someguy
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Post by someguy on Jan 3, 2012 22:17:46 GMT -5
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tvoss20
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Post by tvoss20 on Jan 3, 2012 22:31:25 GMT -5
Interesting title. Looking forward to hearing it!
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Banned
I watched it all on my radio
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Jan 3, 2012 22:34:03 GMT -5
I'll have parties and friends and places to go / The only problem is, I play the banjo
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hank0629
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Post by hank0629 on Jan 4, 2012 9:08:48 GMT -5
can't wait to hear it!!!
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mairy
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Post by mairy on Jan 4, 2012 17:08:21 GMT -5
This was one of the two songs on RateTheMusic. I didn't like any of both... Actually both had a similar sound, so overproduced. I voted for this one. If I rememeber correctly the verses were kinda decent, and the chorus was the most annoying thing about it. She's Leaving had a similar sound, but the lyricis were so bad, and that repeting thing at the end of every line was embarrasing.
Let's see how the full thing sounds, but if those clips were an example of what the album is gonna sound like, I'm absolutely disapointed.
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Typo
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Post by Typo on Jan 4, 2012 17:26:04 GMT -5
This was definitely the lesser of two evils.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2012 1:43:53 GMT -5
I'm apprehensive about hearing this, but I'm hoping it's at least decent. Considering Thrasher and Mobley have had a hand in a huge chunk of RF's career catalogue, it's no surprise they are involved in this. I'm hoping they have better songs on the upcoming album, but I also don't think RF's material is as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. They've had a few duds, but it's not as if they've made a career out of stupid novelty songs like Craig Morgan or Rodney Atkins.
I've never considered them to be album artists, so as long as they have a few great songs/vocal performances on the new record I'll be happy. I'm interested to see what they came up with when producing some songs themselves.
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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 Jan 5, 2012 2:53:35 GMT -5
I also don't think RF's material is as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. They've had a few duds, but it's not as if they've made a career out of stupid novelty songs like Craig Morgan or Rodney Atkins. Craig Morgan is just like RF in that he's known for his bad material, unfortunately, but he also has his fair share of quality stuff. In fact, I think when he's on, his voice and material are some of the best offerings from a male country artist: Almost Home, That's What I Love About Sunday, and This Ain't Nothin' are perfect examples. Anyways though, I am very interested to hear this. I hope it's not as bad as some people are making it out to be in this thread already. I've always been in the middle when it comes to RF; never a big fan, but I don't flat-out despise them either. I thought Nothing Like This made up for the abysmal Unstoppable effort, though it had its fair share of flaws. I've got my fingers crossed this album continues to show a gradual improvement.
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Post by singingsparrow on Jan 5, 2012 3:43:24 GMT -5
I'm apprehensive about hearing this, but I'm hoping it's at least decent. Considering Thrasher and Mobley have had a hand in a huge chunk of RF's career catalogue, it's no surprise they are involved in this. I'm hoping they have better songs on the upcoming album, but I also don't think RF's material is as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. They've had a few duds, but it's not as if they've made a career out of stupid novelty songs like Craig Morgan or Rodney Atkins. I've never considered them to be album artists, so as long as they have a few great songs/vocal performances on the new record I'll be happy. I'm interested to see what they came up with when producing some songs themselves. Since when has Rodney Atkins been releasing novelty songs as singles and making a career off of them? * The problem with Rascal Flatts is more Huff than anything, I believe. I do believe the trio has true strengths and LeVox is (mostly) undeservedly panned as a vocalist frequently. LeVox can actually be quite an effective vocalist when he wants to be. The problem is that Huff has encouraged them to oversell the vast majority of what they produce. Everything is pitched to such an exaggerated extent you just can't emotionally connect with the material, or worse............much of their material winds up sounding like a parody of what was intended as a collection of heart-tugging songs. Craig Morgan makes the exact same mistake, needlessly............and I agree he nonetheless remains one of the best current male country vocalists on country radio. It's just way too often he doesn't use his talents and lazily settles for shouting rather than crooning (and selecting asinine material). * "Nothing Like This" was a step in the right direction from "Unstoppable". I quite liked the lead single, "They Try", and also tolerated "I Won't Let Go", in spite of its lyrical banality, because LeVox truly performs that quite well............but it still felt calculated, was still plagued by forgettable filler, and they have a LOT more room to grow from that album. They have some genuine gifts.............they just don't use them way too often. Namaste, lisping HIBISCUS
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Post by ryanroberts on Jan 5, 2012 10:10:18 GMT -5
Never been the biggest Rascal Flatts fan. Hit or miss with me as well. Honestly don't think they are up to par with there older material, although Why Wait was somewhat refreshing to me. Hopefully this song will be solid at least.
