Shelby Lee Lowe - self-titled debut album
by: Cheryl Harvey Hill, Sr. Staff Journalist
The debut, self-titled, album by newcomer Shelby Lee Lowe, kicks off with, "Double-Wide Love", and if you are a fan of traditional country, the kind that harkens back to Willie, Merle, Ray and the country music heroes of yesterday... you know, the ones who sing your life and touch your heart in the process, well, welcome home, you are sure to recognize yourself, or feel a nostalgia wave wash over you, in at least one of the thirteen songs on this album.
On his website it states that Lowe attempts to incorporate his love for Southern Rock, R&B, and blues into his country music. He says his music is influenced by traditional country music but includes his "own spin on it with other styles", well, he penned eleven of the thirteen tracks on this album so I'm hoping he doesn't spin too far because I like where he is right now.
Only a country song could turn these lyrics into a pleasurable waltz: "I came home drunk / walked straight into hell / you called the law / they hauled my ass to jail / twelve hours went by / and you drank all my beer / I walked through the door / made the best love in years" and the chorus keeps it going, "us being in love is like being at war / when the battles all over / we still come back for more / 'cause when we said forever / baby, that's what we meant / when the smoke finally clears / we dry up the tears / we go at it again". And this is a song you not only waltz too, you actually enjoy singing along. Honest! I played it several times to get the lyrics and found I liked the song more each time I heard it. There's nothing like a quick two-stepper to lift your spirits and sometimes you just have to poke fun at life just to prove you "get it".
There are several cleverly written tunes on this album but the song that spoke to me the loudest was "Slow Dancing". It's such a beautiful song, and certainly one with very romantic and relateable lyrics. Truth be told, 99% of the female country music fans are also fans of Alan Jackson and I can guarantee you they would consider dancing in their own living room, with their significant other, to any country tune, including this cut, to be incredibly special. Lowe says, "I love a song with great imagery that tells a good story." Well, on this cut, you have clearly accomplished that goal.
Lowe says he is dedicating 100% to his craft and commitment to his music career which is rather ironic when you learn how he came to have it. It was back in high school, while hosting his school's talent show, Lowe was dared to sing in front of his entire school. He took on the dare and sang Tracy Lawrence's "Paint me a Birmingham". The school audience erupted and no one was more surprised than he was. "I always sang as a joke to pass the time," Lowe says, "I never realized how great it really felt to sing in front of a crowd! I have been addicted to music ever since." Let's hope he stays addicted for a very long time.
Official Shelby Lee Lowe website
The debut, self-titled, album by newcomer Shelby Lee Lowe, kicks off with, "Double-Wide Love", and if you are a fan of traditional country, the kind that harkens back to Willie, Merle, Ray and the country music heroes of yesterday... you know, the ones who sing your life and touch your heart in the process, well, welcome home, you are sure to recognize yourself, or feel a nostalgia wave wash over you, in at least one of the thirteen songs on this album.
On his website it states that Lowe attempts to incorporate his love for Southern Rock, R&B, and blues into his country music. He says his music is influenced by traditional country music but includes his "own spin on it with other styles", well, he penned eleven of the thirteen tracks on this album so I'm hoping he doesn't spin too far because I like where he is right now.
Only a country song could turn these lyrics into a pleasurable waltz: "I came home drunk / walked straight into hell / you called the law / they hauled my ass to jail / twelve hours went by / and you drank all my beer / I walked through the door / made the best love in years" and the chorus keeps it going, "us being in love is like being at war / when the battles all over / we still come back for more / 'cause when we said forever / baby, that's what we meant / when the smoke finally clears / we dry up the tears / we go at it again". And this is a song you not only waltz too, you actually enjoy singing along. Honest! I played it several times to get the lyrics and found I liked the song more each time I heard it. There's nothing like a quick two-stepper to lift your spirits and sometimes you just have to poke fun at life just to prove you "get it".
There are several cleverly written tunes on this album but the song that spoke to me the loudest was "Slow Dancing". It's such a beautiful song, and certainly one with very romantic and relateable lyrics. Truth be told, 99% of the female country music fans are also fans of Alan Jackson and I can guarantee you they would consider dancing in their own living room, with their significant other, to any country tune, including this cut, to be incredibly special. Lowe says, "I love a song with great imagery that tells a good story." Well, on this cut, you have clearly accomplished that goal.
Lowe says he is dedicating 100% to his craft and commitment to his music career which is rather ironic when you learn how he came to have it. It was back in high school, while hosting his school's talent show, Lowe was dared to sing in front of his entire school. He took on the dare and sang Tracy Lawrence's "Paint me a Birmingham". The school audience erupted and no one was more surprised than he was. "I always sang as a joke to pass the time," Lowe says, "I never realized how great it really felt to sing in front of a crowd! I have been addicted to music ever since." Let's hope he stays addicted for a very long time.
Official Shelby Lee Lowe website