Country Reviews Letter F
Artist:
Rascal Flatts
Album: Nothing Like This
Release Date: 16 November 2010
Review:
This is their first album since their label change. It’s now obvious that they find back their usual musical level, by that I mean there nothing transcendent or new. The album is of high quality, it's just that it doesn’t bring big changes. The group is very popular with the 14/25 years old, and we can feel it in their music. We find what made their success, some romantic melodies, beautiful voices; and here you get tracks like Red Camaro, Summer Young, Tonight Tonight. The pinnacle is reached with Nothing Like This and Sunday Afternoon and that’ll make your heart melt. The only surprise but not least, is the participation of Natasha Beddingfield on Easy, a very successful song. She has already attracted attention for her collaboration with Hillsong in the early 2000s. Since it’s a bit far from Christian music, the track is very well interpreted. The album is perfect for their fans, this is what we could have been expected from the trio, some very goods tunes, so new country, not surprisingly, but after all it’s better than a disappointment, isn’t it?
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist
:
Colt Ford
Album: Chicken And Biscuits
Release Date: 20 April 2010
Review:
This album is a real dilemma. It reminds me of the Willie Nelson & Friends albums, here the artist sings almost every tracks with another person. It's not that it bothers me, perhaps he understood the lesson of his previous album where we preferred the duets. There he uses great names and although not everything is successful, we must admit that he went out of his way to give us this quality. Between a good Chicken & Biscuits with James Otto, the excellent All About Y'all with Josh Gracin, others are nice to listen as Nothing In Particular with Sunny Ledfurd, She Ain't Too Good for That with Joe Nichols. Yet some are rather average as Tool Timer with Darryl Worley, Cricket on a Line with Rhett Akins, Hip Hop in a Honky Tonk with Kevin Fowler. The whole is mixed. Certainly this is more country than Cowboy Troy. We feel good on his mix; Ride On, Ride Out and the beautiful Country Kids with Rachel Farley. Far from hating this sound, we love listening, for the mood.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist
:
Steve Forde
Album: Hurricane
Release Date: 14 August 2010
Review:
After his previous Guns & Guitars that impressed us, Steve Ford has spent a lot of time recorded in Dallas, Arlington, Nashville and of course Australia. He composed himself nine of the ten tracks on this album that amazes us. And yes, because we have to admit that I was blown away by the musical quality. The CD makes the most of a powerful sound, a mix of new country and fast electric guitars. From the beginning, the goods songs keeps coming providing no respite like Endless Summer, How Long, Wasted. Then we are allowed to have a break. If you can call it a break because everything is always very rhythmic with Never Growin’ Old and Something Beautiful. Then it goes again. This is a much more mature album, a very high quality. We want more and at this level, the artist have reached some of the greatest singers in Nashville. A big crush.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist
:
Steve Forde
Album: Rowdy
Release Date: 19 July 2006
Review:
Steve Ford is one of those Australian artists that reflects the music universe of their country. This album consolidates him and presents a confident artist, with very good qualities. A powerful sound impresses us from the start with tracks like No Wrong, Feels Alright. But it’s on Aussie Philosophy where we understand his full potential. We took a little break with the sweet Ride, to restart all over again with Goin’ & Blowin'. He offers a mix of country and rap, which reminds me of Tim McGraw, or Big & Rich with songs like Cowboy Style and Captain Goodtime. Really impressive. The sweetest tunes is the quite successful ballad Crazy Love. But this isn’t the only one, there are also the goods All I Need and Everybody Else. A powerful album that reinforces this artist as a country music leader in Australia and who really deserves to be listened to, and why not bring him in France.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist
:
Steve Forde
Album: Living Right
Release Date: 2002
Review:
The Australian singer is one of the most popular on the other side of the globe. This reissue of one of his early albums offers us some good tracks. His country rock style goes well without being transcendent. I must say that I have in mind these last albums, then yes it’s a bit harsh. We love songs like Chasin‘ the Sun or What I'm Talkin' About. Some ballads come soften the whole. A good country album. But the track that’ll retain most of our attention is undoubtedly Rodeo Freak. A good start, ever since I wanted to explore the beginning of his career, it's done.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist
:
Colt Ford
Album: Ride Through the Country
Release Date: 02 December 2008
Review:
In the category country rap after Cowboy Troy, I ask Colt Ford. If there is a lot of duets and guest as Lindsey Hager, Attitude, Sunny Ledfurd and that's not all. After a duet with John Michael Montgomery in Ride Through the Country, another with Jamey Johnson in Cold Beer, we quickly understand that there isn’t much to it. So you have to like rap, here we thus find instruments that saves a little the whole. It's not the same rap than in France. We enjoy a few songs like Mr. Goodtime, Twisted. The best song is undoubtedly Dirt Road Anthem with Brantley Gilbert whose warm voice is almost magical. For better or worse, we love, or at least we don’t run away. It’s easy enough to get caught up in the game. So if I am not hooked to all tracks, it’s clear that I am pleasantly surprised. After saying I'm a fan ...
