Ten Pound Hammer
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I watched it all on my radio
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Sept 2, 2015 14:29:15 GMT -5
Is it just me, or does Karen sound kind of different on this one? Something about her voice sounds a little softer, thinner, and higher than usual. The song's a bit light and fluffy (understandable that they'd want to play it safe after "Girl Crush") but if it's ear candy, it's of a high quality. I like the quasi-reggae feel, the faint mandolin runs, and Jay Joyce's distinctive guitar work, although the "la la la la la la" part near the end sounds a bit stiff.
While I've liked all the singles off this album, it really feels like lately, they're over-emphasizing Karen at the expense of the other three. All of the other previous albums had at least one non-Karen release as a single, but this one's been all-Karen so far. It also feels like some of their material lately has been downplaying the harmonies a bit more than before.
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.indulgecountry
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Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Sept 2, 2015 15:09:12 GMT -5
While I've liked all the singles off this album, it really feels like lately, they're over-emphasizing Karen at the expense of the other three. All of the other previous albums had at least one non-Karen release as a single, but this one's been all-Karen so far. It also feels like some of their material lately has been downplaying the harmonies a bit more than before. I feel like they've been getting away from the harmony feel a bit since Jay Joyce took over production of their stuff from Wayne Kirkpatrick starting with Tornado, and I generally feel like the music they made with him was better overall though they've certainly put out some great music on the last two records, also. As for Karen being the lead, it makes sense given that her songs are usually the most radio-friendly options and she probably has the most identifiable voice of the four.
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avalyn
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Post by avalyn on Sept 4, 2015 12:14:44 GMT -5
I saw a mention awhile back from someone about the Christmas album - according to Kimberly, that is on hold due to Jimi's surgery earlier this summer. They are hoping to release it next year and also plan to record new music the next album as well.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2015 13:31:36 GMT -5
I like LBT, but "Painkiller" doesn't feel like them to me, for some reason. It reminds me of a cross between Kenny Chesney/Jason Maraz more than LBT, which isn't exactly a good thing. Plus, there are certain parts of the vocal performance that I find to be a bit grating and boderline cheesy. I'm with Ten Pound Hammer on wanting to hear someone else sing lead (I actually prefer every other member of LBT vocally to her), but I think there are probably a few reasons they've been sticking with her on singles lately. For one thing, LBT has had their biggest hits with Karen on lead vocals (Pontoon/Girl Crush), and secondly, it seems that most bands who (used) to switch out lead vocals tend to stick with one person as the "main" lead after their hits have proven to bring the band more success. The same thing happened with Lady Antebellum, as well. A lot of people prefer Charles Kelly on lead vocals, but Lady A has stuck with Hillary Scott led songs for a long time, probably because those singles tend to do well for them. I would think it's more of a marketing choice in terms of money and making the band more distinctive (in the eyes of radio, at least), and it's working for LBT right now.
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Cody Wants Out...
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Post by Cody Wants Out... on Sept 5, 2015 20:37:31 GMT -5
Smart choice! Oh, and cute video, too! I really hope this keeps their momentum going. I can't really see a reason why it wouldn't tbqhwy.
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Kanenrá:ke
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Post by Kanenrá:ke on Sept 6, 2015 7:52:14 GMT -5
I'm curious to see what else from the album they'll be performing tonight (I'm going see them, David Nail and Ashley Monroe tonight! ), because the 4th single will be an interesting choice, I don't think "Quit Breaking Up With Me" would follow "Pain Killer" all too well so I'd like something else. Like I said I wanna see which album cuts get played tonight. I'm also really looking forward to this song's performance for some reason, feels like it'll be one they nail perfectly.
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Post by defying gravity on Sept 7, 2015 19:15:35 GMT -5
This song still isn't in the Top 50 yet? I'm kind of worried now! I expected this to blaze up the charts being that they just came off of a smash hit. I hope this doesn't become another 8-10 month peaker...
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Sept 7, 2015 19:52:00 GMT -5
This song still isn't in the Top 50 yet? I'm kind of worried now! I expected this to blaze up the charts being that they just came off of a smash hit. I hope this doesn't become another 8-10 month peaker... It went for adds two weeks ago, don't worry. LBT got 40 first week stations. It's not going to "blaze up the charts", nor was it right to think that but I have confidence this can be a hit for Little Big Town.
