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   Reviews on Blue Montana Skies CD

Ahhhh ha. Western swing, y'all. Campfires and coffee in metal pots. Cold beer and hot dance floors. Rodeos and cowgirls.

All that stuff you haven't heard since Bob Wills was playing Panther Hall. Except what T.J. Casey's laying down is all new.

That's right, original cowboy music cut from the old cloth and sounding familiar, but every last lyric and note something

new and fresh. Cowboy music that a cowboy would still be making in the 21st century if there were any real cowboys left.

Reckon there's at least one, been doing it for 25 years and writing poetry and songs along the way.

 This record is one nice listen that'll take you straight to the prairie if you're of a mind to go. Casey's voice isn't quite the

vibrant brush that, say, Don Edwards' is prone to be, but it's a beauty nonetheless and if you listen close enough you're

bound to smell the smoke and hear the horses staked out under the trees. It's refreshing to hear this style of music without

the obligatory shot at "Streets of Laredo" or "Strawberry Roan." It's good for the soul to realize that the legend is still alive

out there somewhere in the middle of Montana, and that if you've got the itch it's as easy as hitting Play to get the big city

to turn you loose and set you free.

Get Blue Montana Skies at www.tjcasey.net, and while you're there read some poetry that'll open up the pores and spring a

mountain sunset on your soul. --DP

Rockzillaworld
 

“As I came in from outside, I was greeted by the Upbeat Sounds of a Great Western Song, and a Pleasing Western Voice.

To make a long story short I couldn’t turn it off. When I play it on our Radio Show, the remarks that come back to me are

“Great Voice, Good Dance Music, Where can I find the CD?” This is definitely a CD that belongs in the CD Player, and

not in the case. A truly fine CD, professionally crafted, and sung by a true cowboy who has since become a great friend.”
Charlie Camden – Western Heritage Hour, KRLC 1350AM, Lewiston, ID
 

If your looking for some excellent new swing music, don't miss this new CD. There are some nice ballads too, but I was

 immediately attracted to the original swing tunes... This album contains lots of "Feel Good" music, and I really enjoyed

it! ...If you're looking for music that moves you (right out onto the dance floor, give a listen to this album.
O.J. Sikes-Rope Burns and Western Way Magazines and www.bostonpete.com/broadcast
 

"It is particularly gratifying to see albums issued that contain well-crafted original contemporary Western songs. This is

a balanced collection of Western Swing, Cowboy Vision and Poetry, delivered by Casey in a solid baritone that is equal

parts Hank Thompson and R. W. Hampton, but a copy of no one. Casey's songwriting savvy matches his delivery. Keep

an eye peeled for the album and the artist. Venues and festivals surely will choose to "ride the river" with TJ Casey!"
Rick Huff - Host/Co-Producer - The Best of the West Revue
 

It's always a delight to find "the real deal" anywhere in today's world of plastic music from plastic "super stars." T.J. Casey

 is not plastic - he's a genuine cowboy, hailing from Montana, a working cowboy who is also a "horse doctor" (i.e., certified

veterinary technician) and a real fine singer.

With his gentle, mellow baritone, he sounds like a comfortable cross between Marty Robbins and Eddy Arnold, giving a rich

 delivery to such swinging cowboy tunes as "(My Only) Turtle Dove," "Cowboy's Lullaby," "Sleepin' Out Under The Stars," and

 the wonderful title track, "Blue Montana Skies." He's equally at home with softer songs, such as the lovely "In America," a

marvelous ballad that pays homage to the spirit of the American cowboy, and soft waltz "Cowboy's Paradise," and he really

 lays down some heart-pounding sound with "He's Ridden," the story of a hard-riding cowboy.

The songs are all written by T.J. Casey, and he's performed "Cowboy's Paradise" at the Louisiana Hayride. The combination

of old-fashioned sound with a modern feel works exceptionally well in these tunes, from swing to waltz to two-step, this is a

 nice evening out on the floor with a romantic partner, or great for listening to while out on a camp out.

There's nothing bad about this fun little album. It's a delight from start to finish, cheerful and warm, showing that country

music can be happy without being maudlin!

T.J. is a straight-shootin', real-time cowboy giving his heart to these real cowboy tunes. It's as genuine as you can get. He

knows his heritage, and he's proud of it. Three cheers for the cowboy.
Kathy Coleman February 2003

Take Country Back
 

T. J. Casey is the real thing - a genuine American cowboy. And a singing cowboy to boot (that boot has spurs, of course).

 He has been a cowboy poet, singer, songwriter, guitar player, and working cowboy for over twenty-five years now. He's appeared

on the famed "Louisiana Hayride" and venues across the country. When he's not writin', ropin', or singin', he's delivering calves

and foals as a Certified Veterinarian Technician. But we're here to talk about his latest CD, "Blue Montana Skies", which

contains an even dozen of his compositions.

Casey kicks things off with a nice Western swing tune, "(My Only) Turtle Dove". "Golden Memories" speaks of the lasting memories

of shared true love. The sounds of the wind complement "Call of the Wind", a song of the wandering cowboy. The title song,

"Blue Montana Skies", is a tribute to T. J.'s home state, "Big Sky Country". "Cowboy's Lullaby" is a song of night under the

open skies. "Trickling Water" is one his better-known songs.

The tempo really picks up with "Sleeping Out Under the Stars", that's where he'd rather be than in some honky-tonk. Some

 nice steel guitar work here. "In America" is a musing on America and Americans. Another of Casey's more well-known songs

is "Cowboy's Paradise", a waltz-time song of the hereafter, "He's Ridden" is a driving portrait of a worn-out cowboy. "It's Sure

 Lonely on This Old Highway" is a plea to the singer's lost love. Casey winds up with "I'm Not Convinced" where he has doubts

 of his love's faithfulness.

This is a very nice album, especially for the western music enthisiast. And even if you're not a cowboy music fan, you'll find

 that it is a quality, pleasant break in your usual listening haunts. The sound and words are authentic cowboy music to your

ears. Casey has a fine voice, well-suited to these songs. The accompanying musicians turn in great performances and the

CD is well-produced and engineered. Go for it.
Copyright 2003 William Theron Yates

Roots66
 

T.J. Casey is Montana's Singing Cowboy for a good reason. He sings and writes about the life experiences of a true western

cowboy. His love for the mountains and wide open spaces is obvious in his performance. A deep masculine sounding voice

that is filled with heartfelt expression for the music he loves. This is an album for the many true western music fans.

Roots Music Report
 

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