By Yellow Rose on Jan 15, 2008 | Reply

Glad you've finally "met" Gary Allan-he's one of my absolute favorite artists (that VOICE...WOW). I wish more people knew of him. In general, what I've found is that they know the songs, but not the name. (Ex. I asked my mom if she liked Gary Allan, & she asked "who's he?", yet knew every single one of his hit songs I played for her). He's one of those artists that you can listen to his albums or individual songs over & over (& over & over) again. [The ONLY exception is his last album "Tough All Over"-I find it VERY hard to listen to, not b/c the songs aren't good (quite the contrary, actually), but b/c of the events in his personal life that inspired that sad & painful album (I'm sure you've found out that his wife committed suicide in 2004 by shooting herself-while Allan was in the house, just down the hall). You can't help but be moved by the intensely personal songs.] I've listened to nothing but "Living Hard" since putting the cd in my truck.

I'm a huge country fan, grew up on what is "Classic Country" (of the 80s), and current favorites-that I've been a fan of since their first albums-are, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Shooter Jennings &, of course, Gary Allan. I introduced him to my fiance, who is a "classic rock" guy who loves rock artists from Pink Floyd to Rush, & he immediately asked me to burn him a couple of cds of my favorite Gary Allan songs (1 for the car, 1 for listening to in the O.R. while he's operating). I had only played him a couple of songs off the newest album when I got the same request as before-he knew he'd like the whole album.

Wow-sorry 'bout the length of this "little comment", I intended it to be very short. Oops.

Also apologize for the tangent that I'm about to go off on regarding another under-appreciated/recognized country artist. I don't know how much of a country fan you are, but an artist who should be a HUGE star, who you may like, is Katrina Elam. She had a hit a few years ago "No End In Sight" from her self-titled album, and a recent release "Love Is" was popular. But, apparently, she's had problems w/ her record label & isn't able to get the album out that she wants-& her fans have been anticipating-, so it looks like it's going to be an independent release-although several songs are leaking out, & they're fantastic. She's a very talented songwriter & has an absolutely incredible, strong voice-think Martina/LeAnn Rimes/Faith Hill w/ a little Sara Evans thrown in. She's infinitely more talented than Carrie Underwood, she even did a version of "Flat on the Floor", which is on Underwood's new album (FYI: Katrina's was recorded before Carrie's) In my opinion, Elam's version is better b/c it's more raw/authentic & not "over-produced"-if that makes sense. I was introduced to her when she opened for Keith Urban a while back-I went home & immediately bought the album from iTunes. This girl has paid her dues, is more talented than most of the top young artists (Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift) and deserves to be the huge success I believe she's destined to be.

Off my soap-box & shutting up. Sorry for the tangent. Really just wanted to say I'm glad Gary Allan deservedly has another fan-now you've got an obligation to get the word out & introduce him to those who've never heard his stuff. Congrats & glad you're now a Gary Allan fan!