It has been a long time, a too long 10 years since country act Clint Black has had an album out. I had long since given up hope of him doing so. Black first hit the charts just as Garth Brooks was making it, his debut album Killin’ Time alone contained an incredible Five country No1s. For all too brief a time he was pretty much matching his fellow hat act. Country to the bone, Texan Black after his incredible debut album and four or five solid, if not as successful he had a spot of manager trouble, that went to court, did some acting (he is married to actress Lisa Hartman) his recording career good though it was, never quite the same again in comparison to his debut.
Now on Thirty Tigers Black tries his best to turn back the years, and his does just that on a bunch of songs, his ever sharp, incisive vocals cut to the bone time after time as he shows off diction as pure and solid as the rock foundation his music is built.
Amidst the string of ballads steeped in personal relationships he has wonderful tune “Still Calling It News” as he speaks of today’s inventions and of how modern technology seems to dictate, direct and rule the lives of more and more everyday.
Black, as ever either wrote the material or co-wrote them with Hayden Nicolas; in his entire career (tribute records apart) he has only recorded one song not of this recipe.
On Purpose has a number of vintage sounding Black songs in “Time For That”, “One Way To Live” and with Hartman sharing vocals “You Still Gets To Me” also earns a special mention.
Maurice Hope