Kendal Butler

southern man / music reviewer / magazine editor / farmer

C “Closer to Love” by Mat Kearney

Mat Kearney (car-knee) may have written the perfect pop song - that you’ll hardly ever hear on Top 40 radio. Robert Marvin and Josiah Bell are co-writers.



With a background in Contemporary Christian music, Kearney carefully weaves this secular tune with messages of hope. The “you” he serenades could be God, Jesus, Buddha, a family member, a friend or a significant other.



From the 2009 “City of Black & White” album, the song has an infectious piano repeat and surprising drum beat backgrounds. The pivotal lyric is “I guess we’re all one phone call from our knees.”



Kearney’s lyrics are like a balm for a hurt - be it large or small. I have heard it on some of those safe adult contemporary satellite stations in a store or a chain restaurant. Whenever I hear it, it puts a smile on my face. We all need to be pulled closer to love from time to time.

Buy it

• Seen live: once

(Source: Spotify)

Posted August 1, 2012 at 4:46 pm 1 notes

Be Careful
Patty Griffin
1000 Kisses

B “Be Careful” by Patty Griffin

From her 2002 album ‘1,000 Kisses,” Patty’s plaintive song uses all the triggers to reel me in. Whether it’s in books, films or music I am a sucker for forgotten, forlorn or cast aside women or girls. Their plights always tug at my heart strings.

Patty’s magnificent songwriting blends “all the girls” doing mundane things like holding shopping bags, talking on the phone, working overtime or eating in restaurants into a fragile tribe. She includes herself in this group and warns the listener to “Be careful with me.”

The highlight of the stripped-down accompaniment is Michael Ramos’ stellar accordion work. Patty’s beautiful words of caution showcase her brilliant voice and exceptional songwriting skills.

Buy

  • Seen live: twice

Posted May 13, 2011 at 5:58 pm 3 notes

Angry All The Time
Bruce Robison
Wrapped

A “Angry All The Time” by Bruce Robison

Bandera, Texas native Robison has been a favorite of mine since 1998’s “Wrapped” album. His wife, Kelly Willis, sings on this one with him. I’ve been through break ups and a divorce - this song captures how it really goes down.

The opening line ‘Here we are, what is left of a husband and a wife’ sets the tone for the heart breaker you are about to hear. Every other line of the song could work as a bumper sticker on a 80’s model pick-up on a gravel road.

An excellent guitar solo lets you catch your breath, before Bruce goes in for more misery. Country superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill had a hit with their version of the tune in 2001. I much prefer the less polished version here.

Lyrically, there is no winner or loser in the split - it’s just sad. Bruce sums up something many of us have felt when a relationship ends ‘the reasons that I can’t stay don’t have a thing to do with being in love.’

Buy

  • Seen live: twice

Posted April 25, 2011 at 4:15 pm

ec·lec·tic [ih-klek-tik]

selecting or choosing from various sources

I’ve been told my music tastes are eclectic. I care greatly about music. I worked for John Cougar Mellencamp as a marketing field rep when I was 17. In college, I wrote music reviews for my campus newspaper. Over the years, I was a disc jockey for country, adult contemporary and urban gospel radio stations.

This blog will be a musical and cultural diary for me. I’m thinking a good way to start will be going through some of my favorite songs A to Z.


Posted April 25, 2011 at 3:54 pm

Posted October 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm 1 notes