NutsAboutCountry.com
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Cheryl Harvey-Hill
    • Alan Jackson - Good TIme
    • Alan Jackson - 30 Miles West
    • Andy Griggs - This I Gotta See
    • Ashla Taylor
    • A Night On the town in Nashville
    • Billy Currington -Self Titled
    • Billy Currington - Enjoy Yourself
    • Billy Currington -Little Bit Of Everything
    • Blake Shelton - Cheers It's Christmas
    • Blake Shelton - Concert Review
    • Charlie Daniels Band - Essential Super Hits
    • Blue County - Self-titled Debut Album
    • Bryan White - Shine
    • Buddy Jewell - Buddy Jewell
    • Carl Ray - Play That Country Music Black Boy
    • Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Dress Rehearsal
    • Charlie Daniels - Confederate Railroad - LoCash Cowboys - In Concert in Tampa, FL
    • Charlie Daniels - Preachin Prayin Singin
    • Carrie Underwood - Play On
    • Chris Cagle - My Life’s Been a Country Song
    • Chris Stapleton - Traveller
    • Chris Young - I Wish I Was Lyin
    • Chris Young - Plant City Florida Strawberry Festival
    • Chris Young - A Little At A Time (debut album)
    • Chuck Wicks - Starting Now
    • Clay Walker - Chords of Hope 2014
    • Clay Walker - A Few Questions
    • Cody McCarver - Benefit Concert Troop Aid
    • Colt Ford - Declaration of Independence
    • Colt Ford - Lakeland
    • Cory Keefe-I'll keep it Country
    • Craig Campbell - self titled debut album
    • Craig Morgan - Bradenton, Florida
    • Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Colt Ford, Sunny Sweeney
    • Craig Morgan and Steve Azar Perform In Rolling Meadows, Illinois
    • Craig Campbell - Lakeland Florida
    • Crystal Gayle - All My Tomorrows
    • David Kersh Interview – January 2005
    • David Lee Murphy - Tryin' To Get There
    • Don Williams - Silver Turns To Gold
    • Dierks Bentley - Feel That Fire
    • Don Williams - And So It Goes
    • Easton Corbin - Knoxville, TN Concert Review
    • Easton Corbin - Dallas Texas
    • Eric Church - Sinners Like Me
    • Faith Hill - Fireflies
    • Freddy Fender - Las Cruces NM 2005
    • Freddy Fender: La Musica De Baldemar Huerta
    • Gary Allan - Tough All Over
    • Gene Watson - My Heroes HAve Always Been Country
    • Gene Watson - Sings
    • George Jones - My Very Special Guests (Legacy Edition)
    • George Strait - 50 Number One Hits
    • George Strait - Somewhere Down In Texas
    • George Strait, Reba & LeeAnn Womack
    • George Strait - Troubadour
    • Glen Campbell
    • Gretchen Wilson - Here For The Party
    • Gretchen Wilson - Orlando Florida
    • Hank Williams Jr. - Almeria Club
    • Hank Williams Jr. - I'm One Of You
    • Hank Williams III - Long Gone Daddy
    • Hank III - Rebel Within
    • Heidi Newfield-What Am I Waiting For
    • KWNR 1st Annual Guitar Pull - Las Vegas, NV
    • Jake Penrod - Closer To Me
    • James Otto - Days Of Our Lives
    • Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song
    • Jamie O'Neal - Shiver
    • Jewel - Perfectly Clear
    • Jimmy Buffett - License To Chill
    • Jo Dee Messina - Me
    • Joe Diffie - Tougher Than Nails
    • Joe Nichols - Fan Party
    • Joe Nichols - It's All Good
    • Joe Nichols in Las Vegas, NV 2002
    • Joe Nichols - Crickets
    • Joe Nichols - Man With A Memory
    • Joe Nichols - Music Fest Fan Party
    • Joe Nichols - Old Things New
    • Joe Nichols - Real Things
    • Joe Nichols - Revelation
    • Joey & Rory - Album Number Two
    • Joey & Rory - His & Hers
    • john Arthur martinez - San Antonio Woman
    • John Arthur Martinez - You Play My Heart
    • John Michael Montgomery - Letters From Home
    • John Fogerty - Wrote A Song For Everyone
    • Josh Turner - Haywire
    • Josh Turner - Long Black Train
    • Josh Turner - Your Man
    • Juni Fisher - Let 'er Go, Let 'er Buck, Let 'er Fly
    • Keith Urban - Get Closer
    • Keith Urban In The Ranch - Re-release
    • Keith Walker - Space Between
    • Keith Walker - Miles From You
    • Kellie Pickler - Self-titled CD
    • Kelly Lang - Obsession
    • Kelly Lang - 11:11
    • Kelly Lang - the back story
    • Kelly Lang - Jagged Edges
    • Kelly Lang - It's About Time
    • Kelly Lang and TG Sheppard - Iconic Duets
