The Man I Want to Be – Chris Young
RCA Nashville did wrong in 2006 when they saddled twentysomething Chris Young, whose fine original “Drinkin’ Me Lonely” had essentially clinched his Nashville Star victory, with such a fluffy set of material for his major label debut that even Hazel Smith was heard to say “This boy really needs some better material.” (Okay, that didn’t really happen… but it should have.) But RCA should be commended for keeping Young around through three poorly-performing singles, until “Gettin’ You Home” eventually struck a nerve and hastened the release of this sophomore set, The Man I Want to Be.
There’s little doubt that this is a better album than its predecessor. The backing sounds less like a production machine with the dial turned to traditional, more like a tight ensemble supporting a classic singer in the mold of Randy Travis and Keith Whitley. There’s dobro, fiddle, mandolin, and steel guitar that feels like more than an afterthought – indeed, even feels like a foundation. The material is of generally better quality, though there are still a fair number of missteps: The most painful miscalculation is “Twenty-One Candles,” which sounds like a rocking Trace Adkins B-side, but even relatively palatable songs like album-opener “That Makes Me,” lead single “Voices,” and the title track suffer from a nondescript quality that makes them virtually interchangeable with albums cuts by the likes of Jason Michael Carroll and Justin Moore.
Young handles standard-issue material with aplomb, but he really belongs in an entirely different ballgame. At his traditional best, he recalls Randy Travis – not just in baritone, but in the tone of his material as well. “The Shoebox” is like a less plot-driven version of Travis’ “The Box,” while the moment of decision (and test of moral fortitude) outlined in “It Takes a Man” echoes that in “Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man.” Elsewhere, “The Dashboard” looks to be heading the way of “Riding With Private Malone” before it takes an interesting twist. Then Young gamely trades licks with Willie Nelson on another story song, “Rose in Paradise,” which became Waylon Jennings’ last chart-topper the same year Young entered his terrible twos – though you certainly wouldn’t know it from his performance here. Along with “Gettin’ You Home,” these songs comprise one of the strongest five-song blocks on any record this year. If you stripped away the lesser songs on both sides, this would make an excellent EP. Shame they couldn’t fill out the rest of the record with material of similar quality.
None of it will prepare you for the closing track, a cover of Tony Joe White’s “Rainy Night in Georgia” where Young breaks out the soul and proves that his prospects are by no means solely country. Country is clearly where his heart lies, though, and The Man I Want to Be is a much better showcase of his gifts than his previous album. This disc should get a lot of people’s attention, but there are a few duds weighing it down, so I’ll keep an eye on Young and hope for better next time. If he continues improving at this rate, his third album should be a doozy.
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Ah. I was curious about this album. So, I’m glad you reviewed it since I agree with you so much of the time. It looks like I should really just buy the five songs then?
I’d go with those five plus the “Rainy Night in Georgia” cover. If you’re gonna buy 6/10 anyway, though, you might as well keep an eye out for a cheap deal on the whole album.
But do listen to the clips first. I wouldn’t take my word over the music itself.
This is a great album!!! I don’t think there is a song that I don’t like. The album flows nicely from song to song and Chris Young’s voice on certain songs gives you chills. I really like “That Makes Me”, it is a more traditional country song, not a pop country song. But I think Chris Young’s music is more traditional country, and I like that. I enjoy artists like Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift and see the talent there, but Chris Young’s strong, sultry deep voice is definitely music to my ears. Twenty-One candles is a good song, but it is better live. The energy Chris brings at a live show is amazing. I recommend purchasing the entire album and see what you think for yourself. Maybe try to catch a live show, too!
I’m looking forward to hearing this (my copy is on order), as I was really impressed by his voice on the first album.
My problem is that I didn’t like the first singles from the album, but I am a fan of the voice. I will definitely listen to clips before I buy anything; I just have to remember to do it.
It’s nice to know there are at least six strong cuts on the album, which is very good by today’s Big Nashville label standards. I felt so burned by Chris’ debut I still feel that everyone who paid retail for that piece of piffle should get the new album for free to compensate us! Its the old “Fool me once…” mindset. (I bought George Canyon’s indie Canadian CD back when he was on Nashville Star and had the exact same reaction. (Shame on these Nashville Star contestants!)
