Small Town, Big Dreams

Man, I'm really getting into country music. Crazy eh?

It's Cyn's fault. I borrowed a few records while I was out there and I'm sortof hooked.

I'm really loving Keith Urban and Paul Brandt. The music just seems so honest. Every song is a story. Secondly, it's hard to find anybody who plays with the skill that these country guys have. I mean, these guys have chops. They're always backed by awesome session guys too. Thirdly, the records are mixed really well. They've got a ton of life, but without that nasty squashed LA Lord-Alge brother thing going on. The drums sound live and clean, the guitars have that great Tele/combo thing going on, and generally, everything just breathes. I'm getting sortof tired of the old comp-heavy stationary meter-needle rock and roll business that seems prevalent today.

Finally, there's something great about the sense of fun in this stuff. It's sortof like there's so much in music about trying to be cool... Hip Hop, pop-rock.. they're so heavy on the 'check me out, I'm seriously very current..' We're much less interested in admiring musicians than we are interested in admiring personalities and celebrities. Which is why so many kids go see terrible bands play terribly live, and then say, 'BEST SHOW EVER!!!' I'm talking to you Pete Wentz. Nice eye makeup.

Anyway, these country guys... there's something in there where they just say, 'man, I like trucks, and big concert-parties, and singalongs. I'm proud of being from Alberta, and I'm proud of being a family man.'

This also probably stems from taking a trip out west last weekend, and realizing that Toronto has none of that down-home, positive, happy to be happy type of mentality going on that seems so existent out there.

Anyway, here's to Tele's, story-telling lyrics, and cowboy hats.

Check out songs:

Keith Urban
- Days Go By
- Better Life
- You're My Better Half

Paul Brandt
- Leavin'
- Alberta Bound
- Small Town, Big Dreams
- I'm Gonna Fly


I'm smiling a lot these days. We've got snow, and Kar is almost done for the holidays. Mel and Dave are on their way home with two princesses and the smiliest little dude the world has ever seen. It's good.

JB