    • Kenny Chesney - Be As You Are
    • Kenny Chesney - Lucky Old Sun
    • Kenny Chesney - No Shoes Nation - Tampa Florida
    • Kenny Chesney - The Road And The Radio
    • Kenny Chesney - When The Sun Goes Down
    • Kix Brooks - Cookin' It With Kix
    • Kix Brooks - New to This Town
    • Lacs - Lakeland Florida
    • Lady Antebellum - Strawberry Festival
    • LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire
    • LeAnn Rimes - Greatest Hits
    • LeAnn Rimes - Editorial
    • LeAnn Rimes - This Woman
    • Lee Ann Womack - Call Me Crazy
    • LeAnn Womack - There's More Where That Came From
    • LeeAnn Womack - Greatest Hits
    • Lindy Gravelle - Music And Me
    • Lee Brice - Jerrod Niemann - Tyler Farr
    • LoCash Cowboys - Tallahassee Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys Lakeland Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys - You Gonna Fly
    • LoCash Cowboys - Bradenton Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys - Knoxville Tennessee
    • Lonestar - Let's Be Us Again
    • Lorrie Morgan - A Moment In Time
    • Lorrie Morgan - Show Me How
    • Luke Bryan - Strawberry Festival
    • Lyon County - Songs from Lyon County
    • Maggie Rose - Lakeland Florida
    • Maggie Rose - I Ain't Your Mama
    • Maggie Rose - Cut To Impress
    • Marlee Scott - Beautiful Maybe
    • Mark Chesnutt - Savin' The Honky Tonk
    • Mark Wills - And The Crowd Goes Wild
    • Mark Wills - Familiar Stranger
    • Martina McBride-Live
    • Martina McBride - Eleven
    • Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives - Country Music
    • McClymonts - Wrapped Up Good
    • Merle Haggard Tribute
    • Merle Haggard and George Jones
    • Merle Haggard-Working Man's Journey
    • Miranda Lambert - Kerosene
    • Miranda Lambert - Revolution
    • Montgomery Gentry - Rebels On The Run
    • Neil McCoy - XII
    • Neil McCoy w/ Les Brown and Band
    • NewTown - Harlan Road
    • Patsy Cline - Remembering Patsy Cline
    • Patty Loveless-Sleepless
    • Randy Houser - They Call Me Cadillac
    • Ray Price - Editorial
    • Restless Heart - Still Restless
    • Rick Trevino - In My Dreams
    • Rodney Atkins - Honesty
    • Rodney Atkins - Plant City FL.
    • Rodney Atkins - It's America
    • Rodney Atkins - Self Titled Album
    • Ron Williams - Natural Thing
    • Ron Williams - Foolproof
    • Sara Evans- Sea World Orlando
    • Sara Evans - Stronger
    • Shelby Lee Lowe - Self Titled Album
    • Southern Halo - Self Titled Debut
    • Stealing Angels - Little Blue Sky
    • Stephen Pride - Pride On The Wild Side
    • Sunny Sweeney - Concrete
    • Sugarland - In Your Hands Tour Tampa Fl
    • Sylvia
    • Terri Clark - Life Goes On
    • T.G. Sheppard - Legendary Friends
    • TG Sheppard - Timeless
    • TG Sheppard - Interview 2004
    • The Band Perry - Hometown Concert
    • The Ferrari Club
    • The Grascals - Before Breakfast
    • The Morrison Brothers - Self Titled
    • Tim McGraw - Emotional Traffic
    • Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying
    • Toby Keith- White Trash With Money
    • Toby Keith - Honkytonk University
    • Toby Keith - Shock'n Y'all
    • Toby Keith Tampa 12
    • Toby Keith Tampa Florida
    • Toby Keith - That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy
    • Toby Keith - Clancy's Tavern
    • Trace Adkins - Comin' On Strong
    • Tracy Byrd - Eat Like A Byrd
    • Tracy Byrd - Greatest Hits II
    • Tracy Lawrence - All Wrapped Up In Christmas
    • Tracy Lawrence - The Rock
    • Tracy Lawrence - Strong
    • Tracy Lawrence - Then & Now
    • Tracy Lawrence - For The Love
    • Tracy Lawrence- Hindsight 2020
    • Tribute to Ryan Jones-LoCash Cowboys
    • Trish Yearwood - Jasper County
    • Troy Olsen - self titled debut album
    • Ty Herndon - House On Fire
    • Ty Herndon - Interview 2004
    • Ty Herndon - Right About Now
    • Vince Gill - Millennium
    • Wade Hayes - Old Country Song
    • Wade Hayes - Place To Turn Around
    • Willie Nelson - It Always Will Be
    • Willie Nelson - Living Legend
    • Willie Nelson - Heroes
    • Willie Nelson - Moment Forever
    • Willie Nelson - Remember Me Vol 1
    • Zac Brown - Uncaged
    • Looking Forward Looking Back
