Amateur Revolution

RJ Chesney

2018 - RJ Chesney.  This is my first introduction to RJ and it is my understanding that he is no relation to Kenny Chesney.  This album is both chaotic and perplexed.  On one side RJ tries his best to pull the characteristics of Johnny Cash and George Jones within the melodies, nonetheless, his vocals are quite limited making the songs reflect his incompetence.  Listening to each of these songs is like trying to put a puzzle, with no picture, together.  A perfect example of this is found in his song “Do You Remember Me?”  This song begins with a strong lyric line, but then becomes complex as RJ focuses more on the rhyme instead of the intention of the song.  However, I will admit that the chorus is well written.  We find this a lot within Folk Music as inexperienced songwriters usually veer off from the subject of the song.  A well written song will consist of a three minute story that the songwriter wishes to relay.  Nonetheless, many of the songs on this album occupy several stories combined into one song.  This creates only chaos and not music worthy of one’s precious time.  The album opens with “Splendors of This Earth,” which consists of a well known Hank Williams Sr. melody mixed with a Johnny Cash-esque drum beat.  In fact, several of the songs on this album possess the well known drum beat that Johnny Cash’s music was known for.  RJ’s style crosses so many genres that when I sit and listen to the entire album, it makes me become bewildered.  Granted, I have heard many artists who infuse several styles from different genres to create their own beautiful style.  Where as RJ just picks and chooses to create a hodgepodge of nonsense and drivel.  What this album needs is complete direction.  Even with RJ’s very limited vocal range, with a bit of help with control and order, he may be able to create something worth our time and money.

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(© Strictly Country Magazine - March / April 2019)

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