Search - Chris Ledoux :: Cowboy

He's Truly Country & Western

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 08/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Due to the faithful purchase of his fans, Chris LeDoux has the liberty of releasing an album each year without the pressure of a top 40 hit. But this need not be so! Although this CD is entitled "Cowboy" and the material is more western than Nashpop but there are a few potential hits that country radio could embrace. For example, "Silence on the Line" (the current single) is a heartbreaking ballad of a woman hanging up on her rodeo boyfriend for good. The amalgam of LeDoux's sincere delivery and the producers' sparse production makes this track a gem. The song has a particularly commercial appeal that country radio should embrace. "Our First Year" is another excellent choice for a second single. This time LeDoux is in a happier disposition as he reflects with great affection and sentimentality the joys and trials of his first year of marriage. The vivid imageries of a struggling family makes this song another standout. The song reminds me of earlier LeDoux's tracks such as "Making Ends Meet" and the excellent "Struggling Years."Then, there are the more western songs that truly put the words "western" back to "country and western" music. Being unfamiliar with LeDoux's earlier music, I find all of his earlier western tunes very appealing. Unlike some of his recordings, the production is not cluttered. In fact, they are quite restrain allowing LeDoux's voice to easily glide through the songs. From the tongue-in-check "I'm Country" to the relaxing "Song of Wyoming," LeDoux shows us truly what being a cowboy is all about. This is truly a remarkable album. It is western in theme but still country enough for anyone who is just a country fan."

LeDoux returns with straight cowboy music!

barstoolcowboy | eCowboy.com | 11/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For years, all of us LeDoux fans have tried to collect his early stuff. Of course, we all know it's hard to find. Here at eCowboy, we continually get people asking. LeDoux's whole premise behind this album was to give old and new fans a collection of a few the songs redone by the man himself. This CD has 11 of these old songs. While you're not going to find that much of the "even cowboy's like a little bit of rock'n'roll" attitude, what you will find is one of the best sets of cowboy songs ever made. In a time when we keep hearing that country music fans want to hear new/pop country, we know we can depend on LeDoux to prove them wrong. While any LeDoux fan should love every song on this CD, we'll point out a few that just really hit home. Silence on the Line is about a cowboy who decides to stop riding the circuit. So, he calls his wife to tell her he's coming home; but, he's got a friend who is disabled coming with him. He wants to show him the ranch life. But, his wife tells him not to bring him because he may not feel right seeing all the work that needs to be done; and, he's not capable of doing it. We don't want to spoil the ending for you. So, we'll stop there. LeDoux's cowboy humor shine through on Hippies in Calgary where he tells the story of him and a buddy dressing up like hippies as a joke on there other cowboy buddies. The Yellow Stud tells the story of a bronc brought in from the wild to be bucking stock. He's the toughest bronc on the circuit that no cowboy can ride. Another one of our favorites is I'm Country where again LeDoux shows his sense of humor and pride in being country. He starts off by saying that the country is so great that everybody should move there. Then he realizes that if they do that, the country won't be country anymore. So, then he starts giving reasons why city folk really shouldn't move to the country.OK, so maybe this stuff is not considered "Radio Friendly"; but, the bottom line is that this is country music. It's the stuff the fans want to hear. If you're a true Chris LeDoux fan, this one should be in your truck!Editor, eCowboy.com"