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LBTrocks
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Post by LBTrocks on Oct 7, 2015 18:11:46 GMT -5
While I've liked all the singles off this album, it really feels like lately, they're over-emphasizing Karen at the expense of the other three. All of the other previous albums had at least one non-Karen release as a single, but this one's been all-Karen so far. It also feels like some of their material lately has been downplaying the harmonies a bit more than before. I feel like they've been getting away from the harmony feel a bit since Jay Joyce took over production of their stuff from Wayne Kirkpatrick starting with Tornado, and I generally feel like the music they made with him was better overall though they've certainly put out some great music on the last two records, also. As for Karen being the lead, it makes sense given that her songs are usually the most radio-friendly options and she probably has the most identifiable voice of the four. I agree. Their work with Wayne Kirkpatrick was excellent. I still really love their music, but there has definitely been more emphasis put on the instrumentation and production rather than the vocals since Jay Joyce took over, which is too bad. Also, whatever filter they're putting on their voices in the studio dumbs the harmonies down and I don't like that lol. It needs to go away. It sounds like they're singing through a tin can or something. Very echo-y. Live everything is always phenomenal though! I'll be seeing them tomorrow night.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Oct 11, 2015 13:07:39 GMT -5
"Pain Killer" has had a slow go at it thus far. It actually lost 4 spins and 200k in audience this week and has only gained 500k in total MB audience over the past three and half weeks. Every single station spinning this one has it in light rotation.
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Oct 12, 2015 0:22:14 GMT -5
I'm really surprised this is having such a slow start seeing as they should have a lot of momentum at radio right now after two big hits, and considering that "Girl Crush" isn't going to be holding this one back with heavy recurrent play. I'm sure this will pick up eventually though I'd like for it to hurry up and get going. I really wanna see this be the one to finally get them their second #1 hit on BB. I still can't believe they've just missed with all three of their big hits since "Pontoon."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2015 7:20:35 GMT -5
Maybe they pissed off country radio for forcing them to play a quality song with "Girl Crush" and are paying for it now? All I can think of.....
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jenglisbe
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Post by jenglisbe on Oct 12, 2015 19:51:19 GMT -5
It's not unusual for them to have a single under-perform after the previous single or two did really well. In fact, hasn't it happened every album so far?
Personally I thought this was a weird choice for the third single anyway.
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Oct 12, 2015 19:53:35 GMT -5
A rough week for this on the Billboard chart, as it loses over 400K in AI, and falls 45-50.
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Oct 12, 2015 21:27:36 GMT -5
It's not unusual for them to have a single under-perform after the previous single or two did really well. In fact, hasn't it happened every album so far? Personally I thought this was a weird choice for the third single anyway. This is true, but it's always happened with off-the-wall choices like slow ballads on the last two album eras (neither "Kiss Goodbye" or "Your Side of the Bed" were radio-friendly), not with something like this that's a catchy tempo track. This is exactly what radio would want from LBT much like "Day Drinkin'" and "Pontoon," imo. I'd still be surprised if this wasn't a Top 20 hit at the very least though given they just had two big hits and have a lot of industry clout.
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LBTrocks
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Post by LBTrocks on Oct 13, 2015 11:22:50 GMT -5
When they performed this live, they didn't announce it as their new single or anything. They just went right into playing it. I thought that was slightly strange that they didn't talk about it at all.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2015 11:56:16 GMT -5
Little Big Towns chart runs are either the most fascinating or the most infuriating there's like no in between and this chart run is definitely in that category so I'm excited to see how this ends up.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Oct 13, 2015 13:10:42 GMT -5
Little Big Towns chart runs are either the most fascinating or the most infuriating there's like no in between and this chart run is definitely in that category so I'm excited to see how this ends up. I've never encountered anyone who gets excitement out of being infuriated! You must tell me your secrets :)
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Oct 19, 2015 20:17:58 GMT -5
This is now bulletless for a second consecutive week, and will go recurrent next week if it can't manage to gain. I'm very surprised by this start. I know LBT have always been hit or miss at radio, but I'm surprised to see the uptempo followup to "Girl Crush" have this poor of a start.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2015 23:05:37 GMT -5
I've been thinking for the last few weeks now that this one was never gonna get off the ground, and I'm not surprised that it's really struggling. I just feel like, with all the new releases lately, this one was destined to get lost in the shuffle.
