Album Review: Jason Michael Carrol's Waitin' in the Country

Artist: Jason Michael Carroll
Title: Waitin' In the Country
Release Date: February 6, 2007
Label: Arista Nashville

Newcomer Jason Michael Carroll's debut CD "Waitin' In the Country" brings back a sound reminiscent of early material from guys like Rhett Akins, Trace Adkins, and Tracy Lawrence. If you like country, you'll love this.

Jason's music first caught my ear this past December when the first single, "Alyssa Lies", was released to radio. From the first time I heard the song, I knew this guy was destined for country stardom, and if the CD sales are to be believed, I wasn't wrong. Though "Alyssa Lies", a song about child abuse and what can happen when no one steps in to put a stop to it, is definitely a dark song, this isn't the theme of the rest of the CD. This song, however, is one every father should listen to at least a couple times. I'm not a man who's easily moved to tears, but this one definitely had that effect.

The rest of the CD is a great mix of up-tempo love songs, a couple really nice ballads, and even some good old-fashioned honkytonk party tunes. Jason has a style that's all his own, but has a voice that can remind you of the depth of Trace Adkins, and the soulful sounds of Rhett Akins and Tracy Lawrence.

The musicianship on the CD is also very good. It's straight-ahead country without a hint of the poppy sound that has been prevalent in country music for so many years. We're talking steel guitars, some fiddle, the works. It's traditional-sounding enough to appeal to a Merle Haggard or Waylon Jennings fan, but modern enough to appeal to the Tim McGraw and Dierks Bentley crowd as well.