Track Listing

1. Waitin' in the Country
2. I Can Sleep When I'm Dead
3. Alyssa Lies
4. Lookin' at You
5. No Good in Goodbye - Jason Michael Carroll, , Jewel
6. Livin' Our Love Song
7. Anywhere USA
8. Honky Tonk Friends
9. Love Won't Let Me
10. Angel of Broken Hearts
11. Let It Rain

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5960 in Music
• Brand: Arista
• Released on: 2007-02-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
Jason Michael Carroll's debut, already distinguished by the single "Alyssa Lies," an affecting ballad about child abuse, is a take-no-chances, radio-ready smorgasbord aimed mostly at the testosterone-fueled, truck-revvin' set. Carroll, a 28-year-old father of four and the son of a North Carolina fundamentalist preacher, hits those Piedmont consonants hard, and looks like a cross between a contemporary Christian singer and a devotee of Trace Adkins, whose speaker-rattling baritone is an obvious inspiration. With producer Don Gehman (John Mellencamp) mixing Carroll's sensitive originals with hearty commercial songs from proven Nashville hitmeisters (Craig Wiseman, Casey Beathard, Jeffrey Steele), it's hard to get a good fix on Carroll's persona, and he lives and dies by the material. One schizophrenic moment: "No Good in Goodbye," his duet with Nashville convert Jewel, who co-wrote the song with Carroll and Shaye Smith. The fading pop icon has no idea how to phrase a song like this, and the singers' interaction never sounds believable. To quote a line from another tune here, "Something like this just don't exist/Between a backwoods boy and a fairytale princess." Carroll's ability to balance the realism of "Alyssa Lies" with such obviously calculated fare (check out the Toby Keith-ish "Honky Tonk Friends") may ultimately set his fate. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

I could listen to his voice all day!
I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. I love JMC's voice and could listen to it forever, which is why I just bought the CD. "Alyssa Lies" is certainly one of the best songs on the CD, and it suits his voice well, as do some others I really liked, such as "Lookin' At You," "No Good in Goodbye," a beautiful duet with Jewel (which they also wrote together), "Livin' Our Love Song," "Love Won't Let Me," and especially "Let It Rain." I am not particularly eclectic in my tastes, but I thought a couple of the songs didn't seem to suit him well, such as "Anywhere, USA" and "Honky Tonk Friends." I am nonetheless very glad I bought this work. Many of the songs are sad, but there are a couple of upbeat ones as well, and if you love a deep baritone like I do, particularly singing a love ballad, you'll want to pick this up. Great Job, JMC! I am forever a fan!

By Far The Best Debut Album So Far This Year
When I first heard JMC'S debut single "Alyssa Lies", I knew right away he had something different than other newcomer country artists in a good way.However, I knew that i'd have to hear the whole album to know how much I liked him.Take it from me, go ahead and buy it you will not be disappointed.From start to finish this is a great album, nothing is there that I want to skip I can just sit and listen to every song.Don't listen to the 2 star review, this is not a "forgetable" artist.Few new artists these days make such a big impact in country music, but I feel JMC will be around for years.On this album you will find a big variety of songs including upbeat and fun songs,sad songs and love songs.Buy this one now and try it out for yourself.

Love this Cd
I love every song on this CD. I bought it because of Alyssa Lies, but I find myself listening to this CD over and over. I haven't decided on my favorite song yet, because there are several.