Customer Reviews

Another Way To Go

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I got this CD free when my University Radio Station was cleaning out their stacks... who would want to give this CD up?? I am not usually into "male country" or anything that could be classified as such, but Radney Foster has changed my mind! The catchy beat and mindblowing lyrics make you not just listen, but really think about what he is saying. "Everyday Angel," "Again," "Disappointing You" are some of my favorites, but the entire album is really good. If you've just started to like some country music but are scared of the "twang" thing, or you want some deepfelt lyrics to make you think, Radney Foster is perfect for you!

Having split up as a duo, Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd produced solo albums that have slowly found their way back to the rock-oriented pop sounds that was the pair's stock-in-trade. Lloyd's solo releases, including 1999's "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" found him moving into full-fledged power-pop, while Foster's solo work initially leaned towards country and acoustic.

Foster's earliest solo albums, "Del Rio, Texas, 1959" and "Labor of Love," strived to differentiate his solo work from that of his previous partnership, but starting with 1999's "See What You Want to See," and continuing even more resolutely on this latest release, Foster once again merges his country twang with a more electric, adult-contemporary sound. The album's lead-off track, "Real Fine Place to Start," smoothly mixes a wall of electric and acoustic guitars with careening steel, mandolin, sharp-edged drum fills and chiming vocal harmonies. It's a brilliant combination of country twang and powerpop jangle.

The opening track's power is maintained without having to continually repeat the powerpop instrumentation. Rock gives way to soul, acoustic country, and nearly spoken passages that catch the listener's attention. Foster's lyrical canon, drained by divorce and a bitter custody battle, has refilled with personal songs of love, struggle and renewal. His co-write with Harlan Howard, "Scary Old World," co-sung with Chely Wright, and cut the day after Howard's passing, contrasts the uncertainty of today's chaotic world with the certainty and empowering nature of close relationships. The title track's message of personal freedom is a fitting closer for Foster's first studio effort on the indie Dualtone label.

The combination of musical and lyrical vision forms a sophisticated equation wrought by a maturing artist. Foster's songs still have hit single hooks, but his lyrics tell the sort of fully-formed stories often missing in the emotionally stunted world of commercial radio.

This is really music for people who have lived and loved. This is not kids' stuff and therefore it's not on the radio. I listen to this endlessly in the car. There's only one song I skip - "Disappointing You," not because it's bad - no, far from it. It's just such a painful song that I just can't take it all the time. In a saner world, Radney Foster would be a huge star along the lines of Bruce Springsteen. Honestly. Pick this one up. It's one of those CDs that's better the 50th time you've heard it than it was the first. I'm sure folks like Tim McGrew and Keith Urban will pillage this CD like crazy for material.

Ever since I heard Radney's "Just Call Me Lonesome" and "Closing Time" years ago, I was hooked. And, that same feeling is renewed with his new CD, "Another Way To Go". He has always been one of the premier songwriters in the country music realm. And, he does nothing to disprove this on the new CD. The music crosses quite a few genres. My favorite is "Love Had Something to Say About it". Anyone who has ever felt like they could live without love should listen to this song! Radney writes songs with an honesty that is lacking in a lot of today's music. I could go on and on, but I'll just say this...BUY THIS CD! You'll be glad you did.

Townes Van Zant would have been proud of this work, I think. This CD has the depth and honesty of TVZ and in some spots this CD is a bit disconcerting. "Disappointing You" [track 5] is the new standard by which all other 'heartbroke songs' should be judged. Our boy from Del Rio Texas has done us a favor. He opens for us the mind of a true song writer genuis that has become the matured version of our own Radney Foster. I'm just sorry that I was so late in purchasing a CD. I was actually looking to buy "Everyday Angel" as a single for pod use. When I couldn't find the single I bought the whole bannana and I'm glad I did. I can't remember the last time I put a CD in my vehicle player and just let it play through again and again and again. I'm listening to it now as I write. "A Real Fine Place to Start" kicks the CD off followed by "Angel" and tracks 3, 4 & 5 are just fine songs. "Love had something to say about it" is a great tune too [track 10]. I catch a trend with this CD and the Rodney Crowell CD "The Outsider" in that there is an esoteric message throughout both works. Now 'that' is a movement in your standard, everyday C&W, but I like it. And if you like Radney Foster you'll love this offering. I know I do.

I can listen to this album over and over, and it gets better with each listen. Every song is great in it's own way. I have all of the Radney Foster albums, and I like this one best. Just the song, "Again" is worth the price of admission. Radney's uncanny ability to craft melodies that stick in your head, and create real-life characters that you recognize is so refreshing in today's cookie-cutter music industry.

Can this guy get any better? I don't think so. Age has only improved his voice and delivery. I'd actually forgotten about him for a few years--what a joy to hear him again. I'll be ordering his last few CDs.

This is indeed a real fine place to start your exploration of Radney Foster. This is the most accessible and pop like you are likely to ever hear Radney. He might be betraying his more country or alt-country fans but this record should appeal to the masses. The songwriting is not his best but it is better than most ever get. The production, musicianship and harmony vocals are all first rate as well.

It's hard to classify this album as country or rock album, but it falls somewhere between those styles.
Another Way To Go contains Radney Foster in his purest form, with his classic songwriting style and his unique voice - just like a fine wine it keeps getting better with the age.
This album sounds like a follow up to See What You Want To See but with some influences from his previous album - Are you Ready For The Big Show?.There are plenty of songs that will be classics just as "Just Call Me Lonesome" and "Nobody Wins". My favs are "Real Fine Place to Start", "I got What You Need" and "Love Has Something to Say About It" - All of them cool rock songs with deep lyrics.You won't get disappointed in investing money in this cd - it's awesome! and if you own Radney's previous works you'll soon notice that this' his best!

Radney Foster is without a doubt one of the finest singer/songwriters in country music today. This cd release crosses genres, and pulls you into each and every song. Listen to it three times and you'll be hooked forever. There isn't a song on this recording that I don't love...so it would be too hard to name a favorite; just buy it!