Views And News: "Keeping Your Scooter Out Of The Express Lane - Billy Bob Thornton's Music...Where It's Been, And Why It Needs To Go Back."

May - June - July - August 2026

Usually, under what most would consider normal circumstances, I like to take the opportunity in this column, to rip my own musical career. And if you know anything about it, you'd understand there is plenty to tear up. But every so often, another individual comes along, that I feel has garnered so much musical notoriety, and for all the wrong reasons… So much so, that somebody just has to put their fat foot down… And today, that fat foot is me. What am I trying to say...you ask? Well - though he is no Pauley Shore, Billy Bob Thornton is one of Hollywood's most prolific actors. And that is, for better or worse…but it is for certain. And actually, his off screen behavior aside, he still seems to deliver solid dramatic performances - As long as those performances do not involve MUSIC. And I don't mean to overstate the point too much but…..OMG….I mean, sometimes there is a fine line between having the guts to consider trying something out of your talent comfort zone. And then, there is the virtual stupidity to actually waste listeners time going through with it. Sure, there are two misguided souls who (in the middle of their drunken stupor) gave Billy Bob Thornton a resounding thumbs up on Apple Music for this execrable nattering Thornton calls an "album". But even those rummies would have to agree with the age old cliche: "You'll Never Get Rich Playing Another Man's Game. Well, my theory is that if Billy had to rely on his musical prowess to make a living, he definitely would not have ended up living with Angelina Jolie. He would have been lucky to share a cab with Angela Lansbury. AND if this guy wasn't in every tenth major movie release, then I think he would surely be judged a bit more accordingly. Well now...there's an idea - Let's all listen to his music as if we'd never heard of Mr. Thornton before…in any capacity. Then we can just measure it against other legitimate artists producing music like this. If we all did, I am contending we'd likely arrive at the same conclusion I just did: That comparatively speaking, his catalog is pretty LAME. And in some cases downright BRUTAL. Anyone who listens to just local musicians in your respective areas of the country, can find nine or ten neighborhood singer/songwriters whom - were they produced at the same level, would render similar (I'd say even superior) results. You see, some of the artists in my area can actually SING. Which is more than I can say for Billy Ray Virus here. Well, in his own song title, Thornton may be right about one thing - "Hearts Like Mine"--should not have to withstand the strain when they're asked if they actually paid full price for this collection of substandard "musical" whining. We all only have a limited time on the planet, so I am publically pushing some unsolicited advice for entertainers like Billy Bob, who need to hit the Hands Free button, if they can't stay in their lane manually....Leave Music To The Professionals Bill. Step Away From The Microphone, And Get Back In Front Of The Camera -- Yes, Really. Go Back And Help Increase The Level Of Quality In Contemporary Cinema, Rather Than Helping To Drain All The Remaining Joy Out Of The Music Industry...Don't Be A Pain..Entertain. There, I Said It - SJ :)