CMT Blog: Archive

Lately I've been enjoying Charlie Robison's Beautiful Day, scheduled for a June 23 release. For me, it's been very moody and in perfect harmony with the back and forth spring weather here in Nashville. I say "moody" because Robison finalized his divorce from the Dixie Chicks' Emily Robison last summer, so it would be understandable if the album felt angry and jilted. To a certain extent it does, but Beautiful Day, as its name suggests, doesn't have the numbing, depressive feel of some "divorce albums." Basically, the heartache is there, but not the despair. With ringing guitar chords, mandolin embellishments and even a few slick bass lines, the instrumentation contrasts with Robison's gravely voice and lyrics just enough to give that silver-lining feeling. Just like Nashville in May. Check out extended samples of "Down Again" and "Nothin' Better to Do" on his MySpace page.