Strong Heart Album Review

We are back to deliver to our one faithful reader, the continuing epic saga of Patty's albums. For those who have missed this spine tingling drama, here is a recap.

Patty gets a record contract, Patty makes a record, Patty makes more records, Patty gets inducted into the Opry, Patty switches record labels, Patty wins tons and tons of awards, Patty takes a much needed break, and here we are. Now for the spine tingling subplots. Jess will not return my caffeine products, Jess and the mangy mutt are plotting against me to take control of the site, Jess still demands proper spillin' and grimmer, and here we are.

Strong Heart is Patty's sixth release with Epic Records, for a total of 12 albums in her 15 year career. After a self-imposed three year hiatus from touring and recording, Patty comes back stronger than ever, vocally and lyrically.  This album is packed with material that is not void of power and emotion, which is the usual fare on radio today.

The only draw back is a small gaff in the opening song titled, You're So Cool. Patty may sing this song with that school girl crush thang going on, but it brings to mind the lame songs that prevail on radio today. She has done much better in the past with fun songs, but this one misses the mark.

The second single that was released is probably the best song to come out of pop driven Nashville today. The Last Thing On My Mind is a powerhouse of a song. Patty growls thru the verses in this song, and wails that heartbreak she feels in the chorus.  The first time I heard this was at a concert in South Carolina, and that version was more driven by the drums. The album cut is more fiddle and steel driven, and it just powers this song to a new level. The moment this song begins you are completely hooked by the rhythm, the lyrics, the mood and the melody. You cannot help but feel this song, it is impossible. Hopefully radio will give the proper attention to this song, and play it as much as they do those others that are out there.

My Heart Will Never Break This Way Again is another Matraca Berg masterpiece. When Matraca is on she can write the most stunning lyrics out there. I heard Matraca sing this several years ago, in 98 I think at a Memorial Benefit. She mentioned that Patty had it on hold, and then previewed the new song. Matraca blew me away with her version, and I knew that if Patty recorded it, I could only imagine what she would do. We have all experienced a lost love at one time or another, and this one expresses it in a way that your heart just breaks again listening and remembering the time you felt your world go dark. It may not be single material in some eyes, but neither was How Can I Help You Say Goodbye according to them.

The coolest, most instrumentally driven song on the album is my favorite, You Don't Get No More. Written by Patty and Emory, Patty takes another foray into the writing end of the music, and once again proves just how well rounded an artist she can be. Emory may have put the music down, but Patty's lyrics are down and dirty as they say. Not obscene, but gritty and to the point. Patty called this swampy, and did not think it was a song for radio, but I disagree. This blues song would fit right into what is playing out there today, and still be closer to country. You gotta play this song loud, and just turn yourself loose.

The last song on side one was the first single released, That's The Kind Of Mood I'm In. This song peaked at number 13 on the charts after stalling somewhat. It is one of the more pop flavored tunes on the album, but Patty belts it out, and vocally hits her stride. This is one of those fun songs I mentioned previously that she does so well. The song is catchy, infectious and one you just have a good time singing along with. This song should have done better on the charts, because it fits the mold perfectly for what is out there. Patty may venture from her country roots into pop, but at least she does it with a lot of style, so, we don't mind too much.

The second side opens with a song that has an almost opera like singing style to it. By that I mean the way she holds and carries the lyrics in the song Thirsty. Patty has never sound better than she does on this cut. Her octave jumps are ever so small, but they give the song such a remarkable touch. Travis Tritt backs her up, and their voices blend very well together. Patty carries this song vocally and lyrically, but you can feel her restraining herself from just belting it out into overkill. She is subtle, yet the range in which she moves throughout the song, makes it one of the best cuts on the album.

The title cut Strong Heart is another song written by Emory, along with Kris Tyler. This is a really good love song, and probably one day it will make the wedding singers list, maybe throw in Thirsty also, that would be a nice match. Patty does this one in concert, and the crowd really responds to it, she brings out the emotion of the song in her usual subtle but powerful way.

The Key Of Love is the third song Emory wrote for this album, and it is a good rhythm and blues song. If you listen closely you can hear a dig at the music that is out there today. Maybe this was intentional, maybe not, but it makes a strong statement about the forgettable music that is pounding the airwaves today. Actually, the song is about the end of a relationship, and how she is just pretty much fed up with the guy. Kind of like how most of us feel about what is on radio today, just plain fed up.

There are those who listen to She Never Stopped Loving Him, and are reminded of their own mortality. They see their husband or wife in this song, and it makes them realize that one day this will be them. They will be alone, and struggling with years of memories that will forever be frozen in time, and no new ones to come. They will have to learn to carry on without the one who made their journey through this world all the better, and realize that maybe they should have said that, but let the moment pass. This song will make you cry, make you think about that day to come, and make you pray it never does.

The final song on the album is Pieces On The Ground, another inspirational, death song that I really hate. Personally I do not believe in death, all my relatives have just taken an extended vacation as far as I am concerned. This is a beautiful song though, and when Patty does these death songs, she makes you not feel too awful  bad about the subject of death. Still wish she would cut them out, hate this death and dying stuff.

This album is another in a long line of masterfully produced albums by Emory, and Patty is sounding better than ever with the material they picked for this album. The only thing lacking is the traditional bluegrass song. This is a well rounded album material wise, but the up tempo seems to be on side one, while side two carries the more power packed emotions.

Hopefully this album will pick up steam again, and move back UP the charts, instead of this downward spiral it is in. There is no reason the finest album to come out of Nashville should not be close to gold status, and on its way to platinum.  If you want to be moved, than move yourself to the nearest store and buy this masterpiece of an album, you will not be disappointed. Besides, my credit card will not handle the load, I am still paying off On Down The Line. And if you want to know what I am talking about, read the album reviews.

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