall and see which one sticks”…
Jury’s still out.
RichK
April 2, 2015 @ 1:02 pm
It’s a very catchy country pop radio song with decently clever lyrics and hooks. That’s it. Three guys wrote it. It’s Music Row collab. Better than most these days. Why spend 1000 words agonizing over it?
Trigger
April 2, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
1) Because I’m a music nerd, and if I’m going to write about something, I’m going to say everything I got to say.
2) Because I received many requests to review the song.
3) Because the song continues its slow climb on the charts, making it topical to talk about.
By all means if it’s something you’d rather not read about, feel free to pass on it.
Derek E. Sullivan
April 2, 2015 @ 1:16 pm
Why are we taking about Tyler Farr right now, when the most important line is this article is “Cole Swindell has more No. 1 than Miranda Lambert” WTF Country radio!!
Spoony
April 3, 2015 @ 3:51 pm
This sentence doesn’t jibe with Wikipedia’s discography on either of them.
DarthBadGuy
April 2, 2015 @ 1:18 pm
It wasn’t bad, but it’s the arrangement that kills me… Are they trying to attract dads who used to listen to Boston and Foreigner or something? And that’s not even a fair comparison, because at least those guys seemed to know what they were doing in terms of context and technique.
Lorenzo
April 2, 2015 @ 1:58 pm
I agree on this review but I’m sure this is just like Dirt was for FGL: a good song to anticipate a fucking terrible album. and farr’s new album really prospects terrible: his new song Withdrawals sucks, it sounds like a recycled brantley gilbert/jason aldean song. also, the official country music douchebag aldean is also featured on a song. still I’m sure his crappy album will perform well on charts.
Lorenzo
April 2, 2015 @ 2:01 pm
*I hope this album will bomb but I’m sure it’ll perform well on charts
dukes
April 3, 2015 @ 12:50 am
“official country music douchebag Aldean…”
Damnit. We made it official?
Lorenzo
April 3, 2015 @ 2:38 am
trigger named him the official country music douche, I liked that definition
Cool Lester Smooth
April 3, 2015 @ 8:56 pm
Why do we pretend that Dirt is any good?
It’s horrible. Worse than their pop-country stuff, because it pretends to be anything other than a dumb party song.
I’d rather listen to a well-executed, stupid party song like Sun Daze than idiotic crap pretending to be “meaningful” like Dirt 8 days a week.
Mike W.
April 2, 2015 @ 2:37 pm
Honestly, I don’t mind this song. Am I going to put it up as a song of the year contender? No, but as a mainstream Country single from a guy who hasn’t exactly released a ton of good songs, it’s pretty damn decent.
I also think his new “Withdrawals” song he released this week is pretty good. Do I think his new album will be great? No, and I still question his overall willingness to truly be a great artist, but this song is decent enough.
BwareDWare94
April 2, 2015 @ 3:19 pm
Withdrawals is one removed hip hop beat away from being a great song. Instead, they had to pander and cater to all of the stupid fuckers who eat that shit up.
I wonder what the average IQ is of all the mainstream Nashville listeners?
Mike W.
April 2, 2015 @ 3:56 pm
Agreed about the hip hop beat, it’s somewhat buried in the mix, but it’s still there and is rather annoying. I think the actually intended on it being a bit of a EDM beat, but same difference. It’s not a super great song the more I think about it, but it’s listenable which is an improvement for Farr in my eyes.
I don’t know about the IQ of mainstream listeners, my guess is it’s probably in the same range as all the other genres of music which is you have some dumb people, some smart people who don’t know any better and some average people who are just too lazy or bored to seek out music that doesnt come on Top 40 radio.
Eric
April 2, 2015 @ 11:38 pm
Enjoyment of hip-hop beat has absolutely nothing to do with IQ. The divide on that aspect is primarily generational.
I strongly dislike the hip-hop beat style as a matter of personal taste, but I still recognize it as more complex than the beat structure of any other popular genre.
