Tim McGraw Album: “Not a Moment Too Soon”

Description :

Personnel: Tim McGraw (vocals); Mark Casstevens, Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar); Brent Rowan, Dann Huff (electric guitar); Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, dobro); Glen Duncan, Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Matt Rollings, Randy McCormick (piano); Gary Smith (Hammond B-3 organ); Mike Brignardello (bass); Lonnie Wilson (drums); Curtis Young, Curtis Wright (background vocals). <p>With his high lonesome yodel, and jacked-up honky tonk groove, singer Tim McGraw is the latest in a new generation of country heartthrobs to capture the imagination of today's young country fans. From the opening notes of "It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This"--with its skinny dipping, roll in the hay, crank my tractor sexual imagery--NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON showcases McGraw's drawlin' good time delivery on a section of party-hearty arrangements. <p>The key element in young McGraw's appealing country synthesis is the persistent undercurrent of chicken-fried rock'n'roll in the mix, as on the bluesy "40 Days And 40 Nights" and the pulsating "Ain't That Just Like A Dream," with its big, ringing arena gestures (descended from bands the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd). Not that McGraw can't get next to a ballad, as he demonstrates on the steel-guitar inflected "Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way" and the nostalgic "Don't Take The Girl." <p>But it's the hard-charging, dancing "turbo tonk" of tunes like his big hit "Indian Outlaw"--with its shifting tom-tom groove, shuffling blues jig and fiddling square dance breaks--that best captures the rowdy spirit and rough-and-ready delivery of Tim McGraw. Daddy Tug McGraw (a pitching hero for 20-plus years with championship New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies teams) must be proud.

With his high lonesome yodel, and jacked-up honky tonk groove, singer Tim McGraw is the latest in a new generation of country heartthrobs to capture the imagination of today's young country fans. From the opening notes of "It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This"--with its skinny dipping, roll in the hay, crank my tractor sexual imagery--NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON showcases McGraw's drawlin' good time delivery on a section of party-hearty arrangements.

The key element in young McGraw's appealing country synthesis is the persistent undercurrent of chicken-fried rock'n'roll in the mix, as on the bluesy "40 Days And 40 Nights" and the pulsating "Ain't That Just Like A Dream," with its big, ringing arena gestures (descended from bands the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd). Not that McGraw can't get next to a ballad, as he demonstrates on the steel-guitar inflected "Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way" and the nostalgic "Don't Take The Girl."

But it's the hard-charging, dancing "turbo tonk" of tunes like his big hit "Indian Outlaw"--with its shifting tom-tom groove, shuffling blues jig and fiddling square dance breaks--that best captures the rowdy spirit and rough-and-ready delivery of Tim McGraw. Daddy Tug McGraw must be proud.

Not a fan of "new" country. Seems none of these guys can capture the old Waylon, Cash, Hank, or Coe sounds anymore. Most of this stuff is geared towards "pop" country and pop radio. A lot of Tim's stuff falls in this category, but he still can channel the old country sound from time to time. This record was pretty good, a very fun sounding record (with the exception of a few songs). In the new world of country, Tim has proven that he belongs at the top of the mountain. I think this record introduced the rest of us to his music, and it is a good starting point for many. Solid effort, some classic songs on this record.