Listening Party! - Rodney Atkins - (It's America)

[kevin59]

MAR 31

Rodney Atkins
"It's America"
(Curb)

[LISTEN] Rodney Atkins - "It's America"

Track List:

1. Tell A Country Boy
2. Chasin' Girls
3. Got It Good
4. Best Things
5. Friends With Tractors
6. 15 Minutes
7. Simple Things
8. It's America
9. Rockin' Of The Cradle
10. When It's My Time
11. The River Just Knows

[kim8]

Woo hoo, our first listening party. Thanks Kevin!! I think I will sit this one out though--not much of a Rodney fan but I am thrilled we have these now :)

[joey2002]

"Chasin' Girls" is a mega-hit just waiting to happen!!!!!

I actually already heard the album, and it seems to have a nice upbeat, laid back, country feel to it - without being overly produced.

"Got It Good" is a good example of this.

[rsmatto]

This album, which I've had for two weeks now, sounds a lot like his hits from the last record. So expect more radio success and a gold record to follow.

[leilamaurizia]

Thanks, kevin59! This set-up is so much better. It feels like greeting an old friend :)

And on with the reviews...

AMG

3 out of 5 stars

Review by Todd Sterling

If following up a breakthrough album isn't challenging enough, following up a breakthrough album that produced four number one singles (in a row) is even more daunting. Just ask Rodney Atkins. After years of struggle, Atkins broke through in a big way with his 2006 sophomore album, If You're Going Through Hell. The singer/songwriter went from delivering firewood to country legend Alan Jackson one year, to opening concert dates for him the next. Heady stuff. And so, armed with a platinum record and enough credibility to draw the cream of the songwriting crop from the Nashville publishing community, Atkins found himself in an enviable position as he headed into the studio for album number three. On It's America, the singer plays it safe and sticks to the same formula used on If You're Going Through Hell. Atkins sounds like he's having a heck of a good time throughout the 11 tracks. Songs like the revved "Tell a Country Boy," the honky tonk mash up "Fifteen Minutes," and the chest-swelling title cut have a ton of heart, even if they do sound a bit calculated. More songs, like the thought-provoking "The River Knows," a steel guitar masterpiece, and less songs, like "Chasing Girls," a cheesy number that should have been left on the cutting room floor, might just make Atkins country music's next superstar. Hopefully the singer will take a few more chances on album number four.

[sbp17]

Thanks kevin59.

Mar 27, 2009 16:48:32 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

This album, which I've had for two weeks now, sounds a lot like his hits from the last record. So expect more radio success and a gold record to follow.

You nailed it. Definitely sounds like an extension of the last album. I like the opening fiddle that kicks off the cd. Not exactly groundbreaking music but it's okay enough. But sometimes, he affects his voice so much that it seems completely unnatural. His voice is twangy enough without having to add cracks to it to sound country.

[cufan7]

One thing I'll comment on is it's pretty fiddle-heavy which I really like as that seems to be diminishing in today's country music...

Seems like a pretty good third album, hopefully the singles will fare well but I doubt they'll all reach #1...

[rsmatto]

Mar 29, 2009 0:30:39 GMT -5 cufan7 said:

One thing I'll comment on is it's pretty fiddle-heavy which I really like as that seems to be diminishing in today's country music...

Seems like a pretty good third album, hopefully the singles will fare well but I doubt they'll all reach #1 like the last record...

"Invisibly Shaken" didn't even make the Top 40.

[rsmatto]

Mar 27, 2009 15:37:08 GMT -5 kevin59 said:

[

If there's one thing I hate about Curb Records, it's that they put those irritating 'featuring' boxes on some CDs. If it's called "It's America," I think people are smart enough to figure out the song of the same name by the same artist is on the CD.

[cufan7]

Mar 29, 2009 12:17:26 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

Mar 29, 2009 0:30:39 GMT -5 cufan7 said:

One thing I'll comment on is it's pretty fiddle-heavy which I really like as that seems to be diminishing in today's country music...