Since Holly Williams’ recent album also had only a handful of really memorable tracks, they should combine the best cuts off both these albums to make a winning combination! Well, except that they record for different labels….
Don’t toss the shaming the way of the Nashville Star contestants, they have absolutely no control over what gets on their albums nor how they are produced. They are talents young adults who a label agrees to give one shot to and the label controls everything they do. Additionally, they want to cut that first album as fast as possible, so efficiency is the biggest focus instead of taking the time to do quality.
Thankfully, the second time around, the label gave Chris more voice in the material and the results prove he knows what he is doing.
Nice review, CM. Nice comparison concerning the Randy and David Ball songs, there. It seems like ages ago when “Voices” was released. Maybe mid-2007? Chris Young has the kind of voice which is just begging for traditional material, and at least he gets to go into Joe Nichols territory here.
“Voices” was actually released in early 2008. Like April or May I think.
WOW – what were you guys listening to, because you definitely aren’t hearing what I heard?n I think most of the album is a SMASH and much, much better than the drivel I have heard released by some of the artists you compared it to. I wasn’t crazy about Chris’s first CD either – he’s much, much better live than that one – but this is really a pretty awesome – and a NON-BORING – collection of songs. Voices was probably my least fav track, but I loved 21 candles (and no I’m not close to my 21st bday). I got my copy of the album on the 1st, then went back and downloaded it on my ipod because I liked it so much.
Well, if that wasn’t a mixed bag of a review. Question? Are we listening to the same CD? LOL! I agree with some of what you are saying, but then I highly disagree with a lot more of this review. Without “gushing,” too much let me start by saying that I BELIEVE this sophomore CD is absolutely Sensational!
I love it so much, it’s really difficult to choose which song I love the most. They are all so different and diverse. There are several songs on here that would make country radio sound really refreshing. The Shoebox is a hidden treasure, The Dashboard, actually has a HAPPY ending, Yay! Chris and Willie collaberating on the Waylon Jennings hit, Rose In Paradise is hauntingly beautiful. And, if you can get through Chris’s vocals on Rainy Night in Georgia without drooling, then I just don’t know what to say.
When it is all said and done, it all boils down to that voice of his. Chris is the best vocally to come out of country music in a long time and this record is one of the best albums to come out in years. In my opinion, it is an INSTANT CLASSIC.
And I would like to go on the record. I LOVED his first CD and didn’t consider it drivel at all. It continues to be one of the most played CD’s in my collection. : )
Don’t understand all the mix of this review, but I do understand what I like and there is nothing wrong with any song on this cd. Have been listening to it since a few days before the 1st and love every song on it. Chris Young took each and every song on the cd and made it his own. As far as I am concerned Chris tops every country male artist out there with his vocals. Don’t know why he has to be compared to anyone, as his voice and his style are uniquely his own….when I hear him sing I know its him, not like so many others on the radio today, who all sound so much alike.
The Man I Want To Be is a showcase of Chris and his talent. I agree with Kari that this is one of the best albums to come out in years. As far as his freshman cd goes, I do not consider any song on there drivel, and am glad I am still playing it and listening to it often.
I love this new cd “The Man I Want To Be” by Chris Young! I have his first cd and still play it often. It is hard to pick a favorite among all these great songs . Gettin’ You Home is such a sexy song! “That Makes Me” , “The Man I Want To Be” , and “Dashboard” I absolutely love! “21Candles” is a fun song . “Voices” is Chris’s first great single that was released off this cd. “Shoebox” is touching a lot of hearts. An instudio recorded song with Willie Nelson” A Rose In Paradise” is a must hear song! I also absolutely love “Rainy Night in Georgia” that Chris recorded on the first time!
Even the artists I like have hit squads, apparently. How dare you not like each and every note, CM!
Well I’m not a “hit squad” whatever that is – and I was more concerned that CM said the album was weighed down by a few “duds” – I didn’t hear any “duds” – not that I like every song on the album with the song ferocity , but drivel it ain’t….Now I could name names of a few much more well known aritsts that CM gave better reviews to that I felt had a lot of DRIVEL on their discs….Just my 2 cents.
