by Adam (Toronto, Canada) - Each week I preview an album which I think deserves a listen to and if it's worth to buy, I will cater for all tastes of music from R'n'B to Rock, Hip hop, Country and Pop.
Gretchen Wilson - Here For The Party
Release Date: 11 May, 2004
I am not a big country fan by any means. My taste in country is probably considered narrow and old-fashioned (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Suzy Bogus). Having made that disclaimer - I have to admit that I liked Gretchen Wilson's Here For The Party much more than I thought I would when I bought it.
You don't have to be a country fan to like Gretchen Wilson - in fact, it really helps if you are not. If you like the generic, not actually country sounds of Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, and Montgomery Gentry, this will suit you to at. If you, like most actual country fans, have retreated from the mainstream to artists like Kasey Chambers, Mandy Barnett and Chris Knight probably you won't like this album.
A huge surprise hit, "Here For The Party" may be one of the biggest artistic shots in the arm that commercial country has gotten in the last five years or so. Sidestepping the bland, overproduced soul-pop diva shtick of Shania Twain and Martina McBride, Ohio-based Gretchen Wilson bursts forth with a raunchy, raucous, guitar-heavy novelty song, "Here For The Party," with riffs worthy of Southern rock revivalists like Montgomery Gentry and Travis Tritt, a tune which lets us all know she can hold her own with the boys, and probably even drink half of 'em under the table.
The album Here For The Party exploded onto the Billboard Country and Top 200 Charts, the critically-acclaimed disc has already surpassed sales in excess of 1,000,000 copies sold earning it a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Here For The Party set the record for being the first album from a debut artist to debut at No 1 on Billboard's Country Music Chart and No 2 on the trade magazine's Top 200 Chart with over 226,900 units sold in the first week. Her "Redneck Woman" anthem became the fastest song to reach No 1 on the country chart in the history of music trade Radio & Records.
In addition, the song debuted as the No 1 download on walmart.com, and it remained in the top spot for four consecutive weeks.
The album's second song, "Redneck Women," is an irresistible hit which shot to the top of the charts - funny, good-natured, and catchy as all hell - the perfect antidote to the drippy Celine Dion-isms that Nashville women have been miring themselves in for years. Anyway, The best song ont he CD is "Redneck Woman". This song it anthem for beer drinkin', Honky Tonkin', Wal-mart shoppin', Charley Daniels and Tanya Tucker listin', non-high class broad of a woman. I have a friend who is the perfect poster person for this song. This song would scare off any city-slicker and gives the criteria for a "TRUE" Readneck Woman.
Most of the songs on here have a heavy, country beat. But she does show her sensitive side in "The Bed" a song about a husband who doesn't tell his wife how he feels about her and how much he really loves her.
But hey, with George Jones-y weepers like "When I Think About Cheatin'" to back her up, Wilson proves herself to be the real deal. The more we can hear country gals singing real country, the better off we'll all be.
The whole album isn't as perfect as these two-three tunes, but it's pretty damn good. She sings some ballads, and it's here that her vocal shortcomings come to the fore - tonally, she's sort of a mix of Natalie Maines and Tanya Tucker, though she starts to frazzle a bit on the high end.
Her music unlike Faith Hill, and others, has not crossed over to pop. Not that I have anything against Faith Hill or any other singer who has a touch of pop in their music, but, let's face there haven't really been any true country gals out for a long time.
If you like sole, R&B, blues, and are also a country music fan, it is a good possibility that you will like this. Especially if you are a Dixie Chicks fan already. 'Redneck Woman,' finally, a song that doesn't have whiney and cry baby lyrics about some guy going around cheating. I love that 'I don't care what you think about me," persona Gretchen has. It's refreshing against all those Faith Hill's out there. So, I went out and bought the CD and found myself bouncing around in my car to 'Here For The Party' and 'Chariot.' This girl is definitely not a one hit wonder.
Highlights of the album following:
1. Chariot - 9/10 - I love the little rap in this song. It works so well and the chorus is absolutely amazing!
2. When It Rains - 7/10 - A good song to listen to when you're feeling down.
3. Redneck Woman - 10/10 - A great song: total emphasis on 'Girl Power' without the whole Spice Girls thing.
4. Here For The Party - 8/10 - This is the song you listen to when you want to feel a little wild and break out of your shell.
5. Holdin' You - 8/10 - A good love song without the drawn out, dripping sappiness that some have.
6. What Happened - 7/10 - This song has the makings of a great single, the only downfall is that it could move along a bit faster.
7. The Bed - 9/10 - This is a beautiful song and can really open your eyes about a lot of things. It also reminds me of my parents in my youth.
8. Pocahontas Proud - 9/10 - Great song about the struggle to get where she is now and how she never lost her pride.
9. Homewrecker - 7/10 - This song moves a little too slow for my tastes and I think it's overdone, but still good all the same.
10. When I Think About Cheatin' - 6/10 - This song sounds like something Shania Twain would sing, but after time you become used to it.
Sure "Redneck Woman" is a classic country novelty song, but there is a lot more to Gretchen Wilson than that. This CD is full of good and decent songs, which indicates that Gretchen has staying power and is not just a one-hit wonder. You're going to love the album if you deal with the hate for most country music because it comes out of the Nashville blender!
Overall the CD is a bit short, but that means you can go right back and start listening again. If you love country or are just looking for some fast paced up-beat songs, this CD is great. It has to do all the older famous Country Gals proud.
8/10
Tracklisting:
1. Here For The Party
2. Redneck Woman
3. When I Think About Cheatin'
4. Homewrecker
5. Holdin' You Listen Listen Listen
6. Chariot
7. What Happened
8. When It Rains
9. The Bed
10. Pocahontas Proud
