Where Country Grows

                  The proclaimed modern Loretta Lynn, which I firmly believe in, Ashton Shepherd has came out with her sophomore album. I can't express how OVERDUE this was, but late is better than never, I reckon. I first fell in love with her after hearing her solid country voice belt out "Sounds So Good" followed by "Takin off this Pain." God has got to be smiling down on Ashton, because this MUST be what the Good Lord intended on doing when he put her on this Earth. I could be in my truck in the middle of the biggest traffic jam, but when I blast Ashtons new album, my mind takes me to a field of sunflowers, just a homey, wholesome feeling. 

Look it Up- Ok, love the song idea and the story line behind it. It is catchy and is potential to be a hit song, which it has already been to #19 on the US country Charts and #15 on US Charts. But "Look it Up" is used more times in the son then I would have cared for. Honestly, aint no man going to "Look it Up" unless he is looking up his next girl in his contacts. 

  "You said your sober, look it up, it's right next to hell is freezin' over, flyin' pigs & all that stuff."

The video is extra cute too, or is that just Ashton? She means business in it. --D O N E--

I'm Good- LOVE LOVE LOVE this song after a week old break up. He obviously realizes the stupid mistake he created but the girl is over it and ready to move on. This is Ashtons version of Sara Evans "I get a little bit Stronger" minus the daily routine plus more cut throat real feelings. That is one of the reasons why I love Ashton, she knows exactly how to describe a feeling that I would be stumbling for words for. She keeps it real like a buttermilk biscuit, wrong song though. 

    "You've got the nerve to ask me if i'm ok, boy give it a rest. Cause i'm good and getting better at being my best."

Where Country Grows- I think naming the album this title was PERFECT. Another reason why I LOVE Ashton is because we are from the SAME STATE. So hearing this song, I hang on to every word not because it is real life country, but I can relate to every line. Every country person has experienced these lyrics, and if not reconsider your life and move to BAMER!

   "Have you ever heard a song that changed your life coming through the radio, that's where country grows." 

Can I go back to High School and change my senior quote, please?

I'm just a Woman- A hardworking woman;s anthem. She has married a man that doesn't understand her or what she does to keep the household in line. He isn't giving her enough loving and if this song continued any further it would be about a D-I-V-O-R-C-E. Unless this fella understands that she is just a woman and not superman. 

" When you're a mama and a wife, let me tell you there aint many things you aint."

More Cows Than People- how cute is the title already? Makes me want to move where ever this is ASAP. The beginning of the song explains how Bobby wanted to get out of the city life to move to the big city. But it didn't take him long to realize that he loved the country more. Grain elevators, big ole steeples describes what is found out there. The news talks about moving a highway to make the place a better living. But Ashton shows the emotion through the line "Well hell, I like it just like it is" Amen Girl! There are too many highways connecting little towns with funny names anyway. 

"Aint no buildings messing up my moonlight. Aint no doubt why I live out where there is more cows than people."

Beer on a Boat-  One of my most favorite leisure activity on earth. It is the American Alabama thing to do on a Saturday in the summer. This song wouldn't be played too much on my iPod because it is a tad overrated. Everyone has a version of their Saturday boat ride Ashtons is pretty good.

             "Getting redder by the minute but we got it made with some beer on a boat."

While it aint Raining- A Farmers wifes song is finally produced. You hear about the farmers daughter and the farmer himself but never the wife, until now! She wants to enjoy her husband while it aint raining because that is when he has most of his time with her, maybe. I am still kindof confused on this song. 

"Lifes like the weather always changing, better make the most of it all, it all i'm saying, while it aint raining."

Tryin' to go to Church- When I moved to Florence I really wanted to find a church to settle into, it just seemed like the time in my life to actively go. But when I partied to hard on Friday and Saturday nights, going to church was harder than I thought. This song resembles almost exactly what I went through until I finally settled down and went. 

                                  "and I know what I should be putting in the offering plate

                                      but I doubled down in Biloxi on a couple of eights."

