John Anderson

It's been over a quarter century since John Anderson changed country music the first time. That was back in the '80s when that jaw-dropping country voice combined with huge hits like "Wild And Blue" and "Swingin'" to pave the way for the decade's neo-traditional movement. In the early '90s, he did it again with Seminole Wind, a bona fide classic that reignited his career and helped fan the flames of the coming country explosion with hits like "Straight Tequila Night" and the album's unforgettable title track. Well, it's 2009 and Anderson's back with Bigger Hands, an album that instantly reestablishes this country music icon as a contemporary musical force to be reckoned with. In other words, Bigger Hands is the real deal – undiluted, no-holds barred, full-on John Anderson.

From start to finish – from flat-out rockers like opening track "How Can I Be So Thirsty" to hardcore honky-tonk workouts like "Bar Room Country" and "What Used To Turn Me On," to the swampy southern groove of the album's timely and topical title track – Bigger Hands sounds and feels like a labor of love. Freed from major label pressures and concerns, Anderson dug deep into his bag of songs, pulling together his most personal and freshest sounding collection in years. He wrote or co-wrote every one of the album's 12 tracks, including rowdy leadoff single, "Cold Coffee And Hot Beer," which Anderson wrote with his old friend and "Swingin'" collaborator, the late Lionel Delmore,

"James has always been real accepting of my songs through the years," Anderson says. "In fact, most of the big hits we had together were songs that I'd written. A lot of times there's no demo; I just come in with a guitar, sing the song and say, 'Do you like it?,' and James will say ‘Yeah, let's do it.’ And then I get to watch it come alive in the studio."

That's one of the big reasons for Anderson's longevity and continued relevance as an artist, and it's the reason Bigger Hands is a standout album for the man and his fans. Through three decades of Platinum albums, CMA, ACM and Grammy Awards, countless studio sessions and endless touring miles, Anderson has retained the tireless work ethic and empathetic soul of a songwriter. Gifted with one of the most distinctive and instantly recognizable voices in country music, he still puts a whole lot of stock in a songwriting session.