I think you'll find that the songs Cody performs on his new
album, "Peace, Love & Coondawgs" can almost define who Cody McCarver is. I
felt as though I'd learned something about the man as well as the artist from his choice
and variety of the songs; from "Red Flag" which is a parody warning women what
to avoid when choosing a man to the soulful and heartbreaking, "Look What You've
Done", which he delivers with his full heart and soul. Being the ballad lover that I
am, "Look What You've Done" reached out to me instantly... and is worth the
purchase of the entire CD on it's own!
Oddly enough, I started writing the above review before
reading up on Cody's history, which for me is a normal thing. I concentrate on the music
more than the personality but as I tried to convey what I'd felt, I knew there was
somthing missing.. something I couldn't explain.. so I started reading his biography. If I
hadn't heard the album first, I would have been completely shocked... but having heard his
heart in his music, I have to say, I'm not as shocked at what he's endured as I am
that he was able to make me "feel" a part of his soul from his music. With all
that Cody has endured, it's amazing that he's survived, let alone convey his laughter and
tears in his music... that's no small achievement.
Cody said, "My life has been a roller-coaster. My
father is in prison serving a life sentence and my mother has been in rehab 11 times, so
I'm not in the habit of judging anybody. Everyone has one of those days every now and then
and they think no one understands what they are going through. The music on this album is
my way of saying, 'I know exactly what you're going through and I'm right there with
you'".
Well, that explained to me why I felt so much emotion from
Cody's music. It's real... it's embedded into his heart and soul. Cody took his pain and
turned it into something positive as well as cathartic for himself and his listeners. His
music is honest and straight-forward. He'll make you laugh, cry, cuss, and think... but
most of all... feel.
Cody McCarver IS the ultimate walkin', talkin'
country song and he's My Kind of Country!
Marlene "Marli" Slater
2-16-07
