Sheridan Mears/Contributing writer
Joe McClour was born in a small town in Oklahoma. Just like any other small country town, he was raised with good old fashion values.
As time went on, he grew to love things of the new age. McClour explored all types of genres in the music industry, but then found where he belongs. The Americana style is where he feels home.
He describes his new album “Show up and Love Me” as “country, not western. It’s down home, not yee-haw.” McClour said. “I just hope something you hear on this album connects with you.”
“Show Up and Love Me” is an 11 track Americana album. Starting with “Bloodline,” it set the tone of how the artist described the album as “down home.”
Track two “Just Getting Started” feels like an anthem to his career starting to rise. The upbeat tune gives it that upbringing feel.
Then I hear tracks that are slower and more heartfelt. Songs such as “When Will I Learn” and “Walls” take you down a different path.
Slow songs give artists a chance to showcase their feelings and emotions in a way that becomes therapeutic to listeners.
I enjoyed these tracks. As I was listening, I was able to understand the story and meaning behind the lyrics.
One tune that stuck out to me was the track entitled “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” The song is used as a message to today’s society.
In a world that is full of hate and so much tension, we should appreciate the good people that are still in this world. “Blessed are the peacemakers… keeping their eyes on heaven…” McClour sings in this song tells the message.
Songs such as “Springsteen Serenade,” the seventh track on the album, I really appreciate for the story telling. McClour did a great job using words to give scenarios and visuals that put you in the place and scene that the song is describing.
When it comes to tunes like “Forgive Me” and “Train Wreck,” they are like the perfect combination of love struck and a train wreck- literally.
“Forgive Me” is about how forgetful he is of the woman’s name but has eyes for her.
That theme gives the same feelings towards “Train Wreck” where he is telling a woman he is a bad guy, all over the place, but he wants her no matter what. Despite his reckless behavior, he will not play games with her heart.
One of my personal favorites on the album is a song “Dead Flowers.” The tune is very upbeat and gives me vibes similar to the style of the band the Turnpike Troubadours. This is a song I could jam to in my car and sing to.
However, this is a Rolling Stones original that McClour covered in his own style. It was sung in a style that could help me get over someone, really get the emotions flowing, but all in good terms.
Next up, are tracks three and five entitled “When Will I Learn” and “Younger Days.” These have themes that go hand in hand.
I know for my elder family members enjoy tunes that sound like an old country song, and that is what these two tracks sound like. They also contribute to that by the old time feel of the lyrics.
Story telling of way back when is always a good theme to go for when you want to reach listeners who enjoy that old time feeling.
Lastly, the title track “Show Up and Love Me” is like a call to action love song. It is bittersweet but a yearning for the love and touch of his significant other.
The song takes you through a story of a man who is asking his lover to be present and love him unconditionally. No matter the troubles or hardships, he is asking her to be there and continue to stick with him through it all.
I love this track especially for that message.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed diving into this album. Country and down home is exactly the feel this album gives.
We need more singers in the country scene who continues to bring that energy, country fans old and young demand that.
This album and artist has the potential to grow into something bigger, and I hope “Show Up and Love Me” continues to climb the charts.