It is an increasing trend in progressive music writing to dismiss the concept of genre as remnants of a constricted past. Yet it is difficult to cast aside the importance of such association when it comes to albums like the brand new record from Mo Pitney. AIN’T LOOKING BACK is only the second full length release from an artist threatening to break out for a number of years as one capable of bridging the gap between what mainstream country music deems sells and what the protectorate of the core ideals demands non-negotiable within an ever evolving genre.
An uncontentious view has to be that Pitney has securely anchored each foot in both camps with a hugely impressive record pulling multiple strands in the direction of gilded country music. A sense of deep feeling richness threads through the thirteen tracks that on this occasion bucks the trend of being an unlucky number. From the pensive confessional tones of hooking up with Jamey Johnson for album opener ‘A Music Man’ to the heavyweight narrative closer ‘Jonas’, this album leaps around collecting bonus points on the country music scoreboard with extras kudos for traits like liberal twang, vocals soaked in the holy waters of country’s eternal well and songs constructed with a long-lasting purpose. Also there is no complaints here with any inclusion of some Jamey Johnson influence.
Expressive explicit song writing floods the forty-six minute playing time and while cliches still remain unapologetically, their simple impishness doesn’t grate. There is nothing revolutionary about Mo Pitney and the challenge is now to cement the high plateau accomplished with a sequence of releases that finally relinquish the work-in-progress tag. However, let us celebrate the present rather than focus on the future and there is much to cherish on this Curb Records release, only the second in Pitney’s six year tenure with them.
It is easy to get excited about the traditional sounds emanating out of ‘Old Home Place’ and ‘Old Stuff Better’ as well as the nod to gentler times that is a pre-requisite expectation for many drawn to spinning a country record. This brace of tracks is pure straight up first class country music universally uniting the past with the present. ‘Boy Meets Girl’, ‘Ain’t Bad for a Good Ole Boy’ and ’Local Honey’ possess a more contemporary feel without venturing off course. Plenty of tracks such as ‘Right Now With You’ hark back to the influence of the new traditionalists and the subsequent big unit shifters that straddled either side of the millennium marker. Of course the chances of this album shifting big units is unlikely now, but sustained credibility and carving a genre niche are still up for grabs to represent an artist’s success. There is also the kudos of people writing nice things about your music.
As the listens to AIN’T LOOKIN BACK rack up, other tracks begin to emerge as key songs with the most prominent numbers being the laid back pedal steel vibes adorning ’Til I Get Back to You’ and the radio friendly ‘Plain and Simple’, well at least friendly for those radio stations that play good country music. The truth is over time the majority of this Mo Pitney record will etch itself into the heart of genuine country music lovers. Time will also be kind to the record as it will linger on many a listening horizon for a lengthy period.
