Randy Travis - Around The Bend
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Free Music Notes for Around The Bend
Free Music Review: Old fashion Country
Hit: 5 Stars
To say this is Randy's first country album in 8 years, is nothing more then a marketing ploy to bring attention to the album. The truth is, Randy never left his country roots. I would argue that "Around the Bend " only differs from his 04 release of "Passing Through" by the label it is being released from.
The real truth is, Randy never left his country roots. Did he record albums with a Christian purpose to them? Yes, but at the same time the delivery of his vocals, and the production on them, was as hard core country as this new offering of secular material from Randy.
This is a great album. It contains all the familiar traits and sound of a Randy Travis release. A variety in the material. Vocal expression that is the essence of every Randy Travis album.The production is always inventive and understated to enhance and allow attention to the lyrics and the performance of the artist. A necessity that is too often lacking in consideration on other artists albums.
It's hard for me to say I have a favorite on this album, being the die hard Randy fan that I am. Everything the man puts those amazing vocals to, is relegated to a higher plateau compared to other artists.
If I had to pick out what got my attention the most, I would say "You Didn't Have A Good Time" and "From Your Knees'. Anyone who has had a family member suffer from alcohol abuse or a transgression of another kind, will have a hard time listening to either song without being affected by the memories they invoke.
The song that surprised me the most, was his cover of the Bob Dylan Classic "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright". I remember not really caring for the song by Bob. So I really didn't expect to be as impressed as I was with a true country voice covering it. But Randy as always, never ceases to amaze me with what he comes up with, when recording another artists material. He turns it into a Randy Travis song.It is one of my favorites on the album.
Summing up, this is another stellar collection of songs from one of country's true warriors. Great job as always Randy. Every bit worthy of my 5 star rating.
Free Music Review: RANDY TRAVIS IN A HEARTFELT, POWERFUL COUNTRY SET
Hit: 5 Stars
Five BIG Stars!! Honesty, Authenticity, and THE VOICE. The CD "Around the Bend" catches Randy Travis in a 2008 country set that is one of his best ever and one of the best country CDs of the year. The artist that first lifted country music into the multi-platinum-selling stratosphere with Storms of Life" has come up 'aces' once again. After a number of gospel CDs, including Glory Train, Mr Travis returns to his neo-traditionalist country roots with a smoothly programmed set of 11 emotionally-charged country songs that range from honky-tonk, ballads, blues, gospel, and a little humor, with his strong faith on prominent display throughout. The overall production values of this CD makes Randy Travis' return to Warner Brothers Records a highly enjoyable experience.
The 'best of the best' begins with the title song "Around the Bend" that goes in and out of tempo with some amazing, declarative singing by Randy bolstered by the blazing fiddle of Larry Franklin over a hot back-beat. Randy creates a hard-swinging country version of the Bob Dylan classic "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" with the Travis baritone giving new nuances while pushing deep bottom notes in the bass range. Humorous things happen through the eyes of a kid in church on "Every Head Bowed", "taters" and all. "Faith in You" is an expression of pure faith in good things and a special person that is a classic timeless country ballad. (and it landed on my iPod) The sizzling "'Till I'm Dead And Gone" has Randy cutting loose, singing some clever lyrics with the band doing some inspired picking (also went straight to my iPod): a great performance that is not to be missed. With "Around the Bend", Randy Travis is back and better than ever. Kudos to producer Kyle Lehning and Mrs Elizabeth Travis for providing great frameworks and inspiration for this awesome artist. Bravo, Randy Travis!!. Highly Recommended!! Five ENJOYABLE Stars!! (This review is based on an iTunes download.)
Free Music Review: A fine--although not perfect--return to form.
Hit: 5 Stars
Randy Travis's AROUND THE BEND isn't a perfect country album...although it's pretty darn close. There are a few tracks that don't quite live up to expectations: the cliched "Love is a Gamble," the ramblin' closer "'Til I'm Dead and Gone," the heard-it-before "Turn It All Around."
The thing is...those tunes don't way the album down at all. The strength of the other songs--particularly the ones I'm about to mention--carry the album to the heights we might expect. I mean, let's face it: a Randy Travis album is gonna be listenable, at the very least. The guy is perhaps the greatest singer in the past 25 years of country music history. His voice conveys so much emotion, he can turn a stereotyped clunker into a masterpiece.
Fortunately, the writing here is (for the most part) so strong, he doesn't need to work that hard (an obligatory plug for Travis's own songwriting, though none is featured on this album: the man can write...and should, much more often). "You Didn't Have a Good Time" and "Faith in You" are outright killers; they'll go for you heart and leave you thinking. "Every Head Bowed" is a nice witty number (sung with a tongue planted firmly in his cheek, and a twinkle in his eye), as is "Everything That I Own (Has Got a Dent)." Even his cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" is a nice change of pace, turning the slightly-country folk tune into a slightly-folky country shuffle.
Overall, AROUND THE BEND is a wonderful return to form for Randy Travis. There's still the Christian themes that newer listeners may expect, but we also have some of the old twang-and-steel country that long-time fans have come to admire (and, let's face it, miss a little). His voice is still the best in the business, and his song selections (despite a complete absence of original material) is above par. He can take a good country song written by somebody else, and turn it into a great Randy Travis song. And that's what he does throughout this album. If you're looking for great country music, look no further than Randy Travis.
Free Music Review: A CURE FOR THE COUNTRY IDENTITY CRISIS
Hit: 5 Stars
Let's face it. Country Music is a mess right now as a raft of new "talent" attempts to take the genre by storm with no more real Country Music involved than you would find among a group of hit rappers from Motown!
Reenter one of Country Music's greatest modern performers: Randy Travis. AROUND THE BEND should reestablish Travis as the consummate Country star he is and has always been. This album is vintage Randy Travis and, as such, every track makes it onto my favorites list. There simply isn't a bad track here!
So, is this one for all Country fans? As I noted in the beginning, the Country identity crisis will dictate that most of the new arrivals will find Travis' music far too conventionally Country for their liking. And that's just fine.
But, if you're tired of trying to figure out what is going on with Country Music, AROUND THE BEND will set things straight for you.
THE HORSEMAN
Free Music Review: Country music's shot in the arm.
Hit: 5 Stars
It sounds pretty good on the Amazon sample clips, but it sounds a lot better once you hear the whole songs.
Some tracks are better than others (the title track and "Faith In You" are the least interesting) but on the whole, it's really good. "Love is a Gamble" is deceptively catchy but holds up if you listen to the words. I know that Dylan is not everyone's thing but "Don't Think Twice" is, by any standards, a brilliant piece of songwriting.
Keep up the good work. Country music needs this.