Lee Brice! The good ol' boy from Sumter, South Carolina, has been toiling in Nashville for a while now, with little to show for his efforts since Garth Brooks rocketed to the top with More Than a Memory, which Brice co-wrote (with Kyle Jacobs and Billy Montana). His debut CD on the Curb label has been pushed back at least three times; its original release date was 2007 and Curb's web site now has it set for 2037.
Brice could be in his sixties before we hear track 1. That's a real shame, as anyone familiar with Brice's work knows. He's the voice behind the raucous Upper Middle Class White Trash, the vulnerable Happy Endings and the gotta-love-a-crazy-chick anthem, She Ain't Right. And, let us not forget the beauty and angst of More Than a Memory.
Of course, he hasn't been in Nashville for 10 years, which appears to be the average amount of toiling time spent by some of country's hottest artists. So, we may yet luck out. But with talent like Brice's, why must he suffer the 10 year curse? He's developed his voice. He knows who he is. He knows his audience. So what is Curb waiting for?
The official word is that Curb is waiting for one of Brice's singles to hit the Top 20 (an upcoming single is due in April). Given the way Curb has treated mega-star Tim McGraw of late, why should we believe them? McGraw's troubles inadverently screwed Brice once more, as one of the singles from McGraw's delayed new record was co-written by Brice.
Most importantly: Brice is genuine. He's true to his roots and to his fans.
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