Monday, August 27, 2007

Country: Billy Bob Thornton 'Beautiful Door”'(New Door Records)


Country
Billy Bob Thornton "Beautiful Door” (New Door Records)
Although thoughtful and well-written, Billy Bob Thornton's fourth album isn't exactly a laugh a minute.

"It's Just Me” is sung from the perspective of a person who committed suicide. "Hope for Glory” discusses the death of soldiers in war. "The Boy Is Gone” deals with the loss of a child.

Apart from the death theme, "Pretty People” addresses the media's obsession with the rich and famous; "Restin' Your Soul” is told by someone left behind by a loved one; and "In the Day” laments the loss of mom-and-pop shops and "the ghosts (that) still wander Main Street.”

Thornton is best known as an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Oscar-nominated actor. His writing prowess extends to engaging lyrics.

"Beautiful Door” is a musically interesting mix of country, folk and roots rock, but the album comes across as maudlin and lacks variety. Thornton's limited vocal range adds to the sense of monotony.

Three catchy tracks help mix it up. "I Gotta Grow Up” spins a wild yarn about a road trip gone awry. "Always Countin'” is a quirky but understanding account of obsessive-compulsive disorder. And "Carnival Girl” tells a story about a fair worker who claims she isn't the stereotypical "carny.”

— Brandy McDonnell

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