#9 - ERIC CHURCH - MR. MISUNDERSTOOD (RJ'S TOP 10 AMERICANA/COUNTRY ALBUMS OF THE YEAR)

Mr. Misunderstood is Eric Church's fifth studio album, released in November. It follows the tremendous album The Outsiders, which was just released in 2014. It was a surprise release for me and many others as well. He basically performed the title track at this year's CMA Awards as an introduction for the album, then released it the next day. The short notice didn't seem to hurt too much, as it scored the number three Billboard 200 album in it's first week of sales (actually only two days), as well as climbing up an additional spot the following week.

I didn't list any credits from the album because, quite simply, either they don't exist on the sparse two page CD booklet, or they are completely illegible. That's really the only down side of this release. If you aren't familiar with Church's style, he has quite the Southern drawl. So much so that at times it's hard to understand him. That's where a legible lyric booklet would come in handy, but what do I know? He may be a country artist that does actually get airplay on country radio, but this ain't no bro country, bro. He sings a lot about music itself, drinkin' and many other subjects. And his musical arrangements are simply outstanding. He knows how to put a song together.

The disc features ten somewhat economical tracks, with a total running time of just under 39 minutes, which fits perfectly within my wheelhouse. The title track opens things up, touching on that age old story of the misfit, you know, the loner at school that doesn't go with the in crowd. His arrangement shines on this track, with it slowly building speed, then slowing back down before reaching the end of the song. Mistress Named Music is almost epic in feel, especially once it reaches the southern rock guitar solo. One complaint from me is that the song is set up perfectly for that solo to basically play out the rest of the song, similar to something like Freebird or Hotel California. But it's not to be, as Church picks the vocal line back up, taking it to the end of the track. Chattanooga Lucy kicks it up a few notches before Mixed Drinks About Feelings slows it all back down to a slow groove. It's a terrific song that happens to be a duet with Susan Tedeschi. Side A, if this was on vinyl, closes out with the epic Knives Of New Orleans. The protagonist is basically on the run, on the news and wishes he could see that girl one more time. The song has a cool little riff that consists basically of some noodling on one of the low guitar strings. Very cool.

Side B opens up with the closest thing you'll get to bro country with Church. Round Here Buzz is simply a story about the girl leaving and the boy spending his time drinking and reminiscing. But it's a terrific song that I actually heard on the radio at a restaurant the other day. Kill A Word is a lyrical jaunt about...killing bad words so they can no longer be used. Church's diverse arrangements are front and center on the island flavored Holdin' My Own while he pontificates on the joys of spinning vinyl, thanks to his woman being gone, on the name and title dropping Record Year. Things are closed out with a nice little tune called Three Year Old. It's funny how much an adult can learn from a three year old, but it's all covered here.

Church has done it again. He quietly got this album out and it's another excellent offering. I'm quite sure it would work it's way up my Top 10 had it been released a little earlier in the year. If you aren't familiar with Eric Church, I certainly recommend you pick this as well as The Outsiders up. The dude makes terrific music.

Tracks:

1. Mr. Misunderstood

2. Mistress Named Music

3. Chattanooga Lucy

4. Mixed Drinks And Feelings

5. Knives Of New Orleans

6. Round Here Buzz

7. Kill A Word

8. Holdin' My Own

9. Record Year

10. Three Year Old