Matt Stillwell, “Shine”

No, this is not a cover of the Collective Soul (or even the Dolly Parton) version of “Shine”.  Unfortunately.  In this case, “Shine” is short for moonshine, as in, home-distilled alcohol.  If you never grow tired of hearing country music about singing along with Hank Jr., dancing in the fields until dawn and drinking a toast to the good country life, then this is your song.

Grade: D

Listen: Shine

14 Comments

  1. Dan, I agree. The hook is pretty instant. And for that reason I was nice about the song when I reviewed it. Still, I don’t know if it’s enough to get a self-released new artist a shot @ radio.

  2. Apparently, Stillwell likes to sing about moonshine, because he has another song on a previous album that’s actually called “Moonshine.”

  3. The hook is instant, I agree, but it’s also instantly forgettable. I just felt it was more Music Row dreck. I have no problem with pride in your roots and enjoying life, but we’ve heard this song a thousand times.

  4. This one’s harmless enough. Nothing I’ll remember but nothing that would make me flip the station unless I was in a foul mood. Isn’t that what radio programmers are looking for? Good background music.

  5. This song hits home with many of us that have lived wih and enjoyed shine. It is fun has a great hook and tells the story (a true one). After reading some of your comments I doubt that any of you have ever had any. The first time I heard the song, it became familiar…does that make it fit for the radio, could be, pop music is all about the one thing that you all seem to be in agreement over. The hook. Shine straight form the mason jar!

  6. I dont know but I liked this song the first time I heard it, along with a lot of Matt’s other music. I had no clue who Matt Stillwell was until I saw him open up for Lee Brice back in the winter here in Columbia, but I became a fan of his music that night. He is a nice guy too, I hope he is able to make it in the music industry.

  7. I think it is a good song. It has a catchy sound and it is a fun song to sing along with. Matt is a great new artist and puts on a very good show live.

  8. I think it is a wonderful song…. And i recently saw him opening up for Lady A, and he def. puts on a wonderful show… He will def. make it big time!

  9. i so glad that they did a music video in my hometown i saw my friends in the video.

    I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. Awesome song. I just returned from a weekend with friends where we “passed around the mason jar”. It’s a good campfire song. The video of the famous moonshiner from that area is too cool! I have met him personally. What a treat!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.