Montgomery Gentry Album: “Carrying On”

Description :

Montgomery Gentry: Eddie Montgomery, Troy Gentry (vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Brent Rowan, Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar, dobro); Glen Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Steve Nathan (piano, organ, synthesizer); Gary Lunn (bass); Paul Leim (drums, percussion); Anthony Martin, Joe Scaife (background vocals). Additional personnel includes: Randy Sorrells (steel guitar); Larry Beaird (banjo); Eric Darken (percussion). Recorded at Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. Digitally remastered using HDCD technology. A pretty boy in a cowboy hat singing mushy ballads about undying love? That ain't country--at least, not according to Montgomery Gentry. On their second CD, CARRYING ON, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry continue their quest to inject some much-needed rowdiness into sanitized country music. Following in the footsteps of Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings, and Hank Williams Jr., Montgomery Gentry concern themselves primarily with two topics: hell-raising rednecks and their relationship problems, and down-home country boys struggling to survive in the modern world. It's to the duo's credit that they've found so many ways of looking at these tried and true themes--the lead track, "She Couldn't Change Me," is a clever twist on the old story about a woman who tries to change her man for the better. The CD's muscular, country-rock production is the perfect showcase for the duo's rough-hewn vocals, and Eddie Montgomery in particular is especially affecting on gems like "Cold One Comin' On" and "Hellbent on Saving Me." The duo's decision to cover the 1974 Waylon classic "Ramblin' Man" was a wise one--the song seems custom-made for them.

What's better than two country boys who put on a killer live show? Two country boys who can take that same amazing energy into the studio and produce a CD like Carrying On! With the first hit of this sophmore effort, She Couldn't Change Me, Montgomery Gentry polishes off some of the rough edges from their debut and still stays true to the no-apologies, real-country feel they committed to on their amazing Tatoos and Scars. Don't miss the two most amazing tracks, the very hot (dare I say sexy and risk all credibility?) blues-ey angst-fest Cold One Comin'On and the surprisingly poignent, MG-style love-song Hellbent on Saving Me. Cold One...is a variation on the typical broken-hearted drinking song, but there is nothing here that you have heard before. The guitar licks are unbelievable and the lyrics ("...a bar room or that bedroom back at home...") make you want to turn off the lights and brood about everyone who has ever done you wrong. Hellbent...is equally un-formulaic. It is a love song, but there is not an ounce of sap or silly sentiment here! How can there be with a line like "...She's an angel, she's a saint and that's two things that I ain't." On a technical level this is an almost perfect song and a great showcase for Eddie's honest vocal style. Quite rightly everyone is going to love tracks like Carrying On and While the World Goes down the Drain, but these two songs along with My Father's Son and Black Jack Fletcher and Mississippi Sam make this a truly great CD.

I have had this cd for about 4 weeks longer than the actual release date due to advance copy, and I have not gone a day without listening to it, pure in your face hard core country, from two guys that sing it like it is. Well worth the investment, Tattoos and Scars will feed your music need as well. BUY THIS CD~!!!!!!!!!!

There are darn few country artists who really scratch the southern male's itch for rocking, testosterone tunes. Of course, there's ol' Waylon, Hank, and Travis Tritt, and even the "new guy" Charlie Robison, but the bad boys from Kentucky, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, belong on the short list of highly listenable bad boys in country. "Carrying On" kicks! I do not buy many CD's, either. This one was well worth my hard-earned cash.

First, let me say that my music taste is pretty eclectic. As far as country goes, I don't typically prefer the "traditional" or the "ultra-new" styles. If a song, of any style, catches my attention, I'll give the artist a try. Montgomery Gentry SOLD me with "Couldn't Change Me". (What a video!) I was slow buying Tattoos and Scars...I don't know how I missed so many great tunes on the radio! But in the month or so that I've had it...I've almost worn out an indestructible CD. On May 1 I ran to the store to get Carrying On. (I haven't done that since I was a teenager!) These guys are awesome! They each have a great sound that blends together perfectly. What you will hear is lots of talent, lots of professionalism and lots of heart. It's very apparent that they love what they do. Their choice of songs reminds those of us city-dwellers that there is another lifestyle alive and well in the U.S.A...one that, at times, we can only dream of! I'm buying more copies of both so I can keep one at home, in the car, and in the office.

This was MG's second cd offering after announcing to the world who they were with tattoos and scars. However IMO this album was a sophmore slump for a duo who has gone on to make two more killer cd's

The CD starts off in a great direction with "She couldn't change me" and "Cold on,Coming on", however some of the other tracks such as "blackjack fletcher" seemed more like filler material to put out a CD to capture the wave they were on. Possibly this is why the CD only stayed as their latest offering for a little more than a year.

If you are a fan of the songs that got radio play (such as " she couldn't change me") or are completeing a collection of MG material, then this is a buy, other than that, Any of the other 3 will satisfy your cravings for southern fried country a hell of a lot better.