Another Kentucky Favorite Son
Chase the Sun (MCA Nashville)
Shannon Lawson
Kentucky's newest favorite son's long-awaited and much-anticipated CD, the aptly named Chase The Sun, has been released by MCA Nashville. I say "aptly named" because it's the sun that Shannon Lawson will be chasing throughout his career. This guy is unstoppable and I don't see anyone standing in his way.
Taylorsville native Lawson played with a band called the Galoots (which noticeably influenced this album) for years before he decided to move to Nashville to start his own solo career. Country fans should be thankful that he decided to make that career move. He has also made some other wise choices in the last couple of years; not only is he on the roster of what is arguably the most powerful record label in Nashville, his management team is Starstruck Entertainment, equally powerful when it comes to management teams in the business. If you have read my live show reviews of Shannon, you know that I harp on this fact, and that's only for one reason: IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THAT OFTEN. MCA and Starstruck must really think he has a huge future in store.
The album is strong from top to bottom. Lawson wrote ten of the eleven tunes on this album, with the last cut being a remake. His writing ability is evident in songs like "This old Heart," "Superstar," and "Chase the Sun." Lawson proves to everyone that he belongs on the same label as Vince Gill, Reba McEntire and George Strait. Then there is that remake: Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," done bluegrass style (Ever hear Run C&W?). It's very cool.
A current prominent music critic recently reviewed this album and while I think he liked this album, he suggested that Chase The Sun borders on the mainstream pop kind of country that Nashville is currently mass-producing. I could not disagree more with that assertion. I fail to see where in this album is "pop country." The critic in question has an overall dislike for country music, so his opinion should not be taken too seriously. Chase the Sun is new, fresh and may be just the shot in the arm that country music needs.