Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Boring
** Too much old style Country.
Heart and soul of the frontier country sound. Rich vocals, warm instrumentation, "manly" messaging. Unfortunately, I don't like country.
That was a country album alright. Good for background listening if that's the mood you're in. Nothing special though I suppose.
I dont hate country, just a little too much of the same for me. 2/5
Just middle of the road old school country. It wasn’t awful but pretty bland and didn’t really feel much conviction behind the songs. Fine to listen to but nothing to return to.
Not bad but they just blur into one. Not much variation and best song on album wasn't country it was rock and roll!
Fine for what it is. Well produced, well played, well sung. My issue is with the genre. Boring, predictable, one dimensional music that drawls on and never comes to anything interesting.
Bitta old school country never goes astray. High 2s.
Pretty basic country, but possibly less awful than modern efforts.
This was fine. Mildly fun but the very definition of what you'd expect to hear when told to listen to a country album and did little for me. A high 2.
not for me
It was twangy.
I like the instruments but it’s just not my jam.
Definitely country
Missed it with me. I can appreciate this type of country but it’s a little too simplistic for me. Musically it’s ok, but lyrically did not reson
Fuck, it's country. Whatever. It was OK. Listened twice and didn't want to rip off my ears. 2/5
Nope
The title track was solid. This album was a somewhat goofy collection of outlaw themed crooner country with some songs that I found more listenable than others. It's a fun listen, not exactly something I would wear the grooves out of but it made me smile on the drive to work.
Not really my thing; I find the vocal style pretty cheesy. Still, I don't hate it, so it's not a one.
Merle Haggard goes from jailbird to jukebox hero—singing sorrow, sass, and outlaw charm with a voice that says, “I’ve done time, but my guitar’s innocent!”
I didn't like this as much as some of the other albums of the same type (which isn't my favorite to begin with.) It's just not really for me.
Although not a fan of country, this was pleasant!!
I think my dad was a fan. I had a hard time getting into Merle...
2 out of 5. Better than modern country and didn't overstay its welcome.
Country music sucks
Grandma’s favorite country singer
Dullest album about a fugitive ever made.
It's 1967. There's a musical revolution going on. Absolutely no one gave a fuck about this album, but somehow, it's here on this list.
Sorry, not for me. However enjoyed it a little more than I expected.
Some songs are better than others but too few. 1.5-2/5
I want to like Merle, but this was mostly “I’m in prison/jail, I miss my baby” and then “my baby left me and I don’t know why”.
Not my cup of tea
I'm still not a country music fan but this was easy to listen to
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW Mijn god, wat een nietszeggend country album. Ik irriteer me niet, dus het is geen 1 ster, maar het is echt ontzettend mwah. Agressively average, zoals je ook wel zou kunnen noemen. If you want to be my woman is denk ik het enige nummer dat positief opvalt. Wel even loslaten dat er lyrics op het nummer zitten, maar instrumentaal is het tenminste leuk en fun! Merle kan het wel! Maar hij doet het liever niet denk ik.. FAVO: If you want to be my woman
Yee haw
Complete
First, I will say that country has never been a draw for me. There are a few artists that I do like (Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson), and knowing a bit about Merle Haggard's backstory, I can respect the man. The (I'm assuming typical) 60s production on this album kills any chance of me enjoying it. The backing vocals, the steel guitar (a little goes a long way), and worst for me, the abrupt fade outs just when the band starts kicking. For f*** sake, let's hear them stretch out a bit. I'll give it a 2, just because Merle doesn't deserve a 1, but I won't be listening to it again - unless someone has the original master tapes and can release the full songs without the unnecessary fades.
Good square dancing music....or Nashville styled band music. Would never just put it on
I was hoping to like this but it just didn't really hit. All the songs sounded the same. His voice is cool though.
not my jam Best Song: Life in Prison Rating: 4/10 Stars: 2/5
Old tyme Nashville Opry rural country pablum, simplistic, goofy, the reason to change the radio.
J: 1, N: 3
It is just too old anymore. I did not have fun listening to it.
..
Did NOT need this the day after Waylon Jennings
# Album Name: I’m a Lonesome Fugitive # Artist: Merle Haggard # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Not my cup of tea. Theres some good guitar riffs and slide work but the style isnt for me. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No
I liked "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" and "Skid Row", but every other just sounded the same to me.
Tämmönen mainos-kantri. Puhdas, kiva kuunnella.
Standard country stuff.
It was not bad, needed to be in The Dukes, at the bar, with a Whisky.
aranyos country de nem az én hangulatom... untam és a szövegvilág se volt a kedvencem
Formulaic country music. Sounds kind of like a Disney version of country, to me. So middle of the road - never changing direction in any way. Boring.
I'm not completely averse to Country music. I like Johnny Cash, John Prine did some great stuff, a bit of Glen Campbell, Nashville Skyline might just be my favourite Dylan album. So it's a shame but Merle did nothing for me. Twangy guitars and a twangy voice. The whole sound and the songs just add up to a big Country music cliche. Country music fans may love him but he's not for me. 31 minutes was more than enough, by the end I was dying to play some John Prine.
