June
1998
Kenny
Chesney -- I Will Stand
ACM Best
New Male Artist
Kenny Chesney began his career in 1995. However, it was not until April of 1998 did his talent become recognized when he won the ACM Best New Male Artist award. Many people including Kenny himself believe this album I Will Stand has made Kenny a household name so to say. Now, I have not had an opportunity to listen to Kenny's other albums, but I was amazed by how many songs I started hearing on the radio that I had no idea this was Kenny Chesney. This is especially true when Kenny was in concert in Phoenix back in May, the radio stations went nuts playing his older songs and some of those of this album. There are three songs that stand out for one reason or another which I will talk about in detail shortly.
She's Got It All is not, as the title may suggest, a song about the ex-wife getting it all. This song is more how she is ideal for him, She Got It All!. This is one of those songs I have heard many of times and I knew the voice, but I could not put a name to the song. Now, after the all Kenny Chesney Marathons the Phoenix area radio stations treated us to in May, I am very familiar with Kenny's work.
The best song on the album was the one the awards kept playing every time Kenny's name was mentioned, That's Why I'm Here. This song has to be by far on of the most strangest of subjects for a country song, but it sends an important message, without being "preachy". For those of you have not heard this song, it is about overcoming alcoholism, a disease very near and true to many people. Kenny does an excellent job telling it like it is, how you lose control over everything and lose what is important in your life.
Finally, there is an acoustic version of When I Close My Eyes. The first time I heard the original version of this song was on Christmas of 1995. Kenny's dynamic vocal range is demonstrated in this wonderful ballad. I always prefer acoustic over electric so I especially enjoyed this song.
This is a very good album and as I mentioned earlier, it is going to make Kenny Chesney a household name (if the ACM award had not already done this). One side note, I had horrible luck with the cassette of this album, it seems the mechanics must be defective since ever time I listen to the album it sounds wobbly. I've tried it on every cassette deck I have and it sounds bad on all of them. May be this is the industries way of phasing out the cassette tapes. Or may be I just got a lemon.
Next month's review Brooks & Dunn 5: If You See Her I am looking very forward to. This will be Brooks & Dunn's fifth album and so far, every album they released is better than the last one. Questions or comments about this review, use the e-mail link below.
