Who wants to talk about Jamey Johnson's new double album, The Guitar Song?

Poor guy must have writer's block.

Yeah, I'm gonna pass on this one. I don't really go back to either of his last two records.

I'll listen to it if a physical copy falls into my lap, or if somebody offers to pay me to write about it. But otherwise, no great loss if I don't -- tribute album = holding pattern by definition. Call me when he decides to make a real album.

Plus, to be honest, all those guest stars make it just sound depressing.

Oh you cynics, don't you believe the press release explanation:

When it came time to take the next step in his recording career, he listened to his heart and decided to embark on a labor of love. In a daring career move that is consistent with Johnson's penchant for bucking conventional industry wisdom to create a unique path, he decided to devote his time and creative efforts to honoring his late friend and celebrate traditional country music.

"Shortly after he first met Jamey, Hank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer," says his widow, Suzi Cochran. "So for the two years he lived after that, Jamey would get off the road and pull his bus right up to the hospital, run up and see Hank and raise Hank's spirits. The last time Jamey saw Hank was the night before Hank died." Johnson joined Buddy Cannon and Billy Ray Cyrus at Cochran's bedside as they handed the guitar back and forth while singing Cochran's songs. Cochran died about six hours later.

It was Cochran's passing that inspired the idea for the tribute album. "We all met at the house one day and sang some songs," Johnson says. "Bobby Bare was introducing me to a bunch of songs that when I thought I heard it all, I hadn't heard anything yet. All the best stuff was the stuff I didn't know about yet.

No young or unexpected collaborators

Threw this on last night for a long drive... I cracked up over Dog In a Yard this time around. It never occurred to me before, but he's talking about being a dog and driving that metaphor home on every line and then all of a sudden he comes in with 'When I make love to you' and I was like, "Wait WHAT? Oh."

I know it'a a LOT of songs. But after listening to it last night and this morning all the way through it really flows together well.

Still have not seen him play live >:(

oh and I heard his 'Two Out of Three Ain't Bad'

I'm a sucker for that song, and for that arrangement --- I love it. I think he did a great job with it. Good cryin' into your beer song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGEIcdYOuHo

his guitarist looks like a total tweaker