This didn’t really do anything for me. Also, the lyrics about going to prison for murder etc. are no more detached from our lives as narratives from gangster rap are. I feel in white society there is a double standard where we accept such talk from country musicians but do not from rappers. Not that I think it is good in either case, but it is an interesting observation nonetheless.
Let's start with my biggest gripe. The storytelling or lack thereof. The album opens up with a compelling song about a man on the run. Even as a non-country fan I recognize this as a great song. Then a song about how our main character feels lonely because his life on the run prevents him for being with the woman he loves. The next song House of Memories finds our main character in jail. I also felt this was a great song. But how did he get caught? No idea. Feels like they missed a couple songs in between there. In this song the main character is depressed because the woman he loves is writing him less and less. From this point on the album devolves into a collection of country love ballads and any semblance of a narrative is forgotten until the album just abruptly ends with no real conclusion. My next gripe is the instrumentation. Many of the melodies sound the same and the guitar/drums don't do much to grab your attention throughout. This would be fine if the vocals were unique or the storytelling was compelling. But see my first gripe. Overall this album had potential but it fell short in my eyes. If I liked the genre more I'd probably forgive the divergence into a collection of love songs but that type of song is country at its worst to me.
Yee-haw! Two stars though.
There has to be better country albums.
Old school country. Talented guitar picking. Mundane lyrics....not written for the intellectually minded. Very twangy.
Is this style of country music too subtle for me, or is it boring and repetitive? Either way, Merle Haggard is a top tier name.
Sad and boring.
I'm over honky tonk
I've never been a fan of country music. I tend to enjoy the older stuff more than the contemporary trash; that said, Merle Haggard, despite being hailed as a giant in the genre, failes to impress. He has a decent voice, but there's so little variety here. Haggard does one thing well, and if you're not totally sold on that one thing, well..... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
not in 1001, inho
It’s fine for an old country album, if that is your thing. Couldn’t really distinguish between songs and found nothing that was overly impressive. At least it was short. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
Country, 1967 -> 2
I know of Merle Haggard, but I don't think I could tell you a single song of his. Growing up, whenever the topic of Merle Haggard or concerts were brought up, my parents would lament about the time they went to go see him at Casa Mañana in Fort Worth, but he was drunk as hell and only played for thirty minutes. I don't talk to my parents anymore (long story), but I'm sure they're still mad about it. Even though that story is the first thing I think about when I hear his name, I always associate him with the 'good country music' before country music became synonymous with faux patriotism after 9/11. I've enjoyed a lot of the older country albums that I've reviewed so far, so I have high expectations for this album. Here's hoping it doesn't leave me bitter for forty years! Unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed by this album. I love a good pedal steel guitar, which this album had plenty of, but other than that and a few bits of clever songwriting, I thought this album was a touch dull. I went into this expecting a bit more 'outlaw country,' but I think this album predates that subgenre by a few years. Instead, this album has some fairly generic songs about heartbreak, love, and being a drunken degenerate. Musically, this album was competent, but other than the slightly more upbeat songs like "Drink Up And Be Somebody," "If You Want To Be My Woman," and "Skid Row," I found myself pretty bored. The songs that had the best songwriting tended to be a bit boring to listen to, while the songs that were the most fun to listen to weren't nearly as well written. It's like getting a bag of Chex Mix without any rye chips. Despite not really enjoying this album, I can hear the influence it had on country music, and it reminded me a lot of the popular radio hits of nineties country music. "Skid Row" could easily be an Alan Jackson song, and it was definitely my favorite song on the album. Even though this album was a bit of a letdown, it's TBD to see if I'm bitter about it for the rest of my life.
Not so memorable country
Nice enough
obsoleto
Old country I don't really like. Will I listen to again: 0%
Very of the time. Late 60's country with a real twang. Not bad, but nothing specifically stood out and I wouldn't actively try to listen to again. Not really my sound.
General impression: pretty much the prototype for old-school country Detailed review: Not a country fan, but this is closer to the type I can enjoy…sometimes. I have to be in the right mood. Today I was not in the right mood. But I did listen to the whole thing, and I appreciate it for what it is. Deeper thoughts (context): didn’t make me any more of a country enjoyer unfortunately Score: 2 Number of albums left to review: 935 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 38 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 28 (including this one)
Country is music for a certain mood. I'm yet to discover what mood that is, but maybe my 90th birthday would change something. We'll see next year
Maso
Wasn't my thing, but I can't say that it was outright BAD. I just didn't get much out of it from the lyrics to the sound apart from the opening track. I can get down to some twang, though. Kinda.
Boring country music. I did enjoy listening to "If you want to be my woman" though.
This was just a silly album to me. I am kind of bothered by the amount of ‘meh’ albums I’ve had in the past couple weeks but this is what it is. Nothing inspiring about this but it just went by super fast and blah blah blah. Gimme something GOOD!
