Shooter Jennings - The Wolf
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Free Music Notes for The Wolf
Free Music Review: Just can't find no shelter for the wolf...
Hit: 5 Stars
Shooter Jennings is one of the true outlaws of today's musical scene. His albums are a unique blend of country--both slick and traditional--rock, and blues. THE WOLF is Jennings's third studio effort, and it continues his tradition of playing by his own rules.
The only problem is this: Shooter isn't about to let you forget that he's Waylon's son. On the opening track, he sings of listening to his dad and Johnny Cash. You get a Hank reference latter. On "A Matter of Time," one of the album's highlights, he affects a quirky Waylon growl that makes you think, for just a moment, that you've discovered a brand new Waylon song. What Jennings is doing isn't original; but since he's the son of the man who started it all, we can forgive him. We can even forgive him for referencing his father every third or fourth song; after all, odds are that you're a Waylon fan and enjoy the referenes as much as Shooter seems to enjoy dropping them.
And besides--his albums stand on their own. THE WOLF is a great country/rock record, no doubt. Shooter's lyrics aren't of the highest caliber, but they don't have to be; these are honest rock songs, done more of a country bent than perhaps they deserve. He sings of music, drugs, women, heartache, pride...things that underly the very best country and rock have to offer. If you want proof that country and rock aren't all that far apart, pick up a Shooter Jennings record. THE WOLF is as good a place as any to start. His father opened the doors, and Shooter strolls right on in and does his own thing. And, thank God, he's damned good at it.
Free Music Review: Shooter's best yet!
Hit: 5 Stars
The Wolf
Shooter Jennings
Universal South
This third studio album by Shooter Jennings shows significant development as an artist while showing more of the rough-edged flavor of his first two. While just as gritty in parts as Put the O Back in Country and Electric Rodeo, The Wolf delves into the complications of life and love in a more mature fashion.
I've always been fascinated by songwriters and the first thing I look at on an album is the writers' credits. Shooter has now recorded three albums comprised of material written by him and his band plus three covers by gentlemen he's known from his childhood--Neil Young ("Are You Ready for the Country"), Hank Williams Jr. ("Living Proof") and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits ("Walk of Life"). Given that most of today's country artists are buying Cadillacs for Craig Wiseman, John Rich and Jeffrey Steele, I think that's pretty impressive--especially since Shooter's only 28.
Opener "This Ol' Wheel" is getting dissed by some for being "rap" when the song actually harkens back to Johnny Cash's "One Piece at a Time" or Charlie Daniels' "Devil Went Down to Georgia." It's Shooter looking back at where he's been and ahead to where he's going while revealing the pain of the process.
One thing I found conspicuously missing from Shooter's first two albums was a traditional love song. "Tangled Up Roses" definitely qualifies, telling the tale of a tumultuous relationship where the ferocity of the fights just makes the making-up sweeter. "Hank and Audrey fight" has to be one of the most spot-on phrases I've heard in a long time. "The Last Time I Let You Down," written by bass player Ted Russel Kamp, is a heartbreaking look at regret over past mistakes.
"Walk of Life" is one of my favorite Dire Straits songs and Shooter effectively "countrifies" it with fiddle and steel. "Old Friend" is a song I can totally relate to because I have an old friend and we've been keeping each other together since high school. "Slow Train," written by former band member Leroy Powell, is already a crowd favorite at Shooter's concerts and the Oak Ridge Boys provide their trademark killer harmonies. "Time Management 101" is pure vintage Bocephus and one of my absolutely favorite cuts on this album. It's so effervescently catchy you can't help but sing along.
"Concrete Cowboys" is bound to remind you of some of Waylon's 70s tunes like "Ladies Love Outlaws" and "My Heroes have Always Been Cowboys" but Shooter paints this landscape with his own characters. "Higher" marks the songwriting debut of drummer Bryan Keeling and it's a politically incorrect look at the women you meet on the road from a musician's jaded point of view. You'll either find this song rollicking fun or get all offended. In the latter case, I hear Rascall Flats has a new album out that should be right up your alley.
Both "Blood From A Stone" and "She Lives in Color" look at relationships, the later spiced with some tasty "Ring of Fire" style horns and a chorus you can't get out of your head. Title song "The Wolf" is my favorite song on this album so far, a scorching look at feeling like an outsider. "A Matter of Time" is the song that took the longest to grow on me, a trilogy Shooter described as "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy goes crazy." It's definitely the most complex song on the album.
As much as I love Shooter's first two albums, both took a little getting used to at first. This one grabbed me from the first listen. I hope it does that for a lot of fans old and new because Shooter is a talent that deserves to be heard--and a welcome breath of fresh air in a musical genre grown stale.