Garth Brooks - Chris Gaines Greatist Hits
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Free Music Notes for Chris Gaines Greatist Hits
Free Music Review: Betrayed by His Fans and Wrongly Misunderstood
Hit: 5 Stars
Garth Brooks, a massively talented, inquisitive and daring artist, took a chance to broaden his range and he was punished for it - by his own fans. I recall a former co-worker, a stout Christian woman who claimed to be "a big fan" complaining bitterly about him "in a pair of tights." What?! That's all it took to knock him off her pedestal? Apparently that was the case for lots of "fans" who turned on Garth like a rabid dog, just because he tried something bold and pioneering, not strictly Country.
It really is too bad, because coincidentally, Garth withdrew from the public shortly after Chris Gaines debuted. This album is conspicuous by its omission from the official Garth Brooks website. It seems to me that too many of his fans over-reacted in their vehement rejection of this unique and fascinating artistic effort. I do not mean to damn with faint praise, I merely first had to devote fair placement of my astonishment and dismay with the public reception Chris Gaines received.
I think it hurt Garth a lot more than he may ever publicly admit. He is entitled to feel wounded. (Money doesn't heal those kinds of wounds, for those who are rolling their eyes about right now and whining "puh-leez!")
The music, entire concept, entire persona, are all deeply interesting, manifold in emotion, and rich in fantasy. "it don't matter to the sun" sounds like a street urchin's heart singing through the man's weary voice. "maybe" is as hip-hop/rap/rock as a country legend on a star gazing mobius strip is gonna get and it's good. Very good. For a change, a rap that doesn't dare you to be wrong or bust you for being baffled. Really, country folks would've had a chance to "get it" if only they'd've given Chris a chance. "way of the girl" is accepting and thoughtful without being cloying. Something Avril Lavigne could stand to be a little more often.
Oh well. I hope Garth will let Chris out of the attic again someday. Ziggy Stardust didn't last all that long either, and maybe that's part of the tale. But not because they didn't deserve to live, but because we weren't ready for them.
Free Music Review: Now here's something He hopes you'll really like.
Hit: 5 Stars
Garth Brooks has never been one to follow the crowd. Most of his early work, though having that distinct country falvor, had a certain something. A More personal and universal warmth that just reaches people and made me a country fan. From that first album to now, he's been slowly refing his music to reflect that heart. Every album has at least one track that made me say, "It's different. I like it!" His last Real album, Sevens; was #1 on many Pop album charts. Thumping the likes of TLC, Mariah Carey, and Janet Jackson at the time time of it's release. So here's an album where garth finally goes wild and let's his Uncounty-ness out.Most of the track's are sweet and soulful. 'That's the way I remember it' and 'lost in you' being my particular faves. Hearing garth rap in Right now was mind bender for me at first, but after the second listening, I got into it. and other's such as Unsigned Letter Is a more personal Fave.
The heart of the album is Classic garth brooks, mixed with Bon Jovi/Aerosmith style rock with a dash of pop thrown in. I'll bottom line it, This is definately A garth brooks album, You can 'feel' his style in there. But There's not one barnyard, haystack, or 18 wheeler in the album. It's a more personaly themed and only a artist with big swingin brass one's, or, who's so reknowned and powerful, they can just do whatever they want and still make money would do something like this. Though both could be said about Garth, I'm guessing that it's a product of the former and not the latter
To All of you who just can't get into something different and have bashed this C.D I give you this alternative; go pick up the C.D. of some no talent, wanna be garth with a slimmer wasteline, and who'd sell his soul for a modicrum of Garths Talent.
But if you like Garth Brooks, and you like the GREAT SOULFUL music that made garth the megastar he is today. Or you just like great music and well written songs, performed by the best, Get this. I can't really label it Rock, Pop, country, or whatever. The only thing I can call it is: Music. And Great music at that.
Free Music Review: A Good Idea Gone Bad.
Hit: 5 Stars
"Garth Brooks In The Life Of Chris Gaines" is probably the most misunderstood album by the legendary Country music artist. The original idea behind the Chris Gaines project was made in conjunction with an idea for a feature length film entitled "The Lamb". Brooks' plan was to release the music by the fictional rock star Gaines prior to the film so that audiences would be familiar with the character by the time the movie would materialize. Unfortunately, Brooks' script for "The Lamb" was ultimately rejected. The film never went into production and the Chris Gaines album became the biggest failure of Garth Brooks' career. This is a sad thing because in actuality, the Chris Gaines album is quite good.Unlike his usual Country style, the Chris Gaines album shows Garth Brooks displaying another side to his musical personality, his 'rocker' side. Influences like Billy Joel, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Bob Dylan all come across in a big way here. Soulful ballads such as the hit 'Lost In You' and the emotional-driven "Driftin' Away" show off a more tender side to Brooks' singing voice (without the Country twang). There's even a slight hint of 'social awareness' in the song "Right Now" which includes the chorus of the '60s hippie anthem "Let's Get Together". Heavier tracks such as the funky "Snow In July" the Wallflowers-esque "Unsigned Letter, "White Flag" and the Fleetwood Mac-inspired "digging for Gold" show Brooks fully rocking out like he's never done before and he does a great job of it too. Not to be outdone, the ballad ?It Don?t Matter To The Sun? is a definitive Garth song which shows more of the style that he is known for.
