Album: Years
Artist: John Anderson
Year: 2020
Genre: Country
"My life has been a true blessing. I could have never dreamed to live as happily and as well as I've lived all these years -- and if I passed away tomorrow, all these folks who knew me well can say, 'well, he sure lived like he wanted to live.'"
The monologue spoken by country singer-songwriter legend John Anderson before the lead single and title track from his 22nd and latest album "Years" sets the tone for both a haunting and optimistic album. If there's one thing I enjoy in country music, its when our aging icons release material that illustrates them essentially facing their own mortality. George Jones didn't need your rocking chair in the early 90's. Johnny Cash found a new audience in a new generation with his emotional cover of the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt" released 6 months before his death. Folk singer-songwriter Warren Zevon essentially had a bit of a career comeback releasing 3 final albums that deal with both serious reflection and straight-up mocking his own eventual death. Yeah, the idea of an aging artist writing songs reflecting on their life is a bit cliche by now, but that doesn't make it a bad thing. It's not the idea, it's how you execute it and this album does it well and stands alone as a genuine quality country release in an age starving for true country music. John Anderson himself has been dealing with illness going back to 2017 and spent much of his time in the hospital and even lost almost 100% of his hearing before the making of this album. The result, a poignant album rooted in true genuine feeling from the heart. Just the way a great country record should be and free of all modern cliches that cause the genre itself to become unrecognizable at times.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for genres evolving. They have to in order to survive with future generations. I'm sure some people who grew up on Hank Williams got older and heard stuff like John Anderson on the radio and thought he was too rock the same way a young Stevie Ray Vaughn would be booed by blues purists in the early '80s. "Years" sticks to a sound that Anderson established for himself decades ago, without falling into some of the hokey pitfalls albums tend to fall in when an artist is trying to make an album sound older... and there's your answer. Anderson didn't set out to make a throwback country record. He made a country record the way he knows how to and the finished product is something pure and genuine. You, the reader, may be a bigger fan of modern pop-country than I, but I think most would agree that the pendulum has swung too far in the way of pop in recent years to the point where modern country radio artists have created this genre that strips country music of a lot of its grass-roots, honest character in favor of a more streamline, homogenized sound that has proven to be a hit with radio listeners. This album will without a doubt please older fans, but I think younger country listeners who find themselves disenchanted with the era of cut-and-paste midtempo snap track songs peppered with lyrics that sound like they were pulled out of a hat full of country cliches.
"Years" doesn't wear out the theme of mortality. You don't find yourself listening to this album and halfway through saying to yourself "Okay... okay... I get it!!!" The very title track doesn't deal with the topic in a depressing manner. The singer reflects on his life. He expresses pride in his accomplishments. Gratitude for the luck he has had along the way. The music video truly illustrates this track well. The fans get a glimpse of some of Anderson's personal memorabilia and family photos. The song addresses a serious topic in an emotional way, but also with optimism as the singer points out to his wife in the song and video not to be sad because their children will live on long after their time on this planet is over. Years reflects on family and friends who are gone but shares a message, not of hanging on to the past but letting go and moving forward in life.
While "Years" is a song of reflection, the title track "I'm Still Hangin' On" expresses a message of gratitude going forward after dealing with personal tragedy. No one knows how much time they have left, but Anderson is making the best of his remaining years by sharing his stories and showing that even in his 60's he is still capable of being a relevant voice in country music for anyone that will listen. To the older generation of fans, this album will be an obvious hit, the question is how younger fans will take to it if they will be interested at all. I'm reminded of an ominous quote by basketball legend Larry Bird, "People tend to forget how great the great old players were. It will happen to me, too" the same can be said about music artists. Just like how not every ballplayer is Michael Jordan and will always be a relevant topic of discussion when talking about great players, not every band is The Beatles and lucky enough to sustain somewhat of interest or common knowledge with younger fans just by the very mention of their name. It is up to the younger listener to care first and if you are a younger country fan, say under the age of 30, but especially if you're under the age of 20 I suggest you give this album a listen and then listen to some of Anderson's classics if you're looking for a good, quality country record that has a clean, modern sound, but also the musicianship of traditional country pillars of the past.
Closing thoughts...
Even in a vacuum and trying to ignore that the recording of Years took place during a personal health crisis, the album stands on its own as a very enjoyable listen. It is everything and more that longtime fans of Anderson should expect. He sounds the same. The music is a mix of traditional country and even some hints at rock tones that Anderson is known for in some of his more upbeat classics. The country artist who first broke on the scene in the late 1970s and came roaring back with a string of comeback hits in the 1990s shows that he still has a lot left inside with "Years" in 2020 even if he knows most of his years are well behind him.
My final rating for "Years" is a solid 8/10
Of course, it's too early to tell if this album will resonate long after its release, or be like hundreds of albums, especially by older artists, who release a product, it is given a big advertising push for a couple weeks and then a month after it comes out it is completely forgotten about. I personally won't be forgetting about this release. I think the title track will be the track that will resonate the most and will find its way on Country mixes and playlists for years to come and in this streaming age, you can't ask for much more than that. I do recommend this album, though. Like I said, if you're an older fan I don't need to sell this album to you. If you're a younger fan and looking for something honest and more traditionally country then I think you will enjoy this album and want to check out more of Anderson's classic material afterward. I found myself enjoying this record on a sunny weekend morning with nothing to do while the world is dealing with the effects constant stress of COVID-19. There's no time like the present. Give this record a listen. Anderon gives country what it needs. Reminding us of what country music truly is in an era where it seems the genre has lost its identity by abandoning its unique grassroots charm in favor of a more homogenized, corporate pop sound. Here we get what always made country music great in every era. Honest songs from the heart that tell a story and share a message.
Take care and God bless.
CMM
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