Sandra's Country Music SiteSandra's Country Music Site(Curb Records, 1997)
by Sandra L. Toney
Tim McGraw's latest release, "Everywhere," actually
lives up to its unusual title. After listening to McGraw's first
album since marrying country star, Faith Hill, you get the feeling
he's been just about "everywhere" and finally comes
back here, to this album, to settle down.
I haven't always been a Tim McGraw fan, mainly because of the
multiple songs from the past that he insisted on using his "whiny"
voice, but this newest release has found a more mature, and definitely
LESS whiny, Tim McGraw, which is fine with me.
Of course, the song that is gaining the most attention on this
album is the number one single that McGraw sings with wife, Faith
Hill, entitled "It's Your Love," which seems almost
to be the theme song for their surprise romance and quick marriage.
Hill and McGraw not only make a cute husband/wife team, but also
create quite a singing union who surely will win some of this
year's country music awards.
As always, McGraw mixes ballads with just the right amount of
upbeat songs to give his album the perfect balance. Besides his
ballad with Hill, other notable singles include the sure-to-be-a-hit
"I Do But I Don't," the sad story of a boy who was never
popular with the other kids, "One of These Days," and
the title track, "Everywhere."
Besides the superb duet with Faith Hill, my other favorites on
"Everywhere" include the opening single, "Where
the Green Grass Grows," which is a pick-me-up, you-gotta-love-this-life
style of song. Who could be down in the dumps after hearing these
lyrics as the chorus, "I'm gonna live where the green grass
grows/Watch my corn pop up in rows/Every night be tucked in close
to you/Raise are kids where the good Lord's best/Point our rocking
chairs towards the west/and plant our dreams where the peaceful
river flows/Where the green grass grows . . ."
Other songs that you won't be able to forget include "For
A Little While," and "Hard on the Ticker." And,
although I hate to predict which singles could become popular
radio hits, I think the dynamic "Ain't That The Way It Always
Ends?" has great possibilities to climb up the country charts
(if given the chance).
As I pointed out earlier, this release finds Tim McGraw older,
wiser, more mature, and definitely a better singer than his earlier
albums. Although he's not a songwriter himself, he has a special
gift at picking out songs that are perfect for him and his unusual
style of country music. This new, improved Tim McGraw is a must-have
for all country music fans, whether you liked his earlier hits
or not. I predict Tim McGraw is only going to get better and better
. . . here and EVERYWHERE!
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