Matraca Berg - The Dreaming Fields

[TageRyche]

Matraca Berg
The Dreaming Fields
Dualtone Records - 2011
http://www.matracaberg.com


Yes Yes, let's get it out the way early...this is a country CD review on a classic rock message board.

Now that that is out of the way, let's concentrate on the music.

Matraca Berg? What, you've never heard of her? Well, okay maybe you haven't but you've certainly heard her music before. In a genre of music where someone else always seems to have written the songs sung by the "big" stars, Matraca Berg stands out as one of the giants of the country music.

Among the many artists who have had huge hits performing songs Berg has written are Trisha Yearwood (4 times), Deana Carter ("Strawberry Wine"), Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson and The Dixie Chicks. Her most recent hit song is the Kenny Chesney/Grace Potter song "You and Tequila". Interestingly enough, her own version of that song is included on this album.

It has been quite a number of years since Berg's last studio album, the hugely underrated Sunday Morning To Saturday Night.

The Dreaming Fields finds Matraca's songwriting craft in top form and her voice remains simply beautiful. She is an incisive storyteller with songs reflecting on love, loss, longing and the past among the topics on this album.

The majority of the songs on the album are slow paced. I think that is the one thing I really missed from her past albums, the lack of a bouncy sounding pop style song with fun and/or humorous lyrics. But don't let that make you think I didn't enjoy the album overall.

Bitter irony was included though, on the song "Your Husband's Cheating On Us". Personally, I think my favorite song on the album was "Fall Again" followed by Berg's version of her song "You and Tequila" (I prefer her version over the Chesney/Potter version) and the piano heavy title track.

The one song that had an uptempo pace, "Silver and Glass", was pretty good as well.

Sadly, life isn't fair. If it was, artists like Matraca Berg and Kim Richey would be the big stars instead of being better known for writing songs that big stars perform for themselves.

It takes some time to discover the real backbone of country music artistry, the songwriters, but it is well worth the investment of time when you find Matraca Berg.

Simply put, she is one of the best the genre has to offer.

RATING: A MINUS

The full track listing is:

01. If I Had Wings
02. You and Tequila
03. Racing The Angels
04. Silver and Glass
05. Clouds
06. The Dreaming Fields
07. Oh Cumberland
08. Your Husband's Cheating On Us
09. Fall Again
10. South Of Heaven
11. A Cold, Rainy Morning In London in June

[Scott]

No apologies needed, though I'm not a country fan, its cool to read where these artists came from and how they got to where they are now.  I especially like reading their songwriting credentials, makes me go back and take note!  Thats what makes your reviews such a cool read!

 

Very interesting name too! I like unique.  Youve posted a couple country bands, do you have a soft side for this style?

[TageRyche]

I listen to a lot of different things. I like some country, mostly female artists. Been to a few shows. Grew up with Sunday morning chores done to a Statler Brothers greatest hits LP.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Love the Statler Bros.  You wanna talk great harmonies, they should be included. 

 

I am not a fan of current country music, with a few exceptions (Kenny Chesney being one of those few).  However, I do like older country music, mostly late 80's to mid 90's.  But I've never heard of her, so your statement was right on the money.  This sounds interesting. 

 

That songwriting phenomenon happens in rock and pop music too.  Look at the Bee Gees.  They wrote quite a few songs that others had huge hits with. 

[TageRyche]

Oh no doubt it happens in other genres, but it is a cottage industry in country music in particular it seems.