Published on Nov 11, 1999
Is it me, or does today’s country pretty much sound the same?
That’s how I felt after listening to Aaron Tippin’s
Read Between The Lines. The big hit song from this album is
a song that I truly enjoy, “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With The
Radio.” But the rest of the album just didn’t have the same feeling
as I had for the one big hit.
First off, “The Sound Of Your Goodbye (Sticks And Stones)” has
good potential in starting off the album. However, “My Blue Angel”
makes Tippin try and sound like he’s doing his best Garth Brooks
yodel imitation. “My Blue Angel” and “If I Had It To Do Over” are
slow-paced songs, but Tippin’s vocal style just doesn’t match top
quality in this kind of singing as other country vocalists.
But then there’s some hope: “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With The
Radio” is a great song, and surprisingly, Tippin’s voice does the
trick in this hillbilly/honky-tonk number. The lyrics in this song
say it all, whether it be the main chorus,or one such verse as this
one: “I got stopped by a cop late last night / Out-of-date tags and
no tail lights / He said I oughta run you in but I’m lettin’ you go
/ Because there ain’t nothin’ wrong with your radio.”
The title track is a bouncy tune, and Tippin’s vocals are fair
on this one. “This Heart” is a medium-paced tune, but Tippin’s
vocals starts to get under your skin. His voice is whining, and,
quite frankly, it gets to be a bit irritating after awhile.
“These Sweet Dreams” is another slow song, yet this time
Tippin’s vocals seem to pass the test, much better than the
previous slow ballads, “My Blue Angel” and “If I Had It To Do
Over.” But then that whining voice returns with “I Was Born With A
Broken Heart.” This bouncy number is country, yet somehow the
vocals could be improved.
The next bouncy country number, “I Wouldn’t Have It Any Other
Way,” is very catchy, especially with the drums. The beat gets you
with your hands going, imitating yourself as a drummer. And, the
vocals on this song is presentable. The last song, “I Miss
Misbehavin’,” is a good hillbilly / honky-tonk song best suited for
Tippin’s voice.
For best results, Tippin is best for true hillbilly and
honky-tonk country tunes, like “I Miss Misbehavin'” and “There
Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With The Radio.” But when it comes to the
standard country pop or ballads, as in a Randy Travis, George
Strait, etc., it seems that Tippin should stay in the area where
his vocal style should remain. Most singers know what kinds of
songs they can and cannot sing. In Tippin’s case, his voice gets
whiny and frankly, you want him singing more honky-tonk tunes
rather than the ballad or standard country song.
I’m sure that there are some Aaron Tippin fans out there who
think that there ain’t nothin’ wrong with his voice. But in my
opinion, I think he should record more songs in the “There Ain’t
Nothin’ Wrong With The Radio” style than anything else.