Album Review – Taylor Alexander’s “Good Old Fashioned Pain”

You’re gonna want to listen to Taylor Alexander’s Good Old Fashioned Pain. You’re gonna want to add it into your heavy rotation, where it will reside for many months and maybe years to come. If and when vinyl copies are made available, you’re gonna want to purchase one, even if it just sits on the shelf, simply to assure yourself it’s there, and if the digital music grid ever goes dark you know you’ve got a backup copy. Good Old Fashioned Pain is the kind of record that you hope and pray crosses your path as country a music fan. It’s the type of record that you crave will be delivered to you each Friday on release day to liven your spirits and satiate your country music soul. And undeniably, Good Old Fashioned Pain is country.
It’s the role of music reviews to guide the listener into making informed decisions about what to spend their time and money on, and perhaps to give some greater context to the music. This duty will be executed in accordance with custom and norm for Good Old Fashioned Pain, but 30 seconds into this record, you already know you’ve hit on country gold, and nothing more needs to be said. When you call yourself a country fan, this is the kind of country you mean. When you tell people about what they’re missing by only listening to corporate radio, this is the kind of music you play for them. When you listen to a record like Good Old Fashioned Pain, all the gratuitous and silly concerns about the direction of country music, or even the worries of your own life fade away in a sea of country music bliss.
Originally from Flowery Branch, Georgia, Taylor Alexander’s father was an opera singer and a church music minister, and music was billowing throughout his household. He received his first guitar at the age of 7, and started playing in rock bands by the time he was 14. His curse for performing country music was cast at 17 when he fell headlong into the music of Hank Williams, George Jones, and Bob Dylan, and started an alt-country band called Young America.
Though the name might be new to you, Taylor Alexander has experienced a brush with national fame in the past. In 2017 he competed on The Voice, and blew many people’s minds with a twangy, traditional country version of Cher’s “Believe.” As unusual as it sounds, it was the right combination of true country and pop familiarity to get accepted, though his run on the show was short, and he exited after the 2nd round. This might have been good fortune for Alexander though, since success on The Voice assures you nothing, or if anything preordains your struggle to actually make it in professional music. The opportunity gave Alexander some experience, but did not typecast him. He subsequently returned to Nashville and began pursuing his country music dream on his terms, and the result is Good Old Fashioned Pain.
This record refuses to let you down. The songwriting is like the resuscitation of one timeless classic country theme after another, only even more smartly written from dedicate study of the medium, and sculpted to fit Taylor Alexander’s specific story. The record is about a struggling musician attempting to make a dream real, and having to live with the sacrifices of living on the road, getting by with less, trying to hold onto love, all while trying to stay focused and believing in one’s self. In one song after another, Alexander’s stories become allegorical troughs of wisdom, delivered in simple and relatable expressions, while his spirit and perseverance feel palpable, and result in an inspiring listen.
Beyond the writing, Alexander shows off cunning skill and talent with emotion and pentameter with the way he sings these personal stories in perfect relation with the weighty moments they hope to convey. This is how Alexander was able to take a dance song by Cher and make it sound like something from Randy Travis, and make it feel even more personal and devastating than the original. You actually hear the words and the meaning behind them, not just the music.
And for the music of Good Old Fashioned Pain, Taylor Alexander went all out to make it the traditional country record he heard in his mind, yet it includes a kinetic energy to it as opposed to the same old phrase turns and guitar licks that work, but don’t render the music fresh. The songs of Good Old Fashioned Pain are everything you want, but it immediately leave you craving more.
Completely unsigned and looking for a shot at the dream, Taylor Alexander and Good Old Fashioned Pain make as good a case as any for being foisted right to the front of the line from the talent, heart, and authenticity exhibited. Don’t be surprised if this is a title that makes it to eventual consideration right beside the small handful of others as one of 2019’s best.
Two Guns Up!
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April 12, 2019 @ 7:45 am
The album cover is great! After this review, I’m looking forward to hearing it this morning.
April 12, 2019 @ 8:36 am
I just finished my first listen this morning, and this is definitely worth the time. Something about it reminds me of Sam Outlaw with more twang. Not sure if that makes sense, but Outlaw clearly has a distinct California influence in his music, and Alexander is what I imagine Outlaw would sound like without said influence.
