AP News, July 24th, 2007
Billy Bob Thorton, "Beautiful Door" (New Door/Universal)
Like many of his fellow actors, Billy Bob Thornton moonlights as a musician. Unlike many of his counterparts, Thornton's music has quality and depth _ as shown with his fourth album, "Beautiful Door."
Thornton co-wrote all 12 of the tracks on the country-rock disc. "Beautiful Door" opens with the melancholy, guitar-infused "It's Just Me" _ a song about suicide. "That darkness that you feel each evening is just my lonely cry," Thornton croons with a twang. This subject is heavy, and the rest of the album is just as deep. On "Always Counting," Thornton sings about his obsessive-compulsive disorder. "Restin' Your Soul" is a song about the brokenhearted.
"Beautiful Door" is full of low-key tracks, which after a while start to sound a bit monotonous. But there are a few standout upbeat songs such as the spirited single, "I Gotta Grow Up" where Thornton sings "Her head got small and her rage got big and she challenged me to a duel."
One of the weaknesses of the album is Thorton's voice _ he has limited vocal range and seems to be stuck on one note. But what he lacks in vocal depth, he makes up for with his songwriting abilities. Each track is like mini story, which is not surprising considering Thornton is an Oscar-winning screenwriter. While the singing is simple, the well-written lyrics will inevitably draw the listener in.
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Hearts Like Mine" is an infectious balled with a catchy hook. Thornton sings about being brokenhearted and lost love, something we can all relate to, right?
