Stars shine, but Becky positively GLOWS!! This week's country singles!

Country Music Singles Reviews

Alan Jackon, Becky Schlegel, Sara Evans, Dierks Bentley

BECKY SCHLEGEL - JENNY:

When I first heard Becky Schlegel sing, I flipped. A singer with a true Country voice, a style all of her own and full of apparent references to some of the genre's greatest singers.

And one of the finest songs on her "For All The World To See" album is undoubtedly "Jenny".

I said, back when I reviewed the album that "Jenny" is on of those wonderful story songs that you just want to play over and over, and then find playing itself over and over in your head. Hugely annoying and deeply loveable!

It can't say it often enough: buy this and get to hear someone who will still be Country long after the talent(less) show winners and "pretty" faces have faded from memory.

[Boy: You bein' rude to a lady? You telling this Becky doll that she ain't purty?
[Nope, I didn't mean that, Grandpa!]

ALAN JACKSON - COUNTRY BOY:
What can you say? Superb recording of brilliant singer doing Country music which will top the charts in a few days time.

That Jackson is a great singer and a good writer is undisputed. But, frankly, this is as dull as dirty dishwater.

You know, if I was a cynic, I'd say Jackson had his fingers so badly burned by his disastrous "Like Red On A Rose" album that he decided to play it VERY safe.

Thing is, there's safe and there's downright boring. This ain't the former.

SARA EVANS : LOW:

WOW! Sara Evans and Billy Graham together in the movies.  Who came up with that??

Either they're showing genius or they have a reckless disregard for life in the USA right now.

In truth, Evan's part is to sing a superb song which - I fear - may be the highlight of a movie about how Billy Graham spent his early years.

The risk of linking a song to a movie is that if the movie bombs, the song does too. Rarely - in my experience - do folks head off to see a film because they love the song.

We shall see!

DIERKS BENTLEY : FEEL THAT FIRE:

This is a criminal waste of a huge talent.

History shows that (1) Bentley can really sing and (2) that he can really write. So why is the lead off single from his "long-awaited" new album so appalling?

Overcooked production, a hook that's so passe it's past it.

Utter rubbish which, I can almost guarantee, will make the top three if not number one.