Tim McGraw - Let It Go
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Free Music Notes for Let It Go
Free Music Review: Traditional McGraw!
Hit: 4 Stars
While the likes of Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts are incorporating strong pop influences (one must say: successfully) into their music, Tim McGraw is doing none of that. Even though one might be inclined (including myself) to believe that might also be the route he would take for his latest album, he did far from that.
To me, "Let It Go" is one of the most traditional albums, Tim has delivered to date and not only because the albums closer "Shotgun Rider" is a strone-traditional cowboy song, that is delivered and produced like it was 50 years old (and to me just sounds like that: outdated and boring).
On the other end of the spectrum you find the first single and album opener "Last Dollar", a happy, radio-friendly and sonically delightfully surprising song; of course having his girls singing the closing out chorus adds to its charm.
"I'm Workin'" is a thoughful mid-tempo song, that Tim has learned to do so well, about the thoughts that crawl up during a lonely night shift, symbolizing the state of affair of many of our lives: not enough time to even say "I love you".
The title cut has an infectious chorus and deals with new beginnings and is again mostly mid-tempo, just like most of the album seems to be used as a vehicle to do, what country has always been doing best: telling stories and not necessarily being dance music (in this case).
As you can already tell by the title "Whiskey and You" is traditional country, as is "Kristofferson". The latter, to me personally is disappointing, lyrics-wise. Kristofferson may have started out by getting drunk and writing songs about a woman leaving the bad guy, but to set a charismatic and politically active poet in that one stool sounds like a very one-dimensional and limited view to me, lacking respect.
On this album McGraw does two cover versions. "Between the River and Me" was written by his friends the Warren Bros. and it already was probably the best song on their album "Well Deserved Obscurity" a couple of years back. Even though the current version is not bad, it somehow lacks the bite of the original; maybe it is just the mellower voice of Tim Mcgraw, when he is telling this mysterious crime story about abuse and possible homicide that does somehow not catch on.
The second cover is one of most legendary hits by a highly underrated musician, who passed away way too soon: "Suspicions" by Eddie Rabbit. "Suspicions" was probably the first shot by Eddie at breaking away from a traditional country career. The sounds that started to come out of the workshops of Rabbit, Stevens and Malloy in the late 70's and early 80's could hardly be classified and were so unique, that they didn't fit in anywhere really. They mostly were so much ahead of its time (listen to the album "Step By Step" it you ever get to chance to still find it somewhere to discover what kind of sounds you can produce with guitars) that they still sound fresh and new 30 years later - especially "Suspicions", which had that strong R&B rhythm and a risky flute, contrasting nicely with Rabbits singing style! I personally think that every cover of that song can only pale to the original! McGraw does a good job (already for the fact of bringing that song back to the public) and he makes it a more live-sounding (less artificially produced) guitar-based song, than the original (no flute), unfortunately lacking bass. An honourful bow to the late Mr. Rabbit!
Another Warren Bros. write and probably the most edgy-rock oriented cut on the album is the cool "Train #10". Great production focus was set on the vocals, lifting them above the instrumentation for the Faith Hill duet "I Need You". Both of them shine on this clever song about love-addiction, going down easy.
Overall I would have wished for a few more musical risks, but maybe having the courage to make a more-or-less traditional country album is more than enough prowess and shows that Tim McGraw no longer needs to follow trends, but is setting them himself. And after all, recording "Suspicions" shows his respect for other risk-taking musicians and needs to be applauded anyways.
Free Music Review: If You're a McGraw Fan, You Will Enjoy "Let it Go."
Hit: 4 Stars
"Let it Go" is a solid McGraw CD. It may not be the best CD of his but certainely one you will be glad you have in your collection. My favorite songs on the CD are: Last Dollar, Suspicions, Train #10, Between the River and Me, Comin' Home, and Shotgun Rider. These could all easily be singles in the future. The first part of the CD the songs, other than Last Dollar, all sound similar. That's one reason I enjoy all the songs on the second half so much better. I am getting sick of his duets with Faith. She's got a great voice, but she's not a favorite of mine. There is speculation that 07 will be the last time Tim and Faith will tour together. Thank god for that. Overall this CD is worth a four star rating. It would have been five but too many just so-so songs. I do think it's better than "Live Like You Were Dying." I don't know why people feel that is such a great CD. It has an awful depressing feel to it. The only songs I like on that CD are "My Old Friend" and "Back When." "Let it Go," in my humble opinion, is much better.Free Music Review: Very Good For Most, Average For Tim
Hit: 4 Stars
There are several gems on Tim McGraw's new Let It Go. My personal favorites are Suspicions and Shotgun Rider. There are several other solid songs on this CD. The trouble with rating a Tim McGraw CD is that you have to hold it up against the rest of his collection. This one falls into the middle of the pack, which will leave many fans disappointed. I have grown to appreciate the CD more after repeated listenings. I think the professional reviewer got it right when describing Shotgun Rider as McGraw's Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys. I thought the same thing when I first heard the song. It is a solid Country song that would be good in the 70's, 80's 90's, and into this decade.
The duet with Faith Hill is pretty good, I just am having trouble getting over the "like a needle needs a vein" verse.
This is a solid, but not spectacular album, that is much less ambitious than many of the other popular male country artists like Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. Four stars.
Free Music Review: A little disappointed but great album overall
Hit: 4 Stars
I love this whole album. The only let down was the album version of "I Need You." It's more up tempo and pop than the slow, soulful rendition done at the concert, Fashion Rocks and the Dennis Leary special. I was really hoping that was the version we'd get. They gave me chills singing it that way. It's such a shame it was changed. Otherwise, I would've given it a 5. I have to agree I'm glad Tim brought the twang back and I like the grittier material he's chosen. My other favorites are "Shotgun Rider", "Last Dollar" and "Whiskey and You." I'll be buying this CD today. Can't wait to see them in GA in July! :)Free Music Review: Like a needle needs a vein...
Hit: 4 Stars
This album is less country and more pop than Tim McGraw already was, and even his lyrics aren't as clever (unlike great songs such as Red Ragtop and Tickin' Away). A few songs do really stand out though, such as Whiskey & You, Between The River And Me, and the cute closing duet with Faith Hill entitled Shotgun Rider. Suspicious was such a bad song, it should have been left off the album, as it sounds like a weird porn-groove track. This album is probably my least favorite Tim McGraw since something before Greatest Hits 1, but still has strengths and is easy to get into.