Josh Turner - Punching Bag

The 'Bone Shaking Baritone' returns with his new album Punching Bag that comes with a pretty cool intro track by Michael Buffer. The title track jumps with an eastcoast swing tempo that is not as good as one would hope after the opening. A more likable song "Time Is Love" follows but once again it is a more country crossover type track that is too generic to be anything more than a candidate for the elevator music soundtrack.

Turner finally hits the low notes on "Deeper Than My Love" and here is where he sounds right and the song actually has something going on with in its country confines. Reminds a little of a cool old school Randy Travis jam. The album seems to be on the up-swing as the run continues with "Good Problem To Have" and the fantastic and I mean fantastic "Cold Shoulder" that is pure country classic. The gold continues with a catchy little number called "Find Me A Baby" with Josh using is deep voice to absolute perfection. I had been worried early on listening to this record but as it unfolded that went away and a little excitement began to build for each track.

Turner continues to deliver on the album with more great country music that harkens back to a much better time in the genre. A time when songs were more important than who was singing them and what they were wearing or how hot they looked. Not that Turner is a hound in the looks department he's really a great singer and it is his singing and song writing that is on display not his looks unlike the Carrie Underwoods and countless Taylor Swift clones that are beginning to show up now. There is substance and talent to be had with Josh Turner and he wraps the whole package up and ties it with a nice bow. As I write that I'm not a huge fan of this entire record songs like "Pallbearer" are weak plane and simple and the gospel praise song "For The Love Of God" really isn't my cup of tea but I have to admit lyrics aside this song is pretty good and a great two-step. I wish they'd stop with these sort of lyrical songs and find something better to write about though.

After another ballad that doesn't capture my interest the album closes with "Left Hand Man" that tries really hard to grab the Brad Paisley sound and comes close but doesn't quite match up. Although it is still a good song in its own right and one of the better tracks on Punching Bag. Josh Turner's 2012 album is a mostly good album and in the country format that's about what you get now 'pretty good'.