Around the Bend Deluxe Edition

Randy Travis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: WEA/Reprise
• ASIN: B001AGNRW6
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,333 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Randy Travis' "Bends" the Right Way, July 19, 2008

By 

Timothy Yap "thy4568" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Around the Bend Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

Prime Cuts: Dig Two Graves, Faith in You, Love is a Gamble

Years ago Randy Travis used to canvass the country chart with hits such as "I Told You So," "Look Heart, No Hands," and "Whisper My Name" amongst many others. However, ever since 2003's "Three Wooden Crosses," Travis has yet to reach the turret of the country singles chart. Looks like this portentous dry spell is not about to lift anytime soon, considering that this album's lead single "Faith in You" fail to find traction with country radio and miss the Billboard country singles chart completely. Such an atrocity is unforgivable given that "Faith in You" is a gorgeous string-laden ballad that testifies to love's instigative prowess to those downtrodden by the wails of life's cares. Brimming with religious overtones, "Faith in You" can function both as a love song to Jesus as well as to a significant other. Though this CD is this former CMA Male Vocalist of the Year's return to commercial country music since 2004's "Passing Through," Travis often weaves his religious faith into these paeans giving them a spiritual depth and dimension that is often inspirational.

Despite its morbid sounding title "Dig Two Graves" is a story song coming from the pens of Bob Regan and Ashley Gorley about the blissfulness of marital love. Though it's a solid ballad with spades of emotional investiture from Travis' sensitive delivery, "Dig Two Graves" may not be the best follow-up single. After all, its proximity in terms of its tempo and sentiments to "Faith in You" may not be advantageous after radio's tepid response. Much better in terms of single potential is Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." Boasting a lilting feel with its jazzy overtones, producer Kyle Lehning has transformed this rocker about a man who is set to leave his no-good paramour into a gentle fiddle drenched delight that would certainly set your feet tapping. If "From Your Knees" sounds like a song from George Strait's repertoire, it's because it's written by one of Strait's favorite writers, Leslie Satcher. Another Nashville's scribal dignitary Hugh Prestwood who penned Travis' "Hard Rock Bottom of My Heart" gets an entry here with "Love is a Gamble." Refusing to settle for any dicey moral stances, this understated acoustic guitar-driven ballad is a clarion call to open our hearts to love others unconditionally.

In keeping with all of Travis' country CDs, there's always room for some raucous laughter and fun. Refusing to take life too seriously, the infectious "Everything I Own (Has a Dent)" is littered with humorous lines such as "I guess her hart's like that old dead goldfish I forgot to feed." For some exceptional fiddling extravagance, take a listen to Larry Franklin's bullet train fiddling on "Til I Am Dead And Gone," which is a exhibition of Travis' session players in their glory on an otherwise average uptempo. Despite using his baritone to great effect, it's hard to notice that middle age has caught up with Travis vocally. On various tracks such as the title track and "Fain in You," Travis has not been able to hit the higher notes as well as he used to. And in today's competitive market of Rascal Flatts, Keith Anderson and Tatlor Swift, the uptempoes here lack the energy and drive to make Travis grist for penthouse position on the chart again.

Despite the quibbles, "Around the Bend" is consummate Randy Travis. He does not betray the neo-traditional path he has blazed all those years ago for today's country music. With fiddles, steel, and acoustic guitars at the fore without sacrificing an iota of its contemporary edge, Randy Travis' "Around the Bend" is still a formidable CD to reckon with.

5.0 out of 5 stars Randy Travis is great, December 30, 2011

By 

Sandra J. Truog "samtree" (west plains,mo) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Around the Bend Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

I bought this CD for my Mom, but I downloaded it to my computer because I loved it as well. Sender mailed quickly and was in excellent condition

4.0 out of 5 stars Randy's Back And In Fine Form, August 27, 2008

By 

David G. Marut "DiscoDave" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Around the Bend Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

I got a little lost along the way with the soundtrack CD (Wind In The Wires) and christian phase, but PTL Randy's back in fine traditional country form. If you liked the first 4 Warners CDs (which are his bread and butter) you'll enjoy this one. Nothing new here except the songs themselves. There's plenty of solid singing and playing, and excellent production. The DVD is nice but not essential save for the diehards. Oh the one thing I got a kick out of was the RT fan club membership card (looks almost like a RT credit card) affixed prominently inside the deluxe edition - I assume that there is a membership fee.