Disco de Shooter Jennings: “Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's”

Over the past few years I have heard a couple of Shooter Jennings songs on the radio. The one that most comes to mind is "4th of July" which was a hit back in 2005, and I have heard some other songs on his radio show on Sirius XM; other then that I never really followed his career or purposely listened to his music. Listening to this album, however, has given me a better idea of his talent, style and voice.

The man does have a talent for music, I can't deny that, and he has a pedigree that should allow that. His style would probably be described as a mating of southern rock and country western. And his voice is like Kid Rock's, only he can actually sing and hold a tune.

In my opinion I would describe Shooter's music as Kid Rock, if Kid Rock just did country and never did rock/rap music, with the exception that Shooter has a better voice and understands country music better.

Highlights of the track lineup include his biggest hit "4th of July", title track of his latest album "The Wolf", a fun little southern ditty "Manifesto No. 1", a decent cover of "The Walk of Life", and one of the previously unreleased songs Shooter's version of the Hank Williams Jr. song "Living Proof".

The album has its highs, but they are few and nothing really stands out to me. Jennings seems to write and sing for himself more than the listeners and I think that holds back the music a little bit. It just isn't my cup of tea, but I do see how this music can still be appreciated and enjoyed by a fan of this brand of country, all I can say is give the songs a listen before you buy.

I have to say I was surprised to see a Best Of out there already for Shooter Jennings, I didn't think he had enough albums out yet. I bought his debut album, Put The "O" Back In Country when it was released and thought that was a great disc. It's nice to hear that Shooter's music hasn't changed much since then. Shooter (the song of Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter) does country music that is a little country and a lot of outlaw and southern rock. The music is sloppy, but that's not a bad thing. Much of today's country music is very polished and shines and ends up sounded very processed. Shooter's music is real, his lyrics are a lot like his fathers.

If you're a fan of southern rock or Waylon Jennings you will really like "Bad Magick" if you're already a fan of Shooter's you probably already have these tracks (except for the two new tracks) but I think you'll like this compilation nonetheless.

With a sound that at times reminds me much of one of my favorite Southern Rock bands: Lynyrd Skynyrd, I can pop this disc in, hit play and not at all feel like I want the disc to quickly end so I can hear something else. Granted, my introduction to Shooter Jennings came much like a few other folks here have commented, via his 'hit' song 4th of July which made noise on country radio in 2005. Though I didn't go out of my way to find more Shooter Jennings music, I enjoyed that tune while it was in the radio playlists/rotations.

A few years later finds this Best of collection with that song and a collection of 14 other songs, two of which were previously unreleased (the Lonesome Blues live track, from AOL Music Sessions; and Living Proof). Also included in the mix is the live track Daddy's Farm though in listening to that track you'd have a tough time, through most of the track, telling that it was recorded live as (again, for most of the track) it lacks the traditional screaming fans that one might expect from a live recording. The crowd is there, but isn't noticable until about midway through the track as it becomes an opportunity for the band to jam. Walk of Life is the Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits hit, with this version sticking close to that classic while also exhibiting a bit of a country twang.

As a finished compilation the mix of tracks here gives listeners a nice range of the types of music you might hear from any of Shooter Jenning's previous albums. Flirting with southern rock, new country, alternate country, offering something for just about anyone to find and enjoy.

What a fantastic album! If you aren't familiar with the career of Shooter Jennings, this "best of" collection is the perfect introduction to his genius. From the toe-tapping honky-tonk standard of "Manifesto No. 1" to the dark and haunting "Dark Magick" to the all-out guitar-driven rock and roll of "Daddy's Farm", this collection has something for fans of southern rock, alternative country, or progressive outlaw music. Shooter Jennings is a songwriter extraodinaire. Shooter will probably never get the respect he deserves from the Nashville establishment, but for those of us who appreciate his pure poetry, art, and amazing talent, we offer Nashville the Johnny Cash salute. My advice: GET THIS ALBUM. You will thank me. And your CD player will wonder if you even have any other CDs.

Although mostly I listen to Rock & the Blues, I'm kind of a closet country fan. Once Vesta and I drove from L.A. to Houston with nothing in the CD player but the first two Highwaymen CDs. Just played 'em over and over. Waylen, Willie, Johnny and Chris, what a band. They were/are the best of country music in my opinion, which I know doesn't carry much water. Shooter Jennings not only carries on that tradition, but it shoots it straight into the world of rock and roll with a touch of the blues fused right into it. Some may call this country, but this is like no kind of country you've every heard.

I don't know how I missed Jennings' albums, don't know why someone hadn't clued me in, but until I listened to this one for the first time yesterday, I hadn't even heard of Shooter Jennings. Will I have now and I'll be getting his other records and the next time we make a trip to Tejas (coming up in a couple weeks) we'll be playing them all.