Music review: Tracy Lawrence – 鈥楳ade in America鈥�
On his first album of original material in six years, country music veteran Tracy Lawrence delivers 12 straight-from-the-heart tracks brimming with bravado, charm, honesty and a down-home familiarity that touch upon elements of love, heartache, accountability, hard work and standing up for what you believe.
With 鈥淢ade in America,鈥� the Texas native relies on his proven blueprint for making heartfelt arrangements appealing to the common man that served him so well on releases like 1993鈥檚 鈥淎libis鈥� and 1994鈥檚 鈥淚 See It Now.鈥�
鈥淚t comes from hard-working hands and backs that don鈥檛 break/Roots that run deep from all 50 states/It comes from the freedom born in every one of us,鈥� declares Lawrence on the title track that kicks off the set with an anthem that鈥檚 full of guts, grind and glory.
The 51-year-old Lawrence continues his swagger on 鈥淲hen the Cowboy鈥檚 Gone.鈥� This spirited number speaks directly to standing up for what is right and having the courage to live the walk and just not offer only talk when it comes to defending faith, family and upholding justice.
鈥淩unning Out of People to Blame鈥� delivers a straightforward message about taking responsibility for your own actions instead of blaming those around you as Lawrence sings, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e running out of time, running out of answers/Burning up the road and all your second chances.鈥�
鈥淲ork on My Willie鈥� is a clever party track making references to country icons Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson while blowing off some steam at the local watering hole with a little assistance from good friends, plenty of adult beverages and a rousing band providing the evening鈥檚 soundtrack.
Additional highlights include the sentimental 鈥淕ivin鈥� Momma Reasons to Pray,鈥� a broken relationship revealed on 鈥淔irst Step to Leaving,鈥� the hometown pride unleashed during 鈥淛ust the South Comin鈥� Out鈥� and the rowdy road trip tales shared on 鈥淐hicken Wire.鈥�
The tone of the set can perhaps be summed up best when Lawrence sings, 鈥淭here ain鈥檛 no point in trying to hold it in/No matter where I go, I bring a piece of where I鈥檝e been.鈥�
鈥淢ade in America鈥� carries an infectious country, rock and blues vibe that clearly illustrates the love that Lawrence still has for performing.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.