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7/21/2009

JAMEY JOHNSON SINGLE REVIEW - roughstock.com

Jamey Johnson - "My Way To You"

By: Ten Pound Hammer
Last Updated: July 19, 2009 1:07 PM

To borrow a line from Marty Stuart, "Now that's country."

Jamey Johnson's third single for Mercury Nashville finds him continuing in the same deep, emotional tone set by "That Lonesome Song," a modern-day outlaw album, if there ever was one. In fact, the song only finds him growing even more mature both as a singer and songwriter (he wrote the song with Charlie Midnight). The lyric follows a pretty straightforward pattern, using simple yet effective prose, telling of how he was living hard and fast until he found that certain someone in his life. The lyric is somewhat open-ended in that "you" is never defined in the title, but that open-endedness makes the lyric seem more intriguing than vague. Jamey steps up his game vocally, giving the rugged emotion that only a man who's truly been through tough times can give. (And boy, has he been there).

The production is nothing short of perfect: starting with a simple acoustic guitar and a crying steel that sounds like John Hughey has come back from the grave, the song rises to a swelling, anthemic chorus which gives added muscle to Johnson's stellar vocal performance. Even better, the song is given an almost haunting feel, simply by being in minor key.

With his last album having gone gold off only two singles, Jamey proved that there is still an audience for such stark, raw, gritty music, even if radio hasn't warmed up to his style quite yet. Maybe if he keeps putting out material this consistently amazing, that radio will eventually get it.

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  • 10/15/2008

    Runnin' And Gunnin'

    Just checking in and wanted to update you on what's been going on lately. I've been runnin' and gunnin' since we released the record in August. It's been cool cause I've gotten to meet tons of fans out on the road. In Sept I took the guys to New York City. We did the Imus in the Morning Show and then played a set with the amazing Lee Ann Womack. It was my first time in the city and I loved it. We got a car and headed down to the World Trade Center Site which was mind blowing then we headed to Little Italy for a great dinner. I couldn't get over how many people were in Times Square. Very cool.
     
    After NY we headed to Boston to play Farm Aid. What an honor that was. I got to hang on the bus with Willie Nelson for a while after our set and I had him sign "old Maple". What an awesome day.
     
    We are all over the map these days...I hope to see some of y'all at a show soon. Thanks for all of your great emails and all the support you've shown me.  Oh and thanks for the phone messages too, keep them coming at my number (615)823-5592.
     
    God Bless, JJ

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