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Post by @DiegoMarcondes_ on Jan 9, 2012 17:01:17 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2012 17:18:06 GMT -5
LOVE it!!! The production is so refreshing, especially for a Rascal Flatts single.
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Post by singingsparrow on Jan 9, 2012 17:52:59 GMT -5
The production is a little too in-your-face to me for me to especially love this.
Still, I like this well enough on first listen. As a rocker, it doesn't grate in a way "Bob That Head" and "Summer Nights" did lyrically. "Banjo" is much more accessible lyrically, and while it does veer a bit too much to stadium rawk cliches in its closing 45 seconds with the obligatory fist-pumping whoa oah oahs.........I still have to give the group credit for their renewed confidence as performers after a string of consecutive lethargic album eras.........beginning with the feel-good "Why Wait" and continuing with this, while also dialing down their more tender material as they have on "I Won't Let Go".
I also appreciate that, in spite of the real jolt of electric guitar adrenaline intact here, LeVox's vocal performances are notably not nearly as histrionic as we have been accustomed to hearing of him. LeVox actually sounds like he's enjoying the ride here, rather than belting as though it's all life or death. He even sounds rapturously laid-back at moments, including in the first verse, the bridge and the home stretch.
Again, my main gripe is with the stadium rock production toward the end. It feels awkward, especially considering the shinier, glossier production in the song's chorus sounds like it had been culled from "Summer Nights". It was unnecessary, in my view, though I appreciate them experimenting with layering, and trying to step the track up to make it feel more epic. I just felt they missed the mark here to an extent............especially considering the song is according to DeMarcus, after all..............about aiming to flee from the helter-skelter and noise of modern life and reveling in the escapism of a more simplistic life outside of it all, from the sounds of banjos to trekking macadam dirt roads.
How can we take DeMarcus at his word when the song is dominated by electric guitar toward the very end, and yet begins with more banjo than at any other point during the listen? If "Banjo" is any sort of musical statement, it is quite a contradictory one. By DeMarcus's logic..........shouldn't the song start off dominated by electric guitar, only to gradually veer closer to traditional instruments and sounds as it goes on? It certainly sounds to me like, the more closer the group drives home to the hinterland, the more noise and distraction there tends to be! ;)
Still, that contradiction doesn't necessarily defeat the listening experience. I appreciate the renewed energy output here, especially following back-to-back ballads (and several album cycles dominated by schmaltzy ballads before that). If anything, the group needs to channel this energy more often.................as long as they steer clear of lyrical fodder in the vein of offenders like "Bob That Head"! ;)
*
This wasn't love at first listen for me. But then again, it wasn't loathing at first listen either..........and prior to "Why Wait" I didn't like virtually any Huff-era single release of theirs. I can say I actually have a moderate liking of this single, I'd probably rate it a B-, B on certain days when I'm feeling particularly generous.
Namaste, lisping HIBISCUS
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erin1433
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Post by erin1433 on Jan 9, 2012 19:50:29 GMT -5
OK, I was expecting something really horrible and I didn't think it was that bad. Certainly isn't my favorite release of theirs but I probably won't change the channel when it comes on the radio! :)
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carriekins
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With my mouth wide open in a whiskey rain, I could stand here 24 hours a day...
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Post by carriekins on Jan 9, 2012 20:09:41 GMT -5
It's alright. I won't rush to turn the song off ("Easy", I'm looking at you), but I definitely agree with Lisping Hibiscus in that I wish the electric guitars backed off as the song went on... taking the listener on that journey back rather than telling them about it and leaving it up to us to find it for ourselves.
It is definitely more akin to what I ever liked from Rascal Flatts (which in recent years amounts to pretty much only "Why Wait"), but they still fail to impress me more often than not.
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hank0629
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Post by hank0629 on Jan 9, 2012 22:02:52 GMT -5
I really like this single! So refreshing! Hope this single can be their 12th #1 on Billboard chart!
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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 Jan 9, 2012 22:05:27 GMT -5
I love this! There's a really enjoyable feel to that banjo running throughout the song (I love the banjo btw, totally underrated), coupled with a good vocal performance, and some surprisingly enjoyable lyrics to boot.
