[.ca] Honesty

Pretty Bland:
I see a lot of potential in Rodney, but this album isn't very good. It is not his voice that is bad, it is his songs. If he had better songs to sing, he could be a huge success. Most all of the songs sound the same, and are very boring. If he gets the right producer, he will be very successful, but I didn't enjoy this album.

One of the best CD's ever:
Anyone who likes the title track and thinks the rest of the album is trash needs to listen again. Of course he has a great voice, but my favorite on the album was "My Old Man", released on the radio but didn't get very high on the charts. There's "What's left of me" and "Monkey in the middle" for upbeat songs, then there's "Someone to share it with" and "I will come to you". There are great stories and songs about just having a good time and living life "uncomplicated". To sum it up: Great voice, great songs, great album. It's well worth the money.

Honestly Bland:
Prime Cuts: Honesty, Someone to Share It With, My Old Man In today's country music where artists are easily disposable, singers are less likely to take risk. Hence, many country albums (especially by male artists) become fairly predictable. The standard fare for any country album nowadays would include one or two paternal tributes, a few love ballads and some perky odes to the feminine wiles. Risk aversion is certainly epitomized by Atkins' long awaited album or should I say advertising ploy. There are the obligatory tributes to the old man ("My Old Man," "The Man I Am Today"), a few romantic ballads ("Honesty," "The Love We Make") and, not to be missed, there are those "I-appreciate-my-woman" ditties ("Yeah She Does"). To further enhance Atkins' success, Atkins has a vocal nuance that makes him sound like his label mate Tim McGraw's double. If Curb Records were looking for a Tim McGraw stunt double, they fall short on the song selection. While many of McGraw's songs express freshness and vigor, Atkins' songs are at best humdrum. How original can you get with pedestrian titles like "The Love We Make," "Sing Along" and the pseudo-macho "Yeah She Does?" Even in his execution of these songs, Atkins sounds tired. Case in point is the supposedly jovial "Sing Along." While Atkins urges us to do as the title suggests, he sounds so haggard that one feels like doing anything, but "sing along." Also, with the somehow pretentious ballad "I Will Come to You," is Atkins really such a sensitive guy as he projects in the song? Or is he singing in order to tickle the ears of his largely female audience? So, are there any moments of redemption? Happy to say I was very impressed by the sophomore (and most successful single so far) single, the title track. "Honesty" is a gorgeous ballad about a couple re-assessing their relationship over a napkin in a diner. A well crafted picturesque story song that certainly touches the heart strings. "Honesty" is truly superb, a classic-in-the-making and it's certainly worth the price of this album. Though "Someone to Share It With" may not be as compelling as "Honesty," it is still a nifty follow up single. "My Old Man," the debut single which sizzled out in the top 50 terrain, is pleasant without being too ingenious. Save the title track, Atkins' debut outing fails to impress primarily due to shoddily chosen songs--songs that certainly can create a yawn fest. One cannot help but wonder how much artistic freedom Atkins was given over the selection of these songs? Is Atkins culpable or could Curb Records' voracity for the mighty chart positions be the culprit? Nevertheless, Atkins has potential, but better songs are required in order to set him apart from being another hat-wearing, sensitive cowboy wannabe clone.

Great Energy and Talent:
I love this album it is one of my favorite CDs in my collection of over 500. Has a lot of energy and just good country music with some slight rock edge to it... which is where I think the energy comes from that it isn't just a "typical" country music record. This is a GREAT CD not just a great country CD. I have to say this looks to be the best buy I've gotten for 2004!!! If he doesn't make it to the top there is seriously something wrong with Nashville!!!

• Honesty (Write Me a List)
• What's Left of Me
• Monkey in the Middle
• Someone to Share It With
• Love We Make
• Man I Am Today
• Uncomplicated
• Sing Along
• Yeah She Does
• I Will Come to You
• Forgiveness and Permission
• My Old Man