That Leads to One Thing- Basically, the basic song about a man leaving a woman, or the woman being sick of the man deserting her all the time. His actions of bar hopping, phone calls and going other places all lead to one thing. Her leaving, seeing a lawyer and "leaving nothing but her wedding ring on the kitchen table" leads to one thing too. 

"Were suppose to be bound together baby, by two little golden rings, ah but you aint even got yours on and that all leads to one thing."

Rorys Radio-  Did Ashton save the best for last of what? God bless every girl who has a "Rory" as a brother to teach them the ropes. Wish my older brother was a Rory, but he fell into the Jimmy Buffet parrot life. This song play out Ashtons tomboy side growing up with her older brothers letting her do whatever she wanted. She goes into detail during the third verse about sitting under Tombigbee Bridge eating crawfish. Oh to be young and not have a care in the world. Listening to this song let me reminisce on these days, why do we have to grow up?

                  "We'd laugh, and joke living our lives slow, listening to Rorys Radio."

B  O  N  U  S    T  R  A  C  K  S~~~~

One Summer Gone- A couple starts dating in the summer, sparks fly, girl falls head over heels. The boy not so much. I am feeling this song at the moment. Boys are awful but anyway, she though they were both in love and she wanted him forever. When then he said they couldn't be together but she slowly getting over it. She realizes its ok and that he was just one summer gone from her life. 

                                                                                                  "You know it's sad we both ended up 

                                                                                                      alone but that's alright, cause you're just

                                                                                                     o n e  s u m m e r  g o n e."

Keepin' it RURAL- Why on Earth was this a bonus track? This needs to be her next single...The folks in this town are keeping it rural no matter what. Sheriff Gator keeps the peace and the tractors keep the traffic nice and slow. This is where they are real as buttermilk biscuits! She talks all about country life and how it oughta be from waiting for the rain to stop at a little beer hole to getting ready for when it stops to go mudding. CLASSIC. 

         "Plowboys and daddy's girls, still listens to crickets, still listens to Merle, KEEPIN' it R U R A L."

What is it Was- Talking about second guessing your life and start thinking what if today was  your last one. I always think like that, what if it was my last moment, but when Ashton has a way of really retracing my steps again. Just to make sure after you hear about her losing her brother.

                                    "You were never thinking this is my last second to breath,

                                        BUT  W H A T  I F  WAS."

   I really hate that I didn't do a review on the CMT Awards but it was so bad that reviews were coming out left and right, I would have literally been just another tick on the farm. So I have decided to write a review on Justin Moore's "Outlaw Like Me" CD, that came out June 21st, 2011. As much as I hate to admit, I am cheap on getting my music, if Frostwire goes down I assume my pockets will be a little lighter. Justin Moore social media, advertising has persuaded me enough to buy his new CD and daggum I did. Some tracks on the album has already been leaked making the wait equally suspenseful and dragged out. But anyway I will get this show on the road, I hear Maw Maw is cooking lunch today.

Redneck Side- This is about what seems to be a rich girl, who still has a firm grip on daddys money. She is dressing her man up to go to a party with her friends, but after some beers he gets rowdy and thats why she loves him. He met her down at the beach at her parents condo, here comes the shes rich part again and I am a good ole boy because its 2 am and he is wearing nothing but a farmers tan. I love the story line behind this, his redneck side is his  adventurous side which make the girls crave it and the boys show their true colors.

My Kind of Woman- Stop me now. Here I thought Colt Ford "Chicken&Biscuits" had described me to a tee, Justin Moore proves me wrong again. If any man were to play this for me, I would lay my hand out so fast and told him if he didnt put a ring on it, I would need to move on. "Cornbread and Sweet Tea is where shes from..."

If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away- Love it, It has had it's hype though. Its been in rotation for a minute, enough time for everyone to soak it up and dry out just before the album came. Perfect timing for JM's PR.

Run Out Of Honky Tonks- This reminds me of George Strait, how he mentions all the city towns. Justin sings about a man who is running from his ex memory. Try to convince my heart somehow sometime some place this is gonna work. Oh but what if I run out of honky tonks before I get over her. This line in the song pretty much says it all, paired with Justin's backwoods voice makes me want to drink beer from a boot and squinch my eyes because of all the neon lights. 

