CD REVIEW: SHANE OWENS – IT’S A SOUTHERN THING – BY RITCHIE RITCHISON
FOR COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE AND RADIO SHOW
Love to Try Them On
Lie
Working Man
Honky Tonk Girl
Here Without You
It’s a Southern Thing
When I first heard the opening lyrics of “Love to Try Them On” I thought to myself Oh
no, another song lamenting the “end of country music as we know it” but instead Shane
Owens says he may be the one to carry on the legacy.
Good for you Shane. There’s no need to lament our legends or their music for it is still
very much alive and there are plenty of artists ready to stand up and fill the shoes of
those who have gone before.
It’s a Southern Thing is a solid 6 song collection of contemporary country music.
Obviously my favorite track is “Love to Try Them On” because it contains my two
essential elements to qualify as country music pedal steel and twangy lead guitar and a
very tasty lick on an acoustic guitar as well.
“Lie” would fit on Dwight Yoakam’s This Time album with ease and
“Here Without You” is reminiscent of Garth Brooks “ Thunder Rolls”
The album is certainly of the more rockin’ side of country music but the writing is solid
the production is excellent and the “country” part of the record is Shane Owens.
I am sure Shane made this record with modern country radio in mind but if you ask me
he could fill the shoes he sings about if he tried ‘em on.
I give it 4 out 5 stars