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Rascal Flatts - Unstoppable
CD DetailsArtist: Rascal Flatts Brand: RASCAL FLATTS Edition: Music CD Audio: English (Unknown) CD Release Date: 2009-04-07 Music Label: Lyric Street Soundtracks: - Love Who You Love
- Here Comes Goodbye
- Close
- Forever
- She'd Be California
- Unstoppable
- Things That Matter
- Summer Nights
- Holdin' On
- Once
- Why
Music reviews of UnstoppableMusic Review: Unstoppable - Rascal Flatts Rating: 5 Stars
When a person thinks of Rascal Flatts, he or she thinks of catchy pop country music that gets feet tappin' and voices singin' along; it's music that provides a melody to the lives of many country music fans. Whether it's songs about long lost love, faith, or having a good time, Rascal Flatts knows how to provide music for any occasion. In April 2009, Rascal Flatts yet again proved themselves among the country music elite when they released their album, Unstoppable. This being the group's sixth studio album release, the album title fits just fine; it's music that definitely confirms the group has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
As heard on most Rascal Flatts' albums, goodbye takes many different forms on Unstoppable. In Close, goodbye's seen as the choice not to delete an ex-lover's voicemail message or throw out and old Notre Dame T-shirt. In Holdin' On, it's seen as a lipstick-smeared can of Mountain Dew in the back of a pick-up truck. At a suicide victim's funeral, goodbye's seen as a survivor's guilt; a lingering, troubling, remembrance. In Once, (which was co-written by American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi) and Forever, goodbye is seen as a relationship lost. Even in the trio's first single from the album, Here Comes Goodbye (which was co-written by Season 6 American Idol finalist Chris Sligh), it takes on human form.
Although it may seem like it, misfortune and so-long's aren't the only themes on the record. She'd Be California is a fun-loving song that describes a woman which sounds like a girl right out of the Beach Boys' California Girls. The title track, Unstoppable, commemorates the powerful nature of love, while the first track off the album, Love Who You Love, urges the listener to tell his/her loved ones how much they are loved before it's too late. Summer Nights sets mood for a perfect summer evening shared with friends having a good time; it makes the listener nostalgic for those long summer nights spent as a teenager. The emotionally-charged Things That Matter is a ballad that challenges the listener to really think about the song's exact title; the things that matter.
Although not necessarily exemplified on this album in a particular song, many of the group's lyrics either speak directly of God or lead the listener to think that they're singing about God, and all three members of the group profess Jesus Christ as their Savior. In today's post-modern society where many people don't care about their own personal beliefs, it's great to have a group who isn't afraid to use the platform they've been given to lead someone to the saving knowledge of Christ, as long as the person's willing to listen to the message. Rascal Flatts is a group that isn't afraid to bring up the hard topics in their songs, nor share the answer they've found, which is God. No matter the song, the group's got a strong message; they don't just write songs to write songs, they've got something to say that's worth listening to.
With over 18 million albums sold and numerous country music awards, Rascal Flatts is sure to be around for a while. Unstoppable is an album that surely hasn't quieted the true country fans, but rather it has kept their fan base growing. One of 2009's most anticipated releases in country music, the album has set and keeps setting records. Goodbye may be a common theme heard on this album, but it's definitely a word they won't be saying anytime in the near future to country music.
More Unstoppable free music reviews: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Description of UnstoppableWith Unstoppable, Gary, Joe Don and Jay release their most powerful and accessible album to date, taking their career and country music another large step forward. Produced by Dann Huff and Rascal Flatts, the record applies the group's formidable talents to a spectrum of songs that range from the pure drama of "Forever," which deals, as the group has so often in the past, with the pain of a broken relationship, to the pure fun of "Summer Nights," a romp through a world of coolers and bikinis guaranteed to be a concert favorite. The trio is as proud of the project as they've ever been. "This is the best group of songs we've ever had," says Joe Don, and given the band's storied history, that is no small statement. Their deliberate approach is much of the reason. "We started early on this record," says Jay, "so we could take the time to cut when we wanted to cut. We set out from the beginning to track when we got songs we believed in. That allowed us to take a deep breath now and then and take our time, and the great thing is every song means something very deeply to us." That conviction is evident in every vocal. "Songs like 'Why,' which deals with a very important and sensitive topic," says Gary, "put me in a place vocally where I've never been. Overall, these were songs I could pour all of myself into." There is perhaps no male singer on the current country scene who can wring more from songs of loss and heartache than Gary, and Unstoppable gives him several opportunities to do just that. "Holdin' On" and "Close" both tell stories of people clinging to the remnants of lost love, while "Once" paints a portrait of loss that takes full advantage of his vocal prowess. All three agree, though, that Unstoppable's first single, "Here Comes Goodbye," covers the territory as well as it's been covered. "It's one of the most powerful songs we've ever put out there," says Jay. Along with first-rate song selection and the band's own contributions--Jay was co-writer on "Close" and the title track, which celebrates the sheer power of love, while Gary contributed "Summer Nights" and "Things That Matter," a look at moments with lasting importance--Unstoppable is notable for Rascal Flatts' continuing dedication to studio excellence. "I think Dann and [engineer] Justin [Niebank] just get better and better with time," says Joe Don, "and they really pushed us to raise our game. This is the best sound we've ever had." That excellence was reflected in Jay's bass playing and Joe Don's guitar work, as well as in their harmony vocals. "Take a song like 'Summer Nights,'" says Gary. "Joe Don really stepped out and played some great guitar. Vocally, too, the track was good, but when Joe Don played that guitar riff and then he and Jay laid down their vocals, they really took the song to a better place. It upped the ante on it." "Dann is such a great guitar player and producer," adds Joe Don. "He's totally got his thumb on country music right now, and he does inspire us to be better. We stretched a lot on this album, bringing in all our influences."
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