While understanding and respecting his massive musical influence (on a genre that I often don't enjoy) - and perhaps this completely cements how influential he was - at this point in 2024 I can walk into any Nashville bar on Broadway at noon on a Wednesday and hear songs just like these. Probably these very songs. Again - maybe that's exactly the point, but it doesn't exactly pump me full of lead. I feel like this so-called "outlaw country" is a bit of a canard - I don't buy it here at all, or maybe anywhere - and isn't badass in any way if all it takes is extremely predictable 3 chord unimaginative progressions with milquetoast "oh my woman left me and i hopped a train after escaping from prison lyrics" accompanied by gentle vocals - ugh. Gimme Willie Nelson any and every day over this. 3/10 2 stars.
опять эта музыка одного аккорда, не могу воспринимать
not my thing...
2.5
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
Not my cup of tea.
You know you're in for the most forgettable experience of your life when the country album has a generic white man on the cover next to a tracklist written in Arial font size 12. After listening, I can indeed confirm that this was the most forgettable experience of my life. I can tell you more about my birth than what happened in this album.
Dull
I love me some country music, but this was a bit same old same old.
Fun vibes. I’m not all in but he’s creative so country
Demasiado country para mí. Es interesante la historia del artista y las canciones no están mal, pero aparte de la primera las otras parecen muy genéricas y no soy capaz de disfrutar las letras.
This grew on me a little. Just a little, though.
Yep, really good, class old country. Can't pick any holes in this at all. Probably won't ever listen to it again.
Låter som vilken jävla countryskiva som helst, utan att sticka ut.
Although this is a far cry from the pandering to mythical America found in modern pop country, you can certainly see its roots in the “misunderstood murderer” theme of several tracks here. There’s a line in John Hiatt’s “Memphis in the Meantime,” lamenting how one more heartfelt steel guitar chord is going to do him in. I’ve never related more to that line than I do now.
I’m a Lonesome Fugitive was extremely dated when it was released in 1967. It’s not 2024. I can’t listen to this, it may as well be from another planet. I’m sure it’d be great in 1951. That being said, I do really like Drink Up and Be Someone 3.9/10
Country sh*t
Yeah, Merle's all right. A bit corny for my tastes, but he can write. I usually prefer covers of his songs over his originals. This album gets a bit tiresome after a few songs, though. I like Merle when he shows up in shuffles.
2.5☆/5 09.05.2025
174/1001 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑
Too much country bumfuck twang. 2.0 stars
Loved the first song and he has a good voice but it’s country
Ome Merle, hier afgebeeld hangend aan een goederentrein, knalt er in sneltreinvaart 12 Amerikaanse smartlappen doorheen in een strakke 31 minuten en 5 seconden en dat kan ik zeker waarderen. Geen nummer gaat te lang door en dat vind ik goed. Aan het eind van het album weten we niet welk merk truck hij rijdt, wat op zich ook opvallend is bij een countryplaat. Tot zo ver het positieve eigenlijk. Het blijft knauwerig gezongen country waar het hawk-tuah-accent er ontzettend dik bovenop wordt gelegd en daar heb ik niks mee, of zelfs een beetje een hekel aan. Tussen de 2 en 3. Een 2 qua persoonlijk genot maar een 3 omdat het zo heerlijk compact is.
I mean, his voice is nice enough, but dear lordy... yaaaawn.
Bit boring
Not for me
Gonna brag. I hit 600 days sober and ran 42 minutes today. I was hoping for a great fun album to celebrate. This wasn’t it haha.
Pretty standard
Sounds like me Grandas house on a Sunday after mass. Avoids 1* for reminding me of me Granda
Fav: All Of Me Belongs To You Least Fav: Life In Prison
Not unlistenable, but not good
yeeeeeehawwww mother fucker. Not a terrible listen because it was a short album but this is a little bit to western country for me. 2.5 stars
Don't have a great feeling about this from the first minute but going to keep an open mind. Yeah this ain't for me
2.3 - I thought I was going to like this but it was soooooo boring. Also the lyrics did not match up to the vibe of the music at all. So cheery whilst singing about dying in prison. Just quite generic
Twangy crooner. Country is *really* not my jam, but I honestly did not hate this. Songs about alcoholism slap me so much harder than any about heartbreak.
A nice southern twang and meaningful songs.
Always the same
Old merle
I'm sorry, but there are a thousand country albums that sound just like this and are just as memorable.
I have been surprised by quite a few of the classic country albums on this list. And sadly this isn't one of them. Merle's story of being a fugitive is hardly a sympathetic one and him going back and forth about bring a hard man but then a man in pain didn't really sound genuine to me. None of the songs stuck out, either. I don't expect to be back to this album.
Not my jam but there were several enjoyable moments.
He's the foundations of country but he's not my music.
Classic country songs to listen when you are just sitting there doing nothing
This kinda Country ain't for me now. Not very memorable.
