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"AMERICANA THE WAY IT WAS AND THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ~~ His vocal sound-- a touch of Haggard here and a smear of Willie there-- is wonderfully dated, old Opry and much the better for it. His original songs, such as Jackknife and Reputation, sound like old friends."
Fred Dellar, MOJO MAGAZINE 8/07
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"It wouldn't take the 'Perfect World' Jon Byrd sings about with such wistful, regretful finesse on this disc for more people to know him as the terrifically accomplished, versatile country singer he is."
Barry Mazor, NO DEPRESSION 6/07
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"The surprise of the listening session was JON BYRD. His CD shows it's time for him to step out of the shadows and as a sideman. A well-deserved DisCovery Award.
JON BYRD/Jackknife
Writer J. Byrd; Producer Milan Miller; Publisher: none listed; Longleaf Pine Records (track) (www.jonbyrd.com)
--This fellow is best known around Nashville's Americana community for his deft guitar backing of other artists. But as this BYRD'S AUTO PARTS CD and his appearances on Billy Block's Western Beat showcases confirm, he is also a singer and songwriter of considerable warmth and personality. This lead-off track on his solo CD sounds an awful lot like a for-real hit song to me. Elsewhere he ably covers tunes by Doug Sahm, Lennon & McCartney, Neil Young and others. Take it from me, his originals can stand on their own two feet. This one's gonna be hanging around my stereo for awhile." From the DISClaimer column by Robert K. Oermann, Music Row Magazine 6/07
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"On the inside of Byrd’s Auto Parts, the debut album for this well-traveled guitarist, his cowboy boots are photographed propped up against a Fender amp, his Telecaster leaning on the other side. That might suggest that his style of
country music leans on the Bakersfield sound and shows off this in-demand sideman’s six-string work—and it does. But the real news comes in how distinctly his original songs blend with several cleverly chosen remakes, from the crisp, Buckaroos-style drive of Red Sovine’s “Freightliner Fever,” Johnny Cash’s “Blistered” and Doug Sahm’s “Be Real” to crafty, dirt-road arrangements of The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” and Neil Young’s great, rarely revived “(When You’re on) the Losing End.” The album suggests Byrd deserves not only to be plugged into an amp, but also to be standing behind the microphone at the center of the stage." Michael McCall--Nasville Scene
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"'Old Country' - Alive and Well! If you like your country music in back to basics, strictly non - alt mode, delivered in a weathered,"lived in" voice a la Nelson/Williams/Kristofferson, then this could be the record for you. There are four originals on offer, with the aching, lingering "Stay", featuring gorgeous harmonies from Adam and Shannon Wright, probably the most impressive. The band is tight, and well drilled, with pedal steel, and the multi instrumental talents of producer Milan Miller much in evidence. They really "cook", partucularly on the Haggardesque "Freightliner Fever", and Byrd's own "One Final Round", but despite the high standard of the backing musicians, possibly the standout moment is on Doyle Primm's "Mark my Word", where Byrd's assured,emotionally charged vocal has only his own acoustic guitar for support."
John Hinshelwood--Americana UK 5/27/07
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"Byrd's voice is rich with nostalgic flavors of old-school country."
Gregory Nicoll--Stomp and Stammer |
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"Watching Byrd perform is like watching a veteran country music icon performing for his friends... Byrd's vocals are a beautiful mixture of Willie Nelson's sweet vibrato and Kris Kristofferson's warm and woody timber... don't be surprised if you catch yourself saying, 'Oh yeah, this is why I used to like country music.'"
--listennashville.com 4/1/07
***************************** THE NASHVILLE SCENE CRITICS PICKS
Saturday, Feb 24TH
BYRD'S AUTO PARTS
Hard work, solid chops and wry charm have already earned Tele slinger Jon Byrd a sterling reputation on the honky-tonk side of Nashville's Americana community, but even those familiar with his work to date are likely to find Byrd's Auto Parts' debut, self-titled CD an elegant surprise. Four originals, including the wistfully humorous, steady-rollin' opener, "Jackknife," show off his sinewy writing skills, while the entire set justifies the relaxed self-confidence of his vocals. The backing, which prominently features producer Milan Miller, along with Alex McCullough (bass), Tim Blankenship (drums) and a handful of steel-playing and vocal guests (Adam and Shannon Wright among them), is spare but not sparse and exceedingly well-crafted.
-- JON WEISBERGER
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THE CITY PAPER
LIFESTYLE ~ 4 DAYS IN THE CITY 2/22/2007
JON BYRD
Jon Byrd's prowess with honky-tonk and hard country material as an instrumentalist and vocalist have earned him a sizable following, and his forthcoming new CD Auto Parts fully chronicles his skills in both areas. Byrd also has a cut on a current compilation of music from East Nashville artists.
-- RON WYNN
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THE TENNESSEAN
TOP PICK for Saturday, 02/24/07
Byrd's New Album Helps Keep Career on Schedule ~~ Jon Byrd moved from Atlanta to Nashville in 2001, and since then he's been kicking around Music City stages, playing fine guitar, singing soulful lead and harmony vocals, leading his Byrd's Auto Parts band and providing sideman-style assistance for a circle of music-minded friends.
The new Byrd's Auto Parts album finds Jon Byrd realizing his own soulful country vision.
-- PETER COOPER, STAFF WRITER
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ALL THE RAGE
Entertainment ~ Live Music
Saturday, Feb. 24
COUNTRY/AMERICANA/BLUEGRASS
*JON BYRD & BYRD'S AUTO PARTS:
Byrd made a name for himself singing hot country and rock in dive bars in the '90s; he's now found a home amongst Nashville's rollicking crew of alt-country and hard-edged Americana writers that includes Stephen Simmons, Davis Raines and others.
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