Sara Evans - "Slow Me Down"

[echocountry]

I don't know who feels the same but I bought Sara Evans new CD and I'm not really a huge fan of it.... I love Sara but the only standout tracks to me are 'Better Off' and 'Put my Heart Down' I know sara said it would be a more pop album but I'm not liking this new direction....

[.indulgecountry]

Subject to change since it's only accounting for four reviews so far, but Metacritic has this listed with a rating of 82, citing "Universal acclaim" based on that number: www.metacritic.com/music/slow-me-down/sara-evans/critic-reviews

Critical praise has been pouring in for this album today! It's received favorable reviews from Billboard, The New York Times, allmusic, The Boston Globe, Roughstock, USA Today, The Oakland Press, and Got Country Online -- if anyone is interested in browsing some of the reviews.

[wilddustin]

I don't think I've seen this mentioned yet, but 'Better Off' was a song that Lee Ann Womack cut for her unreleased album, 'The Way I'm Living' in 2012. I know there were rumblings of her releasing new music sometime in 2014 so I'll be curious to see if this makes it to the album or maybe she's started all over. I've heard Lee Ann's version and it suits both of their voices perfectly. I couldn't really say that one is better than the other.

On a side note, Sara's album is growing on me more and more. 'Better Off' sticks out like a sore thumb from the traditional side of things though. As for the rest of it, the production is a little heavy but still very enjoyable!

[Hunter]

Mar 13, 2014 11:33:09 GMT -5 wilddustin said:

I don't think I've seen this mentioned yet, but 'Better Off' was a song that Lee Ann Womack cut for her unreleased album, 'The Way I'm Living' in 2012. I know there were rumblings of her releasing new music sometime in 2014 so I'll be curious to see if this makes it to the album or maybe she's started all over. I've heard Lee Ann's version and it suits both of their voices perfectly. I couldn't really say that one is better than the other.

On a side note, Sara's album is growing on me more and more. 'Better Off' sticks out like a sore thumb from the traditional side of things though. As for the rest of it, the production is a little heavy but still very enjoyable!

Leann's version is actually on YouTube; interesting to hear! Thanks for sharing that tidbit!

[bigbluenote]

I absolutely love this album beginning to end. I love the direction she went with this and her gorgeous voice.

But I can't seem to get past "You Never Know". Have been repeating that song over and over. It's the "4:30" of the album: melodically and instrumentally intriguing. And the way she sings it, pure perfection.

[Deleted]

Has she ever discussed why she titled the album Slow Me Down? I assume they went with the name for simplicity. I can't help but feel that Revival would have been better.

[Hunter]

Mar 18, 2014 10:14:02 GMT -5 @dawson said:

Has she ever discussed why she titled the album Slow Me Down? I assume they went with the name for simplicity. I can't help but feel that Revival would have been better.

I agree. Maybe even Sweet Spot would've been a better title. And I think the album cover/title doesn't represent the album very well. But I love it!

[sabre14]

Sirius/XM just aired a special album premiere concert for Slow Me Down. First off, Sara sounded great and I thought her live performances of "Revival", "I Gotta Have You", and "Better Off" were fantastic.

Sara also mentioned she had renewed her contract with RCA Nashville before the recording of Slow Me Down. Obviously things can change very fast in this business, and she could lose momentum at radio, but at least it's nice to know she re-up'ed with them.

[bigfan101]

^ I heard that too. Sounds like Sara is going to retire with RCA. Good for Sara, and good for RCA for honoring continuing the contract for a female that has delivered them consistent numbers throughout the years.

Finally got my CD in from WalMart (they lost it and then found it), I honestly thinks she has to release Better Off as a single. That song is very country and catchy and has a very traditional message. I think fans and fans of getting country back to its roots would latch on to it.

I would go:
1) Slow Me Down
2) Better Off
3) Cant Stop Lovin' You
4) Put My Heart Down or Not Over You

(Not sure if releasing three songs in a row that feature other artists is ideal, but I think it can help with her radio airplay numbers.)

[.indulgecountry]

Mar 18, 2014 10:14:02 GMT -5 @dawson said:

Has she ever discussed why she titled the album Slow Me Down? I assume they went with the name for simplicity. I can't help but feel that Revival would have been better.

I assume that it was out of simplicity and name recognition based on the lead radio single representing the album, but I think it works pretty well. This is the longest time she's taken to make an album in her career and she's done it very diligently and it was all her way, so the Slow Me Down moniker makes sense to me in a way that it's about how she slowed herself down to take the extra time to make a very good album. She's spoken a lot about that, and not specifically saying that's where the title came from, but I feel like the title definitely applies to that process of 'slowing down' to make this record.

Mar 18, 2014 11:33:50 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Sara also mentioned she had renewed her contract with RCA Nashville before the recording of Slow Me Down. Obviously things can change very fast in this business, and she could lose momentum at radio, but at least it's nice to know she re-up'ed with them.