Seems like a pretty good third album, hopefully the singles will fare well but I doubt they'll all reach #1 like the last record...

"Invisibly Shaken" didn't even make the Top 40.

My B I forgot about that one, thanks

[aeathin2]

To be fair, I think Rodney wanted to release this new CD last summer and would have been happy releasing a song off of it starting last March. Curb really pushed this album back, however I really enjoy it, and I think it will be a great CD to listen to while driving. And drinking. Not at the same time of course..

[zaclord]

why is there only one ballad on this album? UGH! nothing will ever be as good as "Invisibly Shaken"

[somebody60]

Apr 1, 2009 18:44:37 GMT -5 @zaclord said:

why is there only one ballad on this album? UGH! nothing will ever be as good as "Invisibly Shaken"

Probably because it was by far his least successful single from that era (with all the uptempo songs going #1). I was watching CMT Insider this past Saturday, and Rodney himself said that he pretty much tried to stick to the same formula as his first album...so, there you go. Rodney has found his niche and is sticking to it because the last time he tried to stray from his niche, it was a disaster. The question is how long will that niche last? Sure, "It's America" (the single) appears it will go to #1, but how long will it be before listeners grow tired of his sound?

I have to admit I like It's America, though it's definitely not a great piece of art. It's nowhere close to "If You're Going Thru Hell", which I think is a classic and is the reason his career, at least his radio career, exploded. I still hear that song on radio pretty regularly, and I don't think that will stop anytime soon.

I haven't heard the rest of the album yet.

[zaclord]

i was sick of him after "Watching You". i have liked all his singles, but none of them are great. thats why i absolutely loved "Invisibly Shaken" its so different.

[joey2002]

I liked "Invisibly Shaken".......this is a good example of how hard it is to climb up the chart with a classic slow and sad country ballad.

[zaclord]

ballads > summer anthems

[leilamaurizia]

HDD first-week sales prediction:

Curb’s Rodney Atkins (35-40k)...

[kim8]

Apr 2, 2009 6:02:24 GMT -5 leilamaurizia said:

HDD first-week sales prediction:

Curb’s Rodney Atkins (35-40k)...

I saw that last night and am kind of surprised the projections are so low. I thought he was becoming a bigger star than that.

[musicbuff78]

Not me. Look at his last album....sure he had hits, but those didn't translate into sales.

[cufan7]

Apr 2, 2009 16:35:33 GMT -5 musicbuff78 said:

Not me. Look at his last album....sure he had hits, but those didn't translate into sales.

How is his digital track record? Single wise I mean...

[mairy]

This album is OK. Not great, but a good follow-up for IYGTH. My personal favourite is "Friend With Tractors".

[nsfb17]

Apr 2, 2009 8:33:00 GMT -5 kim8 said:

Apr 2, 2009 6:02:24 GMT -5 leilamaurizia said:

HDD first-week sales prediction:

Curb’s Rodney Atkins (35-40k)...

I saw that last night and am kind of surprised the projections are so low. I thought he was becoming a bigger star than that.

I love Rodney and his music, but he isn't exactly on the same playing field as A-list country artists like Brad, Kenny and Keith. He's still B-list, despite his success last era. 40k is exactly what I was expecting.

[bamafan2102]

I agree with most of the points above. If you liked the last album, you will like this one as well. There really isn't a song that I would have to skip. Got it Good, Friends With Tractors, and Fifteen Minutes are the standouts and should all be number one singles. Looks like at least five singles deep with this one. I did notice that the female backup singer isn't as loud on this album which is a positive to me.

[gallopinggold]

I got the entire album from Rodney (and only downloaded "Sweet Thing" - sorry Keith you didn't need my purchase). Overall I really enjoy the album. My fav track is "Got It Good" and the one track I would trash is "Friends With Tractors" (just plain corny to me). Do not regret purchasing "It's Amercia" at all. Well done Rodney and good luck