Kevin Fowler’s Bring It On Delivers Big
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 |
Kevin Fowler has consistently delivered entertaining music since the turn of the century. His music is honest, yet humorous. It’s clever, yet heartfelt. This is what we have grown to expect from Fowler, and he delivers once again with his latest album Bring It On. The leadoff single is currently his release to radio - Long Line of Losers. In Fowler’s Southern country rock style he hits a homerun right off the bat and includes outstanding fiddle and steel guitar work. This song is absolutely hilarious singing about his checkered genes and bloodlines. In fact, it took only 2 weeks |
| after it’s release to reach the top 25 on the Texas Music Charts. After only 5 weeks, it was in the top 5, then went to number one the following week, where it has remained for the last 6 weeks. This is followed up with Feels Good, Don’t It. In typical Fowler style, it’s an uptempo song but sounds a little bit too much like Montgomery Gentry. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I’m not feeling this song from Fowler.
One of the highlights from this album is Ain’t Dead Yet. This is a song about all the warning in life about what will kill us - burgers, beer, toothpaste, cigarettes, you name it. “But we ain’t dead yet. No we ain’t dead yet. Ol’ ticker’s still a tickin’ and we’re still alive and kicking. No we ain’t dead yet” says it all about the world we live in, where supposedly it’s not safe to eat this or that, or do this or that. Fowler pulls in the legendary George Jones to sing with him on Me and the Boys. Bringing in Jones immediately makes this a great song, as they sing about spending an evening with the boys. Of course, those boys are Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, and Johnny Walker, and I don’t think anybody has a problem seeing that actually happen with these two. Excellent song in the mold of the Chestnutt’s The Lord Loves the Drinking Man. I Pulled a Hank Last Night also has the unmistakable sound of Kevin Fowler and takes a trip down memory lane with Hank Williams and talks about a killer hangover. The musical quote from “Honky Tonk Blues” in the instrumental break is a touch of class and a tribute to the legendary Hank himself. What’s Your Point is an in you’re face go to hell song. It’s Fowler at his best. ”Tell me something I didn’t know. I ‘m a hard headed son-of-a-gun. That’s the just the way I roll. I doubt I’ll ever change. Don’t waste your breathe on me. Oh, I’ve heard it all before, yea, what’s your point?” The title track Bring It On is another Fowler upbeat raucous machismo song. I’m not sure it’s one of my favorites, but I can see it being a real crowd pleaser in his live shows. Cheaper to Keep Her is so well-written and so true. It’s an honest song about how it’s cheaper to keep her than to divorce her, which is really what he wants to do. I think a lot of married men have been in his shoes at some point and probably thought the same thing. Fowler goes out of character and slows it down in, no pun intended, Slow Down. It’s a song about life being out of control and reigning himself in and getting his act together before it kills him. Now You’re Talking is another song that sounds a lot like Montgomery Gentry, but they too, kind of represent the outlaw image, so it’s not surprising that Fowler will resemble them at times. It’s still a good song, and I could see this being his next radio release. I’ve read that Best Mistake I Ever Made is schedule to be his next radio release, and let’s hope not! This is my one dud song that seems to find it’s way onto every album. This song is not Fowler at all and seems completely forced. It’s a song about getting married in Vegas and having kids. “Just because we didn’t mean to do it don’t mean that it ain’t right.” I just feel like I’ve heard this song before with Kenny Chesney singing There Goes My Life. The mere fact that this song reminds and even sounds like a Chesney song, makes it not presentable to radio. This song is not Kevin Fowler at all. At least he does add a little bit of humor into the song. I love the song Let’s Start Livin’. It’s a fun loving party song that sounds a lot like a Deryl Dodd song. I just can’t put my finger on which one it is. At any rate, it’s a very cool song. The album closes with the steel guitar, fiddling playing Honky Tonk Junkie and this might be one of the best songs on the album. “I get the jonesin’ for Jones. I’ve got a hankerin’ for Hank. Yea, when I’m feeling down, I need them around, to help me through the pain.” It’s an excellent way to close the album.Fowler’s outlaw persona will never grow old in the Texas honky tonks, and he produces once again on the Bring It On album. I’m not sure there are any signature songs like Beer, Bait, and Ammo or Don’t Touch My Willie, but there are 12 outstandiing songs in this 13 song set. And they are undeniably Kevin Fowler. He has a distinct sound, as well as delivery. This was a long awaited arrival and well worth your money. Bring It On from Kevin Fowler will make great stocking stuffers this Christmas. |
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