Customer Reviews

Around The Bend

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

 

 

Let's face it. Country Music is a mess right now as a raft of new "talent" attempts to take the genre by storm with no more real Country Music involved than you would find among a group of hit rappers from Motown!

Reenter one of Country Music's greatest modern performers: Randy Travis. AROUND THE BEND should reestablish Travis as the consummate Country star he is and has always been. This album is vintage Randy Travis and, as such, every track makes it onto my favorites list. There simply isn't a bad track here!

So, is this one for all Country fans? As I noted in the beginning, the Country identity crisis will dictate that most of the new arrivals will find Travis' music far too conventionally Country for their liking. And that's just fine.

But, if you're tired of trying to figure out what is going on with Country Music, AROUND THE BEND will set things straight for you.

THE HORSEMAN

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" failed to find traction with country radio and missed 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 haert'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 not 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 Taylor Swift, the uptempoes lack the energy and drive to make Travis grist for the 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 had 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.

Randy Travis's AROUND THE BEND isn't a perfect country album...although it's pretty darn close. There are a few tracks that don't quite live up to expectations: the cliched "Love is a Gamble," the ramblin' closer "'Til I'm Dead and Gone," the heard-it-before "Turn It All Around."

The thing is...those tunes don't way the album down at all. The strength of the other songs--particularly the ones I'm about to mention--carry the album to the heights we might expect. I mean, let's face it: a Randy Travis album is gonna be listenable, at the very least. The guy is perhaps the greatest singer in the past 25 years of country music history. His voice conveys so much emotion, he can turn a stereotyped clunker into a masterpiece.

Fortunately, the writing here is (for the most part) so strong, he doesn't need to work that hard (an obligatory plug for Travis's own songwriting, though none is featured on this album: the man can write...and should, much more often). "You Didn't Have a Good Time" and "Faith in You" are outright killers; they'll go for you heart and leave you thinking. "Every Head Bowed" is a nice witty number (sung with a tongue planted firmly in his cheek, and a twinkle in his eye), as is "Everything That I Own (Has Got a Dent)." Even his cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" is a nice change of pace, turning the slightly-country folk tune into a slightly-folky country shuffle.

Overall, AROUND THE BEND is a wonderful return to form for Randy Travis. There's still the Christian themes that newer listeners may expect, but we also have some of the old twang-and-steel country that long-time fans have come to admire (and, let's face it, miss a little). His voice is still the best in the business, and his song selections (despite a complete absence of original material) is above par. He can take a good country song written by somebody else, and turn it into a great Randy Travis song. And that's what he does throughout this album. If you're looking for great country music, look no further than Randy Travis.

Five BIG Stars!! Honesty, Authenticity, and THE VOICE. The CD "Around the Bend" catches Randy Travis in a 2008 country set that is one of his best ever and one of the best country CDs of the year. The artist that first lifted country music into the multi-platinum-selling stratosphere with Storms of Life" has come up 'aces' once again. After a number of gospel CDs, including Glory Train, Mr Travis returns to his neo-traditionalist country roots with a smoothly programmed set of 11 emotionally-charged country songs that range from honky-tonk, ballads, blues, gospel, and a little humor, with his strong faith on prominent display throughout. The overall production values of this CD makes Randy Travis' return to Warner Brothers Records a highly enjoyable experience.

The 'best of the best' begins with the title song "Around the Bend" that goes in and out of tempo with some amazing, declarative singing by Randy bolstered by the blazing fiddle of Larry Franklin over a hot back-beat. Randy creates a hard-swinging country version of the Bob Dylan classic "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" with the Travis baritone giving new nuances while pushing deep bottom notes in the bass range. Humorous things happen through the eyes of a kid in church on "Every Head Bowed", "taters" and all. "Faith in You" is an expression of pure faith in good things and a special person that is a classic timeless country ballad. (and it landed on my iPod) The sizzling "'Till I'm Dead And Gone" has Randy cutting loose, singing some clever lyrics with the band doing some inspired picking (also went straight to my iPod): a great performance that is not to be missed. With "Around the Bend", Randy Travis is back and better than ever. Kudos to producer Kyle Lehning and Mrs Elizabeth Travis for providing great frameworks and inspiration for this awesome artist. Bravo, Randy Travis!!. Highly Recommended!! Five ENJOYABLE Stars!! (This review is based on an iTunes download.)