Remember in middle school when you would ask your friends what kind of music they liked and the standard response was “Everything but country?” This album is why. In its defense, if you like this kind of country, I could see this being a quality example. But, I stand by my original statement.
Five wives, six children, 66 studio albums, born in a boxcar, multiple escapes from prison, a plethora of convictions for crimes he both did and didn’t commit that were ultimately pardoned by Ronald Reagan, and lived to be 79 years old. Merle Haggard’s life sounds too crazy to be true. Merle Haggard recorded dozens of amazing songs during his career but sitting down for an entire album of his is rarely something I want to do. This one is no exception. I can’t deny his talent or that he touches greatness at times, but he was a working musician who was putting out songs like a factory puts out widgets. Creating art wasn’t really his goal and so it’s no surprise that he only did so rarely. His albums are the sound of a talented craftsman making solid music, and so worth hearing, but out of his decades-long music career you can listen to the times he really made something that surpassed that in a couple of hours.
More 60s US country. Not my thing. But there's a little more here than in some of the previous albums I've been dealt. A bit more blues and some variety on the pace and overall feel. I still didn't like it much and was glad when it was over.
It's just ordinary country, but the guitar work prevented me from getting sleep.
Not the best
it made me feel like a cowboy in a saloon nursing a whiskey and it fit the vibe i had at the moment but i cannott see myself listening to this all the time. the songs were very repetitive and sounded the same, but if you wanna escape reality and pretend you're a lonw cowboy exploring the south, sure, its cool.
Eh, it's almost fine, but I think I'd rather listen to Johnny Cash any day of the week.
This type of country all sounds the same to me, just boring.
typical classic country music. sentimental, simple and decently personal. some tracks are perfect for bootin' and scootin'. but i genuinely... i just don't like this genre that much. i'm sorry, i just don't. end of story.
not a huge fan
Easy-listening American country music with typical melancholic themes behind the songs. No one particular song stood out to me. Not sure why this is an album to hear before I die.
a bit simple boring in the wrong genre for me
Cool vibe but every song sounds more or less the same and covers more or less the same subject matter. Just listen to “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive”, and then move on. You’ve heard the whole album.
ah more country. hope all your crops wilt away
It's fine...I'm just not much of a country fan
Nä fy fan. Sämsta sortens country. Inte min kopp te. Tråkig musik. Otroligt sopiga texter. Det känns så simpelt, oengagerande. Lyfter aldrig.
Det gäller att den här typen av textdrivna musik faktiskt har bra texter, men tyvärr är det banalt på barnboksnivå över hela linjen.
Sucky
It's a vibe. Not my vibe, but it's a vibe.
Not particularly my thing
Ich habe wenig gefühlt
Ça n'aide pas que je ne suis pas fan de country, mais selon moi c'était l'un des albums les plus standard que j'ai entendu dans le genre. Certains albums plus vieux sonnaient plus originaux que celui-ci. Généralement peu captivant et trop similaire, jusqu'à la fin où quelques pièces rehausse de tempo un peu. Trop peut trop tard. 4/10
2/5
Not of interest to me. Unconvincing lyrics delivered in a crooning manner. The concept of a lovable/redeemable rough guy just doesn't appeal and comes across as exceedingly contrived. It is a pose, an affectation, a lie, a contrivance. Additionally--strong problems of paternalism embedded in the lyrics. It's ok for a man to be rough and rowdy and economically untrue, but he owns his woman none-the-less.
Un disco de country muy de manual, con su slide, su steel, su cantante delincuente. Un buen disco de country que no destaca por nada en particular.
Country is not a favourite genre of mine, but this wasn’t too bad to listen to. It helps that both the songs and the album are short, but even then I got a little bored after 12 songs that sounded almost identical to one another. I think I’d enjoy listening to this while driving a combine harvester round the rural bits of GTA:San Andreas, but that’s the only time.
Was ok, maybe a little boring for me. I actually can't remember a single song on here
kind of awful. maybe a banger in there
Didn't like this. Country music I'd nit for Me Low 2
Det mest stereotype country man kan forestille sig
Not much to say, I'm still not a fan of country music, and this album definitely haven't moved the needle at all. It's pretty similar to Johnny Cash album I've encountered on this list, for sure thematically. Otherwise, I don't have much to say about it.
Not for me.
I think there have been a few too many rotten Country albums on this list. This one is better than the average - good walking rhythms, but thematically standard. Life In Prison was decent.
More shite Country music! However this was so quick and short that it almost didn't bother me. Highlights: Life In Prison
Country artists just don’t sing about killing their girlfriends and contemplating suicide in prison like they used to 4.5/10
not for me
Not my taste. I think I understand what people like about it. Favorite song: there was this song I liked better than the rest, but it turned out I didn't turn off youtube's autoplay (I did, but somehow it didn't work) and it was not from the album.
What in the Alabama, cousin-f*cking, country bumpkin shit is this? Just kidding, it was already for Cracker Barrel music. 4/10
Not my kind of music. Just too slow and boring. My favorite was “If you want to be my woman”. Luckily for me it was a short album. There’s plenty of other genres I’d rather listen to. 4/10
This is granpa music. This is country music. This is not really my kind of music. It’s not that I don’t like country music, it’s more that I don’t really enjoy it very much. The composition of the songs are just fine, slide guitar (if it is actually a slide guitar) is nice, if not a bit repetitive and overused. Merle’s voice is nice but once again pretty repetitive. Each song tells a story about working class, women, and such but they really all sound the same. Just not for me. 3/10
I'm not a country music fan, and Merle Haggard isn't doing anything to change that.
Not vital to this book or my life
As much as I am not a fan of new country, some of the old country just doesn't resonate with me. I know these albums are old but I can't help picturing old grandma's snapping their thumbs and bobbing around to these songs. Which isn't a bad thing... It's just not for me. I love the story telling aspect of this album. Some catchy hooks for sure. Too twangy for me. Guitar work is great. I'm still open to hearing more of this genre in this era.
Old country. Just ok. 2 stars
cuntry got a 47 on the test!! only up from here!
No.
much lamer than expected
Niet mijn genre.
snooze
I think this is exactly the type of music the soundtrack to Walk Hard was aiming its satire at.
I'm a Lonesome Fugitive is the third album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers. This country album was a hit in the US and brought Haggard fame. It's a moving and overall great album from beginning to end. Give it a shot!
Unknown album for me - only know MH songs from a compilation cd. Opening song is a classic, but I would not listen to this country album again.
Hard to stay tuned to this country music.
Yikes: it's another country album which is just my idea of hell on earth. Wouldn't subject my worst enemy to listen to all of the country albums on here bc to be frank, they aren't that good. If you want some middle-aged man singing about fuck all in the american deep south then this is for you, but me, no.
Not sure what I was meant to think of that. Some lovely guitar work though
Вот мой нелюбимый стиль кантри когда певец только поет, но не играет Не дошел до истории, может там охуенно
Я не могу для себя объяснить, почему Джонни Кэш - это круто, а это - не звучит также круто. Ну вот как так? Как минимум записано бодренько, хорошо. Да и история у чувака очень душещипательная конечно... но не реднек я!
Maybe I shouldn't rate this one - I simply don't like country. And in particular not this one...
Meh
It's country.
Couldn’t get into it. Sorry just not my cup of tea
Yee--and I won't stress it very energetically---haaaaaaaaw... aaaawww... aaww... *yawn*. (Had to pay tribute to the best review on this app--and also one of the shortest. It was for Marty Robbins, if my memory serves...). Yeah, Merle Haggard is a pivotal figure for the whole outlaw counrty subgenre, blah blah blah... Yet I will always prefer Robbins, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings in this category. And also Johnny Cash's deep booming voice, it goes without saying. Merle Haggard might have been the real thing as a San Quentin inmate, OK, I get that. But when Johnny Cash played there (and Folsom!), you can feel a real sense of danger and urgency in those live records. And I'm sorry to say that even with the topics addressed in Haggard's lyrics, there's none of that sense of danger and adventure in the man's frigging *music*. There are some cool guitar licks here and there, I'm gonna give it that. But a lot of it is so damn predictable... All the figures I've mentioned up there have taken some musical risks at some point or another in their long career. And it's a risk I'm not feeling at all in this album. It's an all-too generic example of what Country and Western usually does. Here is the problem I have with many fans of this overall genre, by the way. They always discuss the lyrics (see some examples of that in the reviews)... but they rarely address the music. Because, well, let's be honest for a second : most of the tunes here are objectively interchangeable. Their chord changes are boring as hell. It's flat, VERY flat. Like those endless midwest plains... Then, if I go to more subjective reasons to hate the genre, those tunes provide many example of that for me. Their energy is placid, even totally inert, and unfortunately, it's also devoid of any hypnotic qualities that would redeem those flaws. Being energetic or hypnotic is something other "simple" styles such as punk and reggae do, for instance. But it's very rare for country to go there. Or in that case it becomes... bluegrass. And "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive* is definitely NOT a bluegrass album. Pretty sure many country fans will be angered by this review. But even though I always try to keep an open mind (hence my interest for Nelson and Cash), I'd rather be honest here. It's a little brutal, I admit it. But I hear that's how outlaws act sometimes, don't they? 2/5 for the purposes of this list. Which translates to a 7/10 grade for more general (and less biased?) purposes (5+2). Next please. Number of albums left to review: 474 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 250 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 119 (maybe for Haggard's historical importance for C&W, in spite of my low grading) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 155
This album's a drag. Chock full of country cliches that never let up.
Good old country music. Overall it's quite boring musically, and most of the songs are too similar too so I don't think I'll come back to this album.
