#510 (Conventional Nation) on the Nation DDS.
You need nation? Attempt getting thrown off a horse named Tiny who goes about 1,200 kilos and 16 arms, who then proceeds to stomp in your guts like a barn mouse. You then’re such a troublesome SOB, you refuse medical remedy till you darn close to bleed out internally, doc has to chop you open, drain two Jim Beam bottle’s price of blood out of your stomach, lower a foot off your gut such as you’re becoming irrigation pipe, then stuff all of it again in, stitching all of it up, and sending you in your means.
That’s the rationale Josh Ward hasn’t launched a brand new album since 2018, so stop your bellyaching. What’s your measly excuse for not getting stuff accomplished?
The ordeal was one hell of a weight reduction program for Josh Ward too, although in all probability not the one Jenny Craig would suggest. It additionally gave Ward a chance to replicate, re-evaluate, and be thankful for life. However don’t fear, the incident didn’t trigger Ward to waiver from his place as one of many staunchest nation traditionalists in Texas or wherever else. As his new album Identical Ol’ Cowboy, Totally different Rodeo proves, he ain’t doing nothing however doubling down on that onerous nation sound.
It’s fiddle. It’s metal guitar. It’s songs about elevating hell. It’s sentimental songs about crucial issues in life. All people’s all behind Zach Prime as of late like he’s a blast from the previous and doing one thing novel within the current tense. No offense to Prime who’s glorious, however Josh Ward is considered one of these guys who’s been doing the 90s conventional nation factor nearly because the ’90s. He’s simply been scandalously underneath the radar besides on Texas nation radio.
To be completely sincere, although the sound has at all times been there for Josh, generally the songs depart just a little bit to be desired. That’s not the story with Identical Ol’ Cowboy. Positive, he doesn’t stray too removed from acquainted nation music themes. However the seven years away gave Ward ample time to seek out or co-write a dozen actually sturdy songs that illustrate the greatness that’s true nation music.
Within the writing credit you see Carson Chamberlain, who was Keith Whitley’s outdated bandleader and the man behind Zach Prime’s current success. You additionally see Randall King and Jake Worthington—two of main label nation’s finest traditionalists. Songs like “There’s A Drink For That” and “Beer Joint Down” get you revved up. However the heartbreaking “Talkin’ To Your Image,” and the ruminative “Walkin’ In My Boots” about watching your boy develop into the person you might be occur to be glorious specimens of nation songwriting.
Josh Ward doesn’t co-write the whole lot, however he has sufficient credit to make this album really feel like his personal. And most significantly, he places his complete soul and guts into singing and delivering these songs, whereas co-producing the album with Drew Corridor and Kerry West. Hell, you’ll be able to’t even inform a foot of these guts is gone now. Ward’s higher off for it although. To sing it, you gotta dwell it. And Josh Ward has lived it.
Identical Ol’ Cowboy, Totally different Rodeo is only a nice listening report, that means one you activate, don’t skip a monitor, and don’t thoughts if it repeats once more. True conventional nation could be in vogue as soon as once more. However even when it wasn’t, Josh Ward can be singing and enjoying it, and residing his songs out down in Texas, getting bucked off, however getting proper again up on that horse as soon as once more.
1 3/4 Weapons Up (8.1/10)
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