Jason Michael Carroll grew up in North Carolina, the son of a preacher who did not allow secular music in the household. But when Carroll took a job at a motor shop, he got his musical education, with country speaking the loudest to him. He won a if karaoke contest sponsored by a pop radio station and was promptly hired by a country band Chasin' Country losing its singer. When Carroll was offered a performance slot at the popular country music venue and the rest of the band couldn't make it, Carroll parted ways with the band. He later won the Raleigh/Durham market for a televised talent contest, Gimme the Mic, which led to a trip to New York City. His music attracted the ear of Rusty Harmon who paired him with producer Don Gehman. Now they work together. In late 2006 Carroll signed a record deal with Arista Nashville and released his first single Alyssa Lies. Waitin' In The Country is an impressive, solid debut release by Jason Michael Carroll. It showcases not only his wonderful voice, but his songwriting capabilities as well. Now Jason is 28 and, frankly speaking, this handsome young man doesn't look big enough to have such a powerful voice and, moreover to know how to use it!
The first track on this album, Waitin' In The Country, is about a country boy who knows there's a whole different world out there in the big city but he would rather live where he's most comfortable. The second cut I Can Sleep When I'm Dead starts out with this incredible baritone voice that is sure to grab a piece of your heart and never let it go and moves you from head to toe. Even the most conservative country fan will be persuaded to move to this song. Alyssa Lies is such a touching song told from the prospective of a father, whose daughter made friends with an abused girl. He couldn't realize what his daughter meant, but then, it was too late and Alyssa was gone. No Good In Goodbye is an amazing duet with another great singing talent Jewel. What a great match up, Carroll's deep reaching vocals and the outstanding abilities of Jewel are a match made in heaven. As it was already mentioned, Caroll had a hand in writing numerous songs on this album, for example one about long lasting love Livin' Our Love Song. You can visualize the story portrayed in songs: Anywhere USA is good example of it. Honky Tonk is another worthing track. With the piano and up beat tempo this is going to liven up any honky tonk around! He finished his album with Angel Of Broken Hearts and Let It Rain, both are the high caliber songs that are destined to bring Carroll to the top of the charts.
It seems like now is the time for country vocalists with deep, rich voices to be heard, and Jason Michael Carroll will certainly be heard. Versatility and passion are the traits that best serve his sometimes rumbling vocals. Carroll truly takes you to a place where nothing matters but the music. Waitin' in the Country is no doubt a perfect work. And fans have already appreciated it at its true value. By moving 57,608 albums his first week out, Carroll becomes the bestselling new male country artist. Waitin' in the Country also made a big splash on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, plowing in at No. 8. All of this he gained himself. He is used to it. His life wasn't easy. It's unbelivable that only two years ago he was unknown, he was working a full 40 hours-plus a week and then doing the band thing. He did everything: roofing the houses, roofing the business, doing some customer service representation, making phone calls. He saw different people and different destines. Maybe this very fact helped him to create such a sincere and comprehensible album.
Trans Canada HighwayTrans Canada Highway sounds slightly more mechanic than last year's The Campfire Headphase and contains 6 tracks. This conceptual work, even put on repeat mode, wouldn't appear boring for you in any way while driving along a highway