There's better Merle stuff out der
Not the worst Country album of all time, but it’s still country so therefore it’s shit. Soz, not soz. Will never listen to this again.
not my cuppatee
it was fine not my favorite Merle Haggard songs tho
In terms of the music itself, separate from the lyrics, I found the country sound quite soothing actually, even though I've always identified as a country hater haha. And at first I was down with the album, but once I heard what Merle had to say over the course, I realized this was just putting women down to make him and men look better. Especially when there's this reoccurring sentiment that his girlfriend owes him affection when he pays for things -- she doesn't owe you anything bud. Anyway so that pissed me off and doesn't make me want to listen to the album again. Again, musically it all worked, it's just the lyrics that ruined it for me :(
Some good stuff
I’m not a big country fan but I’m aware of Merle’s legacy. Some of the songs really painted a picture so kinda fun to listen to and had some fun guitars. “Drink up and be somebody” will definitely go on the drinking playlist. Still a bit too westerny for me though.
Not for me.
Another day, another country album. This is a collection of inoffensive, if boring, songs that can i can listen to without being too annoyed. But the album doesn't give me any reason why I should. 2/5
Country ain't my jam
Country carcerari old school, el començament de la carrera de Merle Haggard com un dels grans del génere i un dels pivots de la seva temàtica i del seu so
Mehhh. More American male-singer country music. I continue to maintain that I'm not American enough to understand this stuff. I dunno, some of it was okay to me but there was a lot that was just way too slow and boring. His voice isn't quite as Hillbilly and full of southern drawl as some of the others though, so I at least thought this was one of the more listenable American country albums I've heard so far. It also became a bit more enjoyable with some of the faster songs, and I can't really fault the lyricism here. Just not an album I could really vibe with. Favourite: Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart
This is serviceable old school country I believe? Full of every cliche you would expect, except they're not sure they were cliches back then. Either way it was fine but not for me.
Still not a fan of country, this did not change my mind. I almost fell asleep.
Viel me tegen
Wat moet het leven in 1967 heerlijk ongecompliceerd zijn geweest voor Merle. Ongecompliceerd en saaaaaaaaaai.....
Not for me
Nice to listen to but that's it
5/10
Ei löytynyt ensimmäistäkään hyvää biisiä. Ainoa hyvä asia oli lyhyt kesto.
Mitä mä just edelliseen kommentoin?! Lyhkäsellä kuuntelulla kakkonen
Boring American Country Music
The older the country, the more I can tolerate it. To a point. I thought If You Want To Be My Woman was a fun song.
Better than expected given what I thought country music is, but still not exciting for me
Joa, irgendwie langweilig und nix besonderes. Was zwischen 2 und 3.
He's no Willie. Fricken excellent country music name though.. GOTDANG MURL I TOLD YE TO SHUT THE GOTDANG DOOR
Not the worst country album I've ever heard. As always, Merle's lyrics steal the show.
For an instant music biopic generator, see Merle Haggard’s Wikipedia page. All the hallmarks are there: childhood trauma, multiple incarcerations and stays in prison, a chance encounter with his musical hero, redemption and liberty through music. For its soundtrack, one probably couldn’t go far wrong with the “I’m A Lonesome Fugitive” album. Its title track seems to capture Haggard’s life some years earlier as a “rolling stone”, with one eye on the next lay-by and another on the rear-view mirror. Ironically, its writers were completely unaware of his past troubles, but it fits perfectly. It’s a solid opening and a remarkable story, but ultimately the music falls somewhat flat for me. Across the rest of the album, Haggard gathers his tales of heartache, rambling and rejection and etches them into the train tracks to freedom. It’s listenable, but not particularly arresting and soon wears thin. Haggard may have a suitably lovelorn voice, but I’d have liked a bit more grit mixed in. When every song amounts to either a breezy shuffle or melancholy waltz, it’s hard to stay too invested. The good songs are the most ragged and withdrawn. “House of Memories” is a lovely, wistful take on a heartbreak ballad, with the benefit of being the first slow number on the album before diminishing returns set in, and the introspective “Life in Prison” is clearly channelling Haggard’s lived experience. Conversely, the happier Haggard sounds, the less interesting the songs ultimately feel. “Mary’s Mine” is sweet enough but is hopelessly sentimental, verging on corny. “If You Want to Be My Woman”, perhaps intended as a lighthearted detour, is frivolous and throwaway. The best songs of all maintain an upbeat feel while conveying dejection and despair. “Skid Row” and “Mixed Up Mess of a Heart”, which marry irresistibly toe-tapping rhythms with jaunty melodies, chirping lead guitar accompaniments and rueful vocals, are my kind of country. “Drink Up And Be Somebody” is a nicely ambiguous number, remaining unsaid whether alcohol will heal or harm. So while there are some high notes, overall they fade into the background. Merle Haggard sounds like a very interesting character, but reading his life story left much more of an impression on me than these thirty long minutes did.
Never listened to Merle Haggard before - heard of him in movies and stuff, but here we are. 30 minutes of what seems to be the same song, or what sounds like the exact same song, just with slightly faster or slower parts. And boy, it is depressing. Maybe I want to do in jail for the wrongs I done, maybe I don't
Dullsville, USA.
