Some highlights of the cd are "Mud on the Tires," "Little Moments," and "Ain't Nothin Like," which are all very catchy tunes that reflect everyday life. "Famous People" and "Celebrity" are both very cleverly written and funny. On the other side of things, "Whiskey Lullaby" is hauntingly beautiful. I cant wait for more.


The best that country has to offer   February 11, 2005
Dave (from Gondor)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

I'm not a huge fan of "loved and left" country songs, or drinking yourself silly songs that seem to be commonplace among country music. My preferences might be met with protests of "but that's the heart and soul of country!" but I still say there's plenty of positive that is worth listening to. Brad Paisley's Mud on the Tires contains just the kinds of songs someone like me enjoys, with one or two exceptions. Brad's plain and simple, enjoyable, entertaining and laid-back style of singing mixed with light and happy tunes of the simple joys and hurts of life make it one of my favorite country albums.

Brad opens the album with the title track, "Mud on the Tires," which is a great summer song wherein the singer invites the love of his life to go for a ride in his brand new truck. It's just an awesome song that -- for me -- evokes memories of inviting summer evenings outdoors, the smell of freshly-mowed grass, crickets and birds singing in the background, and the sky turning darker shades of blue. Considering that the song was released as Brad's new single in WINTER, it shows how cool the song is.

Perhaps one of the funniest and cleverest songs in all of country music is Brad's "Celebrity," where he sings of all the benefits of being a celebrity, like being able to sue his dad, and dating supermodels, and wrecking Ferraris on his way to rehab, taking a little here and a little there from current culture. A rip-raring riot. Even if you don't like country music.

I can almost taste the catfish when Brad sings of simple pleasures in life in "Ain't Nothing Like."

Perhaps one of the best songs about affection for a spouse has to be "Little Moments," mixing and weaving the realest of life's quirky moments around what still remains true; the love that a couple shares. How good is this song? Let's put it this way. My sister found the song irresistible, and that's saying a lot. (If you ever want to hook someone on country music, use Celebrity and Little Moments)

These first four or five are my absolute favorites not only of the album, but out of country music altogether. The rest are more simple life songs, except the rather dreary Whiskey Lullaby, wherein he and Alison Krauss sing of an alcohol-ridden couple who eventually kill themselves one after the other after drowning their life sorrows in whiskey. In a more humorous style, he also sings about his love for fine cigars, which he can't afford, until he insures them and files a claim because, through a series of small fires, they were destroyed. :-)

From my perspective, the cream of the crop in country music comes from Paisley, and if you like country music in any form, or if you have more discriminating tastes, or even if you aren't particularly a fan of country music, you're certain to find plenty of hits worth listening to several times on this CD.


I will never again say never...   March 12, 2005
Koala Syd (California, USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

First off I never thought I would ever own a country artist's CD. That said, I was flipping the channels one day and there was my first sighting of Brad in the "Celebrity" video. Cute video and cute guy as well. Some time later another Brad video...I think it was "Little Moments" aired and again I was hooked. Yeah, there is such a thing as cross-over music and this guy was definitely not playing what I considered typical country style music. This is a GREAT CD and a very talented artist. Great vocals, incredible guitar playing, nice songs, and yeah I think I already mentioned about him being cute. Ha!
So if this soft rock fan can be won over than others will be too. You've made a fan out of me Brad! Already looking forward to your next CD and hey how 'bout a DVD release???