CD Review: Craig Morgan – This Ole Boy
by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International
This Ole Boy (4:21)
More Trucks Than Cars (3:32)
The Whole World Needs A Kitchen (3:29)
Country Boys Like Me (3:27)
Show Me Your Tattoo (2:50)
Love Loves A Long Night (3:25)
Being Alive And Livin ‘(3:17)
Fish Weren’t Bitin’ (3:08)
Better Stories (3: 13)
I Didn’t Drink (3:24)
Corn Star (3:18)
Summer Moon (3:41)
Craig Morgan began his career as a country singer in 2000 after previously serving in the military. However, his first album did not bring him the desired success. It was only with his third album in 2005 that his first and so far only number 1 hit came and some top 10 singles followed. His album This Ole Boy, released in 2012, was his highest-placed album on the Billboard charts (# 5).
The 12 songs on the album offer a variety between slow, soulful songs and the more rocking, good feeling songs. The six ballads are all beautiful in their own way, but don’t necessarily take me with them when I pay attention to the lyrics. After hearing them once, I personally don’t have the urge to play them again right away. I like “Country Boys Like Me” and “I Didn’t Drink” best.
My favorite songs from this album are definitely the faster songs. “Being Alive and Livin” just like “Better Stories” are both about enjoying life and convey this joy of life in their melodies. “Show me Your Tattoo” doesn’t have a big story to tell, but it is simply a pleasure to listen to and immediately catches the ear.
All in all an album that you can listen to, has some rousing songs to offer and rightly came in at number 5. How often you end up listening to the album is another question.