Dullsville, USA
Not my flavor but not bad. Feels more folk than what I think of country.
Its difficult to love country albums when half of them sound identical to this. A dissapointing record.
I've really gotten into southern fried rock during the last year and when I saw Merle Haggard, I got really excited. Then after listening to a few songs, I realized this album not southern fried, but more of the 60's/70's twangy kind of album. Very surprised it was from 2006. Even more surprised it was 28 songs! Anyway it wasn't flat out annoying, but was expecting different. I liked If you want to be my woman and Mixed up mess of a heart. Mixed up mess of a heart because of the line, "A little bitty woman gonna tear you apart." I married a beautiful, little bitty woman an can tell you through the 40 years of knowing/marriage, she can definitely tear me apart, when/if she wants to. But I don't want to ever be without her..... I'll give it a 2 because it made me think of Mindy!
Plinky plonky country, not really my thing
I have so little to say about this one. I just don’t like country music. Not for any specific reason, it just doesn’t click. It’s the same with this album. I would give it a 1 because there weren’t any positive qualities for me, but there were also no negative qualities of it. It’s just not really for me.
Wat een zeurplaat zeg...
bit dissapointing
meh country
Merle is a country legend and this is easy listening, just not remarkable. 2/5 for I’m a Lonesome Fugitive.
I really wanted to like this, but during most of the album I just kept thinking “please make it stop”. The guitar on ‘If you want to be my woman’ is pretty good.
Struggling to think of something to write, whether it be positive or negative. At least its only 31 minutes long.
I like Merle, but this album doesn't really differentiate itself from all things Merle – or that era of country artists, for that matter.
The tone of his voice is almost the same on every song, regardless of the subject matter. Makes the whole thing sound unconvincing and uneventful. I will give Merle a second star however, because apparently he's an ex-con who actually lived through most of what he sings about, unlike many other artists who talk the talk, but never walked the walk.
Tonight the Bottle Let me Down is surely the best track here and portends the better music that Haggard made later in his career. Just kidding, that's not on this album. Haggard, usually a country star favorite of mine from the early outlaw subgenre is music I usually love, but this album was just too early in his development to give me much to get excited about.
The sound of early country doesn’t get much more iconic than Merle Haggard, but it’s the slow, heavily-accented croon that I just can’t get behind. The faster songs are much better, but their energy is killed by the overabundant slower ones.
So I like bluegrass, I like some country, I have even been to MerleFest…and yet Merle Haggard is not my thing. The slow songs kill any joy I get from the faster paced songs. I also prefer the music when he is not singing. I would go back to MerleFest though.
I don't like country
Country music isn't for me, but I enjoyed this a lot more than anything else from the genre released in the last 20 years. 2.5/5
It’s good country music, I just don’t like country music
country, bof
2, I don't want to get that lonely
Merle Haagard once said to me "Nigel, we've known eachother for 15 years, but I've never actually felt your dick. Do you mind if I give it a quick squeeze?" I was taken aback by his utterance, but allowed him to squeeze his hardest on my manhood. Merle squeezed it so hard that it eventually went blue. I thanked him, he thanked me, and we never spoke again.
Nope really don’t like country music. Not for me.
2.5 / 5. Good old-time Country music with a lot of heartbreak and prison songs.
Another intesting story around the album but the opening track didn't really grab me. Nor did much else on the record except for Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart.
Not bad for a country album, not my favourite genre but it was good.
While still miles better than today's country offerings, this one falls a bit flat for me just based on preference. Much more in the Johnny Cash-style uptempo lawless classic country camp, as opposed to the slower, slide-guitar and chorus-driven love ballads found here.
I want to see 60s fall down my rankings less than anybody, but here we are.
Bit too twangy/country for my tastes, but some catchy tunes there.
Not for me. A bit too crooner-y.
Not bad but just didn't stand out to me at all
Really not my style. Just not the music I enjoy and seems very narcissistic and annoying, but obviously a product of the times. Still, do not want.
If you're not clinically depressed but want to be, I highly recommend listening to this album. If you are clinically depressed then, for the love of God, please avoid. I'm somewhat amazed that albums containing swear words merit a Parental Advisory warning yet this album - which clearly advocates suicide as the only remedy for human suffering - is remarkably uncensored.
Not for me - but seems like good 60s country
Not TERRIBLE country, but also not GOOD country, if that exists.
Haggard's working class outlaw country in I'm a Lonesome Fugitive has some interesting moments, but as a non-american that normally don't listen to country music, it's impossible not to compare his music with that of Johnny Cash and the comparison is not good for Haggard.
It was fine
Pleasant enough "Country Bears" music.
The A to B of country and western.
a bunch of cowboy music
Meeeeeerle Haggard
Poor Merle sounds a little...... haggard. Dunno what he was so heartbroken about, he'd just married Buck Owens' ex-wife! Generatorland is a small world indeed.
