HOME: SEPTEMBER 28, 2007: MUSIC

Texas Platters

BY DOUG FREEMAN

Kevin Fowler

Bring It On (EMG)

What hath Toby Keith wrought? Once again, an entire generation of popular Texas country artists – this one reared in the respectable tradition of Robert Earl Keen – has been lured by big Nashville budgets, with their music paying the price. Kevin Fowler's fifth studio affair plants the local "100% Texan" firmly on Music Row, the results of which sound like corporate radio tripe that's hopefully soon forgotten. "Throw your hands up in the air, shake it don't break like you just don't care," blares anthemic party soundtrack "Feels Good Don't It," matched only by the absurd "Cheaper to Keep Her" and aptly titled "What's Your Point?" Even George Jones lowers himself to guest on "Me and the Boys," while Fowler continues to name-check outlaws throughout in completely unironic boilerplate. This is everything wrong with modern country music: All balls and beer with no brains or heart.

MORE TEXAS PLATTERS IN THIS ISSUE

Amplified Heat
How Do You Like the Sound of That
Doyle Bramhall
Is It News
Brownout
Homenaje
Chamillionaire
Ultimate Victory
Kevin Fowler
Bring It On
Steve Earle
Washington Square Serenade
Lyle Lovett & His Large Band
It's Not Big It's Large
Beat Box
Mixed Emotions Vol. 1, Hold My Own, Mirage, Worldwide

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COMMENTS

Kevin Rocks Fowler Fanatic Sep 27, 2007 - 12:53 pm

You are so WRONG.

Did you even listen to the album? SuzanneF Oct 01, 2007 - 04:22 pm

It's quite clear to me that you are not a Kevin Fowler fan to begin with as you have no reasonable comparisons to his previous work and what kind of music he is making now. Bring it On has continued to follow the Fowler formula:
1) Drinking Song - "Me and the Boys" with the great George Jones - how you can possibly say that Mr. Jones lowered himself to do this song is beyond me. Given that George practially lived that song I think he is the perfect fit for it.
2) Honky Tonk - "I Pulled a Hank Last Night" isn't just a "name check", it's an homage to one of the greats as well as a reflection of Mr. Fowler's own live show where every night he and the band go out and give it their all(again it would appear that you have never seen his live show either)
3) The Ballad - "Best Mistake I Ever Made" actually captures some emotion just as his previous ballads have and which is something the mindless dribble from Nashville constantly lacks
3) The Party Song - Just as Loose, Loud and Crazy was before it, Feels Good don't it a classic Fowler party anthem that you may not appreciate but that his fans have come to enjoy. Sometimes you just want to forget it all and have a good time and that's what this song is all about.

I find it very difficult to find any merrit at all in your review other than that you are jumping on the bandwagon of reviewers who claim that all Texas artists are going Nashville without explaining exactly what going Nashville means.
I'll tell you when Kevin stops making real country music - right after I tell him, which thankfully won't be anytime soon.

Get over it ! A.L. Layne - Henderson,Tx Oct 01, 2007 - 05:50 pm

Man I don't have a clue who you are , but I will explain it to where even a simple minded person can understand it. The reason they make chocolate and vanilla is because everyone does not have the same taste. It is the same with music. Kevin is doing the music he likes and doing it his way , so get over it and move on !

Bring It On... Carolyn L/Henderson TX Oct 01, 2007 - 06:27 pm

I can not believe the dribble I just read. You sir, do not know Kevin Fowler. If you did you would know he is one of the most sincere and dedicated singer/songwriters in the Texas Music business today.
How many of the Nashville artist even attempt to write their own songs? Not very many.
If you think your article will influence anyone out there to steer away from buying the new CD you are greatly mistaken...if anything it will only make the fans want it more.

Thanks! guest Oct 01, 2007 - 09:37 pm

If you didn't care for it, I probably will. I'm out the door to purchase "Bring It On"!!

Kevin's new cd ms07 Oct 02, 2007 - 10:34 am

Evidently you are not a Texas Country Music connoiseur. I personally prefer the Texas Music to that of the Nashville sound, where everything sounds the same. I will gladly spend my hard earned money to go see Kevin every chance I get. Have you ever been to see him perform live? I'm guessing not. If you had, you would understand why his fans love him and his music. He will stay, many times for hours, following his show to personnaly greet every fan and sign autographs until the last one has had their turn. Not only Kevin, but his entire band. How many Nashville acts can say that? Besides the great music, tt's this kind of personal touch that keeps his fans coming back for more. I think perhaps you should go back and listen to the cd again, better yet, listen to his previous cds and maybe you will "get" what his music is all about.

I agree (not with Mr. Freeman) Vicky in South Texas Oct 02, 2007 - 08:39 pm

It's blatantly obvious, by reading the previous comments, that the opinions of Mr. Doug Freeman are not accurate reflections of the readers of this review. I would challenge Mr. Freeman to dig a little deeper, gather more information and get a wee bit more in touch with the average Texas Music fan before half hazardly throwing a "review" together. This was clearly a "writer" in need of quick content.

YOU ARE NOT A TEXAN! roseperez Oct 04, 2007 - 10:42 am

I am going to take a wild guess and say Mr. Freeman you are definitely not a TEXAN! If you were you would know that Kevin Fowler not only put his heart and soul into this album, but he also but all beer and balls into it as well. It goes to show that just because Texas Country Music artists don’t sound like the mainstream pop country crap that is out there right now everyone feels the need to say they suck. The whole CD is great and if you even took time to listen to Kevin Fowler, then you would know his music has stayed the same since he started his career. Just to give you a little lesson in Texas Country Music Mr. Freeman, the whole scene is all BEER and BALLS, but the music they write is all heart and soul. At least Kevin writes his songs and stays true to what he knows and loves. So maybe you should sit down Mr. Freeman; pop open an ice cold budlight; put in the Kevin Fowler CD, and get used to the 100% percent TEXAN.

Kevin Fowler review Tracy A. Herman Oct 12, 2007 - 03:53 pm

Freeman,you're and idiot. Stick to what you know ...whatever that may be. It certainly is not country music.

What are you talking about? guest Nov 06, 2007 - 11:18 pm

Wow, I just stumbled onto this review and am shocked. This is the most played cd in my collection!! Doug, did your mom break your over-easy eggs this morning? Wake up and smell what you're spewing. It certainly doesn't make sense.

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Kevin Fowler

Texas Platters

Kevin Fowler

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