Here’s hoping this is released physically, too.
April 12, 2019 @ 1:37 pm
Sam Outlaw came to my mind, as well.
April 12, 2019 @ 7:56 am
Holy crap, yes!!
It might be the crappy ear buds I am using while at work but I wish his mic was turned up just a little bit more to hear his voice stronger. Will see if that’s better for me when I listen with car speakers.
Trigger- Both songs are the same that you posted.. just FYI
April 12, 2019 @ 8:00 am
Will definitely be checking this out. It’s been a while since I seen a two-gunner. Thanks for presenting this to us Trig.
April 12, 2019 @ 8:16 am
Hey Trig, any chance we could get a review of Aaron Lewis’s New album, State I’m in? Just came out today.
April 12, 2019 @ 10:19 am
It’s definitely being considered. Lots of new releases this week.
April 12, 2019 @ 12:58 pm
The title track and “The Party’s Over” were actually really good from that album
April 12, 2019 @ 8:37 am
yes ……
this guy will NEVER be ‘artist of the decade’ cuz he sings too damn good .
so….yes .
damn …is that a steel guitar..?.AND a mandolin ?……on the same track ? ….who does Taylor think he is ….a COUNTRY artist ?
is that a two- guns- up review ?…two ?
i’m gonna need to lay down . sounds like we’ve got a real one on our hands.
April 12, 2019 @ 8:42 am
I remember when Taylor released a 3-song EP in 2016 with “Real Good At Saying Goodbye,” “Wishing My Life Away,” and “Break My Heart Tonight.” I liked him then, and I was sad he didn’t make it farther on The Voice. Anyway, glad he’s found success. Good dude.
April 12, 2019 @ 9:18 am
Very encouraging that an unsigned artist can put out music like this.
April 12, 2019 @ 9:20 am
Just got through the album for the first time, and, well… I’ve decided to listen through again! The album just flows from one song to the next in a supernaturally organic way, if that makes any sense. There’s no weak point, either. Just solid country gold all the way through, and an instant road trip necessity!
April 12, 2019 @ 9:46 am
Hot damn, we’re back in business.
April 12, 2019 @ 9:56 am
Hot licks!
April 12, 2019 @ 9:57 am
Got one minute through the first song preview and purchased.
God bless this website.
April 12, 2019 @ 10:02 am
Just DL’d. Listening scheduled for the ride home from work, B/W Aaron Lewis’ latest offering.
April 12, 2019 @ 10:15 am
Well damn Trigger in two weeks you’ve shown us Ben Jerrell and Taylor Alexander. You’re on a roll. And I’m going to see The Steel Woods tonight. Today is a good day.
April 12, 2019 @ 1:12 pm
I was thinking the same. Usually Trig turns me on to 1 or 2 or 3 new artists a year (that make my end of the year list). 2 in as many weeks is awesome!
April 12, 2019 @ 3:37 pm
Trig is directly responsible for a not insignificant drain on my disposable income.
April 12, 2019 @ 11:12 pm
A third if you count Emily Scott Robinson. Those three records I believe are some of the best we’ll hear all year, but who knows what else we have in the offing?
April 12, 2019 @ 10:25 am
Just finished listening, and all I can say is that you are damn right
April 12, 2019 @ 11:16 am
Really?
April 12, 2019 @ 2:32 pm
Really what, exactly?
April 12, 2019 @ 5:09 pm
I’m just using “Really?” in a rhetorical manner, to express my disagreement and surprise with the review.
I gave both songs 60 seconds. The first one has a rock n roll guitar intro; it’s not C(c)ountry. The second song was C(c)ountry, but boring. His voice is utterly unremarkable.
I read Trigger’s review and saw the two guns up, and thought I was in for a real treat. I was wrong.
April 12, 2019 @ 7:27 pm
That might be what happens if 60 seconds is all ya got
April 13, 2019 @ 2:53 pm
Why do you write the word country like C(c)ountry? I just don’t get it. It seems silly. Please explain it to me.
April 13, 2019 @ 5:40 pm
Because real Country music is country.
Whereas “Country” music is not.
I add the lowercase c in parentheses to make the distinction.
Country is a name; country is a description. Add them together and you get C(c)ountry.