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Rascal Flatts
Album: Unstoppable
Release Date: 07 April 2009
Review:
If there is indeed a group that embodies the evolution of country music these days, it's Rascal Flatts. Since those first CD, we can only note the rise of this trio, this opus is no exception to this rule. If I was a little disappointed with the past, this album reconciles me once and for all with the band. Between Here Comes Goodbye and its electric guitar sound that is perfect, hits in their pure style as Close and Summer Nights, we are amazed. But that's not all, for once the group surprised us by interpreting songs of a different note, more careful compositions, with more mature lyrics, texts that we wouldn’t have expected from them in the past. So Unstoppable gives courage, Things that Matter discusses what is important and what isn’t, with a small religious side. We continue with Holdin‘ On, where they tell the story of a man holding on to a lost love Decidedly, you go from surprise to the next. We’ll listen to She'd Be California at full speed in our car and, we are left speechless with the voices of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney on Once. Rascal Flatts gives us a beautiful album that will confirm their great popularity, to believe that they are Unstoppable.
Rating
:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Album: Greatest Hits Volume 1
Release Date: 28
October 2008
Review :
One of the most popular bands in recent years is back with this opus. If they remind me of a boy band from time to time, we must admit that their musical and vocal talent is impressive. This album brings together many hits including the magnificent These Days, Mayberry, Bless The Broken Road, Stand, Life Is A Highway (I prefer the Chris LeDoux version). Let yourself be lulled by their melodies and take the opportunity to discover or rediscover their songs because everything goes well. An album that was long overdue and now it’s done. Some New Country of very high level, if you like country and a little bit of pop, then go for it.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Rascal Flatts
Album: Still Feels Good
Release Date: 25 September 2007
Review:
With this new album, Rascal Flatts steps up a notch. There are more elaborate compositions, and I confess that the boy band side can be forgotten as the vocal harmonies and melodies are successful. We find what made their success with Here and She Goes All The Way. If we were used to hear Gary LeVox as main singer, we can see that the other two members are increasingly present. This is a very good thing, even if from the beginning, Gary’s voice is like a spell. The slower and more mature song, Help Me Remember, allows us to discover them in a different light. We find very rhythmic tempos with electric guitars on Still Feels Good. In short, this album promises to be a very good surprise. It's Not Supposed To Go Like That is loaded with emotion and addresses a new topic for the group. Note that this opus is present in two versions, a simple version and a double version that offers five other tracks. If we can find the first CD on the internet, why deprive yourself of the 2 CDs version. Personally it’s this version that I just reviewed, moreover we love, and many people’ll melt on songs like Lonesome Road and My Wish. We knew they were talented, now you just have to enjoy it.
Rating
:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Rascal Flatts
Album: Feels Like Today
Release Date: 28 September 2004
Review:
Yet it all started so promisingly. With a superb Nitty Gritty Dirt Band cover song, Bless The Broken Road, and the very catchy Fast Cars And Freedom, the trio shows their enormous potential. In fact this album is mixed, the beginning is country, although this sounds is really pop. However we like melodies as Then I Did and When The Sand Runs Out but arrived halfway through, we feel more pop than country. So although I have nothing against the genre, I must say that Rascal Flatts reminds me of a boy band made in country, for young ladies. But when you listen to their vocal harmonies, these three singers really have potential. The lyrics are pretty cheesy, but hey you’ll fall under their spell. This opus will be a success although it’s really a country pop. A little too much for my taste and it's a shame, you can expect the next.
