Tim McGraw Album: “Live Like You Were Dying”

Tim McGraw is quickly proving himself to be a musical innovator. Along with his band, the superb Dancehall Doctors, he has created his two best albums yet: TIM MCGRAW AND THE DANCEHALL DOCTORS, and this one.

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING is a ride through progressive, alternative, outlawish country music, with enough radio-friendliness to ensure airplay. McGraw certainly knows how to select songs; all of these are brilliantly written by some of today's best songwriters (Rodney Crowell, Tom Douglas, Bruce Robison, Craig Wiseman, Casey Beathard, the Warren Brothers, Don Schlitz, James Slater, etc).

McGraw deals with depression and hope on "Kill Myself," "We Carry On," and the title track; covers heartbreak in "Old Town New" and "Something's Broken;" eternal love on "My Best Friend" and "Just Be Your Tear;" abuse and recovery on "Walk Like a Man;" and adds in enough sarcastic, sardonic humor in "Everybody Hates Me," "Do You Want Fries With That," and "Back When" to keep this album from getting TOO serious.

One of the most dependable hitmakers, it's easy to pass Tim McGraw off as a one-man act; easy, but not true. His penchant for choosing high-class songs has helped him build a legacy hit after hit after hit. LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING is probably the best--and most personal--album McGraw has recorded yet. In fact, it's quite possible that, decades from now, people will look back on it as a classic example of country music done right.

Like many of the other reviewers, over the years I have enjoyed Tim McGraws uptempo cuts much more than the 'darker/introspective' tunes. There were always a fair share of uptempo songs on every project to balance it out. When I first heard "Live Like You Were Dying", to me, it was an instant classic that is perhaps Tim's most meaningful song since "Don't Take the Girl". It admittedly made me take a step back to hear the mellowness and rootsy angle on the rest of the project. I, like others, skipped the tunes looking for the uptempo tunes. But, in remembering my first reaction to some of his previous work and how I changed after more listens, I gave this a few more listens, and I'm glad I did. True - there's no particularly loud arena friendly tunes - but rather some very well-written songs that are easy to make ones own and much different from the predictable cookie-cutter cliche filled tunes Corporate Nashville is forcing artists to release. If you can look beyond the musical arrangements (or the lack of loudness), you'll discover tunes that make you laugh ("Everybody Hates Me" & "...Fries..."), think ("Kill Myself", "blank sheet of paper"), reflect (title track, "My Old Friend"), or inspire ("We Carry On" / "Walk Like a Man"). Hats off to Tim for having the progressive mindset and using his pull with Curb to consistently raise the bar in Nashville and stretch the boundaries of country music. If you're looking for old-style TM first, give #5, 10, 14, & 16 a listen.

Tim McGraw does it again with the Dancehall Doctors in tuneful support. LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING, Tim McGraw's new album is wonderful. The title track is superb. But, hey, we knew that from its meteoric rise up the charts prior to the release of the album. In addition to the title track, tracks like "My Old Friend", "Old Town New", "Back When", "Open Season On My Heart", and "Do You Want Fries With That" are classic Tim McGraw. But then virtually every track on this album is a toe-tapper.

And McGraw's remake of Travis Tritt's "Can't Tell Me Nothin'" will have you forgetting the long-haired one ever recorded it.

Sensational stuff!

THE HORSEMAN

Amazing and Personal are the words that come to mind when I heard this CD. I have been a big fan of both Tim and Faith. You can feel Tim's pain, joy, and humor with each song.

This is a great gift for any Tim McGraw fan.

Tim has outdone himself on this album. Each song on this album is a songwriting work of art. The first time or two you listen to this album, you may think that you are disappointed or that this is not like any other Mcgraw Album. The second is true, but any true fan of music could never dislike this album. The collection of songs displayed and the way they are put together to deal with many different subject matters will draw in anyone who takes the time to actually listen to each song.

"Kill Myself" is one of the best songs Tim has ever recorded, and he has said so himself. At first listen you might be taken aback, but listen a few more times to figure out the true meaning.

"Walk Like a Man" deals with alcoholism and is beautifully put together. A very good song for a topic that many can relate to.

"We carry On" is sure to be a huge radio hit. It deals with tough situation that many people have to deal with. Another one of Tim's Best.

Faith Hill appears on "Blank Sheet of Paper". This song also has the opportunity to be a huge hit.

The CD picks up tempo with "How Bad Do You Want It" - a classic Tim hit; "Everybody Hates Me" - a song mocking corporate america; and "Do you want fries with that" along with "Back When" - two highly entertaining songs that will make you laugh and show Tim's humorous side.

Any true fan of music cannot dislike this album. It's lyrics are deep and meaningful - unlike much of today's music which just throws words together to a fast beat. Anyone complaining about this album was looking for just that from Tim - another cookie cutter album - but what was produced instead was an increadible compilation of deep, meaningful songs that stop to make you think, laugh or cry. This album is a must for any Tim fan - listen to it a few times and I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.