Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

A newsletter for faculty, staff and students

September-October 2004 • Vol. 30, No. 5

Miscellaneous Communications

Students are invited to submit music reviews and other articles on the topics of your choice that you believe would be of interest to other students. Jeff Pratt agreed to write this music review as an example of the articles students might submit for publication in the Vision newsletter under “Miscellaneous Communications.”

Joe Nichols’ “Revelation” is Real Country

By Jeff Pratt
Agricultural Communications major

The country music scene today is a mixed mess of crossover artists and music that is so far from country roots that it is hard to find someone who can be considered truly country. Joe Nichols, from Rogers, Ark., has done a great job of keeping his traditional country roots in his music and putting his own modern touches to it without taking away from its integrity as “real” country music.

Joe first caught the public’s ear with his first cd release under a major label, titled “Man With a Memory”.  His first single, “The Impossible,” got him on the charts and was followed by the number one hit, “Brokenheartsville,” which established Joe Nichols as a popular country singer.

An artist’s sophomore release is often considered what will make or break him or her. This summer Joe released his second album, “Revelation,” under Universal South records.  A single on this cd, “If Nobody Believed In You,” was No. 14 on the Billboard charts recently and has been in the top 20 since January.

There is a variety of good ole honky tonk songs; deep, thought provoking songs; and classic cover songs on “Revelation.”  I was very impressed with the messages in “If Nobody Believed In You” and “Singer In a Band,” which showed Joe’s humility, and the haunting message in the title track, “Revelation.”  “The Shade” and “Things Like That (these days)” are very mellow songs that remind me of the simplicity of being home in the country.  Joe also exhibited his confidence by covering songs done by country legends such as Gene Watson (“Farewell Party”), Merle Haggard (“No Time to Cry”) and the title track, “Revelation,” originally recorded by Waylon Jennings. 

Overall, “Revelation” is a quality country album without a “bad” song on the list.  I only wish more upbeat songs like “Don’t Ruin It For The Rest of Us” and my favorite, “What’s a Guy Gotta Do (To Get a Girl in This Town),” were included on the CD.  So, the next time you’re looking for a good cd and feel like good country music, I suggest checking out Joe Nichols’ “Revelation.”