    • IFCO Tribute to the Johnson Sisters
    • Cheryl's Top Picks of 2007 - Predictions for 2008
    • Cheryl's Picks for 2008
    • George's top 2008 picks
    • Cheryl's Best of 2012
    • George's picks for 2012
  • WITW
    • Waiting In The Wings Introduction
    • T. Jae Christian-I Wish Was Home
    • 4Cd's I never leave home without
    • Allen Brown and The Long Hard Ride Band- Natural Disaster
    • Alysha Brooke - I Talk Country
    • Amanda Henkel - Amanda Henkel
    • Backseat Molly
    • Bailey James - Where It All Begins
    • Big Bob Young - Hard Way To Make A Dollar
    • Bill Wence - Analog Man In A Digital World
    • Billy Don Burns
    • Billy Don Burns - The Music Says It All
    • Billy Holt - Long Gone
    • Billie Jo Russell - I Just Can't Imagine
    • Billy Joe Shaver - Long In Tooth
    • Billy Joe Shaver- Live At Billy Bob’s Texas
    • Billy Ryan Droze - Sinnin' Man
    • Billy Yates - Favorites
    • Blaine Larsen - Off To Join The World
    • Brandon McPhee - The Country Side
    • Chris Leigh
    • Cody Jinks - 30
    • Coldwater Canyon
    • Crystal Sands - CMA Fest
    • Crystal Sands-Debut CD
    • Crystal Sands - The Hard Times
    • Daniel Lee Martin - All That I Am
    • Darrell Goldman - The Bed I've Made
    • Darryl Lee Rush - Llano Avenue
    • David Church - Falling
    • David Wood - Here and Now
    • Dean Crawford and Tommy Joe Wilson
    • Erich Mcmann-The Last American SongBook
    • Flatt Lonesome - Runaway Train
    • Gaylynn Robinson - Songs by a West Texas Songstress
    • Gaylynn Robinson - Love & Heatache
    • Glenn Cummings - Big
    • Grady Yates - A Thousand Horses
    • Hermann Lammers Meyer - The Good Old Days
    • James Talley
    • Jay Sims - Half Souls and Heels
    • Joanna Mosca - Keep On Going
    • Jennifer Vazquez - Rediscovering Me
    • Jerry Burkhart - Cryin' Country
    • Jessie Lee Cates - Let Your Country Out
    • Jody Jenkins
    • Justin Honaman
    • Kameron Ross
    • Karen Wiltz - Chapters
    • Karin Wright - Too Rockin' Roll for Country...
    • Kate Sansing - Self titled album
    • Kat Moore Band - Home
    • Katy Benko - Float
    • Kelly Kenning
    • Kenny Joe Blake (& The Drifting Nobodys) - The Gravy Train
    • Knut Bell- Wicked, Ornry, Mean and Nasty
    • Kenny Butterill-Troubadour Tales
    • Kenny Chesney - All I Want For Christmas
    • Kyrsti Worley - A Bible & A Six Pack
    • Krysti Worley - Cowman
    • Lacy Jay-Livin My Life
    • Laura McGhee - Green Eyes
    • LEYLA FENCES: Get The Truck Outta Here
    • Lindsey Ridener - Faith
    • Lonnie Spiker-That’s When The Crazy Kicks In
    • Lonny Ayres - Changing Lanes
    • Locked down and Locked in
    • Lynne Taylor Donovan
    • Mark Holt & Kimberlee Holt Tully - Acoustically Native
    • Megan Linville
    • Melonie Cannon - And The Wheels Turn
    • Nick Verzosa
    • Michael Thomas - Bonafide Country Boy
    • Mike Lepi - I'm Livin On
    • Mike Trudell
    • Mike Runnels
    • Mike Schikora-Horses & Guitars
    • Pam Ferens: An Evolution
    • Patrick Brooks - Rust & Weeds
    • Paul Alan Coons -Pour Me A Tall One
    • Ryan Broshear - Counrything
    • Richie Allbright - Kickin The Doors Down
    • Richie Allbright - If I Known Then
    • Robert Larrabee-Round Here
    • Robert Larrabee-Middle of Something
    • Rowdy McCarran - Eyes Wide Open
    • Royal Wade Kimes-Shadows of Times
    • Royal Wade Kimes-A Proud Land
    • Royal Wade Kimes - Crossing The Roads
    • Royal Wade Kimes-Snow
    • Shane Owens - Where I'm Comin' From
    • Shevy Smith - Blueprint
    • Steve Scott-Those Tear I've cried
    • Susie Warley - Naked Dreams
    • Skyla Spencer: You Said You’d Call Me
    • Sylkie Monoff - Genuine
    • Stacy Morris - Borders And Boundaries
    • Todd Sterling - Pawn Shop Guitar
    • Sweet Root
    • Ted&Helen
    • The Dust Devils - Gathering Dust >
      • Steve Neil Wilson - Bat Out Of Carolina
    • Susan Hickman - Self Titled
    • Teresa Farris - Take It On The Run
    • The Ranchhands
    • Todd Sterling - Road Songs
    • Tommy Shane Steiner - Then Came The Night
    • Tony Clark - A Tuneful Concern
    • Travis Sinclair - Rush
    • Trent Willmon - Debut
    • Tuxedo Country
  • Fan Talk
  • Fan Talk Gallery
  • Contact Us

