|
|
||
|
Track List (I Want) The Real Thing Hard Driving Country Kind of Guy Has It Been That Bad For You? I Can't Get Over You (To Save My Life) Love You Right Out Of This Boys of '44 Texas State of Mind What I Do Best If Heaven Ever Finds Out You're Gone Once You Sell Yourself Short Leave My Mama Out Of This
|
The Band (Python Records) Lubbock, Texas native, Monty Holmes was raised on country music. As a child he enjoyed the homegrown sounds of his grandfather's fiddle, guitar and piano playing, as well as his Jimmie Rodgers record collection. However, it wasn't until Monty was in his teens that he realized that singing and writing country music was what he was meant to do. What inspired him? Hearing Merle Haggard on the radio, of course. "He was singing 'I Need A Shoulder To Cry On' and it was a message I needed to hear. It was so simple yet so profound. The moment I heard Merle Haggard, I 'got it.' I realized that I wanted to do that, to touch people that way." After a detour that took him to Austin, Monty found himself in Nashville with $47 in his pocket, and a desire to soak up every learning experience that he could. It wasn't long before word of his songwriting and vocal abilities spread and he found himself working for a number of publishing companies singing demos and writing songs. Chances are, if you're a country music fan, you already own a CD with Monty Holmes' name on it. George Strait took a couple of Monty's songs for a ride on the charts (I Know She Still Loves Me (#5 - 1996), When Did You Stop Loving Me (#6 - 1993.) Lee Ann Womack grabbed the attention of the country music industry and its fans with her breakthrough hit, the ultra-traditional 'Never Again, Again' (co-penned by Barbie Isham.) After being the debut artist on the now defunct Bang II Records Monty's career took off and in 1998 he found himself selected by Country Music Radio Stations as 'Top Ten New Artist" of the year. These days find Monty teamed up with 3 top notch musicians, writing and singing the best music of his career to date. Joining Monty are the Pythons: Jeff Hale (drums, vocals, co-producer of the album), Charlie Harrison (bass, vocals) and Billy Hillman (lead guitar). Proof positive that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts -- Monty and the Pythons are an eclectic mix of talent and personalities. It's the perfect formula for great country music - a talented songwriter, stellar musicians with a whole heap of talent and experience, and a collective desire to |
|
|
break free from the Nashville corporate music mold. With nary the sound of a steel guitar or fiddle, the band has managed to create a hard drivin', hardcore country, roadhouse gem. With a resume that reads like a who's who list, the band's drummer Jeff Hale, (Memphis TN) is no stranger to the music business. Discovered by the incomparable Tony Joe White, Jeff soon found himself in pretty hefty company as a member of his touring band. That company included Buddy Holly and the Crickets and hanging with Buddy at the time was a young fellow by the name of Waylon Jennings. When Waylon found himself recording some of Tony Joe's material for his Waylon and Co. album it was Jeff's original drum tracks that ended up being used to reenact the 'feel' that Waylon wanted from the original recordings. Soon Jeff found himself as a member of Waylon's band. He spent the next fourteen years learning from one of the most legendary talents in country music. The influence of Waylon's ability to create great music with no boundaries, while still keeping it real and rooted, is clearly evident on this project. Charlie Harrison and Billy Hillman round out the band and bring their own distinct influences and talents to the project, that undoubtedly keeps the band tight and in the groove. Charlie has worked with the likes of Poco, Rod Stewart,, Tim Renwick, and Stan Bush, while Billy's professional experience includes touring dates with David Ball, Sara Evans and Steve Holy as well as a host of television gigs, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Austin City Limits. The Music If you're a fan of hardcore country music this is one for you. Steeped with legendary influences, the band has created an album that honors the tradition of honky tonks and its heroes, with a sound and style uniquely their own. With Monty's hand in writing nine of the eleven tracks on this project, the band also selectively borrowed a couple of great ones. Kickin' off the album is a cover of Chip Taylor's "(I Want) The Real Thing". There seems to be no shortage of country albums out today that include the tune. Fellow Texans George Strait and Rodney Hayden both have current releases that include the catchy track. The difference? George Strait sings it. Rodney Hayden sings it like he means it, and Monty and the Pythons sing it like they've lived it. Michael Huffman and fellow band mate Jeff Hale, collaborated with Monty on the next cut that's title pretty well says it all about the Pythons: 'Hard Driving Country Kind of Guy.' A few bars into the song leaves no doubt as to where the guys stand on country music. I put the
hammer down, and crank up my stereo When you're rollin' tons of steel
through the night There's no shortage of real country on this project and even the most ornery critic would be hard to pressed to find anything remotely pasteurized. Monty's expressive vocals and the band's musical arrangement echo the pain and hurtin in the stone cold country of "Has It Been That Bad For You?" The band tapped into the almost bottomless barrel of Lefty Frizzell penned classics for "I Can't Get Over You (To Save My Life)" The song is solid country heartache of the honky tonk kind, with Charlie's hard drivin' bass giving it a life all it's own. 'The Boys of '44' is particularly timely and real tribute to those who risked it all for the freedoms we celebrate today. What I Do Best presents with poignant, simple sincerity. Monty penned the song with Donny Kees and Michael Huffman. The tune made the title track of John Michael Montgomery's fourth album. In the hands of a Nashville manufactured cowboy-wannabe, the song could be in danger of sounding overly-sentimental and sappy, but Monty and the band pull it off effortlessly. You can take the boy out of Texas but you can't keep Texas out of his band. Monty's Lonestar roots show throughout the album but no more clearly evident than on Texas State of Mind:
Texas is a state of mind You don't spend a lifetime in the business without learning a few do's and don'ts along the way. Co-written with Jeff Hale, Monty has sagely advice for those looking to seek the fame and fortune that comes with a career in the music industry in "Once You Sell Yourself Short" The song rocks, but its message is clear for those who need or want to hear it.
It's all about heart soul
and attitude The band heeds their own advice, leaving us wanting more as it ends with 'Leave My Mama Out Of This.' A rockin' roadhouser, the tune recently spent a fair bit of time lingering on the Texas Music Chart. The song, with it's clever hooks and sticky beat will have you pressing the replay button looking to recapture the experience. The End Result One heck of a hard drivin' country album. With no fluff or filler, no boundaries and strongly planted honky tonk roots, Monty and the Pythons are testimony to the fact that there's still some country soul in Nashville.
|
||
Laurie Joulie Take Country Back
April 2002