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| One of the Boys | 
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| Artist: Gretchen Wilson
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $18.97
Buy New: $3.79
You Save: $15.18 (80%)
New (46) Used (28) from $3.13
Avg. Customer Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 11835
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 89201
UPC: 828768920121
EAN: 0828768920121
ASIN: B000N60H6I
Release Date: May 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | The Girl I Am | | • | Come to Bed - Gretchen Wilson, McGehee, Vicky | | • | One of the Boys | | • | You Don't Have to Go Home | | • | Heaven Help Me | | • | There's a Place in the Whiskey - Gretchen Wilson, Gray, Del | | • | If You Want a Mother | | • | Pain Killer | | • | There Goes the Neighborhood | | • | Good Ole Boy | | • | To Tell You the Truth |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Now this is more like it. A song-by-song retort to fans who might confine Wilson to some trailer-park queendom and to critics who might dethrone her for All Jacked Up, a half-hearted, hurried sequel to her quintuple-platinum debut, Gretchen Wilson's third album fires on all radio-ready-honky-tonk-and-hillbilly-rock cylinders. It's also a portrait of a tough, talented woman making her own way in what's still largely a man's, man's country world. She gets plenty of help from hot Nashville writers John Rich, Rivers Rutherford, and Vicky McGehee, but her working-class and feminist spin on country archetypes--temptation, whiskey, work, and Mom--is authentic and her own. Even when, as on the title track, she revisits "Redneck Woman," she retools the conceits with one of her best melodies. When she goes for the throat on "You Don't Have to Go Home," with a ripping fiddle line and an AC/DC guitar break, she's not just wailing last call: she's showing the whole honky-tonk who's boss. She still loves classic rock boogie--"Place in the Whiskey" quotes both Bob Seger and the melody of "Call Me the Breeze"--but she counters all the butt-kicking with solid ballads like "Heaven Help Me," "Pain Killer," and "To Tell You the Truth," her most heartbreaking and honest lyric. Funny, feisty, rocking and, best of all, true to herself, Wilson didn't really need a comeback album; nevertheless, she's made one that brings her all the way back. --Roy Kasten
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
 Underrated, but another fine Gretchen Wilson album July 23, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
A little background before I ever review ONE OF THE BOYS for itself. Bear with me.
Honestly, this isn't the way it should've gone down for Gretchen Wilson. When HERE FOR THE PARTY bowed in 2004, it was the most (or atleast one of the most)anticipated country album(s) of the year. It slid in behind the unstoppable Usher who'd had the no. 1 spot locked for several weeks and sold 228,000, not bad for a debut artist. It spawned the massive crossover hit "Redneck Woman", which peaked in the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, a very esteemed achievement for a country single. It propelled her debut album to multi-platinum status - approximately 4 million sold in just the U.S. alone. With the processes of propelling a debut artist to success with here debut album, all looked like it was set it stone that Gretchen Wilson was country's next big superstar in the league of Faith Hill or Shania Twain. Then 2005's ALL JACKED UP arrived to debut at no. 1 with 264,000, more than here debut. However, the "Redneck Woman" styled single "All Jacked Up" failed to rack up reviews even close to that of the single that made Gretchen Wilson, well Gretchen Wilson. Sure, the album didn't go unnoticed in the sense that it didn't sell, but how does 1.1 million compare to 4 million. Making a promising career's problems worse, ONE OF THE BOYS just maybe the sinker. With a tepid no. 5 debut and a devastatingly low 73,000 copies sold, first week sales and follow-up week sales of this fine country album by Wilson have been disappointing.
Sure, ONE OF THE BOYS is a credible, strong effort. But ONE OF THE BOYS lacks two things that made even the underrated ALL JACKED UP a moderate success. One, it lacks "Redneck Woman" which will probably never be replicated by Wilson, ever and two, it lacks anything that remotely sounds close to "Redneck Woman". Even ALL JACKED UP had "All Jacked Up", despite how unnoticed it ultimately went. It's that 'bad-girl' appeal that Wilson had on HERE FOR THE PARTY that disipated with her forthcoming albums that lost some of Wilson's fans. That coupled with the growing devastation of album sales has practically sunk ONE OF THE BOYS. Enough chit-chat about commercial success, let me discuss the album itself.
The album opens with "Girl I Am", which is solid G.W., though not as energized or as exhilarating as the openings of previous G.W. albums ("Here for the Party" and "All Jacked Up"). Vocally, Wilson is great and there is still an air of catchiness as Wilson sings lines like "I don't ever make apologies/ because I don't give a damn..." which leaves hope to the fans that left Wilson that the 'redneck woman' is still in her. "Come To Bed" features John Rich from none other than crazy country duo Big & Rich and the blend is magnificent between him and G.W. The songwriting is top-rate and the hook is more accesible for singing along here than it was on "Girl I Am". Sure, it isn't the second coming, but what is these days? "One of the Boys" serves to buck the trend with title-tracks and despite its conservative tempo, the songwriting is ever vigorous with its comical overtones and Wilson as always is at her best, 'redneck woman' or not. Three for three ladies and gents.
"You Don't Have to Go Home" is the best track up to this point from ONE OF THE BOYS with its country-rock feel and sick guitars. Despite the repetitive nature of the track, it keeps the air of 'traditionalist' country alive and that is very important. "Heaven Help Me" shows an even mellower Wilson (which seems to be an adverse effect for some fans unfortunatly) backed by acoustic sounds of piano, guitar, and strings. Despite her mellow turn, the bluesed-out "There's a Place in the Whiskey" is more production than vocal, but it is a welcome addition to G.W.'s catalogue of songs. Sure it's a bit too busy, but none can deny the potent nature of the blues licks. "If You Want A Mother" is solid while "Pain Killer" is a bit awkward, though still a solid track. What is notable about "Pain Killer", which is by no means my favorite track, is that vocally Wilson is at her strongest and the songwriting is nearly flawless. Eight for eight and still going strong.
