Blakely-Martinez ”BLAKELY-MARTNEZ” ©2007 Independently Released Review by Lucky Boyd Sometimes the motive is as important as the result. It speaks to the driving force behind something and gives you insight into why a certain thing becomes what it is. This album has a pure and simple motive; to be an artistic and heartfelt connection between Mike Blakely and his fans, john Arthur martinez and his fans, and the masses that love hearing them perform together. Artists often release a disc in the hopes of changing their career somehow, but these two already have the dream career. They both do what they love doing and have garnered a wide base of fans doing it. I’ve always said there’s a great career to be had in this business without becoming the next Garth Brooks. Well, these two prove my point. Each has achieved national and international acclaim while remaining friendly, accessible, good guys from Marble Falls, Texas. They love their fans and this disc is a love letter of sorts to them all. The music is what you would expect from the pair, pristinely engineered by none other than Larry Nye, and expertly performed by a minimal group of rock-solid musicians. The feel throughout most of the album is certainly South Texas, which has become a discernable genre largely due to the efforts of Blakely and jAm. The writing, vocal performances, and arrangements are classic Blakely-Marinez and you’ll enjoy the bonus cuts. If you’re an old rocker like me, listen to “Sweet On You” (written by Kent Finlay and Mike Blakely) and imagine it being covered by the rock band AC/DC. I can’t help it; I hear Angus Young shreddin’ this song up! Check out the blues diddy “You Don’t Have To Go Home” and you’ll know why these two are playing sold-out shows all over Texas. Fellow MTM member Mike Siler co-writes a couple of the tunes, and fellow MTM member John Greenburg appears playing harmonica as well. It’s no wonder this is such a great album since Blakely, Martinez, Siler, and Greenburg have all been honored at the Texas Music Awards for their efforts. John Arthur Martinez ”LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND” ©2005 (JAM Records) [plus additional titles] Review by Lucky Boyd Perhaps the finest male crossover artist to ever come out of Texas, John Arthur Martinez galvanizes the relationship between country music and the Tejano music experience. The 2005 release is “LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND” and it’s ten tracks (13 songs) of consummate ‘jAm’ as Martinez delivers live his hits like “The Armadillo Song” (the official song of the MTM newsletter – The MTM Armadillo), “Frijoles Con Arroz,” and “Lone Starry Night” as well as some great surprises like the Overstreet/Schlitz classic “When You Say Nothing At All” (one verse in Spanish) and the popular “LaBamba.” Martinez co-writes many of the cuts with fellow MTM member Mike Blakely. Performing solo with just a guitar, this is Martinez at his best, connecting with his audience and having a blast on stage. There’s a bonus track, written for jAm’s love of his life, Yvonna, that’s worth the price of the entire album. Martinez was always a great performer, but his national success of late has matured him into one of the finest entertainers in North America. Second only to Buddy Jewell in 2003’s USA Network’s Nashville Star television show ‘competition,’ Martinez won the hearts of all who heard him. His demeanor on stage and his never-ending charm keep him a fan’s favorite for live performances. His recorded music tells a story of an artist dedicated to his craft, with expertly delivered material, including masterful recordings of perfectly penned or co-penned songs. John Arthur’s smooth voice embraces each song, whether it’s the folky “Spinning Our Wheels” or the lover’s anthem “River Of Love” (recorded in English with co-writer Stephanie Urbina Jones, and in Spanish ‘El Rio Amor’with Tish Hinojosa). Martinez co-writes additionally with fellow MTM member Mike Blakely, and with the respected Hill Country writer, Anders Rasmussen. Several other discs are offered here, the 1998 release “SPINNING OUR WHEELS,” the 2001 release “STAND YOUR GROUND,” and the 2003 gem “AMOR! AMOR!.” Each disc’s lineup of pickers reads like a who’s who in Texas music with such names as the aforementioned Jones, Hinojosa, and Blakely, plus Albert and Gage, Floyd Domino, Larry Nye, Glenn Fukunaga, and a host of other names you would know. Each disc is a treasure, with “AMOR! AMOR!” being the more ‘flashy’ of the three, but some of the best songwriting is on “STAND YOUR GROUND” where you can find “A Girl Named Texas” co-written with Texas mainstay Kent Finlay. If you own these discs, good for you. If not, you’re probably just plain ‘loco!’ Here’s your chance to redeem yourself.