Sony
2008
Back When I Knew It All
About This Album
Since they busted into the big leagues in 1999, Montgomery Gentry's five previous studio albums (and a greatest-hits collection) have all cracked the Country Top Ten. In addition, each album has been certified gold or platinum. Of the 20-plus singles they've released to date, 13 have landed in the Top Ten -- including the title track from 2008's Back When I Knew It All. It's a hell of a track record. Montgomery Gentry don't write much of their material, but they don't need to. They have a crack band and a formula that works. They combine good-time outlaw country, hard '70s-style Southern rock (although completely dressed and compressed for the 21st century), and a sense of friendly, next-door-neighbor jocularity on record and a sense of rave-up stadium rock theatricality on tour, making for dedicated -- perhaps even fanatical -- fans. Back When I Knew It All has a terrific lead single that's part nostalgic reverie, part morality tale dressed in a breezy melody and solid 4/4 beat. Another guaranteed fan-pleaser is "One in Every Crowd." It's an anthemic heartland rocker with a crowd-chanting chorus. Written by Eddie Montgomery, Ira Dean, and Kim Tribble, this is redneck John Mellencamp taken to an extreme.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,5,6,7,8 and 9)

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