Things Change

Bobby Bare

2017 - Hypermedia.  It is so nice to hear music from Bobby Bare.  The man who brought us the ever popular 1962 hit song “Detroit City” returns with a new version of this song on this new album. In the new version, Bare gains the vocal help from Chris Stapleton.  It is nice to hear that song again, although I don’t think Chris added anything more to it.  To me, that was just a scheme to get Stapleton’s fans onto Bobby’s music and I hope it works.  Mr. Bare is an incredible songwriter who can take the simple subjects and weave them into elegant songs.  Bare takes on the subject of looking back on one’s life in his song “Where Did It All Go.”  Where as in “The Trouble With Angels,” Bobby speaks gracefully about the people who come into our lives and save us from ourselves.  Bobby includes two songs that were written by legendary songwriter Mary Gauthier with “Mercy Now” and “I Drink.”  “Mercy Now” is a sophisticated song about the times we live in and how we all need a little help.  The finesse of this song comes in the fact that it doesn’t preach, but rather encourages the listener to have compassion on their fellow humans.  Where as “I Drink” is a striking man’s song.  This heartfelt ballad takes the listener on the journey to the realization that we tend to end up emulating our parents.  Both of these songs make this reviewer want to seek more from Mary Gauthier as they are quite stylistic in a wholesome and real effort.  Other songs include “The End,” “Ain’t No Sure Thing,” “Trophy Girl” and a cleverly-written non-traditional gospel song with “You Got The Light.” It is “Trophy Girl” that Bare co-wrote with Guy Clark, which turned out to be Clark’s last song as he passed away in 2016.  The entire album is moody, nonetheless quite listenable.  So much so that we pulled two songs to hit our list of Top Songs of 2017 while earning a nomination each for the Spirit Award’s Song of The Year Award.  The two songs to earn this honor include “I Drink” and the title cut “Things Change.”  Bare was inspired by Hoyt Axton to write this song that has us really contemplating how much the industry has changed, just in the course of Bobby Bare’s career.  Now is the time to return to great music that is real and inviting.  Get to know the real country music entertainers—like Bobby Bare! $$$$+

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