As of a couple months ago, I was not a big Joe Nichols fan. He had that great voice and a couple good songs but something was missing in my eyes. I personally didn’t feel or hear genuine feeling and emotion from his music. That has all changed. The song “Another Side Of You” was the reason I was reintroduced to Joe Nichols. I just couldn’t get that song out of my head. So I downloaded “Another Side Of You” and listened to it a million times. I was captivated. I kept asking myself, why do you like this guy now? What is it? Then I had my light bulb moment or more like duh! He sings like Randy Travis. After my obsession with “Another Side Of You”, I of course had to download the rest of his new album, Real Things (released August 2007). I wasn’t sorry I did. The album has lived up to the critics’ reviews and promises by Joe Nichols himself that Real Things was going to be deeper and more of a reflection of who he is as a musician. Real Things has made me a believer. I now see the man behind that big beautiful voice. I applaud all those die-hard Joe Nichols fans out there for noticing and promoting his talent. For those of you who don’t think you like Joe Nichols, listen to Real Things and you might see the light like I did.
Song Recommendations
Joe Nichols’ album Real Things has a great mix of songs. It has 14 tracks with a mix of funny drinking songs, songs about life and loss, and good old love songs. However they are all tied together by a theme of being REAL. There are so many good songs on Real Things, that it is worth getting the whole album. However I did have some favorites.
1. Real Things - Title of his album and the first track. This is just a nice country song about lists of the big and little things that are real and not artificial in one’s life. I think we all struggle with this but it must be even harder for those in the spotlight.
2. Another Side Of You - This is a great song about appreciating and loving a hardworking wife and mother. You can never have enough of these songs! I of course am biased since I often feel like the mom in his song.
3. My Whiskey Years – I love how sobering and sad this song is. There are so many songs out there glorifying drinking and this song shows the real sad truth that often goes along with alcohol. Joe Nichols’ own struggles are heard loud and clear in this song and that is what makes it so strong.
4. Lets Get Drunk & Fight – This is one of my favorite songs. It cracks me up every time I hear it. It is about a couple getting drunk to spice up the relationship.
5. If I Could Only Fly - Joe Nichols sings this as a duet with Lee Ann Womack. They are a vocal match made in heaven. They really do this Merle Haggard song justice. It is old school.
I’m glad you discovered Joe – for me he was one of the few that actually pays tribute to the history of country music. None of his albums is bad, songs like “Brokenheartsville”, “Cool To Be A Fool” have established Joe since his start “in my book”. You are right, he proves that with his new album – once more. Great songs, not to overproduced and obviously influenced by “bout” against self-abuse. In an interview Joe was quoted as saying that “If I Could Only Fly” really helped him, when he was completely down and out.”If I Could Only Fly” is not a Merle Haggard song, yes Hag did a nice version of it, but that song belongs to the “Duct Tape Messiah” aka Blaze Foley. He was killed in 1989, was immortalized by the Lucinda Williams song “Drunken Angel” and actually never saw any of his songs hit the big time. Please check him out on http://www.myspace.com/texasghostwritersmusic” rel=”nofollow” or as he sings his most famous song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69YCXgVdyR4&feature=related” on youtube. The myspace site has also an excellent article about Foley by the Austin American Statesman. Read it and delve into the music that is Austin, country, folk and a little bit of rock’n'roll.