Carrying On (CD - 2001)

Montgomery Gentry: Eddie Montgomery, Troy Gentry (vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Brent Rowan, Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar, dobro); Glen Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Steve Nathan (piano, organ, synthesizer); Gary Lunn (bass); Paul Leim (drums, percussion); Anthony Martin, Joe Scaife (background vocals).

Additional personnel includes: Randy Sorrells (steel guitar); Larry Beaird (banjo); Eric Darken (percussion).

Recorded at Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.

Digitally remastered using HDCD technology.

Personnel: Eddie Montgomery (vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Chris Leuzinger, Brent Rowan (electric guitar); Dan Dugmore, Randy Sorrells (steel guitar); Larry Beaird (banjo); Glen Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Steve Nathan (piano, organ, synthesizer); Paul Leim (drums, percussion); Eric Darken (percussion); Joe Scaife, Anthony Martin (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Steve Marcantonio.

Recording information: Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN; The Neve Room.

Editors: Jim Burnett; Ronnie Thomas; Randy LeRoy.

Photographers: Glen Rose; Marina Chavez.

On their second album, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry continue to resurrect the sound and persona of Southern rock and outlaw country performers like Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band. They may not have been much involved in the songwriting for this album, managing one co-writing credit each along with Kenny Beard on "Lucky to Be Here" and spreading the rest of the writing among no less than 23 other names, but that large staff knew to craft a collection of songs full of boastful Southern pride and not a little belligerence. For the most part, the sentiments never go too far, restricting themselves to playful bluster, though on one occasion the duo takes on an issue it might have been better advised to leave alone. That's when, in "Carrying On," they sing, "It ain't nobody's business what kind of flag I fly 'cause that's my right." Getting into the Confederate flag controversy may well attract attention to them, but not necessarily the kind they want. Southern clannishness is one thing, but the Klan is another. That's the exception, however, since Montgomery Gentry usually is careful only to put on the airs of rebelliousness without actually being offensive. Similarly, the music never turns into real barroom stomp or bluesy country-rock, skirting the edge of a hard sound but never boiling over. That's why the correct comparisons are to softer acts like Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker rather than real rowdies like Hank Williams, Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Next time around, the duo ought to try varying the message a little bit; all these songs about what he-men they are make it sound like they're trying to hard to be macho, especially when the music doesn't entirely back up the boasts. ~ William Ruhlmann

A pretty boy in a cowboy hat singing mushy ballads about undying love? That ain't country--at least, not according to Montgomery Gentry. On their second CD, CARRYING ON, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry continue their quest to inject some much-needed rowdiness into sanitized country music.

Following in the footsteps of Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings, and Hank Williams Jr., Montgomery Gentry concern themselves primarily with two topics: hell-raising rednecks and their relationship problems, and down-home country boys struggling to survive in the modern world. It's to the duo's credit that they've found so many ways of looking at these tried and true themes--the lead track, "She Couldn't Change Me," is a clever twist on the old story about a woman who tries to change her man for the better. The CD's muscular, country-rock production is the perfect showcase for the duo's rough-hewn vocals, and Eddie Montgomery in particular is especially affecting on gems like "Cold One Comin' On" and "Hellbent on Saving Me." The duo's decision to cover the 1974 Waylon classic "Ramblin' Man" was a wise one--the song seems custom-made for them. minimize