Jon Pardi’s “B-Sides” Are Better Than Most Mainstream Artists’ A-List Material
From the “If 90% of mainstream country music sucks, then 10% of it must be good” file, songwriter and performer Jon Pardi has just released an EP called The B-Sides 2011-2014 through Capitol Nashville, and it’s not a bad listen at all. Billed as a tide over for fans until a new album is ready to go, the release includes what was left when the final track listing was accumulated for his January 2014 debut Write You A Song. Though Pardi has only been responsible for one full-length album, the 30-year-old has been writing and performing songs for a lot longer, including some signature tunes that didn’t make the debut.
Jon Pardi resides in a similar realm as songwriter and performer Eric Paslay. Both are major label artists who are residents of the lower level of name recognition in the mainstream, but have also scored some chart success and seem to be able to exert a little creative freedom in their music. Where Paslay’s style is a little more progressive, Pardi is the traditionalist. His Top 10 hit “Up All Night” might be the first time (and last) we’ve heard steel guitar in a top song in years.
Strong jawed and looking like he’s just been plucked from the cornfield, the Northern Californian has as much authenticity as his Southern-raised counterparts. His hometown of Dixon holds the Guinness World Record for the largest corn maze, and the aerial view of the town looks like a patchwork quilt from the squares for crops surrounding the community.
Just like Paslay, Jon Pardi will go a little “bro” on you in certain songs, but Pardi makes up for it by going hard to the fiddle, steel, and Bakersfield-inspired Telecaster that makes him hard to hate.
Making The B-Sides 2011-2014 an interesting case study is we get to see what Jon Pardi and/or the label rejected on the initial go-round. Wouldn’t this be a compelling exercise with an artist like Kacey Musgraves and others whose debut album arrived with curious omissions of early career songs that arguably are better than what made the final cut? Pardi’s high energy romp “Drinkin’ With Me” was a fan favorite before the first record came out, and luckily we get a studio rendition of the song on this new EP.
Some will point to “Drinkin’ With Me,” and especially “Back On The Backroads” as Bro-Country offenders that can’t be unheard, and this will hurt the prospects of certain fans considering anything Jon Pardi does in the future as a good listen. But the simple truth is these two songs are certainly the funnest songs of this six-song EP. On the surface they may come across as inexcusable, but remember, some of these compositions track back to 2011—before “Bro-Country” was even a thing.
Listing off country-isms is not bad in itself. It’s the prevalence, and the reliance on them, and mixing them with non-country elements that makes Bro-Country so offensive. “Drinkin’ With Me,” and “Back On The Backroads” are not only very fun, they’re very country. That’s why they likely were rejected for the original release.
The first song on the EP “Fightin’ The Fool” almost reminds you of Hank3 with the opening line, “I’ve been down to the bottom of a bottle, I live my life stuck in full throttle,” but it reveals itself to be much more self-reflective than hellraising by the end while the fiddle remains high in the mix and a steel guitar drifts in and out. The love songs “Rainy Night Song” and “Over My Head” rival any of the love cuts that made the debut LP, and “Borrowed Time” is The B-Sides’ touching, reflective moment.
On Pardi’s Write You A Song debut, the country elements were measured for the most part. But on this EP they’re right out front. It makes you wonder how often this happens with albums, where artists record a gaggle of songs and the most country offerings get shuffled off the track list. Whether it’s a lower tier star like Jon Pardi, or a superstar such as Luke Bryan, in many cases these artists would like to release songs that sound more country, but don’t always get the chance. Pardi’s debut LP was pretty country too, but The B-Sides 2011-2014 shows that sometimes the best stuff gets left on the cutting house floor, and how it’s a challenge in the current environment for the best songs and the most country songs to get heard.
The B-Sides isn’t just an interesting case study though, it is also entertaining, and further evidence that Jon Pardi could be one of the major label artists that could rise up and offer an alternative in the mainstream space, while still holding an appeal with younger and more passive listeners.
1 1/2 of 2 Guns Up.
