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Lone Starry Night
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John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
great music at 2005-01-08
As a native Texan, I think Lone Starry Night is one of the best songs ever about our state. But the entire CD is fantastic. The only downer is the Armadillo song. It was done much better on one of JAMs previous efforts and in no way illustrates how great that song is live. Worth the money and then some.
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
jAming fantastic at 2004-11-08
You may have seen him on Nashville Star but you wont really appreciate the music until you hear this new album. John Arthur Martinez has put together an eclectic collection of songs that has something for almost everyone. Whether you want a ballad, traditional country, or a rocking good time, Lone Starry Night is for you. I highly recommend it.David Thompson
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
WOW at 2004-09-12
What a treasure! And I mean both the singer and the songs. A song for every mood. If I Didnt Care brings a tear every time I hear it. Trouble Rides A Fast Horse sticks with you. Thank you John Arthur! Somewhere in you I see something of Hank Williams SR, but its rolled into an awesome package with your God given talent.
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
Give John Arthur Martinez a Try at 2005-10-17
John Arthur Martinez was a finalist on Nashville Star. His blending of Spanish into the songs adds unique charm. John deserves a chance. Not a cookie cutter cowboy singer.
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
Great Tex-Mex/Country Sounds at 2005-02-16
It really is a shame that John Arthur Martinez didnt win the Nashville Star competition. Not to steal any of Buddy Jewells thunder, but Martinez seems to be a more talented writer, singer, and artist. But obviously the folks in Nashville wanted a star that they could mold into their perfect creation. Jewell has that whole Travis Tritt meets Waylon Jennings thing going for him. He also has a sound with larger demographic appeal, so it doesnt surprise me that he was picked instead of Martinez. Believe me, Im glad for Jewell, but I think that Martinez is the better all-around artist. Martinez doesnt fit the mold that Nashville is looking for. Had he given in to the wishes of Music City, hed be singing about dancin in the bed of an ol Ford with his redneck girl. Then hed watch a little NASCAR and drink a little Jim Beam with his buddies at the bar. Instead, he embraces his heritage, faith, and home state whole-heartedly.Hell never draw the big crowds of bubbly girls like a Tim McGraw or a Kenny Chesney. He wont write a song like Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy thatll end up as a vinyl sticker on the back of some idiots truck. Instead, hell probably be the guy content with writing great songs like The Man Who Holds The Bow and Lone Starry Night. In other words, Martinez writes songs from the heart about the things that are important to him. Judging by this album, those things include his aforementioned faith, heritage, and the great state of Texas.If any of these songs have commercial potential, Id have to say that The River Of Love/El Rio Amor and The Man Who Holds The Bow are definite winners. El Rio Amor would have given Marty Robbins a run for his money back in Robbins heyday. The rest of this album is loaded with great, true-to-the-heart songs that give you an insight into the thoughts and feelings of Martinez. My favorite song on the album is A Girl Named Texas. If you know anything about Texas artists, you can picture this song being sung by a guy like Gary P. Nunn. It reminded me of Nunns What I Like About Texas. Home Made Of Stone and Trouble Rides A Fast Horse are two of my other favorites.Martinez covers Amarillo By Morning, which we all know George Strait turned into a hit. I like Martinez version, but he really shines brighter on his original work. I must say that the accordian was a nice touch to Amarillo, though. The Armadillo Song has bar-song written all over it. It would sound great if you gathered up a few drunks at the bar and challenged them to sing it. I slip and studder through it, and thats when Im sober. It also would probably appeal to children(I know my three year-old shook her rump to it).Martinez throws a little Spanish into some of the songs, which I love. Unfortunately, Nashville looks down on expressing ethnicity. Guys like the Texas Tornados, Los Lobos, BeauSoleil, and, to a lesser extent, acts like the Mavericks and JoEl Sonnier, are ten times better than most of the acts that are bringing in the big bucks these days, but because they embrace their heritage, theyll always be considered regional acts. Thats ashame, but its also a good thing because we get to keep the best artists to ourselves.So if you love your country music with a little Tex-Mex flavor or if you enjoy artists like the late Marty Robbins, this album is for you. If you enjoy artists with a regional flavor like Gary P. Nunn, buy this album. Or if you simply enjoy great songs performed by the guy who actually WROTE them, get this disc.I highly recommend it.
