Sony
2005
Times Like These
About This Album
Buddy Jewell won the first Nashville Star competition in 2003, propelling him to a number one country album later that year, as well as two singles that peaked at number three on the country charts. All this success wasn't because his music was remarkable -- it was because Jewell cut a likable figure on TV. As a professional demo singer, he had technical skills and a pleasing voice, he was an attractive everyman, and (best of all) he was middle-aged, the kind of singer who wouldn't get a break in the music biz unless it was a stroke of luck, like a televised talent contest. With Jewell in his forties, the show illustrated that it could help break somebody who didn't appear to be a conventional new country star, while giving the audience an emotional bond to the winner, since they felt that they helped give this guy the chance of a lifetime. All of these were factors in Jewell's stardom, since the music itself was standard, by the books Music City country, professionally crafted but never taking any risks. His debut was a success based entirely on his personality and back story, since his voice, as nice as it is, doesn't stand out from the crowd -- unless it's given a big showcase, as it was on Nashville Star.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,8 and 10)

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