I’m not a hit squad either. Just a fan.
Chris’ sophomore album is fantastic. Chris Young has grown so much as an artist in the past 3 years since the first album and you can really hear it on this record. His voice has matured even more, if thats even possible, from the first album and every single song is ‘radio ready’. The Dashboard is my favorite cut from the album….It’s my ‘roll the windows down and blast it’ song. His cover of ‘It Takes A Man’ brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear him sing it because I can relate to that song so much having been in that very situation 12 yrs ago. Not many new artists can duet with a legend like Willie and actually pull it off. They sound like they’ve been singing together for years. ‘The Man I Want To Be’…instant radio hit…the emotion in that song is unsurpassed. I could go on and on about the album. I think everyone should buy the whole album and not just a few songs…as everyones opinions on the songs will be different. My favorite song on the album may not be the next persons, so check them all out! And then go see him LIVE…because he puts on 1 hell of a show. :)
I have to say that there isn’t one album that I have listened to over and over and over again, like I have listened to Chris Young’s debut cd.
That being said, “The Man I Want To Be”, is a truly amazing piece of work. Yes, I have my favorites on the album and a few that aren’t my favorites. They are all very good songs. They are definately not “drivel” . There are very few cd’s that I can put in the player and not hit skip, both of his cd’s I can do that. I just put them in and let them go repeat, repeat and repeat.
Chris’s voice is hauntingly beautiful. Like no other voices in country music. There are very few that you can instantly recognize “that voice”. So many other artists sound so much alike I have no idea how to tell one from another. Chris’s voice is as recognizeable as Waylon and Willie’s. He is extremely talented and so deserving of the success he is finally receiving.
Well first off I want to thank C.M. for doing the review of this album. We all have different tastes and opinions but at least this is drawing attention to the album and giving people an opportunity to listen for themselves and form their own opinions.
I, like a lot of the folks that commented before me, agree with some of the review and totally disagree with some of it. I do agree that this album is much stronger both material-wise and production-wise than the debut album. Chris was allowed a lot more time on this one and that certainly shows in comparison to the old one. But the first album was by no means a bad album. I think all the songs on this new album are strong. It’s very rare that I buy albums that I always listen to every song on. I’ll admit there were a couple on the old album that I tended to skip over. But I love every song on this new album. “Twenty-One Candles” is just a fun song. Every song on an album doesn’t have to change the world. Sometimes you just want something fun to listen to and sing along with. This song is also a fantastic point in the live shows. “That Makes Me” is also a run, rockin’ song. The title track is definitely one of my favorites on the album and to me one of the strongest cuts, so we obviously have highly different opinions. I don’t think there is a single “dud” or low point on this album. I absolutely love it. And I totally agree that the third album will be a doozy! Chris Young just gets better with time! :)
After reading your review, I really still do not understand the “duds.” While I know that not everyone is going to like every artist, Chris Young’s CD is outstanding in it’s diversity and his vocal talents. As is overheard many, many times, “Chris Young could sing me the telephone book and make it amazing!” That being said, I personally feel this is one of the best album releases this year.
Well, that was an… “interesting” review… Are you sure you actually listened to every song in its entirety and gave the CD your undivided attention? I am at a loss regarding your comments about “duds” and “mis-steps”… and the “non-descript quality of the title track”… I love this CD!!! And I can’t pick just ONE favorite song – I honestly love every song on the CD – including the title track – and I have never been able to say that about another artist’s CD before. I think it’s a strong 10-song block!!! And I also disagree with your comment about Chris’ debut CD being “drivel”… No, it wasn’t perfect and I didn’t love every song, but there were certainly many quality songs and performances on his first CD. And I don’t regret buying that first CD – and I still enjoy listening to it on a regular basis! Besides the fact that Rainy Night in Georgia is a soul-touching track that will give any listener chills, the one other thing in your review that I agree with is this: Chris Young’s third CD will be a doozy – and I can’t wait for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s a good record, but I think the material is still not really worthy of Chris’s voice. I’m pleased radio seems to have taken to him at last, though.