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After the runaway success of Long Black Train, Josh Turner's
debut single and subsequent album of the same name (one that also included the single "What It Ain't"), many fans have long
been awaiting the follow-up release. Driven by the very seductive leadoff single/title cut, the man with the irresistible
bass voice delivers once again with the just-released Your Man, which includes five of his own tunes.
The album
opens with the highly energetic bluegrass WOULD YOU GO WITH ME. Highlights on the track include Josh's incredible vocal workout
(could his voice go any lower?!) backed by intricate banjo, dobro, and mandolin solos! While the song plays in running speed,
the man in the next song comes to terms with his newfound lonesome state of being after his BABY'S GONE HOME TO MAMA. Things
slow way down to what Josh calls the "speed of love" – that of which involves NO RUSH. In a Conway Twitty-esque voice,
he delivers the spoken first verse that will melt your heart! The rest of the song follows in the same sensual sentiment with
its laid back piano and deliberately unhurried yet heart-rendering steel pedal interludes. I'm betting this will become a
quick favorite! Keeping with the theme of love, YOUR MAN gets down to business with a very exhilaratingly intimate plan of
action. Next, a "would-be singing sensation" has musical talent and ambitions bigger than life. There's only one problem:
he's limited in his means for cruising around town. No worries, because LORETTA LYNN'S LINCOLN saves the day (though you'll
have to buy the album to hear the rest of the vivid details, which prove to be an absolute cause for reminiscing)! Next, John
Anderson joins in setting the scene for the best place to hear what he and Josh have dubbed WHITE NOISE; this is a tried and
true ode to "cowboy stompin'," honky-tonking country music! The two of them share co-writing credits on this tune. Despite
a title alluding to connotations of doom, ANGELS FALL SOMETIMES (a ballad co-written with Tony Martin and Mark Nesler) is
actually a gorgeous love song!! One song on this album that Josh didn't write is LORD HAVE MERCY ON A COUNTRY BOY. But, he
might as well have, because it describes an upbringing that he likely knows well. Ralph Stanley, along with three members
of Diamond Rio: Marty Roe, Gene Johnson, and Dana Williams are all special guest vocalists on ME AND GOD, a pure feel-good
bluegrass-tinged treat. GRAVITY is a neatly crafted ballad that puts a positive spin on a powerful force of nature that is
usually the cause for scars and bruises. Josh closes the album with his self-penned reflection that lets us know about the
way things are done WAY DOWN SOUTH. This could almost serve as a postlude to the previous "Lord Have Mercy On a Country Boy."
This
Man is an enjoyable album in its entirety! Each song leaves you wanting more, and after the last note ends, the only disappointment
is that there aren't more songs! I'm anticipating Josh Turner's third album already!!
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