Customer Reviews

Man Ain't Made of Stone

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Randy Travis continues to record sturdy, traditional country albums. The title song captures the very essence and ambivalence of masculinity in today's world: vulnerability hidden beneath an outer show of strength. "Where Can I Surrender" is a chill-inducing ballad that depicts imprisonment as a metaphor for love (The hairs on the back of my neck quiver each time I hear this song). In "I'll Be Right Here Loving You," Randy blends country sensibility with rap rhythm for a nifty, up-tempo tune. "A Little Left of Center" directs its aim at love's quirky bullseye, while the sorrowful "Day One" describes all the pain and frustration of a relationship that has ended sadly. Overall, this is a solid album. It is also one of his "loudest," with muscular, and at times overpowering, musical arrangements. I agree with another reviewer who prefers the "lean," pared-down sound of earlier albums. Randy Travis is "The Voice" of today's country music, so it's only fitting that his clear, mournful baritone should be the dominant sound on every album. Dreamworks music executives please take note: provide Randy with minimal background arrangements and let his voice and talent do the rest of the work. Other Randy Travis albums to consider: You and You Alone, Full Circle, This Is Me, High Lonesome

I think that this is a really good album by Randy Travis. I'd have given the album five stars if there hadn't been a couple corny songs, like "I'll Be Right Here Loving You." For the most part, the album is solid and well-done. My favorite cuts are "A Man Ain't Made Of Stone," "The Family Bible And The Farmer's Almanac," "Where Can I Surrender," and "In A Heart Like Mine." Overall, with a miss or two, it was a darn good album.

As a long time Randy Travis fan I found this latest offering too slick and the arrangements overpowered the great Travis voice. The songs lacked that traditional Travis quality of a good mix. The words were, in my opinion corny and at times seemed to roll over themselves. This is by far the worst outing Randy has made. I hope he goes back to the clean uncluttered arrangements he used when he started.

This is the second straight Travis album I have bought on the first day of release, and it was worth it. The title track is awesome, but just as good if not better is the irrestible, "13 Mile Goodbye." It showcases his vocals and the song is a great idea. While the last album was about how to live one's life, this album gets back to love songs. I like the variety of his albums. I can't wait until his next CD comes out!

No classic Randy here. An OK album but I expected more. I was hoping that a couple of his songs would remind me of his older stuff. Beside the voice I didn't even recognize the album. Just not as powerful as I hoped. Great artist (his voice carries the album), needs better song selection, nothing that really touched me. If you love Randy's music get it, if not pass

MY fovorite songs off the album:

A Man Ain't made of stone

Where Can I Surrender

Once You Heard The Truth

Thirteen Mile Goodbye

I'll Be Right her Lovin' You - This one might have been picked higher but I heard Rhett Akins version first and I like Rhett's better. It's still a good song, and Randy does well with it, but I still like Rhett's version

This is country music at it's very best. It is what it use sound like before the pop invasion.

Travis takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride...it dips and climbs all in the right places. And like a roller coaster it speeds up and slows down so you can feel and enjoy the thrill that the music gives the heart.

There are chill bumps aplenty here. The first single , the title cut" A Man Aint Made of Stone" is just the first of many on this offering that creates such an emotional impact.

Randy proves once again that good songs sung with emotional integrity and genuine sincerity can make for mighty good listening pleasure...even when it is this traditional.

Every once in a long while, I find a CD that I love on the first listen. Invariably these CD's become some of my most treasured. This is one of those CD's. Is every song perfect? Perhaps not, but the majority are, and those that miss don't miss the mark far. I would highly recommend this CD to any classic country fan, RT fan, or anyone that wishes to hear pure country at it's best.

I am a devout Randy Travis fan. I have been with him since day one and will always continue to be a fan. I have listened to this CD several times and I just can't buy it. It's so much unlike the Randy Travis material to which I am used. This is a CD that was done in haste and one can tell from the material that it was a rush job. I am not one to put down Randy Travis but I can't in all honesty praise this CD. It's inferior material and the whole CD sounds like a giant grade B song. All the cuts sound alike. Not one cut stands out--not even A MAN AIN'T MADE OF STONE. I am really disappointed but I will still buy the CD. I can't be a Randy Travis fan and not buy one of his releases. I wish he would go back to the days of STORMS OF LIFE.

I have always said that Randy Travis is one of the greatest. I have all of his albums and was so excited when I ordered this one. What a let down! Where was Randy's beautiful voice? He sounded bored and tired through the whole CD. I have seen the Stone Cold Truth video and loved it. The version on the CD was no where near as powerful. Randy - please come out of retirement!

Randy Travis has one of the best and believable voices in Country Music today.It's too bad we can't appreciate it in this album.For a Country song to be great,the singer must make the listener believe that he is singing from personal experiences.Hank Williams,George Jones,Johnny Cash,Bobby Bare all did this with their classic songs.Randy Travis has the voice and has been able to do this;but it just isn't the case with the songs in this album.Listening to the album,try as I may,I couldn't keep from thinking that Randy was reading the lines and just going through the paces.I couldn't get the feeling that the songs had any meaning to Randy ,and therefore he doesn't connect with the listener.As one listens to the songs ,it just seems like a string of cliches,delivered one after another.At times there is no connection to the music,which also conveys no feeling.At times, I even got the feeling that Randy sang the words and the music was added to the songs later.

One of the things I believe you get with a good album is that once listening to it;you can't wait to hear it over and over again.With this album;I couldn't wait for it to finish.