Comments on: Album Review: Ashton Shepherd — Where Country Grows

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:13:42 +0000

…most interesting points of view, cm. love her debut-album. now, i’m all the more curious about this one.

so glad, i don’t have to click on “the 9513″ anymore to check out, whether god would finally have some mercy on my country soul. and the president is probably also relieved to find out that rick’s still alive and his own good self.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:07:03 +0000

Nice review CM. Maybe I won’t make it to Best Buy this week after all. I really don’t need any more 3 and a half star country CDs as I’ve got hundreds lying around collecting dust already. Oh well…

By: Scooter

Scooter — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:11:19 +0000

I think you guys are being a little too critical here with all the country pride stuff. These songs are written by a relatively young person. They tried to filter her writing through some other writers on this album, and it is a little more polished and radio oriented. Personally, I like unfiltered Ashton better, even if it is a little raw. I wore out the first album because it was just fun to listen to.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:40:30 +0000

There’s nothing noteworthy about those qualities – and thus no reason to extol them as virtues of country living – if they’re common everywhere.

Well, I’m sorry, but that’s just plain wrong.

For another view on Shepherd’s album (not mine, BTW): http://ow.ly/5DRqu

By: Razor X

Razor X — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:06:18 +0000

I like this album better than the first one. Like Sam, I really wanted to like the first one. It wasn’t bad but definitely not as good as I’d hoped. This one is much better.

By: CMW

CMW — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:03:50 +0000

Brady:
Well, that always seems to be the debate with these types of songs. To me, identifying all these desirable (and by no means exclusive) behaviors and characteristics as “where country grows” inherently sets up an opposition. Otherwise, if holding doors and praying at night aren’t being suggested as meaningful points of difference (if they’re not unique to country living versus other types of living), why mention them at all? There’s nothing noteworthy about those qualities – and thus no reason to extol them as virtues of country living – if they’re common everywhere.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:46:41 +0000

I have the album, but I’ve yet to listen to it. I gave her first album 3.5 stars based on a great voice, wonderful production, but some weak songs. It sounds like this album will be similar. The only song from the debut that I still really enjoy is “Sounds so Good.”

By: Blake Boldt

Blake Boldt — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:14:44 +0000

Ashton’s sure getting a lot of positive press for this one, and I’d like to see her make headway at radio and retail, but I think this album is merely “good.” CM is really the first reviewer to express the flaws I felt brought the whole project down a notch.

By: Brady Vercher

Brady Vercher — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:30:12 +0000

I haven’t had a chance to check the album out, but I’m not sure how exactly the title track creates a division by simply extolling virtues of country living. The song doesn’t say those virtues are solely the domain of the country, nor that city virtues run counter and I think it’s important to note that. It’s simply a celebration of what she finds ideal about country life.

By: Sam G.

Sam G. — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:23:56 +0000

I picked up her debut album, and I ended up WANTING to like it more than I actually liked it. I like her voice, I like her traditional country leanings, but the songs just didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Sounds like I’ll just be cherry-picking songs from this one instead of getting the whole thing.