ARTIST: Eric Church
TITLE: Sinners Like Me
YEAR RELEASED: 2006
CHART ACTION: #29, #7 Country
SINGLES: How ‘Bout You (#85, #14 Country), Two Pink Lines (#19 Country), Guys Like Me (#99, #17 Country), Sinners Like Me (#51 Country)
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Before She Does
LINEUP: Eric Church and a whole slew of peeps
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Debut album shows a little songwriting prowess, but sounds generic compared to his later work.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: The opening cut of Eric Church’s debut album falls definitely in the usual ‘southern country rock’ school of modern country, but with a lyrical twist that’s refreshing. Church’s writing helps break past the usual sound that’s plagued country music for a while.
A more traditional song like the title cut serves Church better. There’s some modern flair to it (the more distorted guitars and drumming) but at this stage he’s better in the traditional milieu.
He got a feather in his hat when Merle Haggard sang with him on “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag”. Of course, who wouldn’t pledge allegiance to Merle?
NOTES & MINUTIAE: He was kicked off the Rascal Flatts tour for playing too long. Poor snowflakes.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No
GRADE: B: Generic sounding at times, but the songwriting saves a lot of it.