Gretchen Wilson-All Jacked Up

Album: All Jacked up

Record Label: Sony
Track listing:
01. all jacked up
02. raining on me
03. not bad for a bartender
04. good morning heartache
05. California girls
06. Fulltime job
07. Skoal ring
08. He ain’t even cold yet
09. One bud wiser
10. Politically incorrect
11. I don’t feel like loving you today
12. Rebel child

Gretchen Wilson followed up with the success of her debut album, with All Jacked up. All jacked up entered both the country charts and billboard top 200’s at #1.

While teaming up with the same people who helped her bring success with her debut album, Here for the party, Wilson this time also took on a role as co-producer.

Although 2004’s Here For the Party, was an enormous hit, and allowed Gretchen Wilson to shine, this album brings a more diverse style to Wilson.
With more than a few shades of country, the album also slides into different genres that include a flavor of pop and country.

Gretchen Wilson shows her hand at songwriting throughout this whole album, and the song Not bad for a bartender is one that shines through.
An autobiographical song that tells of Wilson’s climb to the top from a floor-sweeping bartender, 8th grade educated small country girl to one of the hottest acts in country these days.

One song that always shines through for me is California Girls, with Wilson admitting her dislike for Paris Hilton, and with the lines, “There ain't nothing wrong with plastic surgery/Well, Dolly Parton never looked so good to me/Everybody oughta be exactly who they want to be/But that Paris Hilton gets under my skin/With her big, fake smile and her painted-on tan/Never had a chance at a real man” the song is sung with real humour.

A delightful surprise on the album is Wilson’s cover of the old Billie Holiday track, “Goodbye Heartache” which she sings to perfection.
While not one of my favourite songs on the album, Wilson does remarkably well, as she slips into the jazz number.

Merle Haggard makes a guest appearance on “Politically Incorrect”, in which she roots for the underdog, proclaiming she’s for “the low man on the pole”.

One song that really shines is her dedication to mothers, on her track fulltime job, a song Gretchen knows very well, as a mother of child.

I expected all jacked up to be just as brilliant as here for the party and Gretchen has succeeded again, which is surprising.

It’s hard not to be impressed with an album that was written, produced and recorded so quickly after her debut, and amidst touring and media junkets.

Favourite tracks on this album, fulltime job, california girls, politically incorrect, he ain’t cold yet

I give this album 3/5

Official site