There may be no more "love it, hate it" genre than country, which has an undeniable power to drive people to worship or detest it in equal measures. To some it's dirty, down-to-earth, right-to-the-point balladeering that speaks from the heart; to others, drunken twang that equates to white trash pop. With the ability to evoke such strong emotions, it's strange that country can't find a more reactionary role on Seth James' debut That Kind of Man, a solid, rock-leaning album that has just enough fire to be likable, but not enough to garner the affection of the die-hard Dixieheads. Though polished and well-thought, That Kind of Man may not be distinctive enough to find a loyal audience.
Still, James is as solid musician as he is a singer, possessing enough grit, throat, and longing to carve a place above rote country vocalists. More often than not, James' husky voice is the album's biggest draw – likable, sincere, blue, and soulful, with a soft Texan drawl that evokes the wide-open vistas and warm sunsets of the great west. Long after the catchy "Leaves of September" slides into standard pop fare, James continues his appealing rugged-guy-with-a-heart-and-a-brain role: a well-worn narrator talking about his troubles over a mug of Jack Daniels in the local watering hole.
That storytelling intimacy helps James and That Kind of Man overcome a tendency to rely on the usual country-pop clichés. There's the slow, burning "Cigarettes, Anger, and Wine," which plays out exactly as listeners would expect, as well as standard bar tune "Honky Tonk Saturday Night," which seems to write and play itself in one's head long before James gets to the Monday-thru-Friday chorus line. Many of these tracks audiences have heard before, albeit in varying iterations over the years, from the paced, sensitive troubador odes ("It Ain't Me," the beautiful-but-predictable "Again") to the heel-stomping, rock-ish power ballads ("All of You," "Two for Tuesday.")
While That Kind of Man is a solid start for James, whose star-turning promise seems unlimited, the likable country crooner will have to leave a heavier imprint on his music to ensure a more unique and rewarding album experience.
Kevin Liedel, MuzikReviews.com Sr. Staff
October 3, 2009
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For Questions or Comments On This Review Send An Email To kliedel@muzikreviews.com
For Questions or Comments On This Review Send An Email To kliedel@muzikreviews.com