After just breaking up with your boyfriend or
girlfriend, you’re driving home. You turn on the radio and
your favorite love song is not even halfway finished.
After the initial distress, you grab Chris Cagle’s new
album, My Life’s Been a Country Song, and you put
on track number two, “No Love Songs.” Instantly, the
weight rises off your shoulders as you feel your heart
begin to heal.
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Listen to Chris' latest
single, "What Kinda Gone"
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My Life’s Been a Country Song is a great
collection of mid to up-tempo songs that all clearly mean
a lot to Cagle. After all, he did give over 4,000 songs a
chance to be on this album before deciding these
definitive tracks. His passion and energy radiate
throughout his song choices, bringing out the emotion that
he feels in each song, which is exactly what an artist must
do to create an album as outstanding as this one.
“This album is a snapshot of my life at this time,”
Cagle said. “There are feelings in this record that you’ll
‘hear’ – feelings I have felt in my life through the
process of living it.”
Many new musicians as well as the veterans from other
Cagle albums helped put this compilation together,
creating the sound we associate with this gifted singer.
The album starts out with “What Kinda Gone,” the first
extremely catchy single that is currently out on the
radio. This song, written by three talented songwriters,
one who co-wrote Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy” and Rodney
Atkins' "If You're Going Through Hell,” has spent more
than four weeks on Billboard’s Top 100 at the time of this
writing.
Cagle believes that “It’s Good To Be Back” will be a
great show opener thanks to its attention-grabbing lyrics
and instrumentals. This is the typical sound we are used
to hearing from Cagle. Think back to the video of
skateboarders circling Cagle while he belted out “Chicks
Dig It;” it certainly fits his image. “Little Sundress,”
co-written by Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson, is also
along the lines of the up-tempo songs we associate with
Cagle.
“My Life’s Been a Country Song,” the title track, is an
easy going tune that veraciously sums up a textbook
country life. “It’s a song that makes me reflect on how I
grew up and makes me wonder how I will be looked upon
after I die,” Cagle said. Everything about this tune has
the potential to make it to country radio and stay there
for weeks.
“Now I know how Merle
Haggard felt when he sang the words “Mama Tried”
And I’ve lived those teenage Friday nights, “the pyramid
of cans in the pale moonlight”
And that summer Becky broke my heart, Alabama sang
“Old Flame” burnin’
I’ve danced to George Straigt, drank to George Jones
My life’s been a country song”
The seductive “If It Isn’t One Thing” and nostalgic
“Keep Me From Loving You” are two great songs about love
and memories. Cagle passionately sings “No turnin’, no
runnin’, nobody, no nothing’s going to Keep Me From Loving
You.’”
The lyrics in the last song, “Change Me,” reach
desperately for help in the midst of beautiful imagery.
It’s included on the album with the intention of creating
the inspiration to love another not only for the listeners
but also for Cagle.
As far as the break-up songs go, after listening to “No
Love Songs” and “Never Ever Gone,” finish the healing
process with “My Heart Move On.” This one is supposed to
offer closure. If that doesn’t work, though, go to “I
Don’t Wanna Live” and try the relationship one more time.
