#419 Eric Church, 'Chief' (2011)

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I’m always cautiously curious going into an album I don’t know by an artist I’ve never heard of. Eric Church is a multi-platinum selling Country artist from Nashville. As I’ve meantioned previously, Country is a genre that many people feel much trepidation towards. I was pleasantly surprised. His voice is classically Country but the guitars are RAAAWK! This album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country album and it’s easy to see why. Enjoyable songs, humorous lyrics and great production.

This album immediately transports me to wooden Jack Daniels-soaked floors of Nashville live music venues (Jack Daniels isn’t my only point of reference for Southern American music, by the way. He specifically references it a few times on the album). The centrepiece of the album is his homage to The Boss with ‘Springsteen.’ And while a great song, that’s surprisingly not my favourite song on the album (I’m wearing a ‘Born To Run’ t-shirt as I write this). My favourite was ‘Country Music Jesus.’ Guitars dripping with attitude and lyrics to suit – “Some long haired hippie prophet/Preachin' from the book of Johnny Cash.” I mean, come on!

#rs500albums