For my latest installment in the weekend series, I’m turning to one of the newest additions to my stable of favorite artists — Brad Paisley.
I discovered Paisley about a year and a half ago and he’s quickly become a staple in my musical rotation. He’s one of those artists who has evolved over the years as both a writer and performer, making him a great candidate for a series of posts that presents his career chronologically.
So welcome to two months of Brad Paisley Weekends! (Dana, I bet you’re longing for the Ron Sexsmith days right about now…)
Kicking things off is the title song from Paisley’s debut album, Who Needs Pictures. Released in 1999, this is his most modest album, and Paisley seems to lack a bit of confidence vocally. But the seeds are there for the great things to come.
I like how anachronistic this song is just 12 years after it was written. How long after 1999 did the idea of film in a camera become obsolete?
I ran across it just this afternoon
And I realized that I don’t ever use it anymore
In fact last time I did I think it was with you
When we were down in Cozumel
We had the whole beach to ourselves
And it’s crazy now to think
That it’s all there on that film
And I could take it to the store
To be developed, but what for
I can still see everything just fine
And who needs pictures with a memory like mine
Standin’ there I couldn’t help but think about
Everything that might be on that roll
I think it even has another trip we took
I guess that must’ve been at least three years ago
When we were down in Baton Rouge
And there wasn’t much to do
So we drove into New Orleans every afternoon
And I swear that you would think
That it was only yesterday
‘Cause I can still see everything just fine
Who needs pictures with a memory like mine
Somewhere in my closet
There’s a cardboard box just sittin’ on a shelf
It’s full of faded memories
And it’s been there ever since the night you left
Oh, just forgotten photographs
To remind me of the past
Oh, but I can still see everything just fine
Who needs pictures with a memory like mine
Yeah, who needs pictures with a memory like mine
Meet Me In Montauk 
Oh good lord! Bring back Sexsmith.
I know I have often teased you about your growing love of country music, but there are certain country artists, like Lovett or Lucinda Williams who I can understand you appreciating. Those artists, at least at times, move beyond traditional country into a blend of blues, jazz, etc…But I really am dumbfounded by your love of Paisely. Every song I have heard by Paisely falls squarely into that traditional country sound–I hear nothing new, nothing different, nothing exciting, nothing raw…just safe middle of the road country. And that’s the sound that just leaves me cold. This song is no exception.
Guess it’s gonna be a long two months. 🙂
I’ve thought about your point a little bit, because I can’t say I disagree entirely, and I think country music, maybe more than any other genre, is dependent on personality.
Because the genre is so straight-forward and earnest, you’re essentially hanging out with the singer every time you hear a song. Paisley is funny, smart, sweet and mischievous and that comes through on every album. He’s a guy I would love to hang out with, and I can through his music.
That might just be the appeal of country music in general. I mean, I never feel like I’m hanging out with Elvis Costello or Paul Simon, though I consider both musical geniuses. I get something else from listening to them.
Now I don’t want to sell Paisley short. He’s an excellent country songwriter (and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d be an excellent non-country songwriter) and he has musical chops that most artists would kill for.
But mostly I just like him, and his music is him.
and he’s kinda cute
Interesting perspective. I’m not sure that I’ve ever listened to any artist because I liked their personality or wanted to hang out with them. I suppose, at times, the converse is true in that their are artists like Bono who I avoid because I find them pretentious. Yet even that doesn’t always hold true with the likes of someone like Sting (though I don’t find him as pretentious as others might, and I’m sure Bono fans would argue that he isn’t as pretentious as I think he is).
For me, it’s really just about not really liking the simplicity of the traditional country format–it just rubs me the wrong way–maybe it’s genetic. Who knows? But as we were driving shortly after I posted the original comment on this song, we were listening to the IPod and ‘Red Rain” from Peter Gabriel came on. Now, while I like “Red Rain,” I wouldn’t necessarily list it as even a favorite from Gabriel. Still, as it was playing, all I could think was, “Now, THIS is music with soul, passion, musical complexity, uniqueness in sound and voice–this is what I like, not that country stuff.” So there it is. Maybe it really does just come down to “we like what we like: after all:) (not that this will EVER stop me from analyzing and over-analyzing your song choices:))
I have thought on more than one occasion that Brad Paisley is a country version of you, dear blogger, so it doesn’t surprise me that you’d want to hang out with him. 🙂
As a fan who has often loved musicians (Indigo Girls comes immediately to mind, but they have company) that others (Dana; you!) have accused of being too simple or too similar in their song offerings, I would not begin to fault you for choosing to feature an artist who lacked musical complexity. However, I think if Paisley’s songs were redundant and about a topic that didn’t interest you, you would have no love for him. The fact is that he, like many great Country artists, writes about things that MATTER – home, faith, country, family. That makes some country songs easy targets for the “liberal elite,” when the hypocrisy of these lyrics smacks into the politics often preached by these same artists. That isnt’ the case with Paisley, who, you have told us in previous posts, is an Obama supporter. So he can sing about faith and family all he wants. I’m in.
I look forward to these weekends and do not wish for you to return to Ron Sexsmith, thank you very much. 🙂
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