Disco de Chris Ledoux: “After the Storm”

LeDoux's music is filled with the mature sense of self that's missing from the work of fresh-faced Nashville strivers. It's a perspective honed from a life of experience, and left unperturbed by the necessities of modern chart stardom. On this latest release, LeDoux's introspective sensibility has been magnified by a health crisis and subsequent successful liver transplant. The resulting mood reflects a deepened sense of contentment with family, friends, work and play.

From the opening Garth Brooks duet, "Some Things Never Change," to the closing remake of the rodeo-themed "Bareback Jack," LeDoux contemplates the simple things that make up one's life; romance ("Millionaire" "What I'm Up Against"), hard work ("Cowboy Up" "Simple as Dirt"), and music making ("Don't it Make You Want to Dance") provide a few of his daily joys. Even David Lee Murphy's funereal "Scatter the Ashes" finds peace in the final departure from a well-lived life.

LeDoux's happiness and comfort is infectious, enough so to credit the backing singers on one track as "everybody in the studio." His tone may be less rowdy than on earlier albums (though the western swing of "I Don't Want to Mention Any Names" has a sly bounce), but his words are no less powerful. Like a favorite pair of Wrangler's, LeDoux's music gains character each time he rides out of the chute.

"Some things never change"? Well a little bit with this new CD as far as you will find only two songs referring to rodeos: The joyous "Cowboy Up", written by the talented cowgirl Joni Harms, one of my favorites on this CD, and "Bareback Jack".

What changes is that Chris, though still haunted by freedom and wide spaces, emphasises his SO GOOD sentimental, romantic side that I personnaly prefer with ""Don't make it you want to dance" and "What I'm up against". The whole album is sure relaxing but not boring! A bit of western swing with " I don't want to mention no names" will convince you. There's still a true country music, DON'T MISS IT! Domi

I love every song on this CD. "After the Storm" combines love songs with rodeo songs. There aren't any crying in your beer songs on this CD. It is great to have a new Chris LeDoux CD to add to my collection.

This was Chris' first CD after his close brush with death and his second-to-last CD. Unfortunately, after the storm came a worse event, Chris' untimely death in March 2005. As a LeDoux fan of more than 25 years, I was a bit disheartened that Chris wasn't writing more of his own material; too many of his preceding CDs got away from his rodeo/Western songs. Nevertheless, there are some fine songs here, and except for "Haywire" and "Stampede," there's no such thing as a less-than-good Chris LeDoux album. "Cowboy Up" and "Scatter My Ashes" are the best songs on the CD. Little did we know how prescient the latter was, as sadly, Chris didn't have much time left with us. Chris LeDoux was the best.

"After the Storm" makes a good country album but in the history of Chris Ledoux albums [isn't his best]. It not because he didnt write the songs he just didnt seem to be ready after the health problems. Compare this album to his earlier titles of "Whacha going to do with a cowboy", "Western Underground", and "Powder River" and you will agree its not his best work to date. I hope he's still got that Chris Ledoux Kick.