Beer Time- It chilled me to the bone when he sang "Got a shotgun rifle and a four wheel drive."
Crowd went crazy and I told my baby, it was worth every dime. I might live by these words from here on out, sounds like me with about every concert. This song is just about drinking beer, its beer time! Talking Friday afternoon its beer time and after attempting to pay his daddy and the muffler shop off after his bird dog had puppies he puts them off for later because he has an empty ice chest and its BEER TIME!

Bait a Hook- This is one clever song about a boy who stole a country boys girl that cant even bait a hook! He drives himself a smart car and drinks those fruity drinks, like what is this girl thinking? That sounds like it sucks and Justin Moore is preaching it. Knows how to throw out a line, but not the kind in a field and stream book. AHH this is good, I dedicate this to every MAN who doesnt know how to swig Jack Daniels but visits the distillery because he travels in the smart car. 

Flying Down a Back Road- Justin sings about playing with what seems like his idols Bocephus, Alan Jackson, ZZ Top, Skynrd and even playing at the Grand Ole Opry but its not near as good as flying down a back road. Rodney Atkins just released a single about going down a back road but not flying down one, making a whole of difference. 

A Splash of Jack in my Coke 

Catchin' brine on a Zebco
Spottin' deer in a hay field
After church a sunday meal 
And huggin' mama before I go
Yeah, Flyin' down a back road

   favorite lines, he said it before and ill say it again, thats the Good Ole American Way. 

If You Don't Like My Twang- This is a good song in all, but I think Justin Moore should have made this something more of what his audience could have related to. Its all about him singing and playing and kinda building up his reputation, sounds like something that he should listen to before taking stage. I was really hoping for more after looking at the title, maybe next time. 

Guns- Some people wanna take 'em away, why don't you go bust them boys that sellin' crack. I am not big on guns, I have a 16 and a 20 gauge all thanks to my pop but I can understand where he is coming from. I can just picture some country boy hanging on to every word of this song because its all about his way of living. Some men cant leave the house without their gun, I never got it, is it because they feel safer or do they really think they are going to need it? Either or, its a great anthem. 

Sunshine Babies- Finally a summer sun shinin' feel good song, this is a song to blast on the pontoon while your sippin on a cold drink with friends around. This is for the country boys who love their girls tanned up laying out on the river banks. 

Me and the boys, hangin' out of the doors
Ain't got no fishin' pole, got no lures
'Cause what we're afters layin' up on the bank
They're jumpin' off that old rope swing

Till My Last Day- This song is about a boy whos had a bad history with girls, and word around town is that he is bad news but things can change apparently. He must have found the girl of his dreams because he can love her till his last day if it means going out and coming home early to get back to her lovin. When I meet this man I will swear by this song but right now, this is just a country song that I will wish the man in the story was real. 

Bed of My Chevy- Justin Moore puts out the most amazing country love songs, I mean "No Tomorrow" from his last album still gives me chills when I play it. This has got to be a next step up from it, which is heart stopping. I would just post all the lyrics to this blog, but I cant. Every word in this song just strikes a nerve and sends this country girl in a bed that never has to be made! 

Outlaws Like Me- Justin's second single from this album after "If Heaven Wasnt So Far Away' and I think this again is a Country Boys Anthem. He sings about a man who has seen it all, done it all and God bless him. He has been a straight whiskey pounder to a cry on his mommas shoulder, this shows it comes from the heart with every note that Justin sings. I can feel the passion and I think thats what makes a song, because if he feels it then his fans will feel it. 

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this album, worth every cent. Click on your Itunes and get it NOW, make sure you have time to listen to every track and soak each word up when you listen to it first. If you take it from me, I recommend burning it to a CD and drive around in the back roads or just sit on the front porch and drink a cold one. Sober or drunk this album is the TRUTH and is another reminder that real country music might be headed back to radio. As for Rascal Flatts they can have Justin Bieber and Natasha Bedingfield but Justin Moore will have my money.