Haggard Like Never Before

Merle Haggard releases a wonderful new CD, that stands on its own as a standard for the Country & Western industry.

I was raised on Country & Western music. And classical. But until I was a teen, thats just about all I heard. If it wasnt Beethoven or Bach, it was Johnny Cash or Charlie Pride or Merle Haggard. And I have to admit, I got my first Elton John album and I pretty much never looked back. I can listen to C&W. I can enjoy it - I like the rebel spirit, the love of freedom, and the intense sorrow that country music is so good at expressing. But I havent gone out of my way.

And then Johnny Cash died. I suddenly realized that there was a reason this man was one of my favorite singers - regardless of the genre - because he had heart. He had soul. He could reach through the speakers and make you feel his pain, his anger, and yes, his joy. So few people can do that. So few people realize you dont just sing louder.

I was trying to get an interview with Eddie Izzard. Naw, I dont expect most of you to know, but hes a comedian and a charming actor. I was sent to his California spokesperson, who said that he was working on a film and not doing interviews. But she did send a list of the other people she represents. I saw one name that I recognized - from when I was a kid. I couldnt get an interview - hes in the studio right now - but his rep was kind enough to send me a press packet and his latest CD, "Haggard Like Never Before."
[BB]
Haggard Like Never Before

Merle Haggards voice is like fine grit sand paper. If theres nothing rough, it just slides right over. But when the emotion is there, you feel it. He reaches out and grabs your hand and says "look - look at whats going on!" His voice hasnt lost anything through the years. It has range, depth, and all the feeling you could want.

But even better are the songs. He takes a firm poke at Bush in "Thats the News." And since Mr. Bush doesnt care if I take a poke at him, Im all for everyone else doing it. This album - and please remember, album means a collection, not a round black disk - is ultimately listenable. The music is beautifully performed, not over arranged as sometimes happens, and flows over you like the feeling of a second beer.

Merle Haggard

But the best thing about this album is that it doesnt compete with itself. When Mr. Haggard is singing, you hear him singing, and the backup singers are just that, in the background. Theres no music trying to drown him out or for him to shout over. The music is there, perfect in its simplicity.

Mr. Haggard exposes himself willingly - as a husband, a lover, a father, a friend, and as an American in these troubled times. Every song is good - there are no songs on this recording that you want to skip over - and just when hes gotten me all weepy, he lifts me back up with the next cut. And if after listening to this one you haven't gotten enough, Capitol Records has just released a new album - forty of Merle Haggard's #1 hits.

I think the most cohesive way to express how good this album is would come from June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash, longtime friends of Mr. Haggard. They might be gone, but the circle is still not broken - Merle Haggard is holding it for them.

Photos courtesy of Dept 56.

Politics Factzone: The truth about Kim Jong Il Kim Jong Il, the leader of the free world, has decided to move on to more fertile grounds, leaving with us just the memories of 8-color rainbows, singing Korean women and couple of nuclear weapons. But who was this man whose next ambition would have been to get the next Nobel Peace prize? Here are just a few facts you should know about. more Top 5 Conspiracy Theories Related to John F. Kennedy's Assassination 26.Aug 2011 Since just after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, conspiracy theories abou...read ISRAEL KEEPING GHADDAFI AFLOAT 10.Mar 2011 ...read Glen Beck Is NOT the Anti-Christ! 10.Mar 2011 Hurtful and fiery rhetoric is now media’s default setting! This slippery and m...read Recipe for A REVOLUTION! (10 easy steps - try not to get burned!) 28.Feb 2011 Rebellion is cooking in the air. People are mad as hell, and not going to take...read THE ASSANGE CASE. CIA INTERFERED WITH SWEDISH LEGAL PROCESSES EXTREME RIGHT POLITICS A DANGER TO EUROPEAN UNITY THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY. OUT OF TOUCH, OUT OF FOCUS, OUT OF CREDIBILITY AND HOPEFULLY, OUT OF THE DOOR Opinion World governments charged with criminal negligence (in response to Megaupload case) EARTH (thecheers.org) - Federal authorities of the universe have charged the governments of all the countries in the world as well as the operators actually in power in these countries with operating a criminal enterprise, the Galaxy warriors announced Today. more The Great OSCARS 2011 – or so it would seem 5.Mar 2011 So, how exciting......a morning off, the Academy Awards. I wish I could say the...read Top 7 Expensive Bordellos. Prostitution: Shakedown, Tier Down, and Priced Out 31.Jan 2011 According to a report of the Washington DC-based US Department of State, The Ph...read The Great Secret and Reason for the JFK Assassination 11.Oct 2010 The great question is why the great secret? On June 4 1963, President Kennedy s...read Don't Do it! The 3 Worst Times to Get Tattoos 4.Oct 2010 As a general rule, tattoos gotten after 2 am are a bad idea. But in a bigger pi...read

Travel Travel Warning 13 September 2010 - DO NOT TRAVEL TO IRAN 13.Sep 2010 TRAVELWISE has been watching the situation in Iran for some months in relation ...read more TRAVELWISE TRAVEL ADVISORY 5th June 2010. DO NOT TRAVEL TO ISRAEL. 5.Jun 2010 Given the recent incident whereby the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, used...read TRAVELWISE. 16 APRIL 2010. EUROPEAN TRAVEL ALTERNATIVES 16.Apr 2010 Travelwise issues the following advice in relation to cancelled flights to, fro...read TRAVELWISE 6 APRIL 2010. AUSTRALIAN AIR TRAVEL. THE BEST WAYS TO TRAVEL BY AIR IN AUSTRALIA. 5.Apr 2010 Regular readers might have seen and read the various advisory and no-fly notice...read TRAVELWISE 2 APRIL 2010. QANTAS. 2.Apr 2010 Some concerns have been raised in relation to some of the maintenance practices...read Sport No Payoff From the Playoffs $16.50 will Get Anyone in the Hall Mr McGwire Stupid Athlete Tricks Technology Think Big! Think the World's Largest International Trade Show Top 9 cool laptop accessories for laptop geeks Twittering: I'm not that interesting Cheers Jesus' Answering Machine Brown Couch or twelve midgets in the town square How To Be Happy Drugged Out Saturday Nights Muslim Decapitation: Bad, or Simply Misunderstood?