Album Review: Mike Stinson – The Jukebox In Your Heart
It feels like ages since the release of Mike Stinson’s last record in 2005, but his latest, The Jukebox In Your Heart, has finally arrived. These new songs positively sparkle and, in Jesse Dayton, Stinson seems to have found his most sympathetic production ally to date. His singular voice, sounding like the distillation of a thousand heartaches, is captured at its best and the new songs that have been a part of his live show for so long are a revelation under Dayton’s direction (and with his band backing the tracks). The sound is a bit West Coast, a bit Texas and is the perfect counterpoint to anything Nashville’s got going at the moment.
The real standout here is the song-craft. Dig just a little deeper than the hardcore honky-tonk sound and Stinson relates, with startling accuracy, tales of loves lost, bitterness and how it feels to be, whether literally or existentially, the outsider. If you’ve lived at all “I Will Live To Drink Again” will strike chords of recognition, while on “Stop The Bar, I’m Getting Off” he laments, “Watching dreams go passing by, headed for some other guy.” “Square With The World,” “No One Left To Drink With” and “Slip My Mind” are also all exceptional tracks. This new collection is a treasure of 12 finely-crafted tunes that won’t be leaving my stereo anytime soon.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to subscribe to our feed or receive updates via email.
Columns
- Barry Mazor's "Scanning the Countryside"
- Chris Neal's "Belly of the Beast"
- Drew Kennedy's Column
- On the Road
Categories
Sponsors
Tagged In This Article
Current Discussion
- Jack Hanford: For those who are interested, there is a new 90-minute documentary video about Tompall & the Glaser Brothers on DVD ...
- joe morris: how come nobody mentions his fan club which started 1950 and was called the " the penny pushers " which ...
- jane: I'm reading this article in 2013 and I've yet to hear anything from the album played on the radio.....
- Catwandy: I guess Matt C. is eating his well-deserved crow 'bout now. Critics....gotta love 'em , bless their little hearts.
- Ed McClendon: Saw the brothers in Greeley CO on the occasion of Tompall's 50th birthday. The show wasn't well promoted and there ...
- Roby Fox: I'm sure no one else will know, or even care about this little tidbit of trivia. "Keep Your Change" was ...
- kate wonders: Roni Stoneman is still on Hee Haw every Sunday night on RFD channel.
- Marsha Blades: Tommy, You were so kind to me during a tough time in my life and I don't think I ever ...
- Leona Jones: I seen Chris at the Grand Ole Opry last week.. First time I have heard of him.. He rocked the ...
- Sonicjar Music: Agree with Lucas, But one thing is certain, for a song to come to existence, so many things have to ...
8 Comments
RSS for comments on this post
June 10, 2010 at 10:26 am
Love this record. Stinson is a very welcome addition to the Texas scene!
June 10, 2010 at 12:29 pm
this guy is amazing. seen him a few time out in california. only heard the record once on a road trip but love “girl with beauty queen eyes” and the title track.
June 10, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Great, great album. There’s something almost elemental about his writing; his songs sound like they should’ve always existed, like they were just out there waiting to be grabbed. He reminds me a lot of Willie in that regard. You’re right that Dayton has framed his voice more sympathetically than past recordings, so hopefully more people will be able to get into him with this one.
June 10, 2010 at 1:49 pm
I suspect it’ll be hard for some listeners (especially those of the mainstream persuasion) to get into Stinson because of his “singular voice,” but if they can acquire the taste, they’ll find a damn fine record. It’s been one of my favorite releases of the past few months.
June 10, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Its nice to see Mike’s move to Texas from Los Angeles has aided in the quality of his recorded output. We miss him around here but hopefully he can earn more money and recognition in the Lone Star State.
We still have some talented locals around here in I See Hawks In L.A., Dead Rock West, Grant Langston, David Serby, Dave Gleason, and Leslie Stevens and her Badgers, but Mike was the most endearing performer. Before he used to perform his composition “The Late, Great Golden State”, which did well for Dwight Yoakam, Mike would announce “and don’t ask me for a loan! I spent that royalty money years ago…”. (lol)
I’ve never cared much for Jesse Dayton, but he’s now helped the career of Brennen Leigh and now Mike Stinson. Good on ya, Jesse! Now maybe Jesse can arrange a duet featuring Mike and Brennen! Hmm…
June 11, 2010 at 8:52 pm
What a great team. I’m with you on that duet suggestion, to be followed by a tour with all 3 of them together – even better!
I miss having Mike in LA. I miss his Tuesday nights at The Redwood and his packed Cinema Bar shows that were as much a cathartic ritual as anything else; his predictable one-liners like, “Worthless, that’s a word I learned from my dad” or “This is not your parent’s country music, it’s your grandparent’s county music” or Gleason’s introduction of Mike, “From Cashville Virginia, you know him, you love him…Mr. Mike Stinson”. We do indeed and finally I think the rest of the world will too. Mike, you’re where you’re supposed to be. No one could blame you if you said I told you so.
June 21, 2010 at 3:54 pm
As great as this album is, the next one will be even better. Houston (and Texas) is very fortunate to have Mike and be on the cutting edge of his new stuff. Hopefully he feels like he belongs here as there is a bunch of folks here that feel that way.
November 18, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Cannot not stop listening, I am in LOVE with this record. I need more!