Thank GOD. I was so tired of hearing people talk about RCA possibly canning her, because I honestly didn't think that would happen. She seems to have a very good relationship with her label and has done well with them over the years. Despite only one big hit from Stronger, that lead single was one of the biggest hits of 2011, and without a doubt the biggest by a female artist, and it helped propel her to album sales of over 400,000... almost entirely based off one hit. I'm still hopeful that even though "Slow Me Down" hasn't been huge at radio that whatever follows it will be another No. 1 hit for her, so she can at least keep her streak going of one charttopper per album release (excluding her debut).

[Hunter]

According to HitsDailyDouble, this album sold 29,376 copies in it's first week.

I miss the Real Fine Place days of 130,000 debut sales!

[onebuffalo]

Slow Me Down debuts at #2 country, #9 top 200 after 27,000 were sold. Congratulations, Sara Evans!

[bboat11]

Alright, the time has come! I have been meaning to sit down and do a more thorough review of this for several weeks now... Whoops! This album has now had about a month to sink in, and let me just say, it has worn on me extremely well. I know when I heard it for the first time, I expressed a LOT of gripes about the production. However, those disappeared after the second listen. In fact, every single song on here has gotten better with subsequent listens! The production, while poppier than I was expecting, is perfect. The vocals, even more perfect. I love the risks she has taken, such as making her vibrato purposely fuller and the way they mixed some of the instrumentations of the songs. This is an extremely cohesive album; any complaints about her schizophrenic song choices in the past should be satisfied. And there is also not a single song that I ever skip. Alright, time for the track-by-track!

1) "Slow Me Down": I love this song more and more every time I hear it. I was very off-put by the mysterious echoey pizzicato strings the first time I heard this, but now they are one of the song's biggest hooks to me. They immediately grab my ear on the radio. I do think the chorus may be a little overproduced, but I absolutely love how it suddenly quiets down for the beautiful head voice "slow me doooooown" run at the end of the chorus. I am glad that this is now at least a top-20 single, because it is a #1 in my book. Also, I love the lyrics to this song. It is short and simple, very much like Josh Turner's "Time Is Love".

2) "Not Over You": This song may have taken me the longest to get into on the album. It is by far the poppiest song on the album. The production is very loud, but now that I am familiar with it it works. I find myself really enjoying the four-on-the-floor approach to the bass drum once the first chorus ends. I do think it is somewhat annoying how Gavin repeats every line of the bridge, and sometimes it seems that the drums are awkwardly busy in the last chorus. However, Sara's vocals when the key suddenly changes going into the last chorus kill me every time. What a perfect use of a key change! I do not see this being a single like most people seem to. Remember, she already had a cover single with "My Heart Can't Tell You No" on her last album, and it definitely did not improve her momentum.

3) "Put My Heart Down": This is such a good song. Classic Sara, although with a definite poppier edge to the production. The lyrics to this song are brilliant. "So pack up all your things; just leave some air to breathe. A million toxic tears fallin' like rain 'round here. This is our final hour, the end of our story tonight." Some of the best imagery and word-play I have ever heard in a song, with a killer vocal. Add to it the infectiously repetitive chorus, and I could listen to this one for hours. I could see this being a huge hit, maybe in the fall.

4) "Can't Stop Loving You": I really enjoy the vocals in the first verses of the song. They are so smooth, and command your attention, with more incredible lyrics as well. Then the chorus suddenly starts, and slays me. I love it when songs just launch into choruses the way this one does (yes, I am a "Where Would You Be" lover). However, I do wish that this song offered more variety in the chorus. It is excellent, but just not as excellent as it could be. I am a very hit-or-miss person when it comes to repetition. It works for me in "Put My Heart Down", but not quite as well in this one. I like a little more creativity. And I do wish that Isaac's vocals were more easily discernible in the end; they seem like they are too subdued in the mix. I could see this one on the radio, but I do not think it is quite the surefire hit that others have suggested it should be.

5) "You Never Know": If I have ever heard a song with perfect production, this might just be it. I absolutely love all the layers of this one. The way the pizzicato strings, guitars, drums, vocals, and background vocals all layer in over each other, and in different speakers, keeps my musical mind fascinated for the entire song. The way the opening riff is still going on subtly throughout almost the whole song is impressive, and adds a level of rhythmic intensity that keeps an urgent and mysterious feeling to the song. I took a little bit of time to fully warm up to this song, but it is by far the one that has grown on me the most. I discover new things every time I listen to it. I would not complain if it were a hit, although it might be a little bit polarizing to people. If someone does not like the melody and does not have enough experience to fully appreciate the musical complexity of the instruments, this song would be incredibly annoying to them. However, it could also be a huge smash. You never know!

6) "If I Run": What an awesome vocal. This is the most noticeable instance of her experimenting with her vibrato. I love the bass-drum triplets over the 4/4 backbeat; it just really makes for a nice groove. The first time I heard this song, I was not crazy about the chorus. The overlapping vocal tracks combined with the repeated use of "me" trailing off in the exact same way irked me for some reason. Now, however, I love it. That is part of the hook and charm of the song. It is definitely a song where I feel like she should have reached for some higher notes during the bridge and last chorus, because it seemed like it was building up to that and then it did not happen. However, it is still an amazing song, lyrically and vocally. This could be a hit.

