Michael Ray is the latest in a long line of generic male artists that have emerged with a sterile hit single, only to open to putrid album sales that represents the state of the genre, which is built for short-term popularity with any shred of long term vision swept to the side. Ray's debut single, the iHeartRadio On the Verge supported "Kiss You In the Morning", hit the top of the Country airplay chart, despite middling at best sales and it being a semi-bro-country retread of bland and unoriginal thematic content. While his opening single may have been uninspiring and simply a poor listening experience, his newest release, "Real Men Love Jesus", can be seen as a significant step downwards.
Similar to also On the Verge sponsored RaeLynn's debut single, "God Made Girls", "Real Men Love Jesus" is nothing more than a check-list of stereotypical traits that makes one "manly", such as Saturday nights on the town, fast cars and football, backed with a title hook that declares the necessary religious affiliation for one to qualify as a man. The second verse, featuring topics such as calling home every day and praying, is only slightly more interesting than the opener, which is not in any way, shape or form an accomplishment. Topping beer and attractive women is not a feat. It isn't. Fact of the matter is, it still conveys the message that men must abide by certain standards and live a narrowly described lifestyle to be considered a so-called "real man".
The one aspect saving "Real Men Love Jesus" from reaching the horrific, unprecedented lows of Jerrod Niemann's "Donkey" or Haley Georgia's "Ridiculous", is the fact that the backing arrangement and instrumentation is solidly neo-traditional, while the melody holds it's own, much in the same way that the strong melody and production saved "God Made Girls" from the attaining the label that beholds the offerings from Niemann and Georgia.
Let's get one thing straight though. No amount of steel guitar or lack of hip-hop beats would be enough to save this record. "Real Men Love Jesus" is sexist garbage, and is one of the single worst things offered up by country music in 2015 to-date.
Grade: F
Listen: "Real Men Love Jesus"
By Markus Meyer
Similar to also On the Verge sponsored RaeLynn's debut single, "God Made Girls", "Real Men Love Jesus" is nothing more than a check-list of stereotypical traits that makes one "manly", such as Saturday nights on the town, fast cars and football, backed with a title hook that declares the necessary religious affiliation for one to qualify as a man. The second verse, featuring topics such as calling home every day and praying, is only slightly more interesting than the opener, which is not in any way, shape or form an accomplishment. Topping beer and attractive women is not a feat. It isn't. Fact of the matter is, it still conveys the message that men must abide by certain standards and live a narrowly described lifestyle to be considered a so-called "real man".
The one aspect saving "Real Men Love Jesus" from reaching the horrific, unprecedented lows of Jerrod Niemann's "Donkey" or Haley Georgia's "Ridiculous", is the fact that the backing arrangement and instrumentation is solidly neo-traditional, while the melody holds it's own, much in the same way that the strong melody and production saved "God Made Girls" from the attaining the label that beholds the offerings from Niemann and Georgia.
Let's get one thing straight though. No amount of steel guitar or lack of hip-hop beats would be enough to save this record. "Real Men Love Jesus" is sexist garbage, and is one of the single worst things offered up by country music in 2015 to-date.
Grade: F
Listen: "Real Men Love Jesus"
By Markus Meyer