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kml567
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Post by kml567 on Oct 20, 2015 0:01:42 GMT -5
LBT may as well give Luke permission to release "Home Alone Tonight" next month. Since "Pain Killer" is DOA, they may want to use the Luke duet to re-gain momentum on country radio.
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dm2081
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Post by dm2081 on Oct 20, 2015 8:39:28 GMT -5
LBT may as well give Luke permission to release "Home Alone Tonight" next month. Since "Pain Killer" is DOA, they may want to use the Luke duet to re-gain momentum on country radio. Please don't. That would be a worse single of the year candidate for me.
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josh
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Post by josh on Nov 5, 2015 12:13:51 GMT -5
It looks like playing it safe with the generic "Pain Killer" didn't work out for them. I think people expect LBT singles to be off-the-wall and edgy. PK is neither.
Shoulda been, coulda been, but "Tumble & Fall" or "Good People" would have been better choices, I think.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 5, 2015 12:45:55 GMT -5
It looks like playing it safe with the generic "Pain Killer" didn't work out for them. I think people expect LBT singles to be off-the-wall and edgy. PK is neither. "Pain Killer" isn't through yet. It should move up to #42 or #43 on MB this Sunday and the recent CMA Awards should give them some momentum with radio playlists. This one is definitely moving slow and has been lost in the shuffle, so I don't see this being a big hit for them but it still has life remaining.
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Nov 5, 2015 15:02:44 GMT -5
It looks like playing it safe with the generic "Pain Killer" didn't work out for them. I think people expect LBT singles to be off-the-wall and edgy. PK is neither. This song isn't far removed from "Day Drinking" sonically and thematically, so I don't think that this was a bad single choice at all, and I still honestly think that objectively speaking this was the best option for radio (aside from maybe "Quit Breaking Up with Me," but I'd put them on the same level). I'm really surprised this has had such a very slow start given all the momentum and hype they have currently, and how radio-friendly this single is, but like sabre14 said, I'm hopeful it'll pick up the pace eventually.
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Nov 7, 2015 11:15:12 GMT -5
I think this can still turn it around too, but I'm not expecting much more than a top 20 at this point. I doubt it'll harm their momentum though. They've always sort of had a 'hot/cold' relationship with country radio.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 8, 2015 14:38:45 GMT -5
I must say, I really like this one. The harmonies by them sound as good as ever and man, that chorus gets stuck in my head, so easily. The production is great as well. I've heard it on WYRK three times over the past couple weeks.
The good news is that "Pain Killer" picked up three spots to #42 on MB this week, so even though this one has only gained 30 spins and less than 100k total audience the past three weeks, its only two spots away from a MB top 40 placement. I do think Capitol can get this one moving up the charts a bit but the gains continue to tell me that this will be one of LBT's least successful singles.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2015 16:58:28 GMT -5
Wow, despite the fact that Pain Killer will be falling down a couple notches to #44 on MB this night Little Big Town gained nearly 600K in audience this week and 53 spins. Not anything great but one of their better weeks. Maybe this song is finally starting to take off. With many songs above Little Big Town looking about ready to collapse (Big & Rich, Parmalee, Hunter Hayes, Lee Brice) or already collapsing (Jerrod Niemann) It's looking like Little Big Town will be in the Top 40 sooner than later.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Dec 16, 2015 0:35:06 GMT -5
I love this song more with every listen. That chorus is the essence of harmony infused catchiness. The cool thing is that my father likes to inform me of the new songs he hates or likes every time we see each other and he said this song is right up there with his favorite LBT song (he adores "Sober"). This song should have definitely been the lead single. "Pain Killer" has a fighting chance to crack the MB top 40 this Sunday, but it has to find a way to leap "Hole In A Bottle" and fend off "You Look Like I Need A Drink." Canaan had a 35 point lead on LBT this past MB chart and "Pain Killer" has gained 10 more spins since then while "Hole In A Bottle" has gained 50k more in total audience. Little Big Town's song has been stuck on the fringe of the top 40 for quite a few weeks now and is working on its 17th Billboard chart week. I don't think this will be able to last much longer but I'm hopeful this can climb as high as Capitol can possibly get it.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Jan 4, 2016 21:00:29 GMT -5
It took nearly five months after going for adds but "Pain Killer" finally cracked the MB top 40 this week (its been in the Billboard top 40 for the past couple weeks).
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