7) "Sweet Spot": One word. INFECTIOUS. I am typically never a fan of songs with whistling tracks (I try to beat my own record time for changing the song every time Carrie's "One Way Ticket" comes onto my iPod). But for whatever reason, this one just really works. I absolutely love it. I cannot get the melody out of my head! The lyrics may be fairly simple, but that is okay. This song just works. It is simple, short, and sweet. That is a recipe that has worked for the majority of George Strait's career! I could see this being a huge summer smash, if released.

8) "Good Love Is Hard To Find": This song is an excellent transition between the poppier songs that precede it and the pure country "Better Off" that follows it. The mandolin in the instrumentation is such a welcome addition. This song has an excellent chorus. It is also another simple melody and lyric. It is just a feel-good celebration of love. Country music needs more of those right now.

9) "Better Off": This song is straight up country. Excellent performance from Sara. I do wish we heard more Vince on the track, however I do love their harmonies going into the 3rd chorus. I do not find this song to be out of place on this album, because it ties in so nicely with the song that precedes it. Besides, who could complain about songs not matching when they are as good as this one is! However, despite how good it is, it is not one that I see being released to radio. It is a song that I would definitely get tired of hearing it several times every day; although since she's a female over 40 I doubt a song like this would make it to that high level of airplay anyway!

10) "Gotta Have You": This is probably my guilty pleasure song on the album. There is no denying that the verses are beautiful. At first I found the repetitive notes to be a weird style, but now I think it really works, especially because the changed notes are placed slightly differently in every verse. Then we get to the chorus. It is SO bombastic and overproduced, but I find myself really enjoying it! Something about the background vocalist "oooo" followed by the sudden wall of sound just grabs me every time. I'm not sure if I would release this to radio however; it is probably too bombastic for even country radio to play.

11) "Revival": I also find this song to be one of the more country-sounding songs on the album. It is similar in production to "A Real Fine Place To Start". It has a powerful message, combined with a catchy groove. It is the type of Sara material that radio is known to eat up. I REALLY love the banjo in the background throughout the guitar solo, bridge, and final chorus. This is one of those songs that could become a huge fan favorite as well in her live shows. I get this stuck in my head fairly frequently. Everything about it is pretty much perfect!

My biggest complaint about the album now is that I wish it was longer. It is not nine-new-songs-and-an-acoustic-cover-of-born-to-fly short like Stronger was, but 11 songs still feels somewhat short to me after a 3-year wait. She used to always have very reasonably-sized albums, with 13 tracks or so. That being said, this album is so good and so cohesive that it makes up for only being a 40-minute album.

Now, on to the singles! Of course I would love to put down 5 singles. I could see every single one of these songs being successful on the radio given the right circumstance. However, since this is a female over 40 we are talking about, I will limit myself to 4 even though we are in all likeliness probably only going to get 3.

1) Slow Me Down - Already a single. Duh.
2) Sweet Spot - As I said already, PERFECT summertime smash! Sara does not release many songs that you can just jam out to like this one! Radio might eat it up.
3) Put My Heart Down - Like I said, classic Sara. This could be a very safe yet very good single, in my opinion.
4) Revival - Perfect album closer. It is also sort of a pump-em-up song, only this time with a message!

Honestly though, I do not see her miss-stepping with this album, unless of course they release "Better Off" as the second single. I do not think she has nearly enough momentum right now to pull off that kind of risk. I would be happy with just about ANY single releases!

This is a fantastic work of artistic growth. 10/10 stars in my opinion.

[.indulgecountry]

I loved reading your review, bboat11! You wrote so much more on the album than I did, I need to step it up, lol.

As a random aside, I actually think "Better Off" could be another "Suds in the Bucket" for Sara Evans at country radio, though it is risky because it could just as easily go the other way. When I had the album playing in my car the other day one of my roommates picked up on the chorus lyrics (I was the only one who knew the song already) and started singing them on the second chorus and then by the end they were all doing it. It kind of struck me how that chorus is really structured for that the same way a song like "Play It Again" is, and it got me to thinking maybe it could be some sort of an unexpected smash like Suds was.

They really can't go wrong with singles from this album, imo. Basically anything could work well on radio.

[someguy]

Mar 18, 2014 10:14:02 GMT -5 @dawson said:

Has she ever discussed why she titled the album Slow Me Down? I assume they went with the name for simplicity. I can't help but feel that Revival would have been better.

Sara told Country Weekly: "It just makes sense, because you're wanting the name recognition. So the fans know to look for your album".

So it sounds like it's just called Slow Me Down because the title track was the first single. I think she's done the same thing for all of her albums, except for Restless (which makes sense, because "Backseat Of A Greyhound Bus" would be a pretty terrible album title).