Mac's new "record" - SEMI-TRUE STORIES - a review

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 10, 2004 1:27 am

Here's the copy that will run in our local county newspaper in the next few weeks.

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mac at his Storytelling Best - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SEMI-TRUE STORIES is one of the those little gems that get lost in the glitter and glamour of the music industry, which makes it all the more important to spread the word about just how good this CD is.

Mac McAnally's been recording since he was 18 . . . he's worked with some of music's greatest headliners (Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Sawyer Brown, Reba, Billy Joel, Alabama and Lyle Lovett) . . . he's a long time member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band . . . and he's been Jimmy Buffett's friend for years. . . but he's also a picker/singer/songwriter with extraordinary talent whose music is deeply influenced by his Mississippi roots.

MEANTIME is an up-close and personal look at a man who has just realized time is finite.

LAST MAN STANDING (on Buffett's FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD CD) is a rousing anthem to party animals. It's an ironic song for Mac to have written, because he's pretty much the straight man of the Coral Reefers and says he's usually the first man sitting. *Grin*

THE FAR SIDE OF HEAVEN and THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE are "closure" tunes about a bad breakup. I wouldn't be surprised if some big player in country music didn't record THE FAR SIDE OF HEAVEN. It's destined to be a "classic divorce" tune.

THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE is a plea to think about the children first during a divorce.

HARD WAY TO GO looks at how race relations haven't changed much since 1823 . . . and what a pity it is that we've chosen to take the "hard way to go".

SEMI-TRUE STORIES, a song Mac wrote with Jimmy for Jimmy, has one of my all-time favorite lines . . . "it was too much tequila or not quite enough." Makes you wish you'd been there "the day God's Own Drunk was recorded."

The swinging COME ON IF YOU'RE COMING will ring true with any man who's waited on a woman to get ready to go out for the evening. It features Greg "Fingers" Taylor, Buffett's former harmonica player and a huge talent. This one would be a perfect cover tune for ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. Toe-tapping, honky tonkin', swing music at its zenith!

STEPHON (THE ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE REINDEER), on first blush, is quirky, but, upon a closer listening, it holds a mirror up to the way our has become so dadgum polarized. It has something to offend almost everyone - - - so unlike the mild-mannered Mac we've come to know and love.

HOME AGAIN seems to be a tribute to Mac's deep Mississippi musical and hard shell Baptist roots.

However, the most surprising cut, at least to me, is WHEN TROUBLE COMES AROUND.

"When trouble comes around
And you don't know where to turn
For all the pain it brings
You know there's certain things
There's just one way to learn."

Fellow Coral Reefer Band Members Peter and Jim Mayer and Roger Guth add the perfect bluesy feel to the music that compels you to you slow down and listen to the message . . .we all have to endure trouble and learn from it and live to endure it again and again.

Powerful stuff here.

Do yourself a favor. Get this CD.

Enjoy!

PHAW Webmistress · Post by **PHAW Webmistress** » July 10, 2004 1:58 am

Very kewl ETMMMMMM

Is this just one is a series????

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 10, 2004 1:59 am

PHAW Webmistress wrote:Very kewl ETMMMMMM Is this just one is a series????

We'll see.

I have a LOT more "material" but forgot to ask permission to use it here.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » July 10, 2004 1:00 pm

GREAT JOB, TERRY!!!!!

WTG--love the review and thanks so much

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 11, 2004 1:27 pm

Great review, Terry!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!

Can't wait to read more!

Dally · Post by **Dally** » July 11, 2004 1:39 pm

Awesome review, Terry!!

:)

WooHoo....now I must have that CD!!!

:)

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » July 11, 2004 3:13 pm

Thanks for the scoop, ETP!

East Texas Parrothead · August 11, 2004 9:18 pm

I've had Mac's new CD for several weeks now. Can honestly say it's one of my favorites. Never out of rotation in my CD player at work and on the computer here at the house.

Am still in love with WHEN TROUBLE COMES AROUND, which hasn't gotten much attention in the other reviews I've read, but I never tire of it. Love the minor chords.

THE FAR SIDE OF HEAVEN and THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE tell the universal story of the bitterness of divorce and trying to keep the kids out of the battle.

COME ON IF YOU'RE COMING should be covered by Asleep at the Wheel.

HOME AGAIN has grown on me. Mac wanted to write a song that honored his mother's contribution to the world of gospel music in and around his hometown in Mississippi.

It's a great CD. Do yourself a favor. Order it. You won't be sorry.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » August 11, 2004 9:42 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:It's a great CD. Do yourself a favor. Order it. You won't be sorry.

I just got mine in the mail today. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

I love MEANWHILE.

Oh, heck, I like the whole thing..... still digesting.....

but MEANWHILE really strikes a chord in me.....