About.com Rating



Bottom Line:

Real Things might more aptly be named The Real Thing. This is Nichols' fourth album with Universal South and it is more than just good music. It is truly comprised of songs that are all about "Real Things." He has a voice that can wrap itself around the lyrics and draw you into the story of the song. It is like fine whiskey, just getting smoother and smoother with time. He is keeping traditional music alive and well.

Universal South Recording Artist Joe Nichols is on top of his game. For his fourth album, he has collaborated with producers Mark Wright and Brent Rowan to put together a truly phenomenal project. Among the names on the writing credits for the material are Rivers Rutherford, Billy Dean, Shawn Camp, Jeffery Steele, Joe Nichols, plus many more incredibly talented individuals. Nichols says that his music is a reflection of where he is in his personal life and where he is now is settled in his own skin. This album brings to the table the life experiences of the last few years and after some wild times he is back on track. It has the pure sound that traditional country fans will love and a smooth as whiskey delivery that will bring even more fans into the fold. I would be hard pressed to find any fault at all with this one.

There are thirteen tracks on the album and every one of them could stand up on its own as a single release. His current single, "Another Side of You," has been doing great on the charts and is a light hearted ballad that gives credit the working mom and love of his life.

She can be serious with her professional side and he loves that side of her, but he loves the side that lets her hair down too. It is so hard for me to pick favorite songs when it comes to Joe Nichols. All I can say is that this CD is just a great listen from start to finish. The mix is all there for pure enjoyment. One of the more lighthearted songs is "Comin' Back in a Cadillac." If your toes aren't tapping at the end of that one there is definitely something wrong. But he's gonna take the Greyhound bus out to the bright lights and neon and come riding home in a Cadillac. It is classic country honky tonk at its finest with this song. "Whiskey Years" is a great 'thinking' song written by Jeffery Steele. It seems to be a bit of a takeoff from his normally wild and crazy songs, but it is one that will grab you as it takes you through the fight with the bottle and what it will take to put it down for good. "Let's Get Drunk and Fight" is another fun song that will put a smile on your face if you listen to the logic of the lyrics. And Lee Ann Womack joins Nichols to do a duet on the Merle Haggard song "If I Could Only Fly." It is a terrific finish to a great album. It is indeed the "Real Things" in terms of chosen songs and hard hitting lyrics delivered in a style that is solid Joe Nichols.

Track List:

1. Real Things
2. Another Side of You
3. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking
4. Comin' Back In A Cadillac
5. My Whiskey Years
6. It Ain't No Crime
7. All Good Things
8. Let's Get Drunk and Fight
9. Ain't Nobody Gonna Take That From Me
10. She's All Lady
11. The Difference is Night And Day
12. All I Need is a Heart
13. If I Could Only Fly *with Lee Ann Womack