<h4>Cody McCarver</h4>
Cody McCarver has the type of problem that 95 per cent of the guys playing the back room at Tootsie’s in Nashville wish they had. McCarver is the guy who recorded “Red Flag,” a fabulous modern country cautionary song about the “red flags” a woman should watch for when they meet, and start to become involved, with a man. It’s catchy, funny, and true. I have two daughters, one 19 and one 9 going on 15, and I will tell you right now that I am going to have both of them listen to “Red Flag” and commit it to memory before I let either of them out of the house with anything with a bulge in their trousers.
Here’s the problem, however: what does he follow it up with? “Red Flag” is a great track, and, I’ve got to confess, it took me forever to listen to McCarver’s PEACE, LOVE & COONDAWGS CD because I kept playing “Red Flag” over and over. Now, McCarver will put you in the mind of Toby Keith, maybe a rumpled, beery Toby Keith (yeah, I know, I know, but if you take TK and make him more beery and rumpled…). And that’s a good thing, as far as I’m concerned. But you know what? The rest of the CD is damn good. It’s not as good as “Red Flag,” but darn it, it doesn’t HAVE to be, not with songs this good.
The opening song on PEACE, LOVE & COONDAWGS is “The Chosen One.” Yes, it's the theme to The Sopranos, the one you hum to yourself every time you rip a ticket from a tollbooth. And you know what? McCarver makes it his own. I have heard the original over 100 times, easily, and McCarver’s countrified version blows it away. It’s a country song; you’ve just always heard the alternative rock version. McCarver’s version is the one you need to hear. McCarver also does a mean take on Charlie Robison’s “Sunset Boulevard,” and a funny thing has happened. I’ve started listening to it, instead of “Red Flag,” over and over. Great song, great cover, as sad as “Red Flag” is funny. “Country Badass” mines Hank Jr. territory, and isn’t bad, but it sets you up for “It Should Have Been Me” and “Hard To Be Honest” two ballads which, if there is any justice, should be a HUGE hits on country radio. McCarver has a competent baritone which works nicely on ballads and is believably wry on uptempo numbers, resulting in an occasionally surprising display of versatility.
McCarver is a guy to watch. As good as “Red Flag” is, it could, and should be only the beginning for this guy. Keep an eye, and both ears, on him.
Music-Reviewer.com
