Comments on: Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Comal County Blue

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:07:15 +0000

Chris,
We invite friendly debate and even firm disagreement here, but your unprovoked combative tone is quite puzzling, especially considering Lynn’s over all very positive review of this album. She was very respectful to him.

By: Chris Russell

Chris Russell — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:54:40 +0000

I totally disagree with having a enhanced vocal and different arrangement to match the lyrics to Sons and daughters of dixie.The song is it’s own and so is the man that wrote it.Thats one thing I disagree with is changing the sound of a great song to match what everyone wants to hear.If you don’t like the arrangement then don’t listen to it, or listen and like the song the way it was wrote and have respect for Jason boland since that’s his style, which is natural and his own.

Chris
p.s.
And I also totally agree with Brad Rice, and plus he plays in the band so I would listen.

By: Cliff Dunn

Cliff Dunn — Sun, 10 May 2009 06:31:11 +0000

I had thought Boland hadn’t written Comal County Blues. But it seems I’m wrong!
This song will go down as one of the best out of Texas in my option. Just great work getting the words and music together with great vocals to send this song with a Gold Star, as a perfect Texas County Song. BTW…I’m far from just turning on the CD and hearing what someone has for me to hear. Yes, I’m not in the music business anymore. But, a lot of the longtime stars of Texas Music know who I am. I had my time under the lights cut short from medical reasons way to many long years ago. I hung around for quite a while in other non stage positions, but moved on finaly
. I still have friends that I’ve followed for over 40 years. Sadly some have had to move on to that great stage in the sky. I miss so many of my old friends, but so happy to see Texans keep presenting to the world how special and proud and great Texas music can be to anyone with a heart to see and feel a new song reach inside ones soul with love.

Cliff Dunn

By: Brad Rice

Brad Rice — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:49:51 +0000

Hey guys, I thought maybe I could clear up a couple things for you y’all. If you’ve been to any of our shows leading up to our break, you may have heard us play If It Were Up To Me. We started throwing it in the set list to test the waters, it’s a pretty good boogie-woogie tune that seems to get people moving. After a few weeks of getting comfortable with it, Jason began to simply introduce it as ” a song about weed”. It’s obviously a little deeper than that, but there are the blatant references ” look into gettin’ stoned”, and the more obscure “going round and round man this should be a crime” (think of a joint circle, c’mon you’ve been there). I think the song is a representation of Boland’s non-confrontational manner about life, the guy hates it when people can’t get along, and he’s not really one for conflict over trite issues. As for Jessica Murray, she’s Seth James’ wife, he’s the fairly well known badass blues guitarist from Texas in the vein of Stevie Ray. She used to tour as a backing vocalist for Cory Morrow back in the day, and has been on several of our peers’ albums. I think she’s a busy mother these days which explains why she would have more or less dropped out of the scene. A brilliant singer, nonetheless. So anyhow, I hope I’ve helped and we appreciate all of your interest in this album, I feel its the culmination of our 10 years as a band. In other words, I think it’s the best representation of what we do as a band, and who Jason is as a person. Thanks for your time..

brad

By: Lynn Douglas

Lynn Douglas — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:40:30 +0000

Brady, I agree. The end of the song saves it entirely.

I did some research on Jessica Murray when I was listening to the album. There wasn’t a lot out there, but she’s a female singer living in Texas who has previously worked with Lloyd Maines (the producer here), and many of the artists in that scene, including Pat Green and Cory Morrow.

By: Jim O

Jim O — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:34:57 +0000

I will try to check out some of those other titles Brady.

Nothing at all wrong with invoking God in song lyrics at all. It just does nothing for me in most instances.

On this album though how can I best put it:
It doesn’t spoil my overall appreciation.

By: Brady

Brady — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:52:04 +0000

No, it’s not friendly, this is serious stuff! Heh, I’m kdding. Of course it’s friendly. If we’re going to review music, I think we need to be open to challenges and be able to validate whatever opinions we express. I don’t see a better way to do that than to discuss the songs.

I’d agree that the song would be clunky or obvious if it merely drew the line at comparing his life to the empty bottle, but it doesn’t stop there. There’s more to the story and he reveals that when he extends the invitation to hear the rest of it. It’s an introduction of sorts and in the regard, it works well.

Jim O, the female harmony on “May Not Be Love” is Jessica Murray. I don’t know anything about her, but she’s not one of The Stragglers. I dig The Bourbon Legend and Pear Snaps if you’re interested in checking out some of his other stuff. What exactly is wrong with “God bothering,” as you put it, on the album?

By: Jim O

Jim O — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:35:24 +0000

This review Lynn, and the comments made me think this is an album I should like, and at least, like to hear.

I was pleased to find it on emusic.com
and spent 12 of the remaining 26 downloads I have for this month on it.

After a first listen I definitely want to listen again because there seems to be a lot to get out of all of these tracks.

“May Not Be Love” is the song that grabs me most immediately. a Really nice complementary female sounding backing vocal from, I guess, one of the Stragglers.

There does seem to be quite a lot of “God bothering” going on throughout the lyrics in a number of the songs, but I can get over that with this album.

I have not heard any of Boland’s earlier albums.

The only other one on emusic.com is “Live at Billy Bob’s” so I might try a sample of that.

By: Lynn Douglas

Lynn Douglas — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:05:43 +0000

“Bottle By My Bed” is by no means a bad song, it’s just not, IMO, the best one – lyrically -about the subject on the album. Since it is about a personal struggle, I hate to criticize it, but I just feel like the lyrics are a little too obvious. They make the obvious connection. He’s proven himself a clever songwriter; this just wasn’t one of my favorites.

I agree that we should hold radio to a higher standard. However, with Boland, I merely meant that I can enjoy a song on his album even if I don’t get the inside joke, because his writing, for the most part, doesn’t close off the listener from interpreting it in his/her own way.

I hope we’re taking this as a friendly debate…

By: Brady

Brady — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:10:09 +0000

I doubt Boland was actively trying not to offend fans, especially considering some of the commentary on the rest of the album.

What don’t you think works about “Bottle By My Bed?”

“The thing I like about Boland, is that even when he’s being esoteric, the casual listener can still listen to the album and not feel like anything’s remiss.“

Couldn’t the same excuse be said for so much of what’s played on radio. I think if we’re going to complain about what’s on radio, we need to hold everyone to the same standards.