cfarmer

I was very excited to get this CD from Miss Lana to review. I had been seeing the name Clay Farmer popping up on my email lists and hearing about him in conversations with OKOM fans who have heard him down in the Houston area. I don't know that I have ever bought a CD without really knowing something about the music I was getting, so this was a first for me. I would be listening to an artist for the first time with no idea what to expect, other than thinking I may have heard him once before on the radio.

I was actually first struck by the photo on the front of the CD of Clay. I looked and thought, "Hmm...wonder if he sounds as young as he looks." Was I in for a treat! The CD began, and after the first line of the song, my husband and I were amazed that such a rich quality of voice came from such a young looking guy. His voice is great!

Clay's first song on the CD actually took me back to the days of CB radios. It's not a truck drivin' song, but has a get up and go beat to it reminiscent of that type of song. The lyrics are of the inner struggle of a man about to turn thirty and realizing he's not a kid anymore. I was blown away by Clay's talent with the first song, and guessed then I'd probably enjoy the rest of this CD. I was right.

There is something for everyone on this CD. Usually, I don't listen to CDs all the way through more than once when I get them. We put them in our CD changer, program a shuffle, and catch a tune or two off the CDs as they come up. Clay's CD is like having my changer on shuffle. The versatility and variety of the ten-song CD is like listening to song stylings from ten different people. He can have you almost grabbing a Kleenex one minute, and longing to be doing some swing dancing at your favorite Honky Tonk the next. Bluesy here, hardcore country there, something new each track that plays. He even attacks your conscience a bit...yes, Clay, you made me call my Grandma, and I thank you for it. I can't wait to see this guy LIVE!!

It was also a bit touching for me when my husband was closely examining the CD insert as we listened and he saw photos of Clay with Billy Joe and Eddy Shaver in a collage. Handing it back to me, I began reading the lyrics to Clay's songs, and saw that he mentioned Billy Joe in his song "Texas Radio", along with Robert Earl Keen. This is one of my favorite songs on the CD, not just because there's the Billy Joe mention, but because this particular song makes me think of many of the Texas/Americana artists I love to hear. The path Clay and others have taken may not be the easiest, but they've stuck to their roots and we appreciate that.

I could write a page a piece on every song on this CD and several pages on how well the band backs him up, and my words still wouldn't quite do the justice deserved. The CD is a good one, I'd recommend adding it to your OKOM collection. When Clay gets up this way I'll be there ready to listen. And to dance. And the mere mention of his name will probably always make me think to call my Grandma.

Written by Dana Jones, August 2001

E-mail me about this review

Visit Clay Farmer's website where you can purchase this CD on-line.

Read Lone Star Mama's Bio