Joe Diffie Albums (11)
'Tougher Than Nails'
Release Date 6/1/2004
Tracks 12
Label Broken Bow
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Joe Diffie left Sony after 2001's In Another World, and three years later he released Tougher Than Nails, his first independent album. The switch from major to indie hasn't altered the essential sound of Diffie's music -- he's still a good-time neo-traditionalist, as comfortable with a twangy country-rocker as he is with a sweet ballad -- but there are some subtle changes. He co-writes five of the 12 songs, the most since 1999's A Night to Remember, and he co-produces the album, keeping the sound bright and accessible, but just a little more country than current contemporary country radio constructs. Apart from that, there's nothing new, but there doesn't need to be, since Diffie is still a satisfying straight-ahead country singer, capable of delivering solid records on a regular basis. Tougher Than Nails is no exception to the rule, and while only a handful of songs truly stand apart from the pack -- the sentimental Jesus tale in the title track, the nostalgic "Nothin' But the Radio," the rolling and summery "Movin' Train," and, best of all, the rowdy barroom raver "The More You Drink, the Better I Look" -- there are no bad tunes, either. Of course, that makes it no different than most Diffie records, but that's hardly something to complain about, since this is a solid and enjoyable collection of neo-traditional country, as enjoyable as most records he's made. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Country is more a music of songs than albums, as its practitioners scour Nashville publishers for ten good compositions in the established style, then hope one or two of them will connect with fans. Joe Diffie has put together a decade-plus career in country largely on his ability to succeed in this quest. An adequate but undistinguished singer, he has proven versatile enough to score with a variety of material, and if he has never ascended to superstar status, that he is still going after ten years is a considerable accomplishment. His albums as albums tend to suffer from the typical country flaw: They sound like ten separate songs instead of coherent collections. That's true of In Another World, too, but, as usual, there seem to be enough potential singles to keep him going. The title song, which, typical of the current market, was on country radio for months prior to the album's release, isn't really one of the stronger tracks; it's a wistful reflection on lost love, but a bit sketchy. Far better is the second track, the raucous kiss-off song "My Give a Damn's Busted." Diffie has made a small specialty of such novelties, and he gives a letter-perfect reading to this one, which sounds like a hit waiting to happen if country fans don't find it a tad too sarcastic. Typically, though, it's a one-off; nothing else on the record sounds remotely like it. "If I Lost Her" is the best ballad, while "This Pretender" sounds like something the Eagles could have done. The rest of the tracks are sturdy formula country with their twisted clichés, sentimental messages, and instrumentation. The producers have achieved a remarkably high-tech sound for a country disc, even if the result comes off as freeze-dried on occasion, especially in the harmony vocals. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Throughout his career, Joe Diffie was known as a reliable recordmaker, the kind of country musician that could always turn out a hit single or two on a solid album. It's easy to take an artist like that for granted, and it's also easy to not notice when there's a subtle change in his style, as there is on A Night to Remember, his seventh album and first since the career-capping 1998 Greatest Hits collection. It's not that A Night to Remember radically redefines Diffie's music, but it does find him supremely confident -- confident enough to create the purest country album he's ever made. With just ten songs, he has made the tightest album of his career, one that features no novelties or pop trifles. With the assistance of producers Don Cook and Lonnie Wilson, Diffie has stripped back his music to the bare essentials, yet retained the easygoing charm and clean, melodic appeal that has made him a dependable chart-topper. The combination is quite enjoyable, especially since the ten songs are all very strong, whether they're originals (including his own version of his co-written "You Can't Go Home," originally recorded by Conway Twitty) or covers (such as the title song, "The Quittin' Kind," and "Don't Our Love Look Natural"). The best country artists don't lose their gifts as they age, their talents deepen. And from the basis of A Night to Remember, Diffie may be one of the few artists of the '90s whose talents are deepening. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Like Life's So Funny, Twice Upon a Time doesn't offer anything new or especially remarkable from Joe Diffie, yet it's a charmingly relaxed and entertaining album that confirms his place as one of the better mainstream contemporary country singers of the late '90s. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Led by the tongue in cheek single "Bigger Than the Beatles," Joe Diffie's fifth album Life's So Funny delivers the relaxed, funny contemporary country that fans have come to expect from the singer. Life's So Funny isn't as consistently engaging as his previous Third Rock from the Sun, yet its warm sense of humor and varied collection of ballads and midtempo rockers make it a worthy follow-up to the most popular record Diffie ever released. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide
'Third Rock from the Sun'
Release Date 7/26/1994
Tracks 11
Label Epic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Third Rock from the Sun represents a bit of a musical departure for Joe Diffie. Though he keeps his basic honky tonk roots, he experiments more, adding more rock flourishes to his sound. Not all of his attempts are successful, but his ballads are frequently compelling. Nevertheless, it's a little distressing that he has only written one song on the album -- there's no reason for his well to dry up by only his fourth record. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Taking a cue from some of his peers, balladeer Diffie makes a point to get rowdy on this, his most commercially successful album to date. Besides the title track, it includes the hits "Prop Me up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)" and "John Deere Green." ~ Dan Cooper, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Diffie's second album has all the cliches of country music, and all the good stuff too. If "Ain't That Bad Enough" is a run-of-the-mill song, Diffie rescues it by tearing the melody loose from its mooring. He's also willing to push the line: of all Diffie's country heroes -- and you'll be able to name them after one listen -- maybe only Merle Haggard would rock out as hard as Diffie does on the title track. ~ Brian Mansfield, All Music Guide
