Monday, February 14, 2011

Charlie Louvin "The Battle Rages On"

(www.truenorthrecords.com) Let me preface this review by first saying we have lost one of the true greats with Louvin's passing, and also that I wrote this before he moved on to great beyond, so my opinions were colored more by his pre-death immortality than his post-death immortality. What is absolutely perfect and magical about this theme album of songs about soldiers and war is that it does not fall into the Johnny Cash "American Songs"/Jack White revives the greats/moderned-up old legend genre. This is a genuine old time record, a collection of patriotic, sentimental, sometimes corny, always sincere, often maudlin, never hip, perfectly real tunes of dead young men, evil foreign villains, sad widows, Red, White & Blue, bravery, fear, and unwavering love of country. "Dear God keep America free" is a lyric that will never again be sung with the sincerity of Louvin's fragile, beautiful voice. Rage on forever Mr, Louvin!

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