"There Goes The Neighborhood" is a personal favorite of mine once again employing blues-influenced riffs. "Good Ole Boy" uses 'cutesy' songwriting, which the unstoppable G.W. pulls off perfectly. Finally the closer "To Tell You the Truth" is heavier in its overall tone as Wilson tackles serious songwriting, which may/may not be a hindrance. It isn't catchy like the rest of her tunes, but if you commit yourself as a true Gretchen Wilson fan, you will appreciate the message and the idea that Wilson is trying to emote on the closing track.
Overall, ONE OF THE BOYS would be a fine album if it was another country artist besides Gretchen Wilson, which is unfortunate. No, it isn't as memorable as her first and maybe in some respects as her underrated second, but it is still very fine in my eyes, despite what the charts or anybody says. I hope that ONE OF THE BOY'S commercial woes don't sink the career of a very promising, young country star. 4 stars.
Gretchen Wilson Not Just One of the Girls May 15, 2007
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
Prime Cuts: Good Ole Boy, Heaven Help Me, If You Want a Mother
When Gretchen Wilson asserts on her mega hit "Redneck Woman" that she would bypass a pricey Victoria Secret's product in favor of a half-priced Walmart look-a-like, she has given affirmation that worth is not found in our outward appearance. Rather it is being who we are. Her gallant ability to bring perspicuity to life's values in a way that engages the average Joe and Jane, has made Wilson one of the best selling female artists post-Shania Twain. And for album number three, this redneck woman has taken her self-professing homily to heart as "One of the Boys" is bankrupt of any pretension. Instead, Wilson airs her frustrations, joys and admonitions about life, love and relationships with diary-like frankness augmented with an occasional swirl of wit. Though less bottom-kicking and hard-edged as her former 2 discs, Wilson does explores her softer side via the presence of more introspective ballads. However, with the coalescence of the ever provocative Muzikmafia's John Rich still on the co-producer's chair and Wilson's incendiary 3-D personality, this CD is anything but boring.
Her more malleable trait is given exposition on the uptempo "The Girl I Am." No longer "the eight ball shooting double fisted woman," "The Girl I Am" finds Wilson giving privy to her inner fears and hurts. Similarly, on the title cut, she confesses her need to be "somebody's baby" despite her uncouth often tuff-chic image. On the hymn-like ballad "Heaven Help Me," Wilson looks for redemption for all her wrongs in what is perhaps her most heartfelt performance to date. While lead single "Come to Bed," a duet with John Rich, is a big Tim McGraw/Faith Hill typed ballad about finding an alternative to domestic disharmony. However, truth be told, "Bed" is a little too pedantic for a lead single, that's why it's of no surprise to find "Bed" prematurely sizzled at the paltry 36th position on the Billboard chart. Delving into the more stone-country mores, "Painkiller" is injected with a melancholic dose of Tammy-Wynette lament that ought to warrant yahoos from her more traditional-leaning fans.
The party crowd would be sated with "If You Want a Mother." In sync with her outspoken character, "If You Want a Mother" is a strident dress-down with Wilson demanding her no-good paramour to have his "butt back by nine" or be "grounded for the weekend." Despite her malevolence towards the male species, Wilson confesses that she still gets wobbly over an outdoors blue-collared man in the catchy "Good Ole Boy." However, despite the presence of songwriters of note including John Rich of Big and Rich, Rivers Rutherford, George Teren and Vicky McGehee, there's nothing here that stands out as a surefire hit, the way "Redneck Woman" did.
Nevertheless, on the whole, "One of the Boys" is brought to life by Wilson's larger than life's personality. Her unabashed and (at times) brutal honesty in dealing with the warts of relationships set her apart from country music's faux Barbie dolls who only sing about roses and valentines. Even when she goes for the heart to expound on issues of intimacy, she incarnates a realism that is too compelling to ignore.
New Direction May 17, 2007
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
One of the Boys is definitely more subdued than Gretchen's first two releases. The liner notes say it's a more personal album, and it is. It's nice to see the real person behind the "Redneck Woman." She's not a caricature, and she's worth getting to know. That said, the fire of "All Jacked Up" is mostly absent, and there isn't so much of the wry humor of songs like "California Girls." On the other hand, you DO get a lot of Gretchen singing from the heart about who she really is, and that's just fine.
This is an excellent album, but it's a new direction for Wilson - a bid to be taken more seriously as an artist. I hope this is really the music she wants to make, because those of us who are familiar with her talent already took her seriously. There could be more rockers here, but there's still enough to show she still has her rowdy side. Check out "There's a Place in the Whiskey" and "There Goes the Neighborhood."
Still, I enjoy this record more and more every time I listen to it. To me, that speaks of quality. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes good country. As I said, it's excellent.
Gretchen is good May 16, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
She did an excellent job on this CD. I believe she wrote 9 of the 11 songs. In ref. to buying it, I already bought it today for $9.72 elsewhere. I do like and use Amazon but price is price.
 a winner May 16, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
It's always fun to hear a genuine, heartfelt performance; as one who veers from Grand Opera to the Grand Olde Opry, I appreciate sincerety from an artist, no matter what category of music. I feel that way about this album; its enjoyable and straight from the artist's heart
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