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Joe Nichols
Real Things [Universal South] August, 2007
Produced by Mark Wright & Brent Rowan
Review by Cheryl Breo
It’s been five years since we were first introduced to Joe Nichols with his single “The Impossible”. Now, with the release of his latest CD “Real Things”, we delightfully hear a more mature, polished, vocally brilliant, “comfortable in his country roots” Joe Nichols.
Nichols shows us his up-tempo side with “Comin Back In A Cadilliac”, “Let’s Get Drunk and Fight” and “It Ain’t No Crime”, but it’s his ballads that take center stage.
Nichols breathtaking ballads are the pieces of gold on this album, with his baritone voice sounding as smooth as a good whiskey; like in the appropriately titled “My Whiskey Years”, a bluesy, country heart break song; where Nichol’s soulful rendition of the lyrics are so raw, your heart actually aches. “All I Need Is A Heart” and “All Good Things” are softer, gentler heartbreakers. In “All Good Things”, we hear Joe’s voice accompanied by just an acoustic guitar and the brush of drum skins “why is it all good things must come to an end you didn’t want it to, God knows why it did—you ask yourself a million times, as long as you live” … what a great hook.
But Nichol’s certainty makes sure we aren’t left with breaking hearts; with “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”, a beautiful romantic song, whose lyrics croon of a man so in love with his woman, he wants to know everything about her… all those quirky little things that make up the woman he’s given his heart to.
In “Real Things” and “She’s A Lady”, with the sounds of steel guitars and fiddles, we hear Joe sing about a man who is content with his life, the memories of where he’s been and the love and peace he has now. “She’s A Lady” has one of the most romantic lyrics a man could sing about his woman …’you’re a woman, but she’s a lady’… brilliant in its simplicity.
Even though every one of the 13 tracks on this CD are amazing, there are a couple of standout songs for me. The first is the debut single “Another Side Of You”, with the simple sound of a guitar and Nichol’s smooth voice, is a genuine country love song…not sugary and overly sweet; but flows with pure, honest emotions in it’s lyrics…lyrics that tell the story of a husband’s admiration, amazement, devotion and love for his wife…as he watches her go through those “everyday life” things; her dead end job…getting the kids to soccer practice, ballet class, to bed on time…but still falling into his arms at night with her head on his chest, “That’s another side of you that I’m in love with, too.”
The second standout for me is “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Take That From Me”… a story rich with the memories of one humble man’s life … ”sometimes it feels like the best years are behind me”…. but then something “like this morning, I woke up; to a little voice that spoke up, sayin’ ‘daddy please fix a bowl of Rice Krisperies … you’re the bestest friend that I ever had, you know I love you dad” … ”Ain’t Nobody Gonna Take That From Me”. Lyrics like these are what country music is all about, love of family, honestly, faith and everyday folks…a brilliant song.
Joe Nichols has certainly established himself with the best of the best in the business. “Real Things” feels like the authentic Joe Nichols…comfortable with himself, his life and who will always hold true to “Real Things”. This CD is a must have … a triumph for Joe Nichols and a real treat for his fans.
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