Walking Among the Living
is
Jon Randall
's first record in six years, his first since the independent 1999 release
Willin'
failed to earn an audience. That followed two major-label LPs -- his 1995 debut,
What You Don't Know
, for
RCA
and his 1998 effort for
Asylum
,
Cold Coffee Morning
-- that also didn't make many waves, and after three strikes, he turned to a career as a professional musician and songwriter, playing with
Sam Bush
Lyle Lovett
, and
Patty Loveless
. Then, in 2004,
Brad Paisley
and
Alison Krauss
had a Top Ten
country
hit with his original song
"Whiskey Lullaby,"
Randall
suddenly became a hot commodity. He wound up signing with
Epic
, releasing
in the fall of 2005. While this LP marks his third shot at the big time, there is a big difference between this album and
. On those two records, he had to play the Nashville game, recording songs by other writers. Here, he sings nothing but his own material, and the result is revelatory. This is first and foremost a writer's record: it's quiet and gentle, spare and unadorned, with the minimal, acoustic-based arrangements emphasizing not just
's words, but his lean, tightly constructed compositions. This makes
an album that rewards close attention, yet unlike some songwriters who place the lyrics above the music,
also has a way with a sweet melody, and has an appealingly laid-back performing style. This is such a relaxed album that some listeners may take it for granted, since
makes it sound so easy, but what makes
a small gem is that it's ideal for either relaxation or introspection, and repeated listens reveal what a strong, subtle writer
is. Surely, there are plenty of songs here that other performers could poach and have a hit with, but what makes
a success is that it showcases
's strengths as both a writer and a musician. It may have taken him a decade to finally make a record worthy of his talents, but fortunately
"Whiskey Lullaby"
gave him the opportunity to cut this fine, understated album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine