#10 - CODY JINKS - ADOBE SESSIONS (RJ'S TOP 10 AMERICANA/COUNTRY ALBUMS OF THE YEAR)

[RJhog (Admin)]

artist website - codyjinks.com

Musicians:

Josh Thompson (Bass/Backing Vocals)

Earl Darling (Percussion)

Jon Wallace (Guitars)

Milo Deering (Steel/Fiddle/Dobro)

Producer: Josh Thompson & TDH

Released: January 2015

Cody Jinks is a country artist from Texas.  His biography on jango.com places him in the country/outlaw country/alternative country genres.  Personally, after spending some time with this album, I would classify him more straight up country, out of the mold of many artists that roamed the airwaves back in the late 80's and early 90's.  He has a wonderful baritone voice, one that reminds me most of someone like Randy Travis.  One thing he is not is "bro country".  Unfortunately, because of that, he does not receive any airplay on today's country radio.  And that's a shame.  But that's a different story altogether.

As far as this album goes, the best I can tell from his website is that it's his fourth album.  It's the only one I own and I found it by chance, just messin' around on Youtube.  And just a quick anecdote, I ordered the disc directly from his website.  After several weeks of waiting and no product arrival, I sent an email.  It was answered quickly, and I was informed that they had an employee that had "dropped the ball".  They quickly got my disc to me and sent me a cool koozie for all my trouble.  So well done by the staff at codyjinks.com.

As for the music, like I alluded to earlier, I would place it more in the straight up country genre. That's never a bad thing for me, as long as the music is good.  And it most definitely is here.  What Else Is New jumps out of the gate, exclaiming the problems we face today.  Mamma Song is even better with it's honky tonk beat, and it comes as close to outlaw country as we see on the album (the opening lyric is "I've got half-a six pack of Old Milwaukee and a half-a bag of weed").  He slows it down a bit with Cast No Stones, one of those songs I could definitely hear Randy Travis singing. The first "slight" hiccup comes on We're Gonna Dance.  Not that it's a bad song, because it's not.  It just doesn't move me, that's all.

It's the next four tracks that just kicked this album into my Top 10.  I was riding around earlier tonight with my windows down and this disc turned up.  And this four song section was just perfect to listen to in that condition.  His smooth voice and the excellent country songs, cool air blowing through the truck windows, made it an excellent ride.  One other song that didn't totally float my boat was Ready For The Times To Get Better.  But the final two tracks, Dirt and Rock And Roll got everything back on track for me.

It's pretty simple.  If you like good old fashion country music and a great voice, as well as someone who writes his own songs (Jinks was the sole songwriter on nine of the twelve tracks, using a co-writer on two tracks as well as including one song not written by himself), then Cody Jinks may be someone you should check out on Youtube.  I did and I'm better off for it.

Tracks:

1. What Else Is New

2. Mamma Song

3. Cast No Stones

4. We're Gonna Dance

5. Birds

6. Loud and Heavy

7. David

8. Me Or Your

9. Folks

10. Ready For The Times To Get Better

11. Dirt

12. Rock And Roll

[RJhog (Admin)]

Sorry guys, I know you don't like country music.  I just need to use this forum to write it up so I can post it over on Country Rock Bottom on Facebook.  I'm not posting it here because I expect you to read it.

[Scott]

[TageRyche]

Actually, I have no problem reading this countdown.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I knew that...but you are the only one.