Twenty-two years ago a young singer named Randy Travis burst onto the scene like a breath of fresh air and rescued country music from the doldrums, as the trailblazer who led the much-needed return to a more traditional sound. In 2008, with country music in even more dire straits than it was in the mid-80s, the return of Randy Travis is a welcome one indeed. After spending the better part of a decade making gospel music, Randy returns to Warner Brothers Nashville and the world of secular country music with "Around The Bend".

I'll admit to being slightly concerned when the first single, "Faith In You" was released as a free digital download on Randy's website a few months ago. A ballad with a lush string arrangement, "Faith In You" has a much more polished sound than what we're used to hearing from Randy. For a moment or two, I was worried that Randy had "gone pop". Perhaps it was a concession to commercial realities -- hardcore country music doesn't get much of a reception at radio these days. Still, I would have expected a more uptempo number for his comeback record.

My fears, it turns out, were unfounded, since the rest of the album is vintage Travis -- just good, old-fashioned country music with plenty of fiddles and pedal steel, with little regard for commercial concerns. Randy's made an album of the kind of music that is near and dear to his heart, and the hearts of the many fans who have been with him since the beginning of his career. It's unlikely to get much attention from radio, but those of us who were around when Randy was at the top of the charts wtih hits such as, "On The Other Hand", "Diggin' Up Bones" and "Forever And Ever, Amen" have pretty much given up on country radio anyway. His voice is more seasoned than when we last heard it, but he still sounds fresh and energized.

The standout tracks on this album are the title track which opens the set, "Every Head Bowed", "Love Is A Gamble", a cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", the humorous "Everything I Own (Has Got A Dent)" and "Till I'm Dead And Gone", which surprisingly, is an uptempo number.

Listening to this album reminded me that it's been a very long time since real country music was the norm on the radio airwaves. Even though this collection is unlikely to make a dent in the charts, I'm very glad that Randy Travis is back. I hope we won't have to wait such a long time for the next album.

To say this is Randy's first country album in 8 years, is nothing more then a marketing ploy to bring attention to the album. The truth is, Randy never left his country roots. I would argue that "Around the Bend " only differs from his 04 release of "Passing Through" by the label it is being released from.

The real truth is, Randy never left his country roots. Did he record albums with a Christian purpose to them? Yes, but at the same time the delivery of his vocals, and the production on them, was as hard core country as this new offering of secular material from Randy.

This is a great album. It contains all the familiar traits and sound of a Randy Travis release. A variety in the material. Vocal expression that is the essence of every Randy Travis album.The production is always inventive and understated to enhance and allow attention to the lyrics and the performance of the artist. A necessity that is too often lacking in consideration on other artists albums.

It's hard for me to say I have a favorite on this album, being the die hard Randy fan that I am. Everything the man puts those amazing vocals to, is relegated to a higher plateau compared to other artists.

If I had to pick out what got my attention the most, I would say "You Didn't Have A Good Time" and "From Your Knees'. Anyone who has had a family member suffer from alcohol abuse or a transgression of another kind, will have a hard time listening to either song without being affected by the memories they invoke.

The song that surprised me the most, was his cover of the Bob Dylan Classic "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright". I remember not really caring for the song by Bob. So I really didn't expect to be as impressed as I was with a true country voice covering it. But Randy as always, never ceases to amaze me with what he comes up with, when recording another artists material. He turns it into a Randy Travis song.It is one of my favorites on the album.

Summing up, this is another stellar collection of songs from one of country's true warriors. Great job as always Randy. Every bit worthy of my 5 star rating.

What can I say about Randy's latest release?? He not only revitalized country, but he continues to stay true to country. He turned me on to country in the late 1980's and has never disappointed. Please continue traditional country, not what so much of the new crap is.

One of his best yet, very good, solid country, not rock and country just country. Randy is and always will be country and gospel. He is country like George Strait and Alan Jackson

This is the best Randy Travis release in a long, long time. It's varied, fun, spiritual and down home country.

Randy has released one if his best ever albums AND one of the finest country albums ever released. This is right up there with Storms of Life. The song selection is of the highest quality as is Randy's perfect baritone voice. The song that stands out for me (although they are all great) is 'You didn't have a good time' if there is any justice in the world this should be a worldwide hit. It's up there with REM's 'Everybody Hurts' for it's sheer powerfulness.
Randy Travis is a GOD of music.