A Keen Longing For The Old Days Is Automatic For Miranda Lambert

Country music is about the earthiest of music genres. Gritty subject matter dots the landscape. Broken, cheatin' hearts are the order of the day. Enjoying a well deserved drink gets touched upon regularly. One of country's current "it" girls, Miranda Lambert brings warmly spun nostalgia to the table with "Automatic". The title speaks of how what you get in this life isn't worth nearly as much when you have the accolades handed to you. At its best quality country tunes weave comfortable guitar picking in with whatever moralizing, sermonizing, or heart mending is on the table. So it's the case for Mrs. Lambert. She doesn't get on her soapbox too sharply. As a matter of fact there are a lot of fun cultural reference points to satisfy even the most jaded of people. Wanna bet your grandparents will smile ear to ear if you sit them down with the song? Bringing up the cassette tape surely makes me feel like I've been orbiting the sun quite a few times but I definitely don't mind. I stand by my collection of tapes. Many's the fun hour I've spent soaking in what they had to share with me. Ever hung laundry on a line to dry? You likely know someone in your family that has and that would choke up with nostalgia at the mention. There aren't any tears in her beer though. Looking back at your salad days doesn't always have to stand in as an excuse to get depressed about the perceived tastelessness of the here and now. Miranda's gentle tones make it easy for you to sway in her mothering arms. Behind her the drums skip at a sprightly pace that does ideal justice to the series of remember when imagery. I'm not ashamed to admit I write to family and friends, postage stamps included. Of course I'm faster on a keyboard but I haven't forgotten how wonderful it is to receive something personal via snail mail. You're not a mere occupant, a placeholder if you will. Even though my countdown show was American Top 40 circa 1983, I dig Miranda's flashback to the country countdown she had to record due to lack of funds needed to buy the whole shebang. You can't shake the fondness Miranda sings about. No two ways about it we're well in the middle of a hyper sped-up culture. Once in awhile there's real merit in revisiting culture moments of the past when we didn't have relentless appointments to keep and no way to touch ground, check in, or do anything resembling a personal inventory. Sure we were always busy but this multi-tasking universe doesn't leave much room for deep breaths which we need to have the lifeforce to resume being so busy. The chorus drives home the lesson that you'll appreciate what you get more if you've actually put in some elbow grease rather than coasting. I've never exactly been smitten on message music but Miranda doesn't let moral high ground impede her progress along a path laden with singularly touching memories. Her new album "Platinum" streets in June, a perfect time for the sunshine warmth of "Automatic" to gel head on with summer's authentic heat. "Automatic" flashes its remembrance pedigree admirably. On any one of a number of summer sunset days it's bound to be a lovely finale one can enjoy teamed with homestyle lemonade and a rocking porch.