This is just a really good song, and it should do well as a single on radio. I can see myself cranking this up every time it comes on my country stations.
I'm certainly excited for their upcoming record, after really enjoying the direction they started to move towards with Nothing Like This. ;)
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Jan 9, 2012 22:31:28 GMT -5
After first listen, I like this song. It's certainly better than anything they've done since "Summer Nights", in my opinion (I don't remember "Why Wait" all that well though). It's the type of song that I could see being sick of in a few weeks, but for now, I like it.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2012 15:25:16 GMT -5
Little Big Town, Eden's Edge & Elli Young Band will be RF's opening acts during their summer tour.
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Zazie
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Post by Zazie on Jan 14, 2012 15:39:21 GMT -5
This should debut in the top 40 on Billboard next week. I don't expect it to reach the top 40 on MB (because it has one fewer day of spins before the chart week ends) but there's some possibility it can get there with a big overnight gain.
I make no secret of disliking RF's music and I don't like this one either. But it's less bad than most of their songs since the last one I liked, Fast Cars And Freedom. "Less bad" is not the greatest tribute, though.
It's way overproduced. Less overproduced than some others, but still the arrangement is distasteful to me. I did catch some nice uses of banjo (fittingly) and guitar, but those are overwhelmed by the overall arrangement. If you enjoy this kind of thing, more power to you. But I don't.
Sounds like a nice tour this year. I like all of the "lesser" acts but I'd never make it through the headliner.
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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 Jan 14, 2012 18:07:59 GMT -5
Little Big Town, Eden's Edge & Elli Young Band will be RF's opening acts during their summer tour. That makes for an interesting tour; all groups!
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Post by singingsparrow on Jan 15, 2012 0:34:50 GMT -5
This should debut in the top 40 on Billboard next week. I don't expect it to reach the top 40 on MB (because it has one fewer day of spins before the chart week ends) but there's some possibility it can get there with a big overnight gain. I make no secret of disliking RF's music and I don't like this one either. But it's less bad than most of their songs since the last one I liked, Fast Cars And Freedom. "Less bad" is not the greatest tribute, though. It's way overproduced. Less overproduced than some others, but still the arrangement is distasteful to me. I did catch some nice uses of banjo (fittingly) and guitar, but those are overwhelmed by the overall arrangement. If you enjoy this kind of thing, more power to you. But I don't. Sounds like a nice tour this year. I like all of the "lesser" acts but I'd never make it through the headliner. While I don't disagree with your assertions on its production, "Banjo" still works well enough to my ears in that LeVox actually sounds like he's enjoying the musical ride here (as opposed to belting as though almost everything is exaggeratedly life or death) and that the energy behind this track is just refreshing to see after way too many lugubrious snooze-fests. And lyrically, this is indeed hackneyed...........but also doesn't hit you over the head the same way "Bob That Head" and "Summer Nights" did in their own differing ways. I shouldn't have to go over for the umpteenth time why the former sounds so wrong, and the latter just sounds like something destined for a "High School Musical" soundtrack reject cutting board. Here, as redundant as its theme is lyrically, at least it doesn't try to reach any further to the point it feels like a lampoon. Maybe my expectations for this group have just gotten too low, admittedly. But honestly, I've found myself making repeated listens of this track, and it doesn't make me want to grind my teeth. Actually, I can see myself doing some cardio workout phase to this. Namaste, lisping HIBISCUS
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2012 2:15:42 GMT -5
This should debut in the top 40 on Billboard next week. I don't expect it to reach the top 40 on MB (because it has one fewer day of spins before the chart week ends) but there's some possibility it can get there with a big overnight gain. I make no secret of disliking RF's music and I don't like this one either. But it's less bad than most of their songs since the last one I liked, Fast Cars And Freedom. "Less bad" is not the greatest tribute, though. It's way overproduced. Less overproduced than some others, but still the arrangement is distasteful to me. I did catch some nice uses of banjo (fittingly) and guitar, but those are overwhelmed by the overall arrangement. If you enjoy this kind of thing, more power to you. But I don't. Sounds like a nice tour this year. I like all of the "lesser" acts but I'd never make it through the headliner. While I don't disagree with your assertions on its production, "Banjo" still works well enough to my ears in that LeVox