My friend that lives in Tamworth actually forced me to listen to this CD one day. The one song he showed my was pretty catchy but not spectacular but I went out and bought the CD anyway because we have similar tastes in music. And let me say, I am glad that I did.
When I first bought it, I gave it a quick listen, found one or two songs I liked and then put it away. Then, at the Country Music Festival, one song kept playing and every single person knew it and burst out into song when they heard it. That song was Big and Rich’s “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy”. It is sort of the cowboy anthem, I even saw some T’shirts with the songs name printed on them. Is that supposed to be a subtle hint to the country women? Regardless, it was easy to tell that this song was a town favourite. So when I got back home, I dug the CD out and gave it another go. Second time around it was much better and I could respect the songs but I wasn’t a die hard fan yet. I didn’t truly love the CD until recently. The new Bon Jovi CD, “Lost Highway”, actually included a song which was accompanied by Big and Rich (Bon Jovi have also been stung by the country bug). I love this song. “We Got It Going On” is country mixed with rock and roll – a spectacular mix.
So, because Bon Jovi had great taste in country, teaming up with Sugarland, I thought I might give Big and Rich another listen. Each time I listen to the CD I find more and more favourite songs. On the first listen I had one favourite, on the second listen I had two, now…the whole CD. Big and Rich has country and rock mixed perfectly, and personally I don’t really know why I wasn’t addicted earlier on. They have a really different sound too. Their voices have a weird harmony that really works. It is a mix of a base or tenor voice with the other member specialising in a more soprano to alto pitch. Normally, a weird harmony but here it really works. They are a bit more splashy than Sugarland and some other country music that I have heard, and they are sort of advocates of all genres even with a bit or rap in their tunes, but I would definitely classify them as more rocker cowboys. Even the picture of them on the CD case has them on their shiny new motor bikes with their guitars. They seem rebellious and a little ‘out there‘, and they even give this sense in their music, but it’s a great mix.
They do have some other CD’s out, but because I wasn’t a huge fan of this CD early on I haven’t bought any others yet, but after this listen, and hearing a bit from the website, I’m thinking I might need to invest in some and give them a go. Perhaps this time though, I will give them at least a half a dozen listens before I pre-judge. If I hadn’t given this CD a second and third chance, I would have been truly missing out. So thank you to my Tamworth friend and thank you to Bon Jovi, because without you two, I may have overlooked one of my now favourite country bands!
By Jacki Tipton