Rodney Atkins - It's America

Picture

 Review By: George Peden
 
 
Ah, the power of patriotism. In these troubled times, it’s a comfort to know the  American dream is alive and well. Just ask Rodney Atkins. Recently settling in,  and nicely thank-you, at the pole position on the Billboard country music charts  with “It’s America”, the guy who traded a cowboy hat for a baseball cap is  quickly increasing the fan base. And he’s doing it with his hand-on-chest nod to  apple pie values of friends, family, life and love. 

Having scored in 2003 with his Top 5 single Honesty  (Write Me A List), 2006 saw Atkins leapfrog the charts with his fan friendly and  radio saturated follow-up. “If You’re Going Through Hell” did plenty to  establish this Tennessean with the psychology degree. That breakthrough album  sold an impressive 1.4 million, with the title cut enjoying the label as the  most played country song on radio for the year. If that wasn’t enough, “Watching You” followed the established path, earning most played  country tune at radio for 2007. 2007 also saw Atkins claim the CMA’s prestigious “New Artist Of The Year”. 

Now, It’s America. With this new album, Atkins  delivers 11 tracks of turbo-charged country. It’s an album pumped with rocky and  up-tempo cuts. There’s not a downer on the set. The tracks are an even blend of  potential singles and tunes that offer reflection and appreciation. The title cut nails it. When Atkins sings: “ It's a high school prom, it's a Springsteen  song, it's a ride in a Chevrolet It's a man on the moon and fireflies in June and kids sellin' lemonade It's cities and farms, it's open arms, one nation  under God It's America,”  you immediately relate to the shared  understandings of a country unified. 
 
But while the title tune is claiming kudos, a keen  listen to the remaining tracks delivers with similar optimism and value. “Got It  Good” and “The Best Things,” with its shopping list of the joys and toys for big  boys, along with the honest truth of “puttin in a hard days work, comin' home  and puttin' on a clean T-shirt,” all add to the enjoyment of “Simple  Things”.

There’s some real fun here. When Atkins sings of “Chasin’ Girls, with its lyrical reveal of dating, marriage and kids (girls,  what else?), and he sings of having “Friends With Tractors”, well, there’s a  male connection easily identified by both genders. An understood laugh, but only  to men, comes with the tale of giving up grog and girls, proving to be the  hardest “15 Minutes” of any red-blooded life. 

Speaking of connections, the closing minutes of the  album, the last three tracks, shows a move towards the thoughtful and positive  side of country music. As I said above, there’s not a downer on this album, so  when Atkins confronts death and left legacies, he does it without draining  emotion and wringing sentiment. “ Rockin The Cradle” starts the trilogy. With it’s  fiddle-ache opening, the song powers along with a buoyant message of optimism – “I want to live with no excuses, love with no regrets, take the bad with the  good and know I did my best.” The song offers a thoughtful fit to “”when It’s My  Time”. Telling of a rushed man on his way to somewhere, blocked by a funeral  procession of tail-to-tail cars, the delay brings meaning to a hurried life. 

“When it's my time to go,  the end of my road I hope  it looks like this 200 cars stretched out as far as the hearts I touched  while I lived And I hope I leave half as much love behind when it's my time.” 

The album ends, perfectly, with “The River Just Knows”. The tune, moody and sober, offers metaphorical comparisons in that in stillness,  reflection and acceptance, the needed answers often come.  “
You know the river don’t talk, the river  don’t care Where you’ve been, what you’ve done, Don’t know why it is your  standin’ there It just flows on by whisperin’ to your soul It’s gonna be  alright, the river just knows.” 
 

It’s America is out now on Sony Nashville Records.

rodneyatkins.com


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.