The last two Vince Gill albums celebrated their intentions within their titles: 2011's Guitar Slinger found plenty of space for his six-string prowess and his 2013 duet LP with Paul Franklin was a valentine to Bakersfield country. Down to My Last Bad Habit, his first solo album in a half-decade, is a slightly more complicated affair. While it can't be called a concept album, it's certainly unified by a soulful sensibility, trading heavily on slow, simmering grooves and favoring a feel so warm it feels as comfortable as an old tattered sweater. A lot of skill went into a record that appears so casual, and Gill once again is the chief architect of this record, writing every number and co-producing with Justin Niebank, playing all the guitar and singing most of the harmonies, too. Each of these components is impressive on its own -- Gill is a consummate guitarist and his writing is nearly as tasteful and assured -- and it's possible to listen and concentrate only on these elements, marveling at craft that's polished but never too slick, or perhaps being struck how the guitarist finds space for both jazz trumpeter Chris Botti and Nashville upstart Cam, neither feeling out of place in this setting. Nevertheless, the primary attraction of Down to My Last Bad Habit is its vibe, how Gill maintains an elegant, soulful air throughout the record even when he's singing about Jimmy Dickens or sneaking in a little bit of fingerpicking. The only time he breaks the spell is for the closer, "Sad One Comin' On (A Song for George Jones)," a hardcore honky tonky weeper that suits the spirit of the Possum and also serves as a reminder of Gill's deep country roots, but the appeal of Down to My Last Bad Habit feels more Memphis than Nashville: it's Vince Gill's soul album, which is a welcome thing indeed.The last two Vince Gill albums celebrated their intentions within their titles: 2011's Guitar Slinger found plenty of space for his six-string prowess and his 2013 duet LP with Paul Franklin was a valentine to Bakersfield country. Down to My Last Bad Habit, his first solo album in a half-decade, is a slightly more complicated affair. While it can't be called a concept album, it's certainly unified by a soulful sensibility, trading heavily on slow, simmering grooves and favoring a feel so warm it feels as comfortable as an old tattered sweater. A lot of skill went into a record that appears so casual, and Gill once again is the chief architect of this record, writing every number and co-producing with Justin Niebank, playing all the guitar and singing most of the harmonies, too. Each of these components is impressive on its own -- Gill is a consummate guitarist and his writing is nearly as tasteful and assured -- and it's possible to listen and concentrate only on these elements, marveling at craft that's polished but never too slick, or perhaps being struck how the guitarist finds space for both jazz trumpeter Chris Botti and Nashville upstart Cam, neither feeling out of place in this setting. Nevertheless, the primary attraction of Down to My Last Bad Habit is its vibe, how Gill maintains an elegant, soulful air throughout the record even when he's singing about Jimmy Dickens or sneaking in a little bit of fingerpicking. The only time he breaks the spell is for the closer, "Sad One Comin' On (A Song for George Jones)," a hardcore honky tonky weeper that suits the spirit of the Possum and also serves as a reminder of Gill's deep country roots, but the appeal of Down to My Last Bad Habit feels more Memphis than Nashville: it's Vince Gill's soul album, which is a welcome thing indeed.false2022-09-03 13:22:18Down to My Last Bad Habit20162016-01-012016-01-0153Country1178882263305904dd2ac-ad0b-4bee-ae44-0a4faccc8a24ec37ecfe-65b4-49a4-83c7-ee1ccaeec2e3d61725ce-b337-4f6b-9ac0-1971485d9d98/config/metadata/library/9d/9dc938cd1e7c6be24ff29cb579caa1c5/folder.jpgVince GillAlbumArtist/config/metadata/People/V/Vince Gill/folder.jpgVince GillArtist/config/metadata/People/V/Vince Gill/folder.jpgVince GillVince GillVincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He began in a number of local bluegrass bands in the 1970s, and from 1978 to 1982, he achieved his first mainstream attention as lead singer of the soft rock band Pure Prairie League. Gill sang lead on their hit single "Let Me Love You Tonight" in addition to writing several songs of theirs. After leaving Pure Prairie League, Gill briefly played guitar in Rodney Crowell's backing band the Cherry Bombs before beginning a solo career in country music in 1984. Gill recorded for RCA Records Nashville from then until 1988 with minimal success. A year later he signed with MCA Nashville, and he has recorded for this label ever since.
His commercial peak came in the first half of the 1990s, starting with his breakthrough album When I Call Your Name. Gill has 65 entries on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including four solo number one hits: "I Still Believe in You", "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away", "One More Last Chance", and "Tryin' to Get Over You", all between 1992 and 1994. He has also had number-one singles as a guest on Reba McEntire's "The Heart Won't Lie" in 1993, as well as Chris Young's "Sober Saturday Night" and the multi-artist collaboration "Forever Country", both in 2016. All of Gill's albums released in the 1990s were certified platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with the highest being 1992's I Still Believe in You at quintuple-platinum. Gill has won 22 Grammy Awards, the most among solo male country music artists.
Gill was a member of Western swing group the Time Jumpers from 2010 to 2020, and joined the rock band Eagles in 2017 following the death of longtime member Glenn Frey. He has also participated in a variety of collaborations, including songs by Patty Loveless, Brooks & Dunn, Kelly Clarkson, and Maren Morris. From 1980 to 1997 he was married to Janis Oliver, one-half of the country duo Sweethearts of the Rodeo; after they divorced, he married contemporary Christian music singer Amy Grant in 2000. Additionally, Gill has written songs for Alabama and Ty Herndon, and holds a number of credits as a backing vocalist and session musician.
Gill's music is known for his songwriting, his tenor singing voice, and his lead guitar work, with many critics noting his prolificacy in both ballads and up-tempo material. In addition to guitar, Gill plays mandolin, banjo, and Dobro. He has been referred to as the "nicest guy in Nashville" due to his pleasant mannerisms and frequent contributions to charity.