April 13, 2019 @ 6:54 am
You’re the reason I wish we had the option to block certain users here. Your incessant negativity is sad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you post something that wasn’t bitter and/or mean.
April 13, 2019 @ 8:39 pm
Why do you keep reading comments that you wish you could block?
April 14, 2019 @ 2:28 pm
Honky,
I am sick and tired of you turning these comments sections into your voodoo doll, and so is everyone else. You want to say mean things, go ahead. But you better figure out how to do it more efficiently, because if you’re just going to show up into comments sections to spew hate, the comments are going to get deleted. Offer something of value to the discussion, or move along.
April 14, 2019 @ 4:15 pm
So if I don’t like a singer, you don’t want me to say so?
April 14, 2019 @ 6:19 pm
I’m not running a school here Honky and we’ve had this discussion many times before. You leave comments just to shit on whatever is being discussed instead of discussing the topic at hand. And it’s every single article you can’t help but find something negative to say.
April 14, 2019 @ 4:22 pm
Can we, your loyal readers, vote? If so, block him. I come to this site less and less due to this guy and a few others. Makes me sad because I like what you are doing and find so much great new music through you. Bummer that some guy gets an on going platform to spew haterade and meanwhile drives away those with true interest.
April 12, 2019 @ 11:56 am
There’s nothing to dislike about this record but I’m not feeling the love that you’re feeling. He has a clean, unaffected, ‘singing cowboy’ type voice which is great but I don’t get any emotion from it at all. The performance is fine but if the song cycle is really about his struggles to make music then I’m wondering why I’m just not invested in any of it while I’m listening. Put this next to Jason Eady singing about the same thing and it sounds like Karaoke.
April 12, 2019 @ 12:50 pm
Kind of underwhelmed as well. Thought I was getting into the next Randall King based on the review. Didn’t feel it that much. Not bad by any means, just not all that.
April 12, 2019 @ 1:13 pm
I initially thought it was too clean too, but you got to get into the lyrics more. It’s one of those the more you listen the more you like it.
April 13, 2019 @ 8:53 am
Can confirm, this one is growing on me.
April 15, 2019 @ 10:59 am
I’m the same way. It’s good, but I didn’t emotionally connect. I will give it some more listens, though.
April 12, 2019 @ 1:09 pm
Awesome!
Where’s the link to purchase? I thought you got paid that way!
April 12, 2019 @ 11:13 pm
I don’t believe it is on Amazon. But it is on iTunes and Spotify.
April 13, 2019 @ 7:23 am
It’s on Amazon now (as digital music, not as a physical CD)…
April 12, 2019 @ 4:28 pm
Hot damn this has been a good year for music. I may need to make a couple purchases this weekend.
April 12, 2019 @ 5:06 pm
I like this. I liked the Charles Wesley Godwin album more but this is probably my second favorite of the year so far.
April 13, 2019 @ 5:32 pm
I agree. This is some good shit but Charles Welsey Godwin is the best album Ive heard so far this year.
April 13, 2019 @ 10:29 am
I’m on my second listen right now. Not to sound sacrilegious, but I’m hearing a lot of Alan Jackson in this, in a good way. Hoping he can get some serious traction and make it up to MN some time soon. I’ll be keeping an eye out for him. Also, the Sam Outlaw comparison was good. Had a similar thought.
April 13, 2019 @ 11:01 am
This is an amazing album. His music is classic sounding, but it doesn’t sound too ”hipstery” like it’s purposely trying way too hard to be throwback country music. It’s one effortless country song after another and I love it!
April 13, 2019 @ 9:24 pm
I love this album. I know it’s early yet, but this and Todd Snider’s Cash Cabin Vol 3 are definitely going to be up there for best of the year for me.
April 15, 2019 @ 11:05 am
Reminds me a little of Robbie Fulks, in a good way.
Really like this.
Thank you.
April 19, 2019 @ 3:59 pm
I hate throwing my 2 cents in before I’ve had a proper listen or 2 to an album. After a couple of full listens to the whole thing today I can say I kinda like most of the tunes and his voice but the production is a little thin and high end for me so we’ll see. A lot of new stuff out, being an album guy every album can’t make the rotation. Doesn’t mean it isn’t good, there’s just only so much time in a day.