Phil Vassar Albums (4)
'Prayer of a Common Man'
Release Date 10/30/2007
Tracks 12
Label Universal South
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
It's hard to call Phil Vassar's Prayer of a Common Man a concept album, as it contains no narrative, but it sure is conceptual, built upon the trials and travails of the common man in 2008, which naturally means there are plenty of passing references to Republicans and Democrats and the high price of gas. Vassar pumps Prayer full of everyman melodrama and easy nostalgia, supporting his conversational clichés with music that is country in marketing only, as he chooses to support his tales of the common man with songs that deliberately evoke John Mellencamp and Bob Seger -- quite literally so with the latter, as Vassar builds in allusions to "Night Moves" and "Roll Me Away" on "My Chevrolet," which plays as if penned for a year-long television ad campaign. He may aspire to Mellencamp and Seger, but his reliance on grandiose piano runs makes large sections of Prayer of a Common Man feel like the work of a Midwestern Billy Joel, especially as the first half of the album is heavy on overheated songs, designed to fill arenas but almost feeling better suited for a theatrical production. Things get a little looser as the album rolls on, as Vassar eases into a great little zydeco rocker called "Why Don't Ya" and indulges in some surprisingly effective psychedelia lite on the chorus of "It's Only Love," which recalls the better moments of Big Kenny. These tunes prove that Vassar is at his best when he doesn't try quite so hard. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Phil Vassar had his breakthrough in 2002 with his second album, American Child, a mature set of contemporary country-pop that established that the former professional songwriter had the chops to be a performing star in his own right. For its 2004 follow-up, Shaken Not Stirred, Vassar loosens things up a little bit, borrowing a little from Kenny Chesney's laid-back party-ready style. While he never indulges in the Jimmy Buffett worship of the island-obsessed Chesney, he does share a similar fondness for '70s arena rock and singer/songwriters, and he's injected Shaken Not Stirred with a heavy dose of humor and good times that only rarely surfaced on American Child. Unfortunately, this can veer close to novelty territory, at least on "What Happens in Vegas" and "I'll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)," which arrive way too early on this album and nearly ground its momentum to a halt. Significantly, these are the only two songs that Vassar didn't have a hand in writing on this album, and the rest of the record is much more assured, clever, and affecting than these two tunes. Vassar benefits from a looser vibe, since it not only results in livelier performances and funnier jokes, but the sentimental ballads resonate more in this context. Perhaps the record is a little heavy on mid-tempo cuts and the production may be a little slicker than it needs to be, but the polish is appealing, the performances strong, and the songs are, by and large, sturdy and memorable, making Shaken Not Stirred Vassar's best record to date. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'American Child'
Release Date 1/1/2002
Tracks 12
Label Arista Nashville
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
What makes Phil Vassar a true find in today's Nashville climate is his rock-solid ability to pen a convincing song and then turn around and sing it in an equally convincing manner. His writing has been embraced by everyone from Alan Jackson to Cledus T. Judd to Engelbert Humperdinck. Vassar's sophomore album on Arista Records, American Child, is exactly what he wants it to be: 12 songs that he had a hand in writing and knew he could convey to his audience. That translates into some catchy lines, a few unconventional choruses, and Vassar's fervent belief in every note. The album offers both powerful ballads like "I Thought I Never Would Forget" and "Stand Still" tempered with the humor of "Athens Grease," the story of a Georgia mechanic Vassar dubs the "redneck Picasso of the manual transmission." The title cut is probably some of Vassar's best songwriting, with plenty of good ole' American imagery. On the downside, some of the cuts just don't merit space on this album. That's no slap to Vassar's songwriting; the best of the best can't write top quality every time they pick up the pen. Here, it's more a question of weeding out and replacing tunes such as the generically bland "I'll Be the One" that ends the album or the confusing "Forgettin's So Long." That said, American Child is a solid, enjoyable effort with a few flaws. ~ Rick Cohoon, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Phil Vassar established himself as a top country songwriter by penning vigorous, rock-influenced romps for Tim McGraw and Jo Dee Messina. On his own, Vassar is an enthusiastic vocalist, a skilled pianist, and a gifted composer of spirited, nostalgic tales. Like Tom T. Hall, Vassar has a talent for chronological storytelling, squeezing big emotions out of small-town details. The boisterous "Carlene," an immediate hit, details the rediscovery of a high school valedictorian who blossomed into a fashion model. "Joe & Rosalita" follows a similar blueprint, commemorating the journey of two childhood sweethearts from senior prom to domestic bliss. Subsequent hits like "Just Another Day in Paradise" and "That's When I Love You" benefited from the album's good-time piano and guitar vibe, and launched Vassar as a distinctive recording artist. Various country music awards may have solidified his reputation among his peers, but no accolade validates Vassar's talent more than a song like "Didn't You Know She's Gone," in which Vassar speaks through various inanimate objects before admitting the truth to himself. As the dialogue progresses, echoes of '60s pop give way to heartbreaking guitar until his revelation surmounts poetic denial. It is one of many highlights on Phil Vassar, an imaginative debut that suggests he has a wealth of future material for himself and others. ~ Vince Ripol, All Music Guide
