Sunny Sweeney – “Ten Years Pass”
I’m a big Sunny Sweeney fan. I like that she’s an unapologetic traditionalist. I like the neat cutesy twang of her voice. I like that she goes out of her way to sincerely rep for classic artists like Merle Haggard and talented new artists like Brennen Leigh. I couldn’t be happier that she’s on a high profile label like Big Machine and I really hope that she becomes a big mainstream star.
Due to all of the above, I was excited about reviewing her newest single “Ten Years Pass.” Unfortunately, the single didn’t meet my (admittedly high) expectations.
The good news is that is doesn’t share in the faults of much mainstream country. It isn’t stupid, it doesn’t bathe in mindless positivism, it doesn’t reach for eye-rolling melodrama, and to the song’s credit, it takes a swing at exploring a specific moment in one’s life with clarity and sincerity.
It just doesn’t really offer any insights or wit.
It’s not very traditional either, unless you count Tim Mcgraw’s “Sleep On It Tonight” as traditional. (Full Disclosure: I really like Tim McGraw’s “Sleep On It Tonight”)
So what we’re left with is a vaguely 90’s country song, that takes a look at someone reflecting on a ten year old heartbreak without having any especially clever or heartbreaking lines. I mean, you’d think that a writer who is reflecting on ten years of longing and disappointment would have some new image, turn of phrase, something, anything, interesting to say. Sunny tells us that she’s “fighting back the tears,” but she doesn’t give us any reason to do the same, and simply telling us that she was once naïve and thought that she’d “be together always” with her lost love just isn’t enough.
The melody and arrangement don’t make up for the weaknesses in the lyrics either. The arrangement uses a steady rock beat and an organ and the only thing that makes it sound different from a Wallflowers track is the addition of a steel guitar, while the melody doesn’t have any especially heart wrenching moments.
So with all that being said, does this one get a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down”? It’s times like this that a numeric 1 to 10 rating system would be nice because I’d give this one a solid 5. It’s a little clunky and pretty uninteresting, but on the other hand it’s not insultingly horrible or ridiculously outside of the genre. Decisions, decisions. Ultimately, I figure that the tie goes to the runner, so this one’ll go to Sunny. As long as she continues to work hard to bring traditional country music to the people, she’ll get the benefit of the doubt from me. Don’t expect this one on her eventual “Greatest Hits” album though.
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March 26, 2008 at 8:17 am Permalink
Your kinda right and kinda wrong Ben. I agree that this isnt a traditional sound ala “Lavender & Blue” or some of the other cuts from her album. With Sunny, the twang in her voice is as much of an instrument as the pedal steel or guitar, so the whole “wallflowers track” comment doesnt hold up since Jakob Dylan’s vocal instrument is far different, and more subdued than Sweeney’s (not to mention far more nasal than twnagy, and yes there is a difference). Also, while she doesnt delve too deep into profound territory, she does offer some simple insight when she sings that her former lover is with his wife, “and I’m still looking for the love of my life”. That statement offers a glimpse into the frustration and sadness that not finding a great love in that amount of time has given her. Look, she wasnt going to get a hot label like Big Machine to hook her up with an album full of Kitty Wells covers. Isnt an artist that can successfully bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary what we really need these days??
March 26, 2008 at 8:41 am Permalink
I won’t deny that she is talented, however her style just isn’t for me.
March 26, 2008 at 8:46 am Permalink
Dustin J., Just curious, what is your style? It must be very different from her style if you commented on that aspect.
March 26, 2008 at 9:04 am Permalink
If I recall correctly, Sunny wrote this about her and a friend’s high school reunions. The first verse kinda sets the song down the wrong path in suggesting she’s been carrying a burning heartache or yearning around for ten years. If that were the case, you’d be right in suggesting that it doesn’t carry any insight or anything new, but I think it captures the spirit of small Texas towns and the way they never change, the oft-uttered idea that there will always be a special place in your heart for your first “love,” and the implausible hope that things might change and revert back to the way they were. Despite that ill-conceived first verse about the tears, I think the song is enjoyable.
March 26, 2008 at 11:20 am Permalink
I’ll start off by saying I absolutely love Sunny Sweeney! Sunny’s occasional performances on the Grand Ole Opry stage are some of the best live music to come from that stage these days, and especially when she sings “…Honky Tonk Angels” to honor Kitty Wells. As for Sunny’s Big Machine label connection, Sunny released her “Heartbreakers Hall of Fame” as an independent artist and I think the album was out for almost a year before Scott Borchetta decided to add her to the roster and re-release the CD under his label with absolutely no changes. Her singles thus far have only been pushed to my knowledge to “Americana” format radio stations (outside of Texas anyway).