actually sounds like he's enjoying the musical ride here (as opposed to belting as though almost everything is exaggeratedly life or death) and that the energy behind this track is just refreshing to see after way too many lugubrious snooze-fests. And lyrically, this is indeed hackneyed...........but also doesn't hit you over the head the same way "Bob That Head" and "Summer Nights" did in their own differing ways. I shouldn't have to go over for the umpteenth time why the former sounds so wrong, and the latter just sounds like something destined for a "High School Musical" soundtrack reject cutting board. Here, as redundant as its theme is lyrically, at least it doesn't try to reach any further to the point it feels like a lampoon. Maybe my expectations for this group have just gotten too low, admittedly. But honestly, I've found myself making repeated listens of this track, and it doesn't make me want to grind my teeth. Actually, I can see myself doing some cardio workout phase to this. Namaste, lisping HIBISCUS I completely agree with you about the quality of Gary's vocal; it's nice to see him sound energetic and refreshed, despite the song's lyrical shortcomings. Frankly, I was afraid Gary's best vocal moments were history once "Unstoppable" was released; everything about that record is so overblown it's painful (with the exception of "Why"). Between "Banjo" and Gary's performances on "Nothing Like This" I'm hopeful that the overblown, dramatic vocal moments are gone from future Rascal Flatts records...or at least I can hope we won't have to sit through a whole album of them. It seems Gary, Jay and Joe Don actually took the fans advice to tone down the music and get back to their older sound; Jay said many fans mentioned they wanted to hear songs in the vein of their older music, and it inspired the sound of "Nothing Like This." I was hopeful Big Machine would release one more single from the record, simply because many of the tracks are quality uptempos that could've given Rascal Flatts the chance to redeem themselves, and perhaps make people take notice of their taste in material, after "Bob That Head" and "Summer Nights" began to drag their reputation down. However, I am hopeful the next album will be at least up to par with "Nothing Like This" and the production choices on this track give me a little bit of hope. I'm past the point of expecting great lyrical moments from these guys, but as long as Gary gives a few great performances, the production is enjoyable, and they have a few decent songs, I'll be satisfied. Even though RF have a reputation as being quite "terrible" and "cheesy" among many casual fans, I've always felt their material comes from an authentic place, and it speaks volumes about the fact that they sound like they are actually enjoying making music again. From the sound of a recent interview, it sounds like they have recorded a cover of Shenandoah's hit "Next To You, Next To Me:" Another possibility for the album reaches back more than two decades. Rascal Flatts, known to lean on others’ offerings (“Life Is a Highway,” “Bless the Broken Road”) might do likewise with Shenandoah’s 1990 hit, “Next to You, Next to Me” — but with less bounce than the original and adding a “grittier” feel, Rooney says.A lot of people have brought up the Flatts taste for atrocious singles; I've always thought they've gotten a bad rap when it comes to their material in general, so I'm considering doing a countdown of my favorite RF songs. I know there are not a ton of country fans who regularly post here, but would anybody here be remotely interested in reading it? :)"Banjo" single cover:
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Zazie
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Post by Zazie on Jan 16, 2012 11:47:50 GMT -5
^^ I accept your distinctions, Hibiscus, and I can even see how you'd enjoy listening to this song during a workout. The vocals are less over-dramatic and the production, though overblown, has its good moments.
But I do think your expectations for RF have fallen. And I don't have as a criterion for listening to a song "Is it better or worse than their previous material?" I listen if I enjoy it. Banjo's better, but it's still pretty bad in the major categories of lyrics, vocals, and arrangement. And my goal will be to hear it fewer than 10 times during its entire chart run.
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carson
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Post by carson on Jan 16, 2012 20:11:27 GMT -5
Cant wait to download it. Love the song. Rascal Flatts are always trying to make something new when they deliver a new album and i appreciate that. Overproduced, overblown or oversing, really? When a female singer overblown or oversing, they call it breathtaking. While to a male singer, they call it oversing. If you can use up most of your energy to "oversing" 20 songs in less than 2 hours(A concert), you get a career. Why bless the broken road and what hurts the most became such big hits? I guess just because Gary Levox "oversang "!
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Zazie
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Post by Zazie on Jan 16, 2012 21:19:57 GMT -5
Welcome to the board, Carson.
