Every
week, millions of fans watched Nashville Star and voted for their favorites. I have to
admit I was biased from the beginning having been a George Canyon fan since I had reviewed
his first album in 1996. As it came down to the wire, it looked to me that the final two
standing would be Brad and George... low and behold, for once in my life I was right. I
have to admit, it was tough for me to watch as each man was so extremely talented and just
downright "likeable"!
I think (and I use that term loosely) what really threw it
over the top for Brad was one song, "I Miss Me". When I heard that song I
literally had chills all over and SO identified with the lyrics that I fell instantly in
love with the song, and the singer. I also saw the awe and wonder in the eyes of the
judges on the panel who were literally blown away as Brad played his keyboard and sang,
"I Miss Me". When he was done singing, one of the Warren Brothers (recording
artists and panel judges) told him flat out to stay behind that keyboard and don't pick up
another guitar because it was his best performance yet! After that, I watched Brad's stage
presence grow more and more relaxed and confident which certainly enhanced his
performances... but it was his choice of songs and the way he sang them... right from the
heart where they took root that won me over.
Brad also has a very distinct sound and style. You won't
confuse his songs with another singer or ask, "who's singing that?" when his
songs come across the airwaves into your radio. He has a sound and style all his own that
separates him from the herd, so to speak... and it's that separation that will carry him
on in his career. Most artists' styles come from a combination of their musical influences
and heroes. Brad was pretty eclectic in his tastes... Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Percy
Sledge, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard... put that all together, add a
dash of humble pie and a die-hard attitude and you've got the makings of country's latest
super star, Brad Cotter.
The selection of songs on "Patient Man" make this an
all around great country album. My hat is off to Sony/Epic for allowing Brad to "be
himself" and use a lot of the songs that he wrote and co-wrote with Steve Bogard and
Rick Giles (who also co-produced the CD), which of course includes, "I Miss Me",
"I Meant To" and many more. The selection of songs also demonstrates Brad's
vocal range, which wasn't readily apparent to me on Nashville Star. The song, "I Came
Here To Live" is a perfect example of that range as well as being a song that smacks
you right between the eyes... it's a wake up call and as the song progresses it tells it's
own story and moral... and Brad's voice goes to a deep baritone that brands it into your
very soul.
All
in all, I believe the one thing that will make this album a hit is that the songs
"fit" Brad, therefore his singing is from the heart; be it a heartachin' song or
a rockin' good time song, you feel his personality influencing his voice and your
emotions. He's lived it and he makes you feel it. That's what country music is about and
this country boy has poured his heart into a hit album by being, a "Patient
Man".
© Marlene Slater (Marli)
My Kind of Country
10-1-04
Stories Behind the Songs as
quoted by Brad Cotter:
"I Miss
Me": - “I wrote the song with Steve Bogard and Rick Giles after ending a
two year relationship. After we called it quits, I kept allowing her back in my life
because I thought I still missed her, when in all actuality, I missed what I use to be
before things became so complicated…I missed me! I just hope everyone can relate to
this song because we’ve all been there, and if you haven’t, then you
haven’t lived!”
"I Meant To" -
"I walked into Rick Giles' office (late as usual), to write. The first words out of
my mouth were 'I meant to call you and tell you I'd be late, but as you know, I don't
carry a cell phone and I forgot before I left my house. Hell, I meant to do a lot of
things.' Steve and Rick said, 'That's what we're writing about.'"