BwareDWare94
April 3, 2015 @ 7:20 am
You took my general IQ comment too seriously.
Aside from that, I was speaking more about IQ based on gullibility and near-sightedness.
Eric
April 4, 2015 @ 10:39 pm
Hip-hop beats don’t have anything to do with gullibility or near-sightedness, either.
dukes
April 2, 2015 @ 9:25 pm
I’m about to start a stint with TK’s bars, and they demand a certain percentage of our material be “current country music” … and this is one that I’ve added to the set. It’s not the best out on the radio these days, but it’s close enough to not awful that I’m willing to add it to the repertoire.
Incidentally, if any of you are in the Phoenix area, I’d love to shake your hand at a gig.
HA!
Sam Jimenez
April 2, 2015 @ 11:48 pm
I just listened to 9 of your songs on Rhapsody. Good shit man!
dukes
April 3, 2015 @ 12:51 am
I don’t think anyone’s gone through ’em all before, Sam. You win!
(and i do too!)
Thanks, pard!
pete marshall
April 2, 2015 @ 9:40 pm
I don’t really like this song that much 1 1/2 guns down.
Cobra
April 3, 2015 @ 4:14 am
I actually really like this song and think it’s pretty well done.
.
That being said, seeing the cover and tracklisting of Farr’s new album, I have a bad feeling that this song is Florida Georgia Line’s “Dirt” all over again.
Mike W.
April 3, 2015 @ 7:29 am
Agreed. I especially lost any hope of the album being good when I saw Jason Aldean attached to a song and “C.O.U.N.T.R.Y” being the title of another.
I expect this song and maybe one or two other songs may be decent, but that’s about it. Farr talks a good game though, much like Blake Shelton if you only read their interviews and press pieces you would believe they are all about cutting the deepest, most meaningful songs they can find.
Then you listen to their actual music and you realize they simply have really good PR writers.
CountryKnight
April 3, 2015 @ 8:49 am
Too bad, the PR writers won’t try to write heartfelt country music. Obviously, they have writing chops.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 3, 2015 @ 9:01 pm
Gotta say, songs like this and withdrawals make it more and more likely that everyone complaining about Farr because of “Redneck Crazy” is roughly as intelligent and able to discern lyrical intent as someone complaining about Steve Earle being a misogynist because of “More Than I Can Do,” or thinking that LBT are lesbians because of “Girl Crush.”
Mike
April 4, 2015 @ 3:15 am
Some people pray for riches, fame, health, long life, world peace, and an end to world hunger.
I simply pray for a world where crappy bro-country and pop-country don’t exist.
Come on, God….I am not asking for much here. If I was praying for a million bucks, I would understand. But I think my request is pretty modest. Amen!
Sammy Coleman
April 4, 2015 @ 5:11 am
I hate the “Redneck Crazy” I really do, but I’m curious if our minds are so closed could we miss out on a “Cedar Town GA” or “Honky Tonk Crazy”? I mean it’s a raw production and it’s not perfect. And it shouldn’t have been forced down our throats. I’m just kinda curious how, Trigger feels? Anyway I love the forum and it’s my first reply
Trigger
April 4, 2015 @ 7:54 am
Singles are what artists and labels use to promote performers to the public, and because “Redneck Crazy” is Tyler Farr’s biggest single to date, you can expect it to define him to some extent. The same thing happened to Tim McGraw and “Indian Outlaw” defining his career for years. Every artist has better album cuts than singles, and their best singles tend to be the ones that tank. That’s unfortunately the way country works. As I said in the review, I did everything I could to erase the memory of “Redneck Crazy” before writing this review.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 4, 2015 @ 10:27 am
His point is that it’s entirely possible that everyone complaining about Redneck Crazy’s lyrical content might be missing the point of the song, because they assume the worst out of what they perceive to be a “bro-country” artist.