– – – – – – – – – – –
May 22, 2015 @ 8:17 am
“Borrowed Time” showcases some vocal abilities that Write You a Song hid from us. I’m really disappointed he was likely not allowed to cut this song.
This dude is talented. Alan Jackson loves his music, and you should too. “Love You From Here” is a fantastic song everybody needs to hear.
May 22, 2015 @ 8:17 am
Always been a big fan of his even though, like you said Trig, his music can have flashes of bro-country. Definitely a very unique voice. The thing with the two songs you referenced, “Drinkin’ With Me” and “Back on the Backroads”, while the lyrics push the border of bro-country, they both prove that sometimes its more about the presentation of the lyrics rather than the lyrics themselves. Both songs carry a very Travis Tritt sound to them. From his work so far, he definitely gives me hope that their are people who can turn this around.
May 22, 2015 @ 8:23 am
Very true. It’s not what you list, it’s how you list it, why you list it, and your demeanor while listing it. Drinking and backroads have always been country topics, but they’ve been so misused. Baseball bats are great for baseball, but not for swatting a fly that landed on grandma. Context, context, context.
May 22, 2015 @ 8:17 am
‘ “If 90% of mainstream country music sucks, then 10% of it must be good” ‘
I woulda thought so, but I think the percentage is slipping. I just looked at the billboard Top 25 charts for the year so far and picked out the songs that I would add to a cover band set list. The total was 9 songs, and I have a wide strike zone.
(Jon Pardi’s ‘Up All Night’ was already on the list, btw.) Na-na-na-na-nu–nuhhh. . .
May 22, 2015 @ 11:59 am
What were your 9 songs? I have a gig coming up in a month that I have to play covers on, and for the life of me, I’m coming up dry on billboard hits.
May 23, 2015 @ 7:19 am
Great point Charlie . I go through this all the time with trying to find new country covers for my gigs. Not only are they mostly forgettable and not vocally fun or challenging but they are almost all un-danceable . I’ve mentioned on SCM in the past the kind of requests I get in the clubs are NOT newer/bro/pop/country at all . They are the classic tunes with dance-able rhythms and strong melodies ( George Strait , Brooks and Dunn , Merle , Alan Jackson . NO ONE can dance to a half time southern rock groove …unless you call arm waving some kind of dancing – and that’s what much of newer country music is . No shuffles , no straight ahead 4/4 , no waltz rhythms , no 2/4s ,…and , again ….very few strong melodies .
May 22, 2015 @ 8:20 am
It’s just so weird to see someone in a cowboy hat these days, what with them not being “flat bills flipped back”
May 22, 2015 @ 8:40 am
For those that say country music is just evolving, this is what evolution should sound like.
May 22, 2015 @ 9:04 am
For those that say country music is just evolving are forgetting about “natural selection”
After all, cavemen weren’t smart enough to survive their evolving…
May 22, 2015 @ 4:39 pm
This is the real EVOLUTION of country!!! Thank John pardi
May 22, 2015 @ 8:47 am
I have been following Jon Pardi for a while. I really like his style and his writing. I think he gives hope to what country could be if the suits would back off some. His debut album was one of my favorites from last year. I played the hell out of it. Unfortunately, Jon is being held back by his label severely. I mean they will not even him let wear his hat for album covers.
May 22, 2015 @ 9:20 am
Saw him with Alan Jackson. I wasn’t too impressed but I think his backing band is an issue. They looked like a southern rock group while he looked like a Texan. Something didn’t mesh and they took every chance to turn every song into a rock on song
May 22, 2015 @ 11:31 am
Good observation with his band. Their look can sometimes seem inconsistent with Jon’s more current cowboy vibe. When they perform live, they want to keep it up-tempo for sure. I have seen them live 4 or 5 times and only once did they have fiddle and steel up on stage with them, the other times it was bass, lead guitar, drums, and Jon. I like his sound when it includes the other elements, sounds fuller and “more country”.
May 23, 2015 @ 6:12 am
I do not have a problem with his backing band, they are certainly talented enough to deserve to be on stage with Jon, but I totally agree that he should travel with a fiddle and steel guitarist full time. Maybe money is an issue. I’ve seen them 3 times (one of them being just an acoustic set) and they always put on a great show, but the biggest draw to his studio work is the fiddle and steel, would add a lot to the live set.
May 22, 2015 @ 9:32 am
If more guys put out music that sounded like his maybe I would actually listen to country radio. Love his sound
May 22, 2015 @ 11:23 am
Loved Jon’s music since I saw him live in Salt Lake City in the summer of 2012, he was an opener for Chris Young. I had never heard of him before, but he stole the show for me, and I left there a huge fan of his. Great review of B Sides, would love to see this guy become a superstar. Reminds me of a young Dierks Bentley, wants to make a living doing this so he plays the game when he has to, but you can tell he’s a throwback and loves/respects traditional country music; I appreciate the fiddle, mando, and steel that he incorporates into his music. I really hope he can keep making this kind of music!
May 22, 2015 @ 12:25 pm
I’m sure its probably alright for some folks, but can’t get past his popular junk. Only b-sides I’ll be listening to is Eric Strickland and the B sides.
May 22, 2015 @ 12:27 pm
I’m diggin’ the EP for Pardi. 4 of the 6 songs are pretty decent and agree with Trig that they are better than most country artists main stuff!
And I’ve always liked most of his stuff. A good mix of songs that could be mainstream play along with a few songs that are for the more honky-tonk’ers in us.
May 22, 2015 @ 12:31 pm
Lyrics are weak
May 22, 2015 @ 2:04 pm
I wouldn’t call them weak, but I would say that’s where there’s some room for improvement, and that’s where Pardi was docked on the grading.
May 22, 2015 @ 12:57 pm
Bro Country songs that contain a tonne of all or some of Banjo, Fiddle, Steel Guitar, are tolerable.
May 22, 2015 @ 2:41 pm
I agree. I thought “Up All Night” was softcore bro country but it’s completely enjoyable with the steel guitar in the background. The song is just funky and likeable, bro country themed or not. I’ve never heard a bro country song that used a steel guitar. FGL uses drowned out banjos in their songs but most people who listen to them are ignorant as to what a banjo even is, if they can even hear it cuz its so drowned out with the hardcore rock guitars.
May 23, 2015 @ 10:51 am
The exception is FGL, bro & banjo.
May 22, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
Besides the bad synthesized pop music, what makes bro-country intolerable is the bad copy cat misogynist and party lyrics, overproduction, weak auto-tuned vocals, and bad rapping. If there’s not much of that going on it’s not bro-country.
May 22, 2015 @ 1:33 pm
I really like Jon Pardi. I want to like new country music. I mean, it is my favorite genre after all. It’s nice to have fresh new music to listen to that isn’t completely inundated with pop and hip hop influences. The bro-country lyrics are fine occasionally, I mean, we all like to listen to a good, light hearted party song every now and then, but his are still country songs. In my opinion, Jon Pardi has shown that you can still release fun songs without sacrificing the sound and style of country music. More people should listen to this guy, and more artists should take a page out of his book. There isn’t enough of this music out there folks.
May 22, 2015 @ 2:34 pm
I have loved Jon Pardi for a long time. As the other guy said, I have been saying since I heard him and Josh Thompson come onto the scene that “this is how all modern country music should sound like”. I already knew Jon was a country dude through-and-through and his debut album was more country than anything I’ve heard in recent years, but this EP just blew me away. It is so refreshing to hear what REAL country music sounds like in the modern day. I love how he shuffles it up with a few bro country lyrics here and there, it shows you this kid knows how to have fun while being serious and true to his roots at the same time. It’s such a shame that Jon will never be anything, nor will Josh Thompson and Mo Pitney, or the other handful of mainstream country artists that play real modern country. If this was the late 90’s or even mid to late 00’s, Jon would be a huge star, it wouldn’t be Luke Bryan or country frat boy Cole Swindell. My words to Jon are to keep doing what you are doing, stay true to your roots, keep it COUNTRY. The fact that Alan Jackson invited this dude to come on the “Keep it Country” tour with him should prove to anyone that Jon Pardi is the real deal, this is what real modern day country sounds like.
May 22, 2015 @ 2:41 pm
I’ve always been a little biased for Jon Pardi ever since I found out he’s from a town about an hour away from where I’m from back in California. I really enjoy his music, some songs a lot more than others, because like people have said some he tends to have a little bro country ties here and there. But he definitely kicks ass for a mainstream artist, especially since he’s been touring with Alan Jackson and Brandy Clark. But this dude is the real deal, he wears cowboy hats, old fashioned suits, and he rides horses and ropes. He deserves to wear the cowboy hat way more than some of his southern-born counterparts.
May 22, 2015 @ 2:42 pm
I’ve been a fan of his since his very first single. Really dig this EP. Glad he put it out and glad you reviewed it. I had followed him and Frankie Ballard as I thought that they could be a boost to the genre in the right direction. Out of the 2, I like this guy best. Ballard’s single since “tell me you get lonely” have sucked, but this guy has produced solid material.
May 22, 2015 @ 3:19 pm
Jon Pardi came through one of the local festivals last year and I decided to check him out because I had heard his song “What I Can’t Put Down” and it was noticeably better than the stuff on radio. I got there early so I didn’t miss him and he was absolutely the best performer of the festival (save for Neal McCoy). I bought his album immediately and like Trigger says, these B-Sides are even better than that. But performing live, he’s got that classic rock ‘n’ roll vibe to his show. Despite his set being earlier in the day (before all the drunks show up at night), he got the crowd way into his show. If his songwriting improves, Pardi could be headlining these sorts of festivals, he’s that good.
May 22, 2015 @ 3:38 pm
I really enjoy Jon Pardi’s songs. He is a real deal and his his cd is awesome.
May 22, 2015 @ 3:40 pm
I would like to get his Ep. Dixon is hour away from my town of Marysville.
May 22, 2015 @ 5:24 pm
Oh shit dude I’m from Wheatland, small fuckin world.
May 22, 2015 @ 4:55 pm
Pardi’s music is proof that even modern pop-country oriented songs can sound good with a good vocalist and country music arrangements. If there were more artists like him on the radio, I could actually start listening to it again. Thanks, Trigger, for bringing artists like this to the attention of those of us who have completely given up on mainstream so-called “country” music.
May 23, 2015 @ 6:22 am
I really like the B-Sides, though “Drinking with Me” gets old pretty fast, but not because of the song topic. Overall I almost think this EP is better than the album, but that may just be because this is new to my ears. I don’t have a problem with his bro-country lyrics because I don’t think he is chasing a fad. There is nothing wrong with cutting some fun drinking songs as long as you have more to offer. One of the biggest problems with bro-country is that it over-saturated radio with those songs and now anybody who has one gets dismissed too quickly. Traditional country fans still enjoy some upbeat songs to drink a few to on Saturday night, there is a time and place for everything.
May 24, 2015 @ 8:16 am
I love this, it’s great to see Pardi get some of the recognition he deserves.
May 26, 2015 @ 10:25 am
Been following this guy for the past year and a half. Decided to go see him in Charlotte late last year around the same time the announcement came out that Alan Jackson picked him to go on the tour with him. Damn good show! Since the first time I heard Jon Pardi, I knew there was something different about him. Something I liked. Been a fan ever since. As far as his band goes, lead guitar player is badass. I don’t care what he looks like. The steel player he has on the road with him now is by far NOT the best he’s carried with him before. As far as I know he always has steel guitar with him on the road. Not so much on the fiddle. Love this new release.
May 26, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
I like Pardi. Been a huge fan since he dropped his debut album. Love his music cause it’s a breathe of fresh air, and I love the Bakersfield sound influence in his work. I also like his music because it sounds so raw compared to others. Great guy!
May 27, 2015 @ 7:55 am
This is merde very merde