When an artist makes an album that focuses more on making great music than trying to sell records, they have the potential to make something really great and memorable. That is what JB and the Moonshine Band has done with their third CD, “Mixtape,” which was released on June 30.
The first single of the CD is “A Shotgun, Rifle and a .45” and it clearly makes a statement about second amendment rights. It’s received airplay on satellite radio and I am sure it has become a bit of an anthem for pro-gun Americans.
When artists write and/or record a song about a controversial issue, they sometimes will try to keep it politically correct so they don’t offend people. JB and the Moonshine Band has not done that. Their stance is very clear in this song.
There are some tracks on this album that reminisce about how good things used to be and reflect upon great memories. One such song is the album’s title track, ”Mixtape,” which recalls a time when a guy would make a mixtape of songs and give it to a girl in hopes of winning her heart. Lead singer JB Patterson sings, “Seems like everything these days has changed so much/ I remember when you used to could give a girl a mixtape/ And she just might fall in love.” The song also mentions a number of artists that have undoubtedly been included on many mixtapes: George Jones, Merle Haggard, George Strait and Guns and Roses.
JB and the Moonshine Band also honors three more music legends in the song “Where’s Woody Guthrie”: Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash and John Lennon. The songs says of Cash: “Where’s Johnny Cash when we need him/ To be the Man in Black/ To take the Gospel into places/Where hope had turned its back.”
In “You Can’t Take My Backroads,” Patterson sings, “You can’t take my backroads/ You can’t steal my Red Dirt memories/ You can’t take my backroads/ You can’t take my backroads away from me.”
A great melody and well-written lyrics combine for a great song on “Back When We Were Kids,” a song that looks at how different things are for kids now than when they were growing up.
“Good Lord’s Grace” is a very honest song and another example of what makes JB and the Moonshine Band’s music different. He admits to doing a lot of things he shouldn’t, even admitting “I’m part sinner and part saint” in the chorus of the song. Still, the lyrics of the song make it very clear that he is thankful for the grace of God.
“Close Enough To Heaven” is a great love song. Patterson sings, “You’re everything I’ve waited for/ Look into my eyes/ I couldn’t ask for nothing more/ I see the light/ And this is close enough to Heaven tonight.”
Not every song on “Mixtape” is serious. “How Can I Miss You” is a song about a woman who won’t seem to go away no matter what her guy does. Many listeners will likely chuckle when hearing these lines: “You’re there every morning/ No matter how hard I pray/ Baby, how can I miss you/ If you won’t go away.”
Overall, “Mixtape” is a great collection of songs that are likely to leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your head.
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