Disco de Pat Green: “Cannonball”

Pat Green has always been something of an anomaly in the music world. Too country for people who don't like country, but full of enough folk/rock grit to turn off hardcore country fans. Green has made his name largely through word-of-mouth and his energetic live shows. He's also released 3 very solid studio albums (with a handful of popular tunes getting played on CMT) and a few independent-label records.

For CANNONBALL, it seems Green decided to try something a little different. Virtually gone are the raucous beer-drinkin', hell-raising story songs that were the hallmark of his earlier albums. In their place, we have a more mature, reflective (though, happily, never too somber) Pat Green. He still doesn't mine telling you about his checkered past--in "Love Like That" he refuses to judge a group of rowdy kids in a parking lot, because he knows he and his buddies were the same way--but he's also thankful for the love of a good woman to keep him on the right track. This theme resonates throughout CANNONBALL; and while it's not groundbreaking in terms of the songwriting, Green sings with such conviction that he can almost make the cliches seem fresh.

The duet with Sara Evans, "Finders Keepers" is also a highlight, although the always-powerful Evans threatens to overwhelm her host at times. "I'm Trying to Find It" would be at home on a Bob Seger album. "Virginia Belle" is classic Pat Green, as he fumbles over the right way to introduce himself to a lovely lady. . .only to let the moment slip away.

And of course, the first single, "Feels Just Like It Should," simply soars. In fact, it perfectly encapulates the album's theme, although none of the other tracks do it with quite such gusto.

Like John Mellencamp (whose frequent producer, Don Gehman, produced Cannonball), Pat Green makes dependable, occasionally great heartland music. It's a fine progression of an artist who probably still hasn't reached his peak.

I have all his CD's and once was a good friend of Pat's before he got real big. I lost touch with him and Brendon Anthony(who was a friend of mine at Texas A&M) since he's gone new Pat. I like some of these songs but feel like he's trying to hard to impress nashville. I not saying he has to sing about drinking beer all the time but at least stick to what got you here alittle. I remember seeing Pat Green play and only about 20 people in the joint. He played back then with fire and this amazing energy that I have never seen. I still support Pat and he's still one of my Favorite guys to listen to but I keep hoping the old Pat will come back.

Wonderful CD, classic Pat Green music. Nice cross/mix between rock and country.

Bought this CD on the way out of town for a big camping trip. When it got dark I went down to the beach to watch the stars and listened to this CD 3 times straight through. It's that good. This is the first Pat Green CD I can say that about. Usually on a PG CD you get maybe 2 or 3 good songs. I wasn't sure what to expect because his last few songs haven't been that great ("Babydoll", etc.) Even "Feels Just Like It Should" isn't a signature PG song, pretty much anybody could have sang it. Anyway, the CD starts off with the title track, and it blew me away. It almost has the feel of an 80's rock song (and I mean that in the best, most nostalgic way). His duet with Sara Evans ("Finder's Keepers") gave me chills. I could go on and on. There are a few misses but I don't regret the purchase one bit, I can't stop listening to it!!

I am very disappointed in this CD. Not because the music isn't good, because it is. But because it is just not the Pat Green that used to play in Stillwater. The passionate, soulful Pat Green. Back then he sang about things that he believed in and loved. Now he is singing what Nashville tells him to. And this coming from the guy who sang "Nashville Sucks" with Cory Morrow. There are a ton of country singers out there that could have released this CD and it would have sounded exactly the same. But songs like "Southbound 35" and "Three Day" can only be sang by Pat Green. He needs to revisit his roots and come back to the red dirt country music that he was born to play. Will the real Pat Green please stand up?