Travis Tritt Album: “Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof”

Description :

Personnel: Travis Tritt (vocals); Larry Byrom, Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Jack Holder, Aaron Braun, Wendell Cox (acoustic & electric guitars); Terry Crisp, Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Reggie Young (guitar, six-string bass); Stuart Duncan, Mark O'Connor (fiddle); Jimmy Joe Ruggiere (harmonica); Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Matt Rollings (piano); Billy Livsey (harmonium, Hammond & Vox organs, Wurlitzer piano, clavinet); Mike Brignardello, Edgar Meyer (bass); Steve Turner (drums, percussion); Sam Bacco (percussion); Dennis Locorriere, John Cowan, Dana McVicker (background vocals). Recorded at The Castle, Franklin, Tennessee and Omnisound, Nashville, Tennessee. Travis Tritt, the personable country-rocker, has released another solid offering with his fifth album TEN FEET TALL AND BULLETPROOF. Known for his verbal run-ins with various non-traditional country artists and others, it is not surprising to hear the theme of the album in its first chorus, "Well I start to feel like Superman, then I pick a fight..." But with all the confrontation, Travis continues to prove himself musically, and his fans stay true to his neo-traditional country rock. The ballad "Foolish Pride," written by Travis, is an outstanding piece of songwriting. Had this been recorded by someone without such a Southern twang, this would have hit the top of the pop charts. The emotional vocal, lamenting steel, and dramatic drum flourishes add up to a perfect country ballad. "Outlaws Like Us," sung with Hank Williams, Jr. and Waylon Jennings, sums up Travis' musical style, when he wails "I was born a country singer...but I love to rock and roll...rhythm and blues is in my blood..." This album has it all: killer ballads and uptempo, good-time rockers, all drowned in thick country gravy.

Tritt knows what works for him, & he sticks with it. Once again, he offers a mix of romantic ballads, outlaw country,& Southern-rockers. However, this time he teams up with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington to write a straight blues tune, "No Vacation From the Blues", & it works well. The title track is a catchy, up-tempo hit, while "Foolish Pride" & "Between an Old Memory & Me" will appeal to the romantic. He turns up the rock & outlaw country on "Hard Times & Misery" & "Southern Justice". Few people in country music have ever been able to juggle country & rock as well as Tritt has & still remain extremely popular.

Travis Tritt has had an amazing career, but Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof I would have to say best shows the outlaw, southern rock side of Travis. Hank Jr and Waylon Jennings star on "Outlaws Like Us" trading vocals about their thoughts on music. It's a classic. "Southern Justice" gives me chills as it's a hard southern country rocker about a police officer. Skynyrd's Gary Rossington stars on this CD too. The title song is very up beat to. The ballads that were singles are good but the rockers are better. "Hard Times and Misery" is a prime example of this. "Between an Old Memory And Me" is probably my favorite of the ballads on the CD. If you like outlaw music, this one is a must, but if you like pop-country stay away.