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Who Needs Pictures by Brad Paisley

Who Needs Pictures

Release Date: 6/1/1999

Recording Date: 5/1999

Tracks: 13

Length: 00:46:57 Hrs

Label: Arista

Type: CD,CS

Genre/Styles:
Contemporary Country, Guitar (Acoustic), Fiddle, Piano (Electric), Vocals, Slide Guitar, United States of America

Album Tracks (13)

Song Title
Length
1.
Long Sermon
03:18
2.
Me Neither
03:19
3.
Who Needs Pictures
03:45
4.
Don't Breathe
02:53
5.
He Didn't Have to Be
04:42
6.
It Never Woulda Worked Out Anyway
02:41
7.
Holdin' on to You
03:00
8.
I've Been Better
04:07
9.
We Danced
03:45
10.
Sleepin' on the Foldout
03:23
11.
Cloud of Dust
04:05
12.
The Nervous Breakdown
03:29
13.
In the Garden
04:30

What the Critics Say

It's easy to glance at Brad Paisley and assume that he's another in a long line of contemporary country artists that get by on their good looks instead of their talent, but his debut album Who Needs Pictures suggests otherwise. Paisley follows the pattern set by such neo-traditionalists as George Strait, Randy Travis, and Alan Jackson, yet he adds a bit of a pop sheen -- never as much as John Michael Montgomery, but similar to Tim McGraw. Although it boasts a shiny, clean production, Who Needs Pictures keeps itself firmly within country territory, even if it doesn't feel like its roots dig that deep. Similarly, Paisley's voice is a little thin, lacking the resonance of a Travis, but it is appealing, as are his songs, all of which he co-wrote with a host of collaborators (most notably Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace). His material may be a little cutesy, but it's catchy, particularly on the faster numbers. Those tunes are surprisingly diverse, ranging from the Western swing-styled "It Never Woulda Worked Out Anyway" and the breezy "I've Been Better" to the skittering Bakersfield instrumental "The Nervous Breakdown," the rocking contemporary country opener "Long Sermon," and the winning honky tonk of "Sleepin' on the Foldout." And even if his ballads tend to drag, "He Didn't Have to Be" is strikingly autobiographical and heartfelt, showcasing his potential in that area, as well. So, even if Who Needs Pictures is a little uneven, it hits considerably more than it misses, and those hits suggest Brad Paisley is an artist worth following. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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