Josh Turner is making tracks and his debut Long Black Train is riding the rails rather well, thank you very much. The video for the title song is a top 20 hit and country radio seems down-home, farm-friendly to this fresh-faced kid from Hannah, South Carolina.
Listening to Turner isn't hard. His baritone voice wears rich and smooth, evoking comparisons to Randy Travis. And whether he's crooning a honky tonk tune like "What It Ain't" or the more conventional "I Had One One Time," Turner knows his way with a country song. The more you listen, the more you long for a rocking chair and a front porch with a mountain view.
Outside of the preachy opening cut ("Cause there's victory in the Lord, I say/Victory in the Lord/Cling to the Father and His Holy name/And don't go ridin' on that Long Black Train"), most of the album is typical country themes. Lost love ("Unburn All Our Bridges"). Family life ("She'll Go On You"). And hayseed "backwoods boy" living. Perhaps the best treat is Turner's toe-tapping cover of Jim Croce's "You Don't Mess Around With Jim."
For country purists, there's a lot to like about Josh Turner. Long Black Train is a solid work. His songs are memorable and oh, that voice. Overall, it's a nice ride.
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2005George StraitSomewhere Down in Texas
2002Toby KeithUnleashed
2002Glenn KaiserNo Greater Love
2003Luke OlsonUvalde
2001Richard GilpinBeautiful Mistake
2005Richie FurayI Am Sure
