I just reviewed a country record by Chris Stapleton, "Traveller", on Amazon so I thought I'd share it here. Stapleton used to be with The Steeldrivers. This is his first solo record:
Overall I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed. I heard about this record at a Shane Dwight show in Redwood City, where Shane recommended it from the stage and went on to do a tune off of it.
That really gave me high hopes for this record, as I'm a fan of Shane's hard rockin', upbeat country. Shane is from San Jose but moved to Nashville maybe 8 years ago and really refined and toughened up his sound.
But Traveller is anything but hard rockin', upbeat country. Now don't get me wrong, there are some good tunes here. And I dig Stapleton's world weary, somewhat roughshod vocals. The problem for me is that I'm a rocker at heart and basically this is a mellow country record.
The record starts off strong, opening with the title cut, "Traveller", which gave me great hopes for this record. A beautiful upbeat melody accompanies Stapleton's urgent cry: "I couldn't tell you honey, I don't know/Where I'm going, but I've got to go/Cause every turn reveals some other road/And I'm a traveler."
Traveler and the third cut, "Tennessee Whiskey", are to me the strongest tunes. Tennessee Whiskey is not a drinking song, it's a love song: "You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey/You're as sweet as strawberry wine/You're as warm as a glass of brandy/And honey I stay stoned on your love all the time." The slow galloping beat creates a real mood that feels like a cowboy sitting at the end of a bar and admiring the hot young lady who just entered the room. "I look for love in all the same old places/Found the bottom of the bottle is always dry/But when you pulled out your love I couldn't waste it/Cause there's' nothing like your love to get me high." A poignant, heartfelt love song, real country passion.
After that, things for me get a bit stale. It doesn't take long to get back to the whiskey theme, but this time it's a hard core drinking song, track 5, "Whiskey And You". I wouldn't say that a country tune which focuses on the theme of medicating heartache with alcohol is venturing into unique territory. In fact, it's a very cliché country theme. "There's a bottle on the dresser by your ring/And it's empty but now I don't feel a thing/I'll be hurtin' when I wake up on the floor/But I'll be over it by noon/That's the difference between whiskey and you". And, "I've got a problem, but it ain't like what you think/I drink because I'm lonesome/And I'm lonesome 'cause I drink."
"More Of You" is a slow dirge dominated by some nice mandolin. A somewhat sappy love song that sounds more like Emmylou Harris or Steve Earle in one of his mellower moments. Not the kind of rockin' country I was expecting to get on this record.
We stay very mellow from there with "When The Stars Come Out". "We couldn't wait to leave that life behind/Tryin' to find salvation/ In a seven eleven sign". Some nice lyrics, but another mellow ballad with pedal steel guitar? This record is chock full of them.
"Daddy Doesn't Pray Anymore" is about as downbeat as you can get. The title says it all, a Father who has given up and turned away even from religion. A lonesome solo acoustic guitar drives a somewhat depressing and eerie mood here.
There are 14 cuts here, a lot of music. I cannot recommend this to anyone but the most converted of hard core country enthusiasts. And even then, don't expect to be shaking your bootie to this record.
[Edited on 12/10/2015 by robslob]
I don't share your disappointment. This record is full of well written songs and Stapleton's voice is about as real and powerful as you'll find. Is it a rock record? No. It's not supposed to be. He actually recorded with a rock band a few years ago and that's pretty good as well.
[Edited on 12/9/2015 by RPMcMurphy]
I don't share your view either. One of my favorite cds of the year.
Dang Rob you don't know nothing bout country do you? "Tennessee Whiskey" is an old George Jones tune. I haven't heard Chris Stapleton yet to figure out what all the fuss is about. However, if you want to hear him rock in' download "Drinking Dark Whiskey And Telling White Lies" by the Steeldrivers. That ought to float your rock boat and I believe Chris wrote that one.
Great album!! It's nominated for Album of the Year for next year's grammy awards in February. I want it to win!!
Dang Rob you don't know nothing bout country do you?
I cannot argue with that. Out of character for me to be reviewing a country record. Not that impressed, though (obviously). I do like Ryan Bingham, though..........much more rockin' than Stapleton. And thanks for the education on who did Tennessee Whiskey originally.
[Edited on 12/10/2015 by robslob]
That's ok, Rob. Seriously check out "Drinking Dark Whiskey" by the Steeldrivers. You'll like it and it's one of those tunes that can be covered by and turboed up by some irreverent rockers. 😉
That's ok, Rob. Seriously check out "Drinking Dark Whiskey" by the Steeldrivers. You'll like it and it's one of those tunes that can be covered by and turboed up by some irreverent rockers.
OK, what Steeldrivers record is it on? Can you name me a Steeldrivers record that overall is more upbeat and rockin' than Traveller? I am interested.
I hate to disappoint you Rob, but IMO just download "Dark Whiskey" which is off their first record. The Steeldrivers also had Mike Henderson on mandolin. I highly recommend his Blue Blood CD if blues is more your bag. He is a slide master (out of open C) that CD is stout from start to finish with great covers of "Stone Pony Blues", "Give Me Back My Wig" and "Welfare Blues". Those will get your toes tapping. 
Traveler is an AWESOME record. And Chris has been around the Nashville scene for years as one of the "behind the scenes" staff writers. Incredibly happy for and proud of him to be not only give the chance to do it on his own, but to knock it out of the park like he did. Great story and great guy.
PS. I forget the guy's name, but the same dude produced it that did Jason Isbell's last 2 records. And IMO, he did another fine job here.
[Edited on 12/10/2015 by jparadise]
PS. I forget the guy's name, but the same dude produced it that did Jason Isbell's last 2 records. And IMO, he did another fine job here.
Liner notes for Traveller say produced by Dave Cobb & Chris Stapleton.
"The problem for me is that I'm a rocker at heart and basically this is a mellow country record." Then why review it?? A review that lacks any knowledge of the genre...unfortunately.
Here is part 1 of my interview with Chris that came out last month. The best stuff from our interview is yet to come so stay tuned.......
by the way...the whole first album by the SteelDrivers is awesome and has Chris...and Mike...all over it.
"The problem for me is that I'm a rocker at heart and basically this is a mellow country record." Then why review it?? A review that lacks any knowledge of the genre...unfortunately.
Quite true. I'm not a professional critic, especially when it comes to country. FYI, Derek, Hittin' The Web is not paying me to write. Sorry for having the balls to offer up my opinion on a record which happens to be in a genre which I'm not real knowledgeable about. I admit it.
That said, I stand by my opinion of the record: I don't care for it much. If you disagree, that doesn't make me an idiot, it means we have different musical tastes. Calm down dude...........there's much more important things in the world to get upset about.
I love the record, IMO a good song is a good song whether it's fast or slow. BTW David Allen Coe recorded Tennessee Whiskey about a year before George Jones did.
Stapleton was also in a band called the Jompson Brothers that is more of a rock band. The album is out of print but there are quite a few videos and a couple complete live shows on youtube that yyou you might want to watch.
And, Bill, Chris is an eastern Kentucky boy from near Paintsville.
This album, along with 2 steeldrivers releases are showing up in my mail today as a gift. I can't wait to listen to them for the first time. I love Hayes Carl, Ryan Bingham, Jason Isbell, Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, Sturgil Simpsin etc. Hope I like this guy as well. Thanks for the rec
A few listens in (both the Traveller release and the Steeldrivers) Big fan
