Still Country, Still King: A Tribute To George Jones
Self-Released, 2018
8/10
Still Country, Still King: A Tribute To George Jones
The Nashville honky tonker James Carothers returns with a sophomore album where he pays homage to the legendary George Jones with a batch of tunes that are reworked in his own vision.
“The Race Is On” starts the listen vocally strong as classic country ideas enter the swift, harmonic delivery, and “Still Doin’ Time” continues with breezy balladry that tugs on the heartstrings as spirited guitars add much to the mood.
At the halfway point, “Someday My Day Will Come” moves with an introspective quality as expressive vocals from Carothers highlights the atmosphere, while “One Woman Man” recruits a melodic country rock approach that’s dance friendly. “Sinners And Saints”, the album’s standout tune, then pairs dynamic musicianship with versatile vocals for the country rock gem that should require two-steppin’.
Near the end, the appropriately titled “Honky Tonk Song” unfolds with an anthemic quality that reels in all the hallmarks we love about country music, and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” exits the listen bare, emotive and with soaring singing you won’t soon forget.
Carothers has made quite a dent in the world of country music starting with his first release in 2014, and since then he’s shared the stage with legends like Alan Jackson, The Charlie Daniels Band and Trace Adkins, among many others. At the rate he’s going, he’s building a career that will one day be worthy of tribute albums, too,
Travels well with: Jesse Dayton- The Outsider; Adam Carroll- I Walked In Them Shoes