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From the looks of him -- long, unkempt hair and wrinkled jeans jacket over a black T-shirt -- on the cover of his major-label debut, Man with a Memory, you might expect that Joe Nichols aspires to be the next Kris Kristofferson-style Nashville rebel. Appearances can be deceiving, however. Nichols may look like a slacker, but if his music were accurately represented in his coiffure and wardrobe, he'd have razor-cut, blown-dry locks tucked under a cowboy hat. Vocally, he sounds like Alan Jackson trying to make like George Jones, and he sings formula Nashville country songs played by the usual suspects among Music City's session players. The album's lead single, typically released months ahead of the album and slowly climbing the charts when it appeared, is "The Impossible," an unfortunate piece of confused country philosophy about how supposedly impossible things happen. In the first verse, the narrator's apparently invincible father turns out to be able to feel pain after all; in the second a paralyzed friend learns to walk. The unfortunate part is that the chorus inescapably evokes September 11 ("Sometimes the things you think would never happen/Happen just like that"), which is in very bad taste, especially when the song comes to its real point, as the narrator concludes that maybe his girlfriend will come back. Most of the other songs range from barroom weepers ("She Only Smokes When She Drinks" is a virtual rewrite of the John Anderson hit "Straight Tequila Night") to bland expressions of romantic devotion. Tom T. Hall's "Life Don't Have to Mean Nothing at All" is a welcome respite from the mediocrity, but it's only one song. Nichols may make it to country stardom, especially if he cleans up his appearance, but his first major-label effort doesn't make that an appealing prospect.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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Harry Stinson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kelley Lovelace, ComposerLyricist - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Thomas Miller, ComposerLyricist - Liana Manis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist - Chris Latham, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Tim Lauer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Byron Hill, ComposerLyricist - Mike Dekle, ComposerLyricist - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Aubrey Haynie, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Vince Gill, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Johnson, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Randy Boudreaux, ComposerLyricist - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Clint Daniels, ComposerLyricist - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Dugmore, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Aubrey Haynie, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Gordon Mote, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blake Mevis, ComposerLyricist - Donny Kees, ComposerLyricist - Joe Nichols, MainArtist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Tim Nichols, ComposerLyricist - Harry Stinson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Connie Harrington, ComposerLyricist - Dan Dugmore, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Martin, ComposerLyricist - Brent Rowan, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Liana Manis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist - Chris Latham, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Steve Dean, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Will Nance, ComposerLyricist - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Brent Rowan, Producer, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Jeffrey Steele, ComposerLyricist - Reed Nielsen, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Accordion, Organ, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shane Keister, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - John Hughey, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Steve Dean, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Accordion, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Will Nance, ComposerLyricist - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Aubrey Haynie, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Mote, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Harry Stinson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Don Sampson, ComposerLyricist - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Dugmore, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Liana Manis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Chris Latham, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Salley, ComposerLyricist - Tim Lauer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Aubrey Haynie, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Mote, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer - Tommy White, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist - Mark McClerg, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Tim Mensy, ComposerLyricist - Doug Johnson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Haselden, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Lauer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Aubrey Haynie, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Gordon Mote, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Liana Manis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Hughey, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Chris Thile, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vince Gill, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Douglas, Dobro, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer - Tom T. Hall, ComposerLyricist - Joe Nichols, MainArtist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Charlie Black, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rory Michael Bourke, ComposerLyricist - Tim Lauer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Hungate, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Bryant, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BEN FOWLER, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ED SEAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Rowan, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shane Keister, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Nichols, MainArtist
℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
Album review
From the looks of him -- long, unkempt hair and wrinkled jeans jacket over a black T-shirt -- on the cover of his major-label debut, Man with a Memory, you might expect that Joe Nichols aspires to be the next Kris Kristofferson-style Nashville rebel. Appearances can be deceiving, however. Nichols may look like a slacker, but if his music were accurately represented in his coiffure and wardrobe, he'd have razor-cut, blown-dry locks tucked under a cowboy hat. Vocally, he sounds like Alan Jackson trying to make like George Jones, and he sings formula Nashville country songs played by the usual suspects among Music City's session players. The album's lead single, typically released months ahead of the album and slowly climbing the charts when it appeared, is "The Impossible," an unfortunate piece of confused country philosophy about how supposedly impossible things happen. In the first verse, the narrator's apparently invincible father turns out to be able to feel pain after all; in the second a paralyzed friend learns to walk. The unfortunate part is that the chorus inescapably evokes September 11 ("Sometimes the things you think would never happen/Happen just like that"), which is in very bad taste, especially when the song comes to its real point, as the narrator concludes that maybe his girlfriend will come back. Most of the other songs range from barroom weepers ("She Only Smokes When She Drinks" is a virtual rewrite of the John Anderson hit "Straight Tequila Night") to bland expressions of romantic devotion. Tom T. Hall's "Life Don't Have to Mean Nothing at All" is a welcome respite from the mediocrity, but it's only one song. Nichols may make it to country stardom, especially if he cleans up his appearance, but his first major-label effort doesn't make that an appealing prospect.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:39
- Main artists: Joe Nichols
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Show Dog Universal Music
- Genre: Country
© 2002 Universal South Records, LLC ℗ 2002 Universal South Records, LLC
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