Since his arrival on the national country music scene in the 1990s, Sammy Kershaw has certainly enjoyed a good career. While it has been filled with many peaks and valleys, it seems that Kershaw’s career is heading back up the mountain again as he releases his 9th studio album (he also has a holiday and four best-of collections in his catalog) Better Than I Used To Be. After recording a pair of albums for independent labels after his long tenure at Mercury Records Nashville, Sammy is back on another indie label called Big Hit Records.
Produced by Buddy Cannon –the man behind many of Sammy’s 4.3 million albums sold – Better Than I Used To Be finds Sammy Kershaw in a great place. He knows he’s lived a thousand lives yet he is thankful for where he is. The title track feels like it was written by Sammy himself but it was written by Ashley Gorley and Brian Simpson. “Better Than I Used To Be” tells a story of a man who realizes his mistakes but because of the wisdom he’s earned because of these mistakes, he really feels like he’s in a good place. “That Train,” –one of two Kershaw co-writes on this record– rocks and rolls like a classic rockabilly tune as Sammy uses the train as a metaphor for how his woman is leaving him. It’s refreshing to hear a song like this instead of another in the long, long line of ‘road’ or ‘car’ songs dealing with the end of relationships.
“Everybody Wants My Girl” is a laid-back tune that finds Kershaw singing about the way the woman in his life makes every other guy jealous of his situation. It’s a hook-filled country pop that feels retro without sounding dated, likely due to Cannon’s solid production and Kershaw’s vocal. “Through The Eyes of a Woman” has a sound that is reminiscent to “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” while “The Snow White Rows of Arlington” is one of the best tracks on the album. Written by Hugh Prestwood, “Snow White Rows…” reminds us of the entire real cost of protecting America from those whose ‘holy mission is to destroy all we hold dear.’ It’s poetic, beautiful and downright one of the best singles of 2010, even if it never had a chance to make the Top 40 of country radio.
Billy Yates is a master country songwriter and “Ain’t Fallin’ For That” is a good example of this as this Buddy Cannon co-write shows off a stellar vocal, spirited instrumentals from the band and a lyric about a guy who isn’t gonna be snakebit twice by a woman who professes her love for him. It takes quite a bit of guts to cover “Cover of a Rolling Stone” yet Sammy has done just that, with the help of Jamey Johnson. This Shel Silverstein classic was recorded in one take by Sammy and Jamey and it’s nothing but damn fun and certainly one of Better Than I Used To Be’s best tracks. The record ends with “Takin’ The Long Way Home.” Co-written by Sammy with John Scott Sherrill and Scotty Emerick, the ballad is a song about a man who doesn’t really understand why his marriage is ending even as it still is there. It feels like a tale of Sammy’s life and how his relationships have happened to fizzle out towards the end of their run.
With 11 strong tunes Better Than I Used To Be reminds us exactly why Sammy Kershaw is still considered one of country music’s best vocalists. He’s not perfect but like George Jones, when you hear Sammy Kershaw sing a song you know you’re gonna hear a country song. If you like your music country then you’re sure to like Better Than I Used To Be.
You can support Sammy Kershaw by Purchasing this album digitally at Amazon | iTunes.
You can support Sammy Kershaw by purchasing this album at his record label website.
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