I want to tell you about an album that I first mentioned in February 2023. We had received a press release, which we shared with all of you, to let you know JD Shelburn had an album scheduled to release in July.  It was released, I listened, I loved it … and somehow, I missed getting a review up for NEON HALLEJUAH. This review is seriously overdue.

Longtime Country’s Chatter readers are already familiar with JD Shelburne.  We have previously posted a number of articles about this Kentucky artist.  We first became familiar with JD and his music back in 2015, when a Glasgow, Ky., radio station (WILLIE) played his music.  Kelly Embry, the morning on-air personality at WILLIE (at that time), did a telephone interview with JD, and shared some of his music with listeners.  Since that time, I’ve been listening to everything JD has done.

I’m not the only one.  JD has been on CMT, Great American Family Radio (GAC), People Magazine, Newsmax, and NBC . So, while he may be a new name to some of you, he has a huge, ever-growing fan base. And we are sure you are going to like him just as much as we do.

Four or five years ago, he released a single called “One Less Girl”.  I thought it was a great song.  I waited and waited to hear it on the radio.  But I never did. I felt the same way about “”Born For This”. I continued to enjoy his music; I still do. this past August, I listened to the 14 absolutely awesome songs on NEON HALLELUJAH. The album was co-produced by JD Shelburne with Mike Proctor, Bart Bush, and Maks Gabriel,

Since the first time I heard it, I’ve been listening repeatedly.  I’m pretty sure our readers will be as well. The first song is “Cars and Trucks”.  I suppose like many country music fans, the first thing I want to do is listen to the lyrics – with this song, you can’t help but listen.  The music is great, and the lyrics are doing exactly what they are supposed to do.  They are telling a great store about life.  The story may sound familiar to a lot of us – we grew up this way.  You have to get through life = ‘trying not to get stuck in a long line of cars and trucks’.

After hearing the first one, I thought – this is the best it can be!  But I was wrong.  Have you ever vacationed in Panama City.  Perhaps Spring break. Do remember that trip.  That week.  If you need a little reminder, listen “Panama City Six Pack”   ...start filling the empty bottles with sunshine, blue skies, wave and sand…leave the last two bottles unopened, and anytime we want to get this feeling back we got a Panama City sixpack’. “Panama City Six Pack” is somewhere between mid-tempo and up-tempo. But no matter what you call that beat … it is definitely one of those sway back and forth, tap your feet, and sing along (even before yu know the words).

The third one is “Neon Hallelujah,” written by Jayce Hein, Jimmy Thow, Jamie Floyd, and Maks Gabrie. If I had to pack a favorite, this just might be the one.  Anyone who grew up in a small town will understand every word on this song. Small towns, good friends, corner stores, rusty trucks, good times – ‘when the whiskey buzz starts to move you Friday feeling cuts right through ya, that’s the good Lord talkin’ to ya, that’s a Neon Hallelujah’. When you listen to the whole album, you will quickly notice that there is nothing in any of JD’s songs that is telling you to “turn it off here, let’s move on and listen to the next one”. That is because each song does exactly what country music is supposed to do.  That is, to start at the beginning, go chapter through chapter, tell the whole story, then close the book. His lyrics tell the story, his vocals paint the picture.

I said that “Neon Hallelujah” might be my favorite song on the album.  Emphasis on ‘might be’.  I just love “Change You Mind.”   Listen to the emotion when he sings “Scared Boy”, think back to your growing up years. I’m not sure if it makes any deference if you are male or female – those were scary times. “Devil In Me”, “Retire That Jersey”, and “Amazing Grace” will do everything from make you just sit back and thinnk, to make you look up and say “thank you”.


NEON HALLELUJAH Track List
1. Cars & Trucks
2. Panama City Six Pack
3. Neon Hallelujah
4. Devil in Me
5 Change Your Mind
6. Wouldn’t Be Worth a Damn
7. Scared Boy
8. All Night Kiss
9. Let Love Down
10. Raise One Up
11. Retire That Jersey
12. Country Thang
13. Listening In
14. Amazing Grace (featuring The Oak Ridge Boys)

I’m not going to try to tell you about every one of the amazing songs on this album.  But I honestly hope you will head over to Spotify, JD’s website, YouTube, Apple, anywhere you listen to your music, and find this great music. Every time I listen to this album my mind goes straight to things like ‘get this on the radio’, ‘this is going to be a classic’, ‘great instrumentation’, ‘wonderful lyrics’, ‘different but perfect’.  There are so many things I could say about these 14 songs, but every one of them is an adjective.  And how many times do you want to hear me say ‘wonderful’.

I’m going to close with this short announcement.  Just a little note about JD’s next project.  He will be releasing two new Christmas songs on Dec. 1.  We will post a short interview with JD along with an article about the new music as soon as we have all of the information. We are sure these two new songs will help get you in the holiday spirit.  So, be ready to trim those trees.

Keep up with all the latest news about JD Shelburne by visiting his website and Facebook.
Social Media Links:  Instagram   X (Twitter)   YouTube   Apple Music   Spotify   Amazon 

 

 

theadminChristmas musicCMTNew Releases"Cars * Trucks","Neon Hallelujah","One Less Girl",CMT,JD Shelburne,Willie
I want to tell you about an album that I first mentioned in February 2023. We had received a press release, which we shared with all of you, to let you know JD Shelburn had an album scheduled to release in July.  It was released, I listened, I loved...