NASHVILLE, TN. (RCA Nashville) - You can tease him about that hat, but RCA Nashville newcomer
Bobby Pinson is fast becoming one of 2005's most widely acclaimed debut country artists, a fact echoed in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly. Earlier kudos from EW had already singled out the
Texas native as 'the most promising new male country artist,' and now comes additional praise in an 'A-' review of his debut disc, Man Like Me, with writer Chris Willman cheering: 'The real alchemy is in how he redeems contemporary country's penchant for ‘life lesson' songs with a Springsteen-informed command of detail.
Pinson's powerful bow positions him as the mainstream newcomer best equipped to bring the singer-songwriter tradition back to the land of twang.' USA Today recently awarded Man Like Me 3 � stars (out of four) for his long-awaited collection of self-penned songs.
Evoking comparisons to John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, and Steve Earle, Pinson's raw style and compelling song-craft stand out with a punch on the country landscape. The News & Observer hails, '‘Man Like Me' is a refreshingly hard-edged album by a masterful storyteller who's not afraid to say what he feels,' while Amazon.com raves, 'By refusing to parrot radio-friendly formulas, Pinson's blend of grit and simplicity result in a remarkable first effort,' and the Dallas Morning News lauds Pinson for penning 'honest, no frills songs about life's hard knocks, self-discovery and small town existence. … He's a new artist to watch.'
Pinson is hot on the country airplay charts with the Top 15-and-climbing first single, 'Don't Ask Me How I Know' (also a Top 15 video hit at CMT), while first week fan excitement over the release of Man Like Me saw the disc debut at No 1 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers sales chart.
Amid recent tour activity, the U.S. Army veteran visited two of the country's largest bases, Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where a former service buddy of Bobby's joined him on stage for an impromptu performance of 'Don't Ask Me How I Know.'
Pinson will be in Nashville this week for multiple appearances, including a Tuesday visit to local CBS midday program, Talk of the Town, as well as a concert performance on Friday as part of the 2005 CMA Music Festival.