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Stand Your Ground
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John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
Excellent CD at 2004-02-16
Loved the CD and all the songs performed on Nashville Star!!!
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
Master song writer at 2003-09-08
John Arthur IS a master song writer. I love the words to Stand Your Ground, El Rio Amor is beautiful, I wish he had more in spanish! Wild is a real rocker!His songs are more of a Ballad type like Tom T Halls, but he has more variety in his melodies than Tom.Married to Your Memory is another beautiful one, music and words. A great CD!
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
A swing through Texas Music at 2003-05-08
Your travel guide for this Texas trip is john Arthur martinez, recently a contestant on Nashville Star. This is the third of his independantly releassed CDs, and the most diverse of the three. Your first stop is a dance hall outside of Austin, Texas, where you can listen to the upbeat Western Swing tune A Girl Named Texas. If you are very fast on your feet, you may be able to keep up with john Arthurs Armadillo Song a tounge-twister of a ditty sung at breakneck speed. This is the song that wowed the Nashville Star croud during the finale episode. To cool yourself off, enjoy two slow dance numbers, Show Me and Every Day is Christmas. AS you leave the Dance hall, you drive along through the country roads and small towns of the Texas Hill Country; enjoy the songs of small town life Heres to the Boys and The Man Who Holds the Bow. These songs evoke the charm and heart to be found in friends and family. Visit the San Antonio Riverwalk in the Spanish Rio Amour (The River of Love). This tune is to be in the move Box of Miracles. Ladies, hold on to something sturdy when you listen to this one...a friend tells me her knees turn to jelly when she hears john Arthur sing a romantic spanish song. And this sure is one. Married to Your Memory is perhaps the most traditional Country-type tune on the CD. Theres no room to describe all the great music on this CD- listen after the last track for a hidden fun song. All in all, the best Country/Western CD I have heard in the last 10 years.
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
Genuine and Sincere Music at 2005-07-04
Its such a shame that you dont get to hear John Arthurs music on mainstream country radio. Hes just got such a genuine, sincere style. Not every song is a home run. Some are fun but forgettable, like Pool Hall. Others, though, like Stand Your Ground, and Spinning Our Wheels are truly touching. And I love the hidden track Beans and Rice too. If you want to hear great music that is original, unusual and not excessively commerical, buy this artist.
John Arthur Martinez Album Review:
Stand your Ground stands for Pure Listening Pleasure at 2004-02-16
Stand Your Ground by Nashville Star 2nd place winner John Arthur Martinez is pure listening pleasure. From the beginning cut of Man who holds the B... Read full reviewStand Your Ground by Nashville Star 2nd place winner John Arthur Martinez is pure listening pleasure. From the beginning cut of Man who holds the Bow --one of those songs that I immediately find myself singing along with-to the fast-paced, tongue-twisting, kid-pleasing Armadillo Song, to story telling of Spinning Our Wheels, this album holds something for everyone.Some of the songs made me an instant fan; others grew on me each time I listened to them. Jack of All Hearts, Man Who holds the Bow, and El Rio Amor fit the first category. Every Day is Christmas and Stand your Ground fit the second. The Armadillo song is in a category of its own and is pure fun to listen to, clap to, and to sing--if you dare to try!! john Arthur proves himself an extremely versitile artist, able to master everything from the Texas swing of A Girl Named Texas, to the rockinbeat of Wild to the thought-provoking ballad title song. El Rio Amor reminds me of the late-great Marty Robbins and john Arthurs voice is at its perfection in this song.Though Pool Hall seems to attract some listeners, it was not among my favorites. Even so, I have to admit I did find myself singing along after a dozen or so plays. My least favorite Married to her Memory is a beautiful ballad, but I found it a little depressing for my taste.I highly recommend this album and john Arthur martinez. Due to his signing with Dualtone Records and recent release of his first single, this upcoming artist should be among the charttoppers in the near future.
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