Carter’s Chord - “Young Love”
One of the best parts about having a job which requires reading through an endless series of agonizingly long artist bios is that every once in a while you’re bound to unearth a choice nugget that hilariously “exaggerates” an artist’s qualities. And let me tell you, I’ve come across my share of exaggerations. But this one takes the cake: “The sound of Carter’s Chord is as country as a verdant hillside and as fresh and invigorating as a sip of well water.”
Oh my. As country as a verdant hillside? As fresh and invigorating as a sip of well water? Not really. Not quite. Not even close. What are they pushing here, anyway, Herbal shampoo?
There is nothing at all fresh about the debut single from upcoming Show Dog trio Carter’s Chord. The sisters’ Robertson (Becky, Emily, and Joanna) have a sound that lacks the panache and musical balls of the Dixie Chicks and the lyrical cleverness of SHeDAISY. And that makes it a sound that is generally…well, lacking.
So a more accurate line for the group’s bio might read something like: “The sound of Carter’s Chord is as bland as a boiled potato.” CC’s vocal performance on “Young Love” is entirely nondescript; a pale and meek delivery that relies on borderline-sufficient harmonies to add texture to what is an otherwise boring track.
And the song? Oh my. We’ve been here before. Sneaking out. Driving down back roads. Making out in the woods. Breaking up because “autumn” is pulling us apart. Oh the pain. Oh the tragedy.
Oh no.
Listen: Carter’s Chord - “Young Love”
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Current Discussion
- Rick: I've purchased a few used CDX DJ CDs off of ebay and I was amazed at the number of unknown ...
- Aljid: Chris N. said, "Haven’t you heard, Jim? The rule is that you must be fiercely devoted to one young blonde ...
- kamron: i really like this song!!! i guess you just have to be from the kinda place hes talkin about ...
- Zach: Here's Trace Adkin's "music video" of Can't Outrun You off of his new album.. http://www.cmt.com/videos/trace-adkins/319911/i-cant-outrun-you.jhtml?id=1599712 I don't know if it's ...
- Chris N.: Haven't you heard, Jim? The rule is that you must be fiercely devoted to one young blonde female artist and ...
- Nicolas: ^ Ummm, she already did get the top spot on Billboard
- Razor X: '90s neotraditional country sounds pretty good compared to the crap currently polluting the airwaves, CMW.
- CMW: This definitely is textbook '90s neotraditional country, but it's a breath of fresh air compared to a lot of the ...
- Drew: Never heard of this guy, but definitely a fan of the song... great backbeat from the get-go and pretty decent ...
- Drew: I can't the link for the song to work.
9 Comments
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December 20, 2007 at 4:53 pm Permalink
I saw these ladies at he CMA Fest, and thought that they were pretty good live. I don’t remember hearing this song, but one called “Different Breed” was pretty good.
I agree with you here… pretty bland.
December 20, 2007 at 8:09 pm Permalink
While artists (and their labels) select what songs they want to sing and release - isn’t “lyrical cleverness” solely the domain of the songwriter(s)?
December 20, 2007 at 9:26 pm Permalink
Yes, Peter, but all of the above mentioned artists are also billed as songwriters.
December 20, 2007 at 10:38 pm Permalink
Jim - I hate to call you out on this one, but, from the Carter’s Chord web site…
Young Love
Written by: Hillary Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Scooter Carusoe
December 20, 2007 at 10:41 pm Permalink
… the group does have other songs they have written - they might be good or bad or somewhere in between, but THIS SONG ain’t theirs.
December 20, 2007 at 10:52 pm Permalink
Uh oh, are we going to hear from Aimee Mayo again?
Peter, I’m not sure what your point is. Because the artist didn’t write the single, Jim can’t criticize the lyric? As you pointed out, artists and labels choose songs to record. It’s certainly fair to criticize them for choosing a bad song.
December 20, 2007 at 10:55 pm Permalink
No, you’re right, and I don’t mind you “calling me out” on it. I knew that the trio didn’t write this.
Ultimately, an artist is defined by the songs that they record whether or not they wrote those songs. And, like it or not, female trios will be compared to other female trios.
December 21, 2007 at 1:49 pm Permalink
Jim - That’s a good explanation. If you were writing an album review I think your criticisms would be more valid than in reviewing this particular single. Once their album is out you could reasonably talk about the songs the group itself is responsible for writing and compare them to the more established, similar female groups.
Matt - My point is that if you’re going to criticize the lyric, then you discuss the writers, not that artist, if they have had no hand in writing the cut. You can criticize the artist or label for making, in the critic’s judgement, a poor song choice, but not for the song itself.
February 20, 2008 at 12:24 am Permalink
I saw Carter’s Chord live in Nashville at last year’s CRS and was impressed. They were one of my three takeaway faves. I hope their next single fares better.
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