I like a bit of country, but struggle to enjoy this style of country singing + lap steel guitars. To my untrained ear, the vocals in this style are far too jovial and friendly to be taken seriously as a vagrant / outlaw / prisoner / whichever hard-lifed individual he's portraying. I'm perhaps doing Merle a massive disservice (having done no research), underestimating the man's authentic nasty side, and showing ignorance to the amount of influence he has had on the artists coming after him. Aaah well
Eehhhh the songs aren’t bad, but just very much not my type of music. I think in certain settings the honky-Toni sound is really nice, but for just listening on my own it’s not my cup of tea. 4/10
Point fort, la durée de 30 min.
All Cowboys Are Boring (sauf Dolly Parton)
Clean cut country just before the alt.country started to surface. Decent songs: heartbreak, booze and prison. It's all there. I find it hard to listen to most country albums from start to finish, Johnny Cash notwithstanding. I made it to the end with Merle. Might revisit.
2... ?
Classic country that's not horrible but definitely not my thing at all though I understand the appeal if you're from this part of the world. 5/10.
Wel okay, niet echt nummers die er op het eerste gezicht uitspringen
First Listen. I don't know any of the songs. It is a really old style of country music. For me, it was hard to get into in 2021 for the first listen. 2/5
Charming and quaint. Leagues better than modern country music imo. I enjoy the old twangy smooth slide guitar sound. I personally wouldn't choose to listen to this but i appreciate its charm.
I just can't do it. I am so sorry. I've tried so many times in my life to give country a try, but I just can't do it. I truly do not enjoy it. Honestly, I can tell this is really what classic country sounds like, and I'm sure a country fan would love the album, but it's not for me. I listened to the first two songs in full, then skimmed through the rest and every song sounded exactly the same except Mary's Mine and Skid Row switched up the pace a little bit with how they sounded.
Lyrically/narratively interesting, foot tapping, but not my favourite vocal sound or music style. Some good twangy guitar tones. Good old fashioned concise songs under 3 minutes.
Not really my thing, tbh. Not a 1, as was obviously musical, but just not something I'd listen to lots. Fav new track: I'm A Lonesome Fugitive
This album is depressing. I want to shot myself in the hearing holes. Twaaang all the way.
A proper outlaw performing outlaw country. You know what country sounds like. This is no different, in fact most of the tracks don't sound any different to each other. Best Tracks: I'm a Lonesome Fugitive, House of Memories, Drink Up and Be Somebody
A bit too country…
don't love it.
Forgettable; didn't hate it but didn't love it I guess
Typical sad 60's Country.
Ok
High two star. Was okay.
Meh.
Hard to hate but hard to like - I don’t mind the genre but nothing stuck here and will never go back
Country clasiquísimo, de vaqueros en praderas y botas sobre la mesa. Curioso.
I'm guessing it'll be a 2, but we'll see if it picks up. I think this is the twangy 80's radio Country that I used to didn't like. Since I've grown fond of some Johnny Cash, maybe I'll have a softer spot for it than I expect.
the only place I would be exposed to music like this in the UK is in a Frankie & Bennies.
Lief zweimal so durch, ohne dass bei mir irgendwas groß hängengeblieben wäre. Outlaw-Country, dabei aber auch lieblich. Nette Musik in meinen Ohren, aber auch total egal.
The strolling bass, the weepy lap steel, the high 'n' lonesome harmony vocals - it all feels like something that had to be dusted off, no? Also, Haggard is fine at the 'cryin' into your beer' tracks, but flatness of affect is evident elsewhere. He sings 'I'm an outlaw' with the same gusto that you might sing 'I'm a chartered accountant'. Still, I did like 'If You Want To Be My Woman', it reminded me of the Sesame Street theme
En god del 'yeeeeehaaw'! Og en del :cryemoji:. Mest fan av yeeeeeehaaaw!
Eh, this kind of just glazed over me. I’ve heard other Merle tunes that I liked but not much stood out to me here. Also, I’m tired and not in a honkytonk bar.
Had touch of the Louven Brothers about it but I doubt this guy has killed anyone. Weak sauce.
Very Fallout New Vegas. But I can't listen to it for too long.
Every song sounds like it would be used for comedic value in a John Hughes movie as something horrible or uncomfortable is happening. I didn't hate it, and I'd be cool with a single song being on a playlist as a total palate cleanser. But, I'd never listen to this on my own.
If this list has proved anything it's that I am not a country boy and that upsets me untold amounts.
Stereotypical twangy country trash
Well, I've already stated my appreciation (or lack thereof) with this era of country music (with notable exceptions). Merle Haggard falls into the "lack" bucket, although not sinking quite as far as others (I'm looking at *you*, Elvis). 2 stars for this album.
Still not really into country, but better than the new stuff.
not my thing
This was so bad. It Made me feel like a divorced dad mourning a relationship I ruined
Generic country music. There is plenty more far better done.
This is the absolute epitome of twee country bollocks. Every song is just a relentless depressing dirge of how shit life is. Fucking awful.