There are plenty of “stalker songs” by country greats, such as Waylon’s “Cedar Town GA” (about him murdering his wife after tracking her down to a motel with her lover), or Steve Earle’s “More Than I Can Do” (which is unambiguously about him stalking and harassing his ex, refusing to run even after she calls the cops, because “she’s the only one” and he’s “broken-hearted”).
People recognize that the speakers of those songs aren’t meant to be sympathetic, because they know who Earle and Jennings are and can place the song in context with the rest of their work.
Similarly, the more and more we see of Farr’s work, the less likely it seems that he was in any way endorsing the viewpoint or actions of the speaker of “Redneck Crazy,” and that people complaining about him, or judging him, based on that song were completely missing the point of the song.
Trigger
April 4, 2015 @ 11:38 am
My point was that comparing “Redneck Crazy” to those other songs is unfair because those were album cuts, and “Redneck Crazy” was a major, career-defining hit on country radio. As for the sentiments of the songs, I guess that’s open for interpretation, but it was the video for “Redneck Crazy” that 100% completely reinforced all the negative connotations of the song with dudes in camo traipsing through the woods to scare some chick, and taking a humorous approach that ruined any “depth” the song may have.
The song is a completely immature creep fest with no redeeming value, Bro-Country or not.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 4, 2015 @ 12:57 pm
The narrator of the song is a completely immature creep. I agree. The video makes it clear how pathetic and childish he is, when he’s in that cabin laying out strategies and smearing on war paint to harass his ex. His big revenge is toilet papering her house. The viewer is clearly meant to be laughing at, not with him.
But is your point that artists shouldn’t take formal and lyrical risks on songs that they send to radio?
Personally, I would love it if mainstream artists were releasing songs like “More Than I Can Do” for radio consumption. I consider Redneck Crazy an attempt to update that song to the modern context. It’s not a very *good* song, but I appreciate that he’s not just willing to record a song from the perspective of an unsympathetic creep, he’s willing to release it as a major radio single.
It’s why I like “Homeboy,” is spite of the uncomfortable racial undertones.
Releasing a song with an unsympathetic narrator takes balls, which mainstream country hasn’t had in years.
Trigger
April 4, 2015 @ 1:22 pm
“But is your point that artists shouldn”™t take formal and lyrical risks on songs that they send to radio?”
Not at all. My only point was there’s a lot of Waylon fans who’ve never even heard “Cedartown, GA.”
Murder ballads are an indelible part of country music. Believe it or not, singing about killing a woman is not nearly as creepy to me as saying you’re going to wake her up at 3 AM by whipping beer cans at her window. Why? Because the one happens much more often than the other, and one can be used much more for metaphor. Everyone knows murder is wrong, and a song like “Cedartown, GA” isn’t making light of it like “Redneck Crazy” is making light of stalking.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 4, 2015 @ 2:53 pm
and what about “More Than I Can Do”? Does it “make light of stalking” with lines like:
“You told me that I got to stop
But it’s more than I can do
And that ain’t nothing new
‘Cause we both know that I’m crazy about you
You said you’re gonna call the cops
But I ain’t gonna run
Because you’re the only one
There ain’t no way I could live without you
You left me just when I needed you
So l ain’t even close to through with you
I’m never gonna let you go
No matter what you do
Because you know it’s more than I can do”?
Earle’s narrator doesn’t even have the self-awareness to consider himself “crazy.” Stalking and harassing his ex is how he shows his love. The narrator doesn’t make light of that behavior so much as he endorses it.
Obviously, no one accused Earle of endorsing the actions and mentality he depicts in that song, because we knew enough about the guy to recognize that he doesn’t necessarily endorse the actions of every character he sings as.
Now that Farr’s established a larger output, it’s looking more and more like the initial pearl-clutching in response to the “negative message” of Redneck Crazy (whose song and video, again, consistently paints its narrator as pathetic and childish), was just that: pearl clutching by people missing the point of the song’s deconstruction of that mentality.