Banjo debuts at #37 on the 1/28 BB chart. Very nice opening week. With those points, they pass Emmylou Harris and John Anderson, two of my favorite singers, on the Whitburn list and move to #65 all-time. They're back within 100 points of Paisley.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2012 20:42:18 GMT -5
“@ishonda16: @jaydemarcus Speaking of new record... Got a title for it yet?” "Changed"
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Post by singingsparrow on Jan 18, 2012 3:02:35 GMT -5
“@ishonda16: @jaydemarcus Speaking of new record... Got a title for it yet?” "Changed" "I swear, I swear, I swear! This time we're a changed band! You gotta believe us!"Yeah yeah yeah, I'll believe it when I hear it myself! ;) Namaste, lisping HIBISCUS
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2012 14:38:20 GMT -5
“@ishonda16: @jaydemarcus Speaking of new record... Got a title for it yet?” "Changed" "I swear, I swear, I swear! This time we're a changed band! You gotta believe us!"Yeah yeah yeah, I'll believe it when I hear it myself! ;) Namaste, lisping HIBISCUS Ha! It's no secret RF gives their fans what they want, even if that means failing to take many risks. I do think they've grown as a band over the years, but I can see how the general public may not think so. One thing I have to give these guys is that they are very passionate about the music they make; whether it's good or bad they stand behind their work, and I respect that. They have gone through lots of ups and downs since the last record, with the most obvious of changes being the move to Big Machine. But Jay and Joe Don also welcomed daughters, they hit many career milestones, and they are continuing to be very successful. They've said they are producing a few of the songs themselves, and it does seem they'll be making some "changes" if the sound of "Banjo" is any indication. Just this single alone seems to indicate they are going to continue with the more country/pop production instead of the overblown mess that was "Unstoppable," and that's a good sign to me. It is kind of a boring title, but it is certainly fitting, considering all they have been through, from "Unstoppable" until now. I mean, people thought their career was in danger when the singles undeperformed at radio & they were getting lost in the shuffle once Lady A became the new hot act. The fact that they have been able to bounce back the way they have in such a short time is pretty impressive, and it certainly indicates that they are willing to work harder than ever and become stronger despite the ups and downs they have been through the past few years. The title seems appropriate, because they have gone through a lot and have had to prove that they can still be successful and are not just going to fade away because someone else comes along. I have noticed Gary, Jay and Joe Don seem much more secure and content with where they are in their career at this point, whereas I always felt as if they thought they were somehow threatened by others, or had to prove themselves to be successful. It's nice to see them seem more relaxed and content with what they have accomplished, and their recent music seems to indicate that they've finally accepted they don't have to try so hard anymore.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2012 16:07:22 GMT -5
“@ishonda16: @jaydemarcus Speaking of new record... Got a title for it yet?” "Changed" "I swear, I swear, I swear! This time we're a changed band! You gotta believe us!"Yeah yeah yeah, I'll believe it when I hear it myself! ;) Namaste, lisping HIBISCUS Ha! It's no secret RF gives their fans what they want, even if that means failing to take many risks. I do think they've grown as a band over the years, but I can see how the general public may not think so. One thing I have to give these guys is that they are very passionate about the music they make; whether it's good or bad they stand behind their work, and I respect that. They have gone through lots of ups and downs since the last record, with the most obvious of changes being the move to Big Machine. But Jay and Joe Don also welcomed daughters, they hit many career milestones, and they are continuing to be very successful. They've said they are producing a few of the songs themselves, and it does seem they'll be making some "changes" if the sound of "Banjo" is any indication. Just this single alone seems to indicate they are going to continue with the more country/pop production instead of the overblown mess that was "Unstoppable," and that's a good sign to me. It is kind of a boring title, but it is certainly fitting, considering all they have been through, from "Unstoppable" until now. Most people thought their career was in danger when the singles undeperformed at radio & they were getting lost in the shuffle once Lady A became the new hot act. The fact that they have been able to bounce back the way they have in such a short time is pretty impressive, and it certainly indicates that they are willing to work harder than ever and become stronger despite the ups and downs they have been through the past few years. The title seems appropriate, because they have gone through a lot and have had to prove that they can still be successful and are not just going to fade away because someone else comes along. I have noticed Gary, Jay and Joe Don seem much more secure and content with where they are in their career at this point, whereas I always felt as if they thought they were somehow threatened by others, or felt as if had to prove themselves to be successful. It's nice to see them seem more relaxed and content with what they have accomplished, and their recent music seems to indicate that they've finally accepted they don't have to try so hard anymore.
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