Garth Brooks - Scarecrow

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Free Music Notes for Scarecrow

Free Music Review: OH MY GOD :)
Hit: 5 Stars

'Scarecrow' flows out of the speakers like molten honey - oh, wait, hang on a minute, honey's already molten, or is that just the clear stuff? Whatever... This man has a way of touching your soul, of spinning words and music into magic. Either that or superglue, since my CD just doesn't seem to want to come out of my stereo! 'Why Ain't I Running' brings us in gently, in direct contrast to, for example, 'Against The Grain' on 'Ropin' The Wind' (anyone else leap out of their skin EVERY TIME that track starts? Please tell me I'm not the only one...) - it's a soothing, comforting song, Garth's husky, sleepy opening lines bringing forth an instant image of waking up to the sunrise. 'Beer Run' is still a joy, sounding just as comfortable here as on George Jones's 'The Rock' - I haven't been caught out singing it on the Tube to work in the morning yet, but it can only be a matter of time...

I cannot think of enough words to describe how much I adore 'Wrapped Up In You' - I loved it to bits on Wayne Kirkpatrick's 'The Maple Room', and Garth has managed to add yet more wonderful things to this song when I'd thought before it would be impossible to cram any more in. 'The Storm' takes us on an emotional rollercoaster (if there's an award for the number of cliches in a review, do you think I stand a chance of being nominated?) - the song is about a woman facing life at the end of a relationship which must have meant the world to her, and for which she must have fought hard to try to keep it going long after the warnings and 'dead end' signs came into view. It could be about any member of the human race in this situation, and I rather suspect there are few listeners who couldn't find something to connect with in this song. For all the trenches of despair through which 'The Storm' forces us to wade, there is something uplifting in the passion with which Garth shares this snapshot of existence with us. It's a reminder that we don't really know we've lived unless we've experienced the darker side of life, so we can appreciate the light all the more.

'Thicker Than Blood' is a song years in the making - its words are simple, and the melody soft, but the message is a truth carved in stone. Strongly autobiographical, a running theme in the song is Garth's own family. In sharp contrast, 'Big Money' is a rollicking ballad on the nature of sensible and not-so-sensible schemes to become wealthy, with a terrific punchline (no, I'm not going to spoil it - buy the CD!).

'Squeeze Me In' - ah, another of those 7000-Watt power duets from Garth and Trisha - NOT!! This isn't what you're used to from these two wonderfully-matched voices. 'Squeeze Me In' bounces along like Tigger on uppers - and if you can listen to it without your head nodding and your foot tapping, you may need medical help (either that or you've forgotten to press 'Play').

'Mr Midnight' - oh, I'm sorry, I thought this was a Garth Brooks CD, but suddenly I seem to be listening to Dean Friedman. Actually, there seems to be a bit of Billy Joel in there too. I can't remember ever hearing anything quite like this from Garth before - the man's full of surprises, and the song's heartbreakingly sad but gorgeous with it - the opening piano bars alone are worth the price of the CD. The vocal is so intimate, it's as though the night DJ is actually spilling his heart out over the airwaves. If he'd have included his phone number in the lyrics I'd be calling right now to offer words of comfort.

'Pushing Up Daisies' is a cover but with a last verse by Garth, which renders it much more personal - it's very raw in parts (kind of a Steve Earle feel), and speaks to the heart. Nudging up against it is another of the CD's more upbeat tracks, another fun ballad, 'Rodeo or Mexico', which yet again has Garth (or the character into which he places himself) waking up next to a woman, though this time there's a little twist to the happy ever after. It's one of those songs to sing when you're driving with the sunroof open (at this time of year in England a healthy level of insanity is also required to drive with any part of the car open to the elements) - well within the speed limit of course (ahem). Following immediately behind, 'Don't Cross The River' is a joyous uptempo bluegrass tune (is there such a thing as happy bluegrass?) - if I still had my violin I'd have been playing right along with it!

And then we come to Garth's special gift to all of us - 'When You Come Back To Me Again' - could there have been a better way to close 'Scarecrow'? It's a reminder that even though Garth is preparing to move away from the public stage, he's not forgetting the people who helped put him on top where he belongs. WYCBTMA is about Garth's Mom and guiding light, Colleen Brooks, but it's about other things too, not least of which are the fans (that's you and me, folks). This song interweaves nostalgia, hope, and the love which runs through all of Garth's CDs - love for the music, for his family, for the Higher Power which drives us all, and for the people who appreciate what he does.

'Scarecrow' is a peach of an album. Thanks, Garth, for this great gift - and for making the wait so worthwhile.

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