Trigger
April 4, 2015 @ 3:13 pm
See, now you’re trying to get me to defend a Steve Earle song that I barely even know. I didn’t bring up “More Than I Can Do.” This is not a “More Than I Can Do” review. This isn’t even a “Redneck Crazy” review. We’re now three or four degrees of separation from the relevant topic. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I have people say, “Well why didn’t you give shit to Steve Earle for ‘More Than I Can Do?'” Because it was released a dozen years before I even started this website. One thing has nothing to do with the other.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 4, 2015 @ 3:51 pm
My point is that it’s ridiculous to assume that anyone endorses actions described in the lyrics of their songs, because they sang those lyrics.
They’re songs, not autobiographical vignettes, or manifestos.
If a guy sings a song about a pathetic loser stalking his ex, and unambiguously paints the protagonist of said song as a pathetic loser in the accompanying music video, it’s ridiculous to assume that he’s “making light of stalking,” unless he has a long history of similar songs, and has said so when he’s out of character.
To borrow your WWE analogy from the review, it’s the equivalent of personally hating Dwayne Johnson when The Rock is a heel, or loving him when he’s a face.
Sammy Coleman
April 4, 2015 @ 5:15 am
Let me please clarify I don’t believe Tyler Farr will be the next George Strait or Waylon Jennings. I’m just keeping an open mind. Thank you
bobby swafford
April 4, 2015 @ 9:25 am
“It sounds like Tom Scholz of Boston shows up, turning his pick sideways to grate it down the fretboard and evoke visions of early arena rock…”
That wasn’t a pick scrape, it was pedal steel master Dan Dugmore (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, David Crosby, Warren Zevon & Hank Williams Jr. just to name a few.)
If I had played that part, I would take your comment as a compliment! Tom Scholz is a unique and accomplished guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter to say the least.
Does a guitar gliss belong in country music? Who knows… country music is changing and evolving as is all genres of music.
As individuals, we hold the power to voice our opinions and/or change the station. I’m glad we still have that.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 4, 2015 @ 9:55 am
Yeah, Boston’s first album is a damn classic, and it would be nice if all the “country” artists currently aping arena rock were being influenced by that rather than what the genre turned into in the 80s.
Rex
April 4, 2015 @ 9:32 pm
Trigger, you ever heard of Jon Wolfe? Just released his sophomore album “Natural Man”. I believe he’s one of the best that Texas Country has to offer. The album is great, and I’m curious to see what you thought of it, if you’ve heard it.
Taylor
April 6, 2015 @ 5:57 pm
I second that, Jon’s album is really good, I too would like to hear your thoughts on it.
Justin
April 5, 2015 @ 6:57 am
thanks for the review. I like the song and disagree with the review but the bis a good one
Quinn
April 5, 2015 @ 1:17 pm
Personally, I really like this tune. It think Tyler Farr is doing some great things, and I can’t wait to hear the new album later this month
Jason
April 6, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
I’m actually somewhat excited for his new album. I definitely enjoyed this song, and Withdrawals is decent as well. Some of the song titles have got me excited (“Suffer In Peace, for example). The one song I’m scared to hear is C.O.U.N.T.R.Y., it sounds like it will end up being some horribly generic party song.
Charlie
April 7, 2015 @ 7:13 am
It’s a ‘good’ song for exactly one listen. The repetitive, droning melody is awful, just awful.
a GUY walks into a BAR, blah blah blah BLAH, blah blah blah BLAH . . .
over and over and over
And the verses are only barely less offensive to one’s ears.
I reach for an icepick to poke out my eardrums before reaching for the the station button when this one comes on. Ugh!
Charlie
April 7, 2015 @ 7:15 am
*EDIT*
Jenn
April 12, 2015 @ 9:59 pm
I already got my pre-order! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.