.99 Review - Rascal Flatts

Rascal Flatts - Things That Matter

The People's Take

"That's what!" (5 stars) – It speaks for itself. They're Rascal Flatts. Enough said.
by llbnchs

"You guys are getting worse" (1 star) – Your music used to be alright now its bad.
by Rich G 62

"Love it" (5 stars) – I believe this is a song Gary wrote and I just love it. The guys just keep the hits coming. It makes you realize what life is really all about and that these guys are still norma guys and love their families but their fans as well. Definitely worth the 99 cents. I would pay more if it costed more.
by Caitlyn8390


My Take

The fourth preview single released on iTunes from Rascal Flatts' upcoming "Relentless" is is a tedious tune that lacks the harmony-driven emotional bang or sugary confection of the few RF songs I'd count as guilty pleasures. I'd go as far as to say it's hookless... and hooks are usually the boys' strong suit, along with fashion and whining. "Things That Matter" consists of a couple of mini-stories about how little things get in the way of what is truly important in life. That's a fine sentiment, but the track tries way too hard to be timeless and moving while being utterly forgettable, due to the shallow emotional development in the sketch-like stories, and only moving enough to transport my Cliff Bar from lunch the wrong direction in my digestive tract. In the bridge, Gary says regret won't be all up in his business at the end of his well-primped days and he won't be asking "Why didn't I?" I felt quite the opposite about the last 4:41 of my life. The song in summary: Somebody doesn't stop and smell the roses enough because they're buried under a pile of crap in the inbox.... somebody else lets past wrongs get in the way of what could have been a rewarding relationship... somebody dies (didn't see that coming did you?).... somebody learns a lesson from the aforementioned. There ya go.

One more thing: An extended musical tag???? Isn't that like Willie Aybar coming back out of the dugout to tip his hat and bow proudly to the Tropicana Field crowd after driving in one run on a sacrifice fly in a game where the Rays were down by 4?

Total value: .21/.99





















The Checklist

Church/God
Mama
Boots
Name Dropping
Dying Person
County Fair
Lost Love
Love
Hometown Pride
Kindly Advice
Truck
Whiskey
Beer
Life Affirmation
USA
Soldiers
Pop Sheen
Star Power

Fun With Charts & Graphs

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Review of Keith Urban's "Defying Gravity"

Phun With Charts & Graphs: Phish

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Favorite Albums of '09 - First Quarter Report

Click on underlined artist names for their Myspace pages to listen! (Ben doesn't have a solo Myspace, but you can listen to samples on the Amazon link)

Feel free to comment on any of these, or to suggest some other great albums of early 2009!

1. Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light in the West
A collection of gritty narratives based on Cormac McCarthy's gore-soaked epic, "Blood Meridian," it's as passionate and powerful as anything I've heard this year (and much of last), despite the narrow focus. I'm a huge fan of Ben's full-time gig, Lucero, and looking forward to their major label debut later this year, but it'll have to really be something to top this.
Prime track: "Toadvine"

2. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
This is the one where son overtakes father. Justin's warm, reedy vocals and classic country sound with a modern feel make this quite an engaging album.
Prime track: "Mama's Eyes"

3. The Gourds - Haymaker!
Ridiculously fun as always, but the song-craft never suffers for the sake of party and vice versa. Not quite up to the high bar set by their previous release, Noble Creatures, but still a very strong effort.
Prime track: "Shreveport"

4. Phosphorescent - To Willie
A loving ode to a legend. Nelson's songs retold through a filter of reverent indie folk sound great and remind you that Willie's not just an entertainer and troubadour, but a songwriter of the highest order. Phosphorescent's not bad either, putting their own stamp on the songs, not just performing rote covers.
Prime track: "The Last Thing I Needed (First Thing This Morning)"

5. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
An indie-folk band with some of the most beautiful vocals you'll ever hear, Great Lake Swimmers take a step in a new direction on this outing, upping the tempo a bit and eschewing the stripped down approach for an array of new instruments, to nice effect. "Pulling on a Line" is my favorite song of the year thus far.

6. Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Metal! Smart, masterfully technical and fairly innovative, but still headbangingly hard, Mastodon's beast of a record should appeal to fans of anybody from Iron Maiden and Metallica to Coheed and Cambria. Great music for working out, or washing the dishes.
Prime track: "Oblivion"

7. The Deep Dark Woods - Winter Hours
Prime track: "All the Money I Had is Gone"

8. Scott Miller - For Crying Out Loud
Prime track: "Sin in Indiana"

9. Eric Church - Carolina
Prime track: "Where She Told Me to Go"

10. Strand of Oaks - Leave Ruin
Prime track: "End in Flames"