Who Needs Pictures (CD - 1999)

Personnel includes: Brad Paisley (vocals, guitar).

Engineers include: John Kelton, Greg Droman, David Willis.

Principally recorded at The Castle Recording Studios, Franklin, Tennessee.

Brad Paisley won the 2000 CMA Horzion Award.

Brad Paisley was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Audio Mixers: John Kelton; Richard Barrow.

Recording information: Castle Recording Studio, Franklin, TN; EMI Music P; EMI Music Publishing Studi; Sound Stage Studios, Nashville, TN; Thelma's East, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Senor McGuire.

It's easy to glance at Brad Paisley and assume that he's another in a long line of contemporary country artists that get by on their good looks instead of their talent, but his debut album Who Needs Pictures suggests otherwise. Paisley follows the pattern set by such neo-traditionalists as George Strait, Randy Travis, and Alan Jackson, yet he adds a bit of a pop sheen -- never as much as John Michael Montgomery, but similar to Tim McGraw. Although it boasts a shiny, clean production, Who Needs Pictures keeps itself firmly within country territory, even if it doesn't feel like its roots dig that deep. Similarly, Paisley's voice is a little thin, lacking the resonance of a Travis, but it is appealing, as are his songs, all of which he co-wrote with a host of collaborators (most notably Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace). His material may be a little cutesy, but it's catchy, particularly on the faster numbers. Those tunes are surprisingly diverse, ranging from the Western swing-styled "It Never Woulda Worked Out Anyway" and the breezy "I've Been Better" to the skittering Bakersfield instrumental "The Nervous Breakdown," the rocking contemporary country opener "Long Sermon," and the winning honky tonk of "Sleepin' on the Foldout." And even if his ballads tend to drag, "He Didn't Have to Be" is strikingly autobiographical and heartfelt, showcasing his potential in that area, as well. So, even if Who Needs Pictures is a little uneven, it hits considerably more than it misses, and those hits suggest Brad Paisley is an artist worth following. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

With his brilliant debut WHO NEEDS PICTURES, Brad Paisley does the near-impossible--releases a debut album in Nashville that isn't full of songs that all sound the same. The pure country of WHO NEEDS PICTURES is Paisley's artistic vision inside and out--he co-wrote 12 of the 13 tracks, hired an old pal as producer, booked his road band to play on the album, and handled lead guitar himself. The result is a CD chock-full of expertly-crafted songs--some touching, some laugh-out-loud funny--coupled with tight, surprising arrangements. The beautiful "He Didn't Have to Be" is written from the perspective of a new dad hoping he can be as good a parent as his stepfather was to him. The hilarious "It Never Woulda Worked Out Anyway," with its jazzy Western swing arrangement, is about a guy who, after being turned down by his crush, proceeds to wreck every one of her subsequent relationships. And the melodic title track ponders the phenomenon of developing an old roll of film, only to find forgotten pictures of a former flame. WHO NEEDS PICTURES proves that West Virginia native Paisley is the real deal--a veritable tower of talent whose future work will be eagerly anticipated. minimize