john Arthur martinez,
Lone Starry Night

Label: Dualtone
Year: 2004

(3½ out of 5)

Although john Arthur martinez has worked the hill country Texas Music scene for a number of years, he rocketed to national stardom thanks to his second-place finish on Nashville Star. Now Dualtone is the home of his first major label release, which combines songs performed on the TV show with other jAm originals and one cover.

The first half of the album features strong material and performances. "The Man Who Holds the Bow" is a coming-of-age tale with frolicking fiddle work by Larry Franklin. jAm adds a little Tex-Mex flavor to spice up the George Strait hit "Amarillo By Morning." The loosest song of the bunch, "The Armadillo Song," is also the most fun to listen to.

"If I Didn't Care," a stepfather's lovesong to his adopted family, is the album's standout track. The lyrics are compelling and heartfelt: I can't be the one to tell you that I'm sorry / For all the wrong that someone else has done / But I'll be the one still standing right beside you / When everybody else has cut and run. jAm's soulful tenor shines through, adding a depth and emotion lacking from most of the later songs.

"Just Like the Moon" and "Trouble Rides a Fast Horse" signal a lyrical retreat into cliché-filled waters. Unlike his best songs, there seems no direct connection to jAm's own life. "Pour a Little Love On It" and "Lone Starry Night" are over-emotive and provide a weak closure to the album.

Overall, the sound is excellent. Producer Matt Rollings deserves praise for the crisp vocals and soaring instrumentals. A number of session players and guests provide a strong supporting cast. Of particular note is Jon Randall Stewart's powerful background vocals on five of the tracks.

While the first half of the album builds a momentum that the closing tracks cannot sustain, overall Lone Starry Night is a promising national debut. When writing from experience, jAm crafts compelling lyrics that manage to both uplift and inspire.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

July 20, 2004