I was a bit shocked when Sunny announced weeks ago that “Ten Years Pass” was the next single as I don’t think its one of the best cuts on the album. The cuts I like best are “Here Lately”, “Lavendar Blue”, and Audrey Auld-Mezera’s “Next Big Nothing”, all of which I find musically addicting.
If Top 40 mainstream country radio cared at all about artistry and the heritage of country music these days Sunny might have a chance, but they don’t so she won’t. As long as Sunny remains a stalwart twangy champion of traditional country and honky tonk music (and I hope she does), Top 40 rock-pop-country muzak stations will not be opening their doors in spite of the Big Machine connection.
March 26, 2008 at 12:21 pm Permalink
Whenever I hear this I sing “this Texas Toast, it tastes the same” and then I wonder, do they call Texas Toast “Texas Toast” in Texas?
Anyhoo, it’s a good song but I can see how it lags behind some of the other songs on her album the first few listens. It took a while but it’s really grown on me. After listening to the cd nonstop for the last 13 months her original stuff are now my favorite songs on the album now.
Watch out for her new stuff though. She’s got a couple news songs that are stellar, “Contrary & Western” being one of them.
March 26, 2008 at 12:31 pm Permalink
Hey Kelly… I guess I’ve just kind of “moved on” from the twangy stuff I grew up listening to. I’ve never really been a big fan of the twang, even 20+ years ago… the Oak Ridge Boys, the Statler Brothers, Alabama, and George Strait are traditional sounding without the twang, IMHO and that’s what I grew up listening to.
So, you won’t find me listening to too much Sunny Sweeney. Honestly, even artists like Ashton Shepherd and Sarah Johns are a little more twangy than what I really like. (I have a ton of respect for both and think both are amazingly talented… but again, I guess it’s just not my forte) :)
March 26, 2008 at 12:35 pm Permalink
Thats cool, I can understand developing a taste for something different than what you were raised on or what seemed cool a long time ago. I still wonder though, what group/artist exemplifies your current taste in music, country or otherwise?
March 26, 2008 at 2:20 pm Permalink
I’m a vocals/harmonies kind of guy. :) The Oaks & the Statlers were two of my favorites when I was a kid. Loved those four-part harmonies!
In the 90’s, I was a fan of Southern Pacific, Restless Heart, BlackHawk, Little Texas, The Buffalo Club, Ricochet, and the short-lived band known as Burnin’ Daylight (Marc Beeson, Kurt Howell, & Sonny Lemaire).
Today, I find myself listening to bands such as Sixwire, Crossin’ Dixon, and One Flew South (an outsnading vocal band on the newly resurrected Decca Records whose sound resembles that of CSN&Y, the Eagles, America, Poco, Orleans, Firefall, Pure Prairie League, etc)
March 26, 2008 at 2:40 pm Permalink
Have you checked out The Thorns (supergroup) or Low Stars? I like great harmonies also…
March 27, 2008 at 4:00 am Permalink
Kelly,
I have the Thorns (Shawn Mullins, Pete Droge, Matthew Sweet) record and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Low Stars record. I would second their great harmonies. In fact, I was surprised that the Low Stars weren’t promoted to country by their Starbucks Label.
March 27, 2008 at 5:27 am Permalink
Matt B., From what I could tell, Sbux was going for more of an adult contemp. strategy with them. The Low Stars had the theme song to that lame show “What About Brian”. As for The Thorns, Mullins keeps plugging away, but I havent heard much from Droge or Sweet recently. I wish they would put together another record as The Thorns.
March 28, 2008 at 4:29 pm Permalink
Twang is a big part of country music.
April 8, 2008 at 7:38 pm Permalink
I pretty much have to second Dustin J’s original comment and say her nasally whine is not my thing, I mean you don’t have to be a spectacular vocalist for me to like it but some of her other stuff I could not listen to because of her voice. But I have to say she is a vey talented girl and this song is her best vocally in my opinion
October 10, 2009 at 10:28 am Permalink
Howdy. I tell you what, if ain’t got twang, it don’t mean a thang. Sunny is A1 in my book and so are Telecasters … another twangy thang.
All the best,
- Judd Jugmonger
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