It's unfortunate that people didn't seem to get it when Garth Brooks released this album. Although it was a misguided step in his career, the Chris Gaines album is a triumph in my opinion. This album breaks all the pigeon-holes that Garth is exclusively a 'Country artist'. Sure, he is best known for that particular genre but as the Chris Gaines album clearly proves, Garth can sing just about any style he pleases and he does it with perfection.
Free Music Review: I Don't Listen to Country-Western Music or Garth Brooks
Hit: 5 Stars
I inadvertently discovered Garth Brooks via this recording. This is because I don't own a single country-western album nor do I listen to country-western. Thus, Brooks was unknown to me. I picked this up in the library as a rock album and enjoyed it enormously. I then read about it and discovered that it was a country-western singer, Garth Brooks, doing the entire rock n' roll album under another name, the fictional Chris Gaines. I've since listened to some of Brooks's other albums (also from the library) and I like him a lot when he veers away from country-western into more of the rock mode. When he is in solid country-western mode, I can do without his singing. So if you are a country-western fan, you may well hate this album. If you are more of a rock or pop fan, Brooks is a really good discovery for you if you are willing to sort through his music, picking out the rock and pop and leaving the country-western in his albums. You can find 2-3 good songs an album doing this generally (on one I found an absolutely bang-up version of "Mr. Blue" and on another my absolute Brooks favorite, "I'm Head Over Heels in Love"). This particular album of his fits me best though because there is NO country-western music on it. So I like ALL of it. I am one of those people for whom virtually all country-western music sounds the same. I am beginning to enjoy aspects of C-W when rock and pop singers incorporate elements of it into their own genres, with Mark Knopfler perhaps doing that best. As a musical hybrid only, I'm liking country-western as it joins onto other musical forms. Brooks also has begun to branch out by appearing with other singers, such as Billy Joel. He does an absolutely incredible live job of "New York State of Mind" with Billy Joel that is not on this album but is well worth hunting down. Ditto for a live performance with Don McLean on "American Pie." I'm sure it is heresy to say this but I wish Brooks would leave country-western music so I wouldn't have to hunt and pick around for his songs.Free Music Review: WOW! WHAT HAVE I BEEN MISSING ALL OF THESE YEARS!
Hit: 5 Stars
Let me just say that I am NOT a country music fan by any stretch of the imagination. I had heard of Garth Brooks before (who hasn't?) but I had never bought any of his music...UNTIL NOW! WOW! I was really confused at first by all of the Garth Brooks/Chris Gaines stuff I'd seen out there. I even asked a country music fan friend of mine, "What exactly is he trying to prove?" Well, I found out in a hurry! I had seen the video one morning for "Lost in You" and I was hooked! I then saw Garth on several shows talking about the whole Gaines' project and singing more songs from the album, like "Right Now" and "Mainstreet". I ran out and bought the CD, and have been listening to it non-stop ever since! Please remember, I AM NOT A COUNTRY MUSIC FAN! So, my take on this CD is different from a die-hard Garth fan but.....let me speak to all of the rock/pop fans out there who might be a little skeptical about buying a Garth Brooks album; RUN! DON'T WALK! to your local record store and pick this one up today! My favorite tracks on the album are "That's The Way I Remember It" , "Lost in You" , "Driftin' Away" and "Right Now". Garth runs the whole spectrum of emotions through these songs. Be it sweet reminiscence (That's The Way) or a meloncholy quest for forgiveness (Driftin') Chris actually makes the listener -feel- his emotions. I dare anyone who has ever known the exhaultation of being in love to listen to "Lost In You" and try to say that the song does not convey those same emotions... I know that those who are used to Garth's "twangy" music style might not be so taken by what Mr. Brooks err, Gaines is trying to do here, but take it from an ex-non-Garth Brooks' fan and GIVE IT A CHANCE! Listen with an open mind, and you just might be pleasantly surprised! Garth, welcome to the world of contemporary rock music! What took you so long!