Randy Travis - Around The Bend
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Free Music Notes for Around The Bend
Free Music Review: Randy Travis' "Bends" the Right Way
Hit: 4 Stars
Prime Cuts: Dig Two Graves, Faith in You, Love is a Gamble
Years ago Randy Travis used to canvass the country chart with hits such as "I Told You So," "Look Heart, No Hands," and "Whisper My Name" amongst many others. However, ever since 2003's "Three Wooden Crosses," Travis has yet to reach the turret of the country singles chart. Looks like this portentous dry spell is not about to lift anytime soon, considering that this album's lead single "Faith in You" failed to find traction with country radio and missed the Billboard country singles chart completely. Such an atrocity is unforgivable given that "Faith in You" is a gorgeous string-laden ballad that testifies to love's instigative prowess to those downtrodden by the wails of life's cares. Brimming with religious overtones, "Faith in You" can function both as a love song to Jesus as well as to a significant other. Though this CD is this former CMA Male Vocalist of the Year's return to commercial country music since 2004's "Passing Through," Travis often weaves his religious faith into these paeans giving them a spiritual depth and dimension that is often inspirational.
Despite its morbid sounding title "Dig Two Graves" is a story song coming from the pens of Bob Regan and Ashley Gorley about the blissfulness of marital love. Though it's a solid ballad with spades of emotional investiture from Travis' sensitive delivery, "Dig Two Graves" may not be the best follow-up single. After all, its proximity in terms of its tempo and sentiments to "Faith in You" may not be advantageous after radio's tepid response. Much better in terms of single potential is Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." Boasting a lilting feel with its jazzy overtones, producer Kyle Lehning has transformed this rocker about a man who is set to leave his no-good paramour into a gentle fiddle drenched delight that would certainly set your feet tapping. If "From Your Knees" sounds like a song from George Strait's repertoire, it's because it's written by one of Strait's favorite writers, Leslie Satcher. Another Nashville's scribal dignitary Hugh Prestwood who penned Travis' "Hard Rock Bottom of My Heart" gets an entry here with "Love is a Gamble." Refusing to settle for any dicey moral stances, this understated acoustic guitar-driven ballad is a clarion call to open our hearts to love others unconditionally.
In keeping with all of Travis' country CDs, there's always room for some raucous laughter and fun. Refusing to take life too seriously, the infectious "Everything I Own (Has a Dent)" is littered with humorous lines such as "I guess her haert's like that old dead goldfish I forgot to feed." For some exceptional fiddling extravagance, take a listen to Larry Franklin's bullet train fiddling on "Til I Am Dead And Gone," which is a exhibition of Travis' session players in their glory on an otherwise average uptempo. Despite using his baritone to great effect, it's hard not to notice that middle age has caught up with Travis vocally. On various tracks such as the title track and "Fain in You," Travis has not been able to hit the higher notes as well as he used to. And in today's competitive market of Rascal Flatts, Keith Anderson and Taylor Swift, the uptempoes lack the energy and drive to make Travis grist for the penthouse position on the chart again.
Despite the quibbles, "Around the Bend" is consummate Randy Travis. He does not betray the neo-traditional path he has had blazed all those years ago for today's country music. With fiddles, steel, and acoustic guitars at the fore without sacrificing an iota of its contemporary edge, Randy Travis' "Around the Bend" is still a formidable CD to reckon with.
Free Music Review: Randy Travis Review of Around The Bend
Hit: 4 Stars
This is another great album of music by Randy. There is not one bad song on this whole disc. My favorite song is Don't Think Twice, It's Alright, a remake of the Bob Dylan song. He really shows how strong his faith runs on the album, but doesn't let it take over the cd. If you're new to country or a long time fan, pick up this cd, it's great.Free Music Review: Classic Randy
Hit: 4 Stars
This is the best Randy Travis release in a long, long time. It's varied, fun, spiritual and down home country.Free Music Review: Not the old Randy
Hit: 3 Stars
Not the Randy Travis from 80's or 90's, this is rather slow and draggy. Heavy on Christian Music which is not bad just not expected when he is trying to come back to his country roots. Guess I'm just disappointed in not hearing that upbeat Randy from back when.