Rating
:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Rascal Flatts
Album: Melt
Release Date: 29 October 2002
Review:
I know I have to accept their country pop style, but their ability to get us some hits still amazes me. And for once I admit that this album disappoint me. I find it all quite slow, yet their voices are one of their major assets, I don’t deny it. After I find some tracks too simple for my taste, like I Melt and the rest of the CD lacks a little punch. There are still a few good songs like These Days, Mayberry, Shine On. Once again the sound is really pop, it’s not really country, but it’s a very diverse style. However I begin to perceive the limits. The album is nice to listen to but then I am not saying I’ll do it again, but it depends on your taste. If you want to relax, I would say OK, but they are capable of so much better and we know it.
Rating
: 
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Rascal Flatts
Album: Rascal Flatts
Release Date: 06 June 2000
Review:
This album is definitely for teenagers, just listen or read the song lyrics of While You Loved Me, One Good Love to be convinced. So if there are a few violins, a lot of pop, I admit that this is a nice CD to listen. The trio surprises us with their powerful vocals and two hits: Prayin' For Daylight and Long Slow Beautiful Dance. To be honest I won’t recommend this album fo those who don’t like new country, because there is a strong pop side on this album, but Rascal Flatts remains a pleasant surprise. The melodies are beautiful, very romantic lyrics, and everything goes pretty well.
Rating
:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Artist:
Kevin
Fowler
Album:
Loose, Loud & Crazy
Release Date: 03 August
2004
Review :
I
honestly thought he couldn’t do better than his live at
Billy Bob, well I was wrong. This is simply his best album
to date. All tracks are sublime, the entire album is a
wonder, so do not hesitate if you love the honky tonk
atmosphere, go buy this album you won’t regret it.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Album:
Live At Billy Bob's Texas
Release Date: 05
November 2002
Review :
If
you love honky tonk then it’s for you, this live is a gem.
Impossible to miss. The atmosphere is such that you can’t
stop from dancing. Wonderful, I already knew he was
talented but here it’s beyond expectations. All tracks are
beautiful but I had a major crush on 100% Texan,
Butterbean, Tall Drink Of Water, True Love. To consume
without moderation.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Album: Beer, Bait And
Ammo
Release Date: 21
November 2000
Review :
The singer from Texas offers us a moment of pure
happiness. It’s like we are in Texas thanks to its rhythms.
I love tracks like Spreak of the Devil, Butterbean, I Found
Out the Hard Way, Read Between the Lines, 100% Texan. If you
like Texas Country Music, rhythm to perfection, this album
is for you. I like it so much that I want more. I think it’s
come from his origins because as we say: Everything is
bigger in Texas!
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
Album:
First Ladies Of Country
Release
Date: 08 March
2004
Review:
There
are so many bluegrass compilation, old time, the best
female Country artists, I told myself when I received it,
another one! Well not so quick, because I must admit that
this compilation is a very good worked. While it’s rare to
love all tracks, different period and styles, I like this
compilation. This CD allows you to immerse yourself with
the most beautiful female country voices. You know most of
these songs because they are timeless, their artists too.
This is a very good way I think for the new generation to
discover another generation. Moreover it’s an album with 2
CD, a total of 44 songs, 22 per cd (logic). Anyway what
pleasure to listen again and again: Nanci Griffith - From
A Distance, Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man, Patsy Cline
- Crazy Charly McClain - Make The World Go Away, Mary
Chapin Carpenter - He Thinks He'll Keep Her, Lucinda
Williams - World Without Tears, Emmylou Harris - Love
Hurts, Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden, Dolly Parton - Put A
Little Love In Your Heart, Jennifer Warnes - Right Time Of
The Night (I’d say Terry Clark’s voice), all this only on
the disc 1. On Disc 2 we'll enjoy: Dolly Parton - I will
Always Love You, Martina McBride - Safe In The Arms Of
Love, Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter, Connie Francis
- He Thinks I Still Care, Indigo Girls - Closer To Fine,
Patsy Cline - Walking After Midnight. A good compilation
that’ll please the nostalgic but also the curious.
Rating:
By Sheppard Micoud - ACS Staff Journalist
