Jim McGraw
Times Have Changed

© 2002

	Times Have Changed
	A Case Of Beer Away

If I was to tell you that Jim McGraw cites John Lennon and Paul McCartney as his idols and also takes influence from artists such as Steve Earle, Joe Ely, John Fogerty, Tom Petty and John Mellencamp, to name but a few, then you will probably have an idea of the type of Country music on offer here.

The album contains 14 tracks, of which 13 are penned by the albums producer John Boutkam, with the closing love ballad, "Eagles Have to Fly," being a co-write between John and Geoff Crust.

Opening up with the lively title track, "Times Have Changed," Bob Dylan and Tom Petty show their influence on a song that tells of growing older and is the sort of song the Travellin' Wilbury's might have recorded. With Darryll Delk and Brad Essman providing solid harmonies, this is a real attention grabber, perfectly placed at the beginning of the album, and one that is sure to see much cross genre airplay.

There have been many songs written about the tragic events of the 11th of September, all of varying quality, a few good, some bad and many very bad, but "So Far…." is without doubt one of the best I have heard! Opening up with a recording of George Bush Jr giving an address to the nation on the people who commit these atrocities, the song is a hard country/rocker that sure tells it like it is, with lines like; "If Allah's so good to martyr's after their death, then why do you send someone else while your hiding your head" and "9/11 was the day when the tables turned. You reserved a spot for yourself there where Hitler burns. You'll be spending eternity with equal friends. May you burn there in Hell and may your pain never end." This is pretty powerful stuff and deserves loads of airplay. Excellent!!!

If hard rockin' country is your style then you'll also like "The Fire Inside" a great song that tells of fighting to survive when all the odds are stacked against you. I recall Bob Seeger recording a song of the same title and although it was a different song, the style is very similar. I love the whistling outro on this one!

The album isn't all heavy guitar's though, take a listen to the wonderful "A Case Of Beer Away" a good fun, sing-a-long song …….. complete with barroom type choir…….. and "Suck Me In" a song that evokes memories of McGuiness Flint (remember them?) in it's style.

I don't know whether it's my age, but heavy guitar sounds normally have me reaching for the skip button these days. Not so in this case though, I enjoyed listening to this album from start to finish, as did Jim recording it, going by his performance of these fine songs, provided by talented songwriter friend, John Boutkam. There are tracks on here, varied enough to suit many different tastes in country music, although Jim's style is predominately 'West Coast' Country/Rock.

If that sounds like your kind of country, then "Times Have Changed" is essential listening and deserves to be in your collection, filed alongside your Bob Seeger, Tom Petty and John Fogerty album's.

"Times Have Changed" is slated for release on the 1st of June 2002. For more information contact Victor Gray at Country On Broadway.' broadway@countrymusicinternational.net