Lonesome Fugitive - Merle Haggard

Advantages: Great country album, slow, easy to relax to, some faster, good for dancing
Disadvantages: Some tracks don't fit in

...he visited Mexico, he learned how to be less uptight and just chill out about everything, even when his boss is screaming at him. 6. If Merle Would Sing My Song ++ Again, this track is very smooth and easy to just relax to. As an aspiring young songwriter, Blaine used to dream about someone famous singing his songs, in particular Merle Haggard, and then he could become an overnight sensation. This track has guest vocals by Merle Haggard, so I guess Blaine's dream did come true after all! Much of the track is about his rejection, but he didn't lose hope, and in the end he succeeded - a lesson everyone should learn? One line I love - 'God didn't give me all these dreams, just to let them die' 7. Yessireebob -- This track has much more of a honky-tonk country feel to it. It'd be good for country dancing to. I don't really like... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Superb follow up album
Disadvantages: It seems to fly by

...guitars or keyboards. Garvey's voice carries the early part of this truly beautiful song. The guitars join in before the chorus and again like on the first album, they make a simple musical set-up sound truly amazing. A perfect choice as the first single, it comes in at just over 4 minutes, which compared to a few of the other tracks is quite short. An easygoing song, it really won't take long to really get into it. Next up is my favourite track on the album, "Fugitive Motel". Not only does it sound great on here but even better during there live set at Reading Festival this year. It opens with a sample of some dogs barking, before the keyboard and drums open the track properly and then in come the vocals. Another slower mellower track, but with a great guitar line, whilst Garvey's vocals sound amazing, especially during the chorus. He hits... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Lyrically strong. Not simply a re-tread of the previous album
Disadvantages: Not quite as tight as 'Scarecrow'

...Following on from the mid-west tales of 'Scarecrow', The Lonesome Jubilee moves Mellencamp's writing to the city. The acoustic roots of the previous album seep through at times, but this is a harder-edged record with the emphasis on rock rather than folk/country. A key to the sound of the album is the introduction of the fiddle and accordion which provide a unique blend with the electric guitars and give the record it's signature. Mellencamp's recurring lyrical theme of people impacted by a greedy and naive society is mixed with uplifting songs that border on pop. Downbeat tales of unemployment sit side by side with reflections on the best years of youth. The album created a number of hit singles in the States, where Mellencamp is far better known than in the U.K. Still a cut above the output of most other artists in the mid to late... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful