Song Review – Eric Church’s “Desperate Man”
Shake your little fists at the music industry all you want, but the way of things is for the pure, unadulterated songwriters to revel in obscurity for most of their careers, while the adored superstars rake in all the fame and cash. Your favorite songwriters are often too good, and too raw and honest for mass appeal, while the superstars are masters of shaving the edges off, polishing up the pure sentiments of songwriters, and presenting them to the public.
For years now if you wanted the dirty, gritty shit that’s full of elicit substances, dalliances with the devil, and the doings of charlatans and soothsayers, Ray Wylie Hubbard has been your song merchant. Always too niche for the big time, yet always seeming to attract the big timers through the years like Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Hayes Carll, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Dunn, and now Eric Church, it’s his specific brand of poison nobody else can concoct that has the big names calling when they’re looking to capture a little bit of the underbelly of life.
Eric Church’s “Desperate Man” co-written by Hubbard is a weird song, but ultimately a good one. Where opinions will break upon it the most are the “boo boo boo’s” that float in and out. Don’t mistake these for a derivative of the Millennial whoop indicative of The Lumineers. This is Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Tony Joe White influences seeping through—two men worthy of three names. Think more “Sympathy for the Devil” than Mumford & Sons. Think of seance chants as opposed to Do-Wop serenades.
This is not a country track, but this ship had sailed with Eric Church years ago, and Ray Wylie Hubbard hasn’t been country since 1975. Just like a handful of today’s “country” stars, Eric Church is a refugee from the implosion of rock radio, yet his rabid fan base means he doesn’t need to rely on radio anymore and can do whatever he wants, like record a track such as “Desperate Man.” The song is rootsy though, and well-apportioned to where it would be welcoming on country radio, not an offense, and will probably do well. This ain’t no “Talladega” though. Church is approaching popular music left of center like he’s done in the past, and daring radio not to play it.
“Desperate Man” is inspired by a classic Ray Wylie Hubbard story about the time he went to a fortune teller to get his future read, and was told he didn’t have one. It’s a swamp groove—a mood maker, and one that Eric Church does his worst on, especially at the 2:25 mark when the chorus comes back around, making you sense this track will be a monster live, which is the the native environs of this arena superstar. It’s about the abandon and the energy captured in the performance. Eric Church is one of the few modern “country” stars who understands tension, and how to relieve it in “moments,” making a song much more than a toe-tapping commuter time waste, or a series of cliche hooks.
“Desperate Man” is a song you give a weird look the first time, tolerate the 2nd, and can’t stop listening to after the 3rd. Of course if Ray Wylie Hubbard had done it, it would be much more dirty, the “boo boo boo’s” wouldn’t sound like they came from a Schoolhouse Rock jingle, and those folks in the Americana camp would probably find more appeal in it. But for years it was the superstars who knew just how to take a good song and present it right that made folks like Guy Clark, John Prine, and Townes Van Zandt lots of money. Now after 40-something years in the business, it’s finally Ray Wylie’s turn.
July 13, 2018 @ 7:54 am
You hit the nail on this head with this line.
“Desperate Man” is a song you give a weird look the first time, tolerate the 2nd, and can’t stop listening to after the 3rd.
That’s exactly how I felt about the song.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:16 pm
Agreed. Was kinda didsapointed first listen but now I really like it.
July 13, 2018 @ 7:57 am
It’s funny the way Eric snuck up and became a once in a generation country star. He’s always made albums and not singles and you can definitely hear that with each passing album. Don’t like the the outlaw faux badassery Of chief, well guess what next up is the outsiders. Don’t like the sonic experimental album the outsiders, well guess what next up is a southern swamp version of a Bruce Springsteen album called mr misunderstood. I expect this one to be no different and I’m excited for it. I put Carolina up as one of my favorite albums but if he tried to make another like it it wouldn’t be feel like the next step of his musical journey. Hopeful he continues to evolve and treat his fans the way he does
July 13, 2018 @ 7:59 am
I was feeling the Stones vibe the whole time listening, glad you mentioned that. Fair and accurate review. Can’t wait to hear the full album in Oct.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:03 am
I thought this the entire time. It just sounded like a Stones song to me. I love the Stones, and I love Eric Church, but I don’t like Church covering the Stones. This song does nothing for me.
July 13, 2018 @ 11:34 am
It took me a few listens until I got into it. I think having the Hubbard pen to it helps as well. I see what you’re saying, though.
July 13, 2018 @ 8:02 am
This might be my favorite song of the year so far. It’s not country and I’m ok with it. I”m a newer country music fan by way or rock, soul and metal. What this song really reminds me of, at least is sounds in the similar vein is Movin on Up by Primal Scream (I’m a big Primal Scream fan). I can’t wait to hear the album!
July 13, 2018 @ 8:11 am
If RWH benefits from this then I’m all for it..hes very deserving. It is, and always has been a travesty when lousy no talent hacks are able to make boat loads of cash only because of looks and popularity do to a dumber down audience.
I had the pleasure of meeting RWH in January on the outlaw cruise, going to his song writing clinic, & he was a super nice guy..down to earth & funny…cool of course.
July 13, 2018 @ 8:16 am
Gave it a listen – Production on this is ridiculous – no way this guy is desperate for anything – plastic and phony as hell. If RWH makes some money off of it though more power to him.
July 13, 2018 @ 8:18 am
This is SOOOOOO good! Loved it at the first listening.
July 16, 2018 @ 5:59 pm
I did as well. I didn’t go with the normal feel that Trigger described, but I’m a bit of an Eric Church fanboy. It reminds me of Chattanooga Lucy, but better. (I liked Chattanooga Lucy somewhat, but it depends on my mood. I could listen to this all day, though.)
I’m really excited for his next album, especially if it sounds like this.
July 13, 2018 @ 8:19 am
So good for Ray Wylie Hubbard to get some love. The song comes across as a cross between Church’s “Chattanooga Lucy” and the Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil,” and I dig it. It has a bluesy, rock vibe, and I am down for it. I hope Hubbard makes buckets of cash. He deserves it.
July 13, 2018 @ 8:38 am
Posted on the previous article, but seriously I get so much of Chattanooga Lucy from this release with just a little more emphasis on the instrumentals. I like the vibe though
July 13, 2018 @ 8:40 am
And in all seriousness, you’re right about the amount of listens. The first time I was like hmm… let me try again. The second time, I was like maybe I need a third. Currently toe tapping at my desk about 10 listens deep. It’s good.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:29 am
To me this song is a better version of Chattanooga Lucy. I could never quite come around to CL but I liked Desperate Man immediately.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:04 am
Yeah, the “Boo boo boos” don’t really work for me, but I like the rest of it. Probably one that I shouldn’t listen to too many times, or I’ll get sick of it. I really like the bridge, leading into the final chorus.
July 13, 2018 @ 11:21 am
A lot of arc to this song. I think it’s the best asset.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:07 am
Hard to get past the affected vocals, and the doop doops are impossible to get past. Would like to hear RWH sing it, there’s nothing wrong with the song itself. Tried 3 times and I’m sure I’ll be subjected to many more in the months to come.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:12 am
It is good stuff but I still want Eric to return to his “Sinners Like Me” sound. “Two Pink Lines” was sonally incredible.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:21 am
Not this song specifically. But anyone ever catch how sometimes if you look at the Itunes chart theres double of one song? Always makes me think the labels are up to something. Like having one there for putting their money behind until a song takes off or something.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:27 am
The song sounds a lot like Chattanooga Lucy from the previous record. The song is definitely not bad but I don’t necessarily view at great either. Is it better than most of the music on the mainstream radio? Yes. For that reason I would give it a 6/10.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:27 am
OMG ! — That sounds almost too much like “Sympathy for the Devil” –
July 13, 2018 @ 9:30 am
Loved the last album after The Outsiders mess. Hoping this is as good or better.
I also feel like he has a bluegrass album in him at some point. Really, really hoping that happens.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:20 pm
“Longer Gone” and “Creepin'” were both a far shot from bluegrass but had some elements of bluegrass to them, and they were both great. I’d love an EC bluegrass album.
July 15, 2018 @ 9:33 am
Im sorry …..but Eric Church does not have a bluegrass album in him and if he tries to record a record with only acoustic instruments and a few harmonies and CALL it bluegrass someone will need to call the bluegrass police . His songs are too ” Eric-centric” ….too pseudo-rebel ….too ‘stadilum’ in many instances and totally NOT in the spirit of ‘ Grass . Nor was Bentley’s ‘ bluegrass ‘ record …..but that’s another kettle of fish .
This guy records ” Eric Church ” music ….not country , not pop , not hip hop , and NOT BLUEGRASS . He can often pen a good lyric but , like many , his songs are not fully realized as SONGS …..they are lacking in melody , in quality instrumentation and in production …they are glorified sketches by a guy who seems to get bored mid-way through the process and settles for ” good enough ” cuz yeah ……he’s only gonna be playing that radio stuff in bigger venues where fans don’t demand or care about the above – noted considerations . And that’s all fine cu it works for Eric in the same way the sunglasses and his marketable attitude and image seem to .
July 15, 2018 @ 9:59 am
So your saying his writing style is a lot like this comment!?????
July 15, 2018 @ 10:07 am
I’m sorry, “albert,” but you don’t have an objective bone in your body if this is your conclusion about Eric Church.
I’m going to come up with a new term for people like you. You’re the kind of person who decides if he likes a song before he even hears it due to irrelevant factors.
July 15, 2018 @ 10:41 pm
well NWC I’ve listened to , written , performed , produced and commented on hundreds and hundreds of songs and I can assure you that I do listen to songs before commenting ( although I may be getting past that point with the Urbans and the Hunts ).
” Objective ” ..? I suppose my frustration with the state of commercial country music might creep into that objectivity at times …but I think I’m about as objective a listener as you”ll ind . I love REAL country music or I wouldn’t be here . I also love Lyle Mays last live outing , Joy Williams’ acoustic take on her initial ‘ synthy ‘ approach to her record VENUS ….I wet my pants every time I hear that Jeff Beck is releasing a new record or ‘guesting ‘ ( listen to Lee Ann Rimes ” Gasoline and Matches “)…I think Man Morris and Kacey Musgraves current releases are stunningly original – sounding with ARTISTIC approaches lyrically and musically but nowhere near country . And yes ….I LOVED Church’s first couple of records before he started throwing anything and everything at the wall just to see what would stick . This song is derivative , it doesn’t display his lyric gift and more and more often , of late , his music , like so much radio ‘ country music ‘ seems to be ignoring the importance of a strong melody even if and when there’s a decnt lyric involved . Its hard for me to cut someone slack when I’m aware of just how good they really have been in the past and what they are capable of producing . Church has dried up in the ‘ creative ‘ dept , as far as I can tell , and yes …he might be the nicest , most giving , altruistic spirit that walks the earth but we’re talking music here and this is sub-Church in my experienced and objective opinion .
I’m gonna listen to some Milk Carton Kids or some some Cliff Westfall …or maybe some Joni or James or Merle or Jimmy Webb so that I can remind myself of how many great music options I have .
July 13, 2018 @ 9:38 am
Yep more Sympathy/Stones than Country but after a couple of spins it’s ok. Are you asking if I’d rather hear this on Country radio than 90% of the garbage they play? Well that would be a stupid question wouldn’t it. It’s just 1 song and I’ll wait for the album like I always do but if I happen to hear it on XM or my 2 Chicago Pop/Country stations I wouldn’t change the channel…………unless they play it to death and ruin it.
July 18, 2018 @ 10:49 pm
Ummmm…. I’m sorry I made a mistake. I was driving home from the Whitey Morgan concert tonight and this Boo boo be doo drivel came on XM Sirius and I immediately felt nauseous and turned it off. It’s literally the 4th time I’ve ever heard it. This song is not part of the solution, but it’s very close to being part of the problem. Whoever likes it, can have it!
Btw….. Whitey tore it up, for the 200 of us in a small bar in Joliet, IL. Ahhhhhhhhhh……….. 🙂
July 13, 2018 @ 9:40 am
Yeah, I’m undecided on this song. I’m a huge Church fan, and I think Mr. Misunderstood was his best album yet. This song might grow on me though. I’m on the negative side of the “woo woos”.
I could definitely hear the Stones and CCR influences right off the bat.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:41 am
This 100% sounds like an update of the early Tony Joe White swamp sound with a bit of Stones thrown in. From a purely “country” standpoint, it’s probably not that. However, it’s definitely a rootsy, rural track. Pretty good stuff.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Tony’s swamp sound is more like CCR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFnmFlGuz9A. This tune by Church is more like U2.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:56 am
Totally get that argument, but that’s why I would use an update rather than a true reproduction. We can disagree about the quality of the new Church track, but anything that gets us talking about Tony Joe and Ray Wylie can’t be a bad thing especially if turns someone into looking into that direction. The Monument albums by Tony Joe in the late 60’s/early 70’s are way too neglected.
July 13, 2018 @ 12:42 pm
Lol, I swear, any time a rock song mentions the words Joshua Tree, it gets U2 comparisons even if it sounds nothing like them.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:26 pm
I was listening to the floor toms, actually.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:44 am
BTW, Church has done a ton of the Band and Levon Helm tunes in various tributes and in his live shows. I might be the only one, but I’d enjoy the heck out of a full album treatment of Church channeling in his inner Levon.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:21 am
I feel the same way. Sometimes I think Church is actually at his best when covering The Band. I hope maybe a bit of that has worn off into the sound of the next album.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:47 am
Read an interview where EC couldn’t was struggling to write music for the new album and was desperate to come up with something. Kind of cool when you listen to it from that perscpective. Great review Trig!
July 13, 2018 @ 9:55 am
Can’t get past the boo-boo-boos. They don’t remind me of Sympathy for the Devil or some kind of incantation as much as they sound like an attempt to soften a really hard track in hopes of broadening its audience appeal. But that’s just my opinion and I could be completely wrong.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:01 am
He continues to be, along with Miranda Lambert, the only really mainstream artist who doesn’t make me want to plug my ears.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:03 am
Mellencamp.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:08 am
Well…
Trigger: “This is not a country track…”
(UN-)popular Opinion: ding, ding, ding we have a winner!
I can’t praise Eric Church for releasing a b-side of an old Rolling Stones single…a song that is not country. But hack & slay half Nashville for releasing bad-pop-music-with-a-banjo.
It’s still not country music & it’s not better music because the name of Eric Church is printed on the cover.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:44 am
It turns Ray Wylie Hubbard into pop. This is about as far from the Stones as you can get, and it has nothing of Hubbard’s wordy, scrofulous itches or Tony Joe White’s languid, taking his time, miasmic grooves.
This is stadium pop that’s heavy on claims and featherweight on the substance to back it up. Better than “bro” country, but that’s not saying much. Church wants to be Springsteen, and he’s succeeding even without the voice to match.
Sorry, just getting harder to please.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:44 pm
I thought it WAS The Rolling Stones when i first heard it. It sounds exactly like them. Eric Church’s first two albums were solid country music that I enjoy but anything after is complete garbage that isnt country at all. Whats really strange is this dudes music sounds NOTHING like anyone else out there and I think thats why people love him, just like Sam Hunt’s music sounds like no one else and likely why he has such a huge fan base.
July 13, 2018 @ 10:45 am
Props to Church and Hubbard, this is a really fun and infectious track. It’s succeeded in ramping up my excitement for the new album.
July 13, 2018 @ 11:48 am
You’re all fucking crazy.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:40 pm
Eric Church sucks and IS NOT country. This song sounds 100% like The Rolling Stones. And people rip on Sam Hunt all the time for not being country? LOL. Waiting to be attacked by Church fan boys, of all the people that love real country music on here the one clown they pick to love in the mainstream is classic rock Bruce Springsteen wannabe Eric Church. He is part of the problem in Nashville.
July 13, 2018 @ 8:07 pm
Why the fuck does everyone keep bringing up Sam Hunt under this review? I keep reading this and really confused
July 13, 2018 @ 8:57 pm
The answer is because a lot of listeners focus on names, not songs or albums. Clearly Summer Jam doesn’t like Eric Church. That’s cool, he’s a pretty damn polarizing guy, and I’ve certainly expended a bunch of ink criticizing him. But each song, and each album has to be taken upon its own merit. It’s like when I post a “Best Songs” list and people respond, “Hey, where’s this artist?!?” It’s not a list of artists, it’s a list of songs.
July 13, 2018 @ 12:12 pm
Guarantee of he performs this on an award show, RWH will be with him on stage.
July 13, 2018 @ 12:42 pm
Good point. Unfortunately we’re in the dead season for award shows, but we’ll see what happens in November at the CMA’s, Church almost always gets a slot.
July 13, 2018 @ 12:44 pm
See, I thought the same thing.
July 13, 2018 @ 1:29 pm
This is pretty good. I get the same feeling from this that I had from Jink’s Must be the Whiskey.
Fun lead single that has kinda a broader appeal. I’ll listen and enjoy. Hope is (an there will be) for some meatier stuff on the album.
I’ve never had an issue with EC. I’ve followed him from the start. He has progressed. He’s taken some chances. I think he holds his integrity for the most part.
I think my musical tastes help, because I love country, but it doesn’t have to be country for me to like it.
I consider him a country influenced rocker.
Sure he’s put his foot in the mouth in the past, but to reach a level of success like him, there has to be a bit of an ego. They all have it.
I’ve seen him many times live.. He has never disappointed once.
I’m amazed how he can turn an arena show into an intimate affair.
He does concentrate on sound, which I love.
The 61 days of church project is enjoyable. I put that on shuffle a lot. Awesome mix of fun covers and originals.
He has been really respectful to his influences and the history.
He’s played a lot cool tributes,
He loves and takes care of his fans. Realizes where his success comes from.
He also has supported a lot of up and comers.
He writes and performs his own music.
Music is all about personal tastes.. Might not like him, but I think he deserves where he is at. He has pretty much done it in spite of music row.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:23 pm
As a huge EC fan I wasn’t a big fan the first listen, but after that it really grew on me. Only part I don’t like is the ooh ooh oohs, but I can overlook it. I’m really excited for the new album.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:38 pm
Trigger’s reviews on other mainstream country artists that release music that isn’t country to country radio (for i.e. Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, FGL, etc) summed up:
“F*ck this douchebag! His music sucks, and hes ruining country music with this pop garbage. Hes XX years old and is acting like hes a teenager. His haircut isnt country. TWO GUNS WAY DOWN!”
Trigger’s reviews when Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, or some other artist he can’t stand releases a country sounding song to country radio summed up:
“Not country enough. This beat or this sound is a rip off of XXXXX. Hes pop and needs to get out of the country genre.”
Triggers reviews on Eric Church when he releases music that isn’t country to country radio summed up:
“Its ok if Eric releases music that isn’t country in the slightest to country radio, because hes different than everybody else, he isn’t part of the problem. His music is rock and thats ok because hes Eric Church. TWO GUNS UP!”
July 13, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
There has never been a bigger critic of Eric Church over the years than myself. Go back and read the articles from 2014 surrounding his release “The Outsiders.” Remember he wrote “Country Music Jesus” after reading articles here. I did not give this song “TWO GUNS UP!” I did give “Dirt” by Florida Georgia Line Two Guns Up though.
I’m sorry, I think this is a decent song, and I judge each piece of music on its merit, not what my personal feelings might be on the performer.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:51 pm
Then I gotta question your taste on this one Trigger. No offense, but this is fucking ridiculous. I can’t imagine driving down the road listening to this goofy shit when I could be listening to Sympathy for the Devil or about a million other songs and productions that are outstanding. It is so sad to me that this is what it’s come to.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:51 pm
You think a song that says “poo poo poo” over and over again, has ZERO country sound, is actually a blatant rip off of The Rolling Stones sound wise, and has the lyrical subject of The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, a good song? You rip Sam Hunt, FGL, Kane Brown, and many other mainstream artists for doing this EXACT same thing, yet you give Church a pass and give him a good rating? This aint even pop country like Sam Hunt or FGL, this is a full blown classic rock song with poppy elements. Com’on man, I just can’t take you seriously anymore.
August 14, 2018 @ 4:59 pm
Here is the difference you don’t get. Hunt and Brown especially borrow influences from R&B with lopping drum tracks and EDM nonsense at times. That is not country adjacent in the least.
The Stones did a lot of country sounding stuff in their careers. What Church is doing is not all that different than what some of the country music outlaws did over the years- positioning themselves as the outskirts of the current country scene. I’m not saying Church is those guys but he is similar to them in how they approach music.
As far as mainstream stuff goes- Church is playing chess while the other guys you mention are playing checkers.
July 13, 2018 @ 3:08 pm
Trigger used to go against Eric Church so much that it got on my nerves. He certainly isn’t on his dick. Some music is for some people, and not others. And EC is not comparable to FGL or Sam Hunt.
July 13, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
is he not? at least FGL and the others don’t pretend to be something they are not., EC is a puppet in aviators
July 13, 2018 @ 2:44 pm
Background vocals, congas, shaker, and chord progression is trying so hard to be Stonesy and is so fucking terrible. The worst part is how he sings on the beat like a rich white boy from the Carolinas. No soul, just a copycat with no original ideas. It really doesn’t matter if RWH’s name is on this or not. It’s boring and amateurish. I said “hey!” “HEY”. “Grown ass man.” Give me a break. I’ll say it again, just because this may be the best that country radio has to offer, doesn’t mean this is any good at all. With so much great music that has been made, why would I waste my time listening to a cheap Nashville copy of a 45 year old Rolling Stones classic. It’s just not great original music.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:47 pm
Trigger is losing credibility fast. Anything else mainstream he reviews gets bad ratings from him yet this GARBAGE song gets a high rating? F*ck outta here, I think I’m about done reading this site its becoming a worthless source of entertainment and information. I always thought Trig was fair and unbiased but this review shows extreme bias.
July 13, 2018 @ 3:53 pm
Trigger has ripped Eric Church a new one several times in the past, so if anything, this is shocking.
I feel like in recent years, Trigger has gone from trashing a song simply because it’s not country but it is saying it is, to critiquing the song from a higher, genre-less basis.
If he were to review the song from a strict country lens, then yeah it would probably get a terrible review (and that’s probably what you want honestly. To read another review about how new country music sucks and complain). But when he reviews it from just a straight up musical lens, you get reviews such as these.
July 13, 2018 @ 4:12 pm
Jake, you explain to me how this is fair to other mainstream country artists whom he reviews? He rips Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, FGL, and a good 98% of other mainstream acts for “not being country” but usually says their music would be good as a “pop or rock song” and he rates them bad specifically because they are in the country genre. Based on that, how is it ok to give Eric Church a good rating and openly state that this song “isnt country” but that its “ok” that its not country because he likes it? Thats called bias. I just read the title to this site and I believe if I’m correct, its called “Saving Country Music”. If Church is given a good rating for song that is not even close to being country and is openly stated in the review “is not country”, how is that “saving country music”? Its giving a good rating to a song and artist who have little to nothing to do with REAL country music. But like I said, its A-OK to bash other artists for un-country songs. I just can’t take Trigger seriously from now on, this review showed me this site is NOT about “saving country music”…..its about his personal opinions on who he likes and doesnt like. Ive been reading this site for years, ive watched it go to hell and im jumping ship.
July 13, 2018 @ 5:45 pm
If you can’t tell the difference in this and FGL then I can’t help you
July 13, 2018 @ 6:05 pm
There pander, he is doing what he wants whether people like it or not. Sure he has a fairly calculated image, but so does everyone. Yes I agree he is not country at all, but as trig said in his last review let’s hold hands and agree that he is a arena rock act and then move on.
July 14, 2018 @ 6:54 am
No, he doesn’t usually say that. He sometimes says that. And Bryan and FGL have gotten a good review here at least once each that I can remember. Oh, and those two are pop country. Sam Hunt is NOT.
This song does have some appeal to roots music fans, as did the Mr. Misunderstood album. If you click on the About link, you’ll see that roots falls under the SCM umbrella.
Buh bye, now
July 14, 2018 @ 7:45 am
Because their songs are terrible. Maybe you haven’t heard Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset, Repeat yet.
July 13, 2018 @ 4:16 pm
If you review this from a rock-n-roll lens, it’s even worse. This guy is a goofball. Compare this to the Stones inspired work by a group like The Black Crowes. Eric Church is playing dress up here and it’s weak.
July 14, 2018 @ 4:47 pm
Your probably not even aware the original lead guitarist from the black crowes is church’s guitarist. No surprise his music is more rock than not and a little crowes-like. Trigger is on the mark. Church makes good music. I am fine when Trigger reviews a good rock release, like BBS or Whiskey Meyers. The rock stuff he reviews is usually rootsy in nature and of interest to anyone who likes both good outlaw country and good old rock n roll.
Trig, you should review the new Wild Feathers release. It’s a great mix of country, country rock and rock. Anyone on this site that likes Tom Petty and the Eagles would love this band.
July 14, 2018 @ 5:52 pm
Actually, I’m very aware that Jeff Cease, the Crowe’s second guitarist that replaced Mark Ford, is in EC’s band. Still, EC’s music is not Crowe’s like even with a former hired gun in his band. And, this song, production, and singing doesn’t come close to the the excellent sound that Chris and Rich Robison created in the Black Crowes. You can hire a gun slinger guitar player, you can co-write a song with a Texas songwriting legend but that doesn’t make your music good if it sucks. And this sucks. It reminds me of Taylor Swift hiring Alison Kraus and Sam Bush to perform her song “Red” on an awards show. It still sucked.
July 15, 2018 @ 9:45 am
”And this sucks. It reminds me of Taylor Swift hiring Alison Kraus and Sam Bush to perform her song “Red” on an awards show. It still sucked.”
yup ….it still sucked and , IMHO , made those respected players look foolish playing it
July 15, 2018 @ 11:41 am
Actually, Jeff Cease preceded Marc Ford (spelt with a “c” not a “k”). Jeff Cease played only on the debut album, Shake Your Money Maker. Marc Ford joined for Southern Harmony…
Jeff Cease has been in EC’s touring band, has recorded on his albums, and participated in the songwriting through the last several EC releases. He hardly seems like a hired gun. In fact, I think that is a key reason EC’s albums have a consistent sound of a “band” even as he cycles through styles release to release.
July 15, 2018 @ 11:19 pm
Yes, I realized after I posted that i put them in the wrong order. Cease was first. Both great players. EC’s other guitar player is Driver Williams, son if BMI
Executive Jody Williams and member of the family that owned Martha
White Flour Company until selling it in the 90’s.
I understand that EC uses some of his band for recording unlike a lot of nashville acts but I can’t really tell any difference in the sound of this track and most everything else that comes out of music row.
Does this production and playing sound different to you?
July 13, 2018 @ 6:38 pm
Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit ya in the ass.
July 15, 2018 @ 11:42 am
Seconded! Tired of people on this site that think it’s cool that their only contribution is negative. Trig has brought so many non-traditional bands to my attention. Good music is good music.
July 13, 2018 @ 6:41 pm
a rip of a Stones song., nothing original here. I guess the Millennials will think its original so thats all that matters
July 13, 2018 @ 6:46 pm
this is cruise ship cabaret level. i don’t get the fanboy love for this guy – is it the same people who love that middle aged lesbian, Keith Urban?
July 13, 2018 @ 7:20 pm
What in god’s great fuck did I just listen to?
July 13, 2018 @ 8:06 pm
As much as you could criticize Eric Church at least one can say that Church does more than just name drop legends. I give him lots of props for that.
July 13, 2018 @ 8:19 pm
“it’s his (RWH) specific brand of poison nobody else can concoct that has the big names calling when they’re looking to capture a little bit of the underbelly of life.”
Hmmm. Lemme see here. Seems like there was another man in history who was forced to commit suicide (hemlock) for “corrupting the youth of Athens”. I am referring, of course, to Socrates. I surmise that RWH is in pretty good company… Don’t ya think Trigger?
July 13, 2018 @ 8:26 pm
I’ve not read any comments so is someone has said this already, I apologize to them. This song sucks. If Ray Wylie Hubbards name wasn’t used,
I don’t believe any one of you on here would like it, and I don’t like that guy anyways, so I don’t care. It sucks. Bad.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:09 pm
Look, as I said in the review, the “boo boo boo’s” are worthy reason to not like this track, and not much about it is country. If you don’t like the song, I totally understand, and wouldn’t argue with you. Eric Church is a polarizing guy, making that even more understandable. Obviously a lot of people do like it though, and I think a lot of where the dividing line lies is those that are familiar with what country radio is playing these days, and those that aren’t.
Music is there to be enjoyed. I roll up on ever song or album wanting to like it, because I’m a music fan. If it’s not your speed, no worries. I’m just giving my opinion on it.
July 14, 2018 @ 7:17 am
Trigger, it really has nothing to do with how country the song is… it has to do with how bad the production and singing are. In fact, if you think about this in rock standards it pales even more. Play this track next to rock band and it sucks. This is no different than when you say Sam Hunt is in country because his music isn’t good enough to compete with pop/hip hop artists. I say Eric this single isn’t good enough to be country and it sure as hell isn’t good enough to be rock. It’s just bad music. I wonder if I might like the song if I heard it interpreted by RWH? I just can’t get past EC’s tone, white on the beat phrasing, and the goofy, gimmicky production. Also, I wonder if you have listened to so much Top 40 radio that your ears have changed. I know from years of being on Music Row that after some time, people gravitate towards the mediocrity they are constantly fed.
July 14, 2018 @ 1:48 pm
“I say Eric this single isn’t good enough to be country and it sure as hell isn’t good enough to be rock.”
Can you elaborate on what you mean by that? Are you saying Rock is superior, or just that the talent standards for Country have just gotten so low?
Also, I’m curious what what you do. I agree with much of what you say, but you always have a “know-it-all” attitude in your comments.
July 14, 2018 @ 2:38 pm
I’m saying I don’t like it because it’s bad not because it isn’t country music. I’m also saying that it’s a cheap imitation just like when Brooks and Dunn would try to pull off a Stones groove with a Keef riff. It sounds contrived. And yes rock bands are much better at this style than country acts. So, if you compare this rock style track by country artist Eric Church to some rock band doing the same type style, it sounds goofy. He copying the Stones, there’s no way it’s going to not sound less than.
I work in the music industry and have for thirty years.
July 13, 2018 @ 11:48 pm
I see everyone making Stones comps, but how do y’all not hear Creedence ‘Fortunate Son’ vibes throughout?! I’ve never been a overt Church acolyte, but this will be (and should be) blasting all summer. Damn smart first move to shake em up. Put this on with new Cody Jinks, Dillon Carmichael, Chris Hennessee and Wild Feathers and your BBQ, road trip or pre-game gonna be LIT AF
July 14, 2018 @ 7:11 am
The chord progression is similar to CCR’s Fortunate Son, the Stones Sympathy for the devil, and a million other songs. The use of the flat 7 chord dictates a minor pentatonic blues scale that reminds you of Fortunate Son. Thats really the only similarity to CCR. The production is clearly trying to be Sympathy for the Devil.
July 15, 2018 @ 9:49 am
”production ”……..that’s a good one JWTLH…….what production ?
July 15, 2018 @ 7:52 pm
So this is no good because it uses a standard rock and roll chord progression, and it’s apparently also no good because, what, it doesn’t use standard country music chord progressions? I know only summer jam promised to leave the site, but here is hoping you do too. I have yet to see a single positive comment from you on this site related to anything Trigger says, any music he reviews, or anything for that matter. How about you go find a site called “Ihate everything” and you post there. I come to this site to hear trig’s views on good vs bad music. Thus far, he has been proven right time and time again ( thx Trigger for BBS and whiskey Meyers and a bunch of other good leads). Trigger has been right and you have been wrong over and over, take your buddy Summer Toe Jam and go post your thoughts somewhere else. No one here likes all the negativity.
July 15, 2018 @ 11:11 pm
My dearest Marky, in the comment above I only mentioned what makes it seem similar to CCR. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings with my opinions of Eric
Church’s music. I don’t think it’s really about positive vs. negative comments on this site. I think it’s more about taste and opinions. If you don’t like my opinions, maybe you should quite reading this site. I’m not crying about your bad taste. I come here to be open and honest about music. I love certain new acts like Zephaniah O’Hora but I when I hear bad music like this song, I have no problem saying it. How boring would this forum be if everyone agreed? It would put trigger our of business. So, maybe just skip over my comments in the future if they upset you so much. Have a nice day!
July 21, 2018 @ 9:56 pm
Singing exactly like John Fogerty is what makes this sound like CCR.
July 14, 2018 @ 4:51 am
This is so crappy. What a fraud, Church is. He works so hard to be cool.
July 14, 2018 @ 5:39 am
When it comes to decent thought out songs:
Hey, what can I say?
I’m a desperate man…
July 14, 2018 @ 1:47 pm
Cue Futurama Fry meme: “Not sure if you like or dislike the song.”
July 14, 2018 @ 6:00 am
Gonna have to withhold judgment until I get Fuzzy and Honky’s take on this…
July 14, 2018 @ 6:20 am
Who’s that on the “boo boo boo’s?” The Partridge Family?
Sorry. Had to. Like others here, it reminds me of Chattanooga Lucy. That wasn’t my favorite song on Mr. Misunderstood (only Church album I have), but I like it well enough to let it play when I listen to the album. Pretty much feel the same about this song. And I don’t hear The Rolling Stones AT ALL. This is a fun little power pop song, which is not the type of song that I associate with the Stones. And I never would have guessed that Ray Wylie co-wrote based on what I hear. But here’s to him getting paid!
July 14, 2018 @ 6:26 am
Whether you like it or not (I can take or leave it), The Glimmer Twins shoulda got a songwriting credit.
July 14, 2018 @ 7:49 am
Well… at least you can’t say EC is afraid of changing it up.
It’s tolerable as background noise. EC does make music that actually sounds like music, so he’s got that going for him.
The further down the road he goes, the less country influence comes out, which definitely turns me off.
July 14, 2018 @ 8:39 am
Yikes. This is not what I was hoping for. I agree with a vast majority of Trigger’s reviews, but this song is just not my thing. I had trouble getting through even the first minute, and it hasn’t gotten better for me on any listen. Definitely bummed if this is what his new stuff is going to sound like.
July 14, 2018 @ 10:07 am
sounds like an American Idol version of Sympathy For The Devil
July 14, 2018 @ 10:36 am
I enjoy this song for what it is. It’s not the best I’ve heard and far from the worst but if people support this song going to country radio then they better pipe down about the next Bebe Rexa or whatever pop act hits the country charts.
July 14, 2018 @ 10:56 am
How did this song get a 7.5/10 when Garth’s All Day Long only got a 6/10? I’m a fan of both Garth and Church, but All Day Long is a better song. I thought this site was Saving Country Music not Saving Rolling Stones Sound A Likes. You do a great job with this site and I agree with a lot of your views, but I completely disagree with the rating of Desperate Man.
July 14, 2018 @ 11:26 am
I respect your opinion. We all have different ones. As I said in the review, there’s some polarizing elements to the song so I’m not going to get too hot and bothered if someone disagrees on this one. And don’t get too hung up on the ratings. They’re just a guidepost. It’s the review itself that should be the ultimate takeaway from a song.
July 14, 2018 @ 12:42 pm
From Ray’s FB page: so eric said lets write a song about a desperate man. i said i once was so desperate i went to a fortune teller to get my future read and she said i didn’t have one. he smiled and laid down this groove and we rode it to town.
so thats how that happened and i guess you figured out i can keep a secret.
a few weeks ago he called and said they were doing a video shoot for the song that was a period piece set in the 70’s and they needed a guy who looked like a miami vice cocaine cowboy drug runner and every one he talked to suggested me so would i be interested.
i said i got the perfect face for radio but any close up would scare the children.
so i went up to nashville and did it.
i wasn’t wild about wearing a leisure suit and a polyester shirt with a collar the size of buzzed wings and a gold chain at first but then i felt pretty stylish after a while.
comes out monday.
eric has done a bunch of stuff he didn’t have to do like namedropping me in a song, asking me to come sing with him in dallas at that huge place, singing on tell the devil i’m getting there as fast as i can, coming to austin at his own expense to be a part of my induction into the texas heritage songwriter hall of fame, asking me to write a song with him that is the title of his next record and being in his video.
between takes we were setting of this couch and i asked him why he did all this and he said he had been a fan of my writing since he first started out and wanted more people to become aware of me.
we sat there for a minute as they were setting up the next shot and all i could manage to say was thank you.
i was reminded of the time i opened for waylon in santa cruz at an all day thing and we had played early and how after we finished our set we had to leave for another gig but the promoter was dodging us and dragging his feet in paying us and will byrd who was waylon’s road manager at the time ran into us and asked why we were still there as he knew we had to split and we told him we hadn’t been paid and he said hang on i’m gonna tell waylon and then about 5 minutes later the promoter came in with 2 girls from the concession stand and he paid us our thousand bucks in twenties, tens, fives, ones and 4 rolls of quarters. he said go tell waylon you got paid cause he said he wasn’t going on stage till you were squared up.
i guess there are some cats who no matter how famous they get care about the ones who still struggling.
i got to put eric in their company.
and..
eric’s wife katherine bought a hat from my website.
July 14, 2018 @ 1:21 pm
To me, the ‘boop’ing sounds disconnected from the concept. It sounds happy go lucky, and not desperate at all. The figure would’ve been better served by the guitar rather than the voices.
July 15, 2018 @ 3:25 pm
Jinnash …THIS is the kind of observation we need more of . We need to educate listeners to appreciate the marriage of lyric to arrangement and to the countless other reasons a song production does or absolutely DOESN’T work .
There are no 160 bpm 2/4 bluegrass songs about having to put your dog down . AND THAT is no accident .
July 15, 2018 @ 4:21 pm
Yes, it just seemed like a design error to me. Treat the figure like a sped up “Can’t You See” Marshall Tucker Band, and, suddenly, the whole thing sounds much more desperate, gritty, authentic, and believable. Also, Eric frequently makes use of the “opposites” device in his songs…”half cocked full tilt”. The old guard, hall of fame songwriting mentors down on the row would always help young writers clean that kind of stuff up, but those guys are about all gone now.
July 15, 2018 @ 5:50 pm
Spot on. Please post more frequently.
July 15, 2018 @ 6:00 pm
Wait, the boop figure is FGA, up a major third. Would it feel better if it were FGAb, up a minor third? I know pop avoids minor tonalities because they’re depressing (rolls eyes), but f*** them.
“Sympathy” is in in E major, fine. But Mick sang in the voice of the devil trying to appear persuasive — so major is appropriate. Here, the whole dog’s breakfast of a lyric isn’t trying to do anything. Maybe the song should be in both major and minor, shifting back and forth between both.
Which is giving this tune wayyyy too much attention. It’s a throwaway.
July 15, 2018 @ 10:55 pm
”The old guard, hall of fame songwriting mentors down on the row would always help young writers clean that kind of stuff up, but those guys are about all gone now.”
Exactly ….now we get these half-baked label directed co-writes between the singer and a couple of younger writers with ‘track records” on the charts . I mean …how does a flawed , poorly written song like ” Better Man” by Taylor Swift get cut if her name isn’t on it ? But again …..we have so many WONDERFUL music options available to us that this stuff really doesn’t matter outside of the damage it may do to up and coming writers in terms of the education aspects .
July 16, 2018 @ 3:56 am
All of the craftsmen are about gone, and the ones that know better don’t care anymore because they’re just trying to survive. When the main job in the write is to ‘build the track’ this is what you get.
July 16, 2018 @ 6:51 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If2Bli0rZcA
July 14, 2018 @ 1:35 pm
Just heard it on Sirius. It is dogshit! And, that is an affront to dogshit.
July 14, 2018 @ 3:40 pm
Well I gave it a 3rd try. Still nope. Now I’m gonna need a drink in my hand!
July 15, 2018 @ 9:18 am
I’ve always felt like Eric Church was just recording demos ….sketches for an idea he planned to get back to and flesh out ( improve ) later …………..or not . This ‘song’ follows suit in that respect. Boring music ……pretty-much NO melody ….barely discernible ( at times ) lyrics and never gets off the ground dynamically .
The Rolling Stones did it wayyyy better with Sympathy For The Devil .
That one wasn’t country either .
July 15, 2018 @ 5:56 pm
I like it, I see what he was going for. Looking forward to the album!
July 16, 2018 @ 4:48 am
To your point about songwriters being gritty and lending their rough and heartfelt songs to superstars (paraphrased), one writer I’ve been following a lot lately is Travis Meadows. I’ve seen him a couple of times live, most recently opening for American Aquarium. This guy sings some painful songs, and you can tell he lived them. Now, the “country” acts have discovered him and are cutting his songs, covering each with a candy shell, thick production, and making them prettier and easier to swallow. The most recent travesty is Kenny Chesney covering “Better Boat”… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwZfQSLxg3U.
July 16, 2018 @ 4:50 am
Oh, and “Desperate Man” is an okay track too. I would love to hear RWH’s version of it someday.
July 16, 2018 @ 6:27 am
I prefer my Ray Wylie without the water.
July 16, 2018 @ 6:53 am
on poorly written , underwritten , derivative commercial rip-off schlocky songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If2Bli0rZcA
July 17, 2018 @ 11:42 am
I mostly get a Sly Stone “Dance to the Music” vibe, only with the “Boo-Boo-Boos” done by the DiFranco Family rather than the Family Stone. Take out the shaker and the guitar fills and the similarities to “Sympathy for the Devil” disappear.
It’s a decent song. Other than the “boo-boos” my only real complaints are, as someone else mentioned, it’s supposed to be a badass song but is sung in the least badass manner possible (he must not have been in Chief mode when he recorded it); and my standard complaint about pretty much every Church song, he needs to quit mumbling and open his mouth.
July 18, 2018 @ 5:53 pm
Regarding this song I’m sort of stuck in the middle. I don’t dislike it but not sure what to make of it. Maybe I have to hear it more than 3 times? ha,ha 🙂
I do like that he is his own person, making his own sound. “…Daring radio not to play it…” I admire that bit if outlaw in him. Music is of course most important, but the guy definitely has the ‘cool’ factor going. The shades annoy some people but I like it for the completion of the ‘cool look’. 🙂
Bruce is one of my favorite Recording Artists (and people) of all time and I guess Eric’s connection to him makes me like him more. Referring to “Springsteen”, I don’t think I could like that song (or video) more. Supposedly Eric has looked up to him in different ways, and it’s affected him positively. If he wants to look to someone in Music to learn from, from Artistic Integrity to how he treats his fans and how he handles fame, he chose one of the best people he could.
November 15, 2018 @ 9:07 am
Saw him perform this song on CMA’s last night. Complete rip-off of Sympathy for the Devil
on structured lyrics and melody.
Sure didn’t sound like country music. Just another propped up no talent wannabe star!
April 24, 2019 @ 1:25 am
Loved this song from the first time I heard it!! Kept thinking it wasn’t getting enough air time. After 8 yrs of struggling from a divorce from just a mean ass man, I felt this song came in at my turning point and spoke every word of my perservearnce! 19 jobs in these past 8 yrs, after being self employed for 20. Tried everything almost, and finally back to two jobs that feel like “coming home”. The video doesn’t do the song justice. Maybe that’s the problem. But I fought so hard to start over that it matched with his lyrics of trying to prove he had a future. I told everyone I would line my ducks in a row, and if they got squished, I would fluff them up and start a new row! Love this one!!! Might actually be the first concert I will go to in 30 years!! Just to hear it live!!!