Customer Reviews

Be Here

5 star:		(123)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Keith Urban really cuts loose on this album, he co-produced to make sure the fans hear it just as he intended and it is SO diverse and shows his mad skills. From the simple pickin' on "Country Comfort" and "God's Been Good to Me" to the upbeat, odes to women "You're My Better Half" and "I Could Fly". The guitar is prominent on "Days Go By" and "Live to Love Another Day", he is definitely a happy guy. He is at his most soulful on "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and the dark "Nobody Drinks Alone", that song gave me chills the first time I heard it, I had to immediately play it again. "Making Memories of Us" is destined to be a big hit, it is from the heart and the lyrics are so sweet. This CD is hot from front to back and sideways, it should make everyone's top ten lists for 2004.

This is one of the best CD's for this year. I am a fan of Keith Urban, and he keeps getting better. One this CD "You're My Better Half" is an amazing song. I love it. I think that he is starting to find himself musically. He is wonderful in person, if you can see him this summer I suggest it! The man is not only a nice person, but he can really play the guitar. Amazing. "Days Go By" is an amazing way to start the album. This is a really high tempo song that gets you singing right from the 1st song and carries you till the end!

Keith Urban's self-titled debut was pretty much a pop album. On his second record, GOLDEN ROAD, he brought in a heaping helping of rock n roll. He does that again on his third album, and has never sounded better!

Part of the album's success lies in Urban's voice. While not the world's greatest singer by any means, he has figured out how to bring the song to life, as he does on Rodney Crowell's "Making Memories of Us"--making this cliched song one of the best you've ever heard. And then there's "Nobody Drinks Alone", a powerful ballad of overcoming dispair. And he looks back at his mistakes on "She's Gotta Be," while looking ahead on "Days Go By." And the powerful "Tonight I Wanna Cry" is counter-balanced by the light and frisky "Live to Love Another Day."

The album makes its point at the end--coming full circle, in a two-and-a-half minute version of "Days Go By," retitled (with a few additional lyrics) "These Are the Days". BE HERE is not the best album you've ever heard, but it's a good one. It's an album that manages to combine country, pop, and rock n roll into one smooth, rocking sound. Keith Urban has talent in spades, and he knows how to use it. He's a genuine artist: a singer, a songwriter, a guitarist. BE HERE displays all his talents in earnest.

I hate country and don't really listen too it, but because it's the only music my wife listens to I hear every country song that's out there. Well, about a year ago a song caught my eye. It was "Days Go By". I thought the song sounded a little rock-ish and was a pretty damn cool song. Urban had a nice voice; So, when she bought this CD, I checked it out. Well, Urban does have a cool voice and a lot of charisma; His songwriting skills kind of suck but with standout tracks like "Days Go By" & "Better Life" & "You're My Better Half", you can't really go wrong. Here's all the tracks:

1. Days Go By-5/5-The song is pretty catchy. This is the song which got me into Keith Urban.
2. Better Life-5/5-My favorite Keith Urban song. The chorus is great.
3. Making Memories of Us-3/5-Slow, stereotypical country song.
4. God's Been Good to Me-4/5-This song's ok.
5. The Hard Way-3/5-Not my favorite. Really slow, just...No.
6. You're My Better Half-5/5-Great song. Perfect for your country-loving sweetheart.
7. I Could Fly-5/5-This song is pretty good. I thought the title sounded stupid, but the song itself is good.
8. Tonight I Wanna Cry-5/5-This song is pretty good, despite the sappy lyrics.
9. She's Gotta Be-5/5-Sounds a bit rock-ish.
10. Nobody Drinks Alone-3/5-I do.
11. Country Comfort-3/5-Here's where Urban falls into the stereotype.
12. Live to Love Another Day-5/5-This songs pretty catchy but sounds really simalar to a lot of other country songs.
13. These are the Days-3/5-Stupid. Starts off as one song and then is suddenly the end of "Days Go By".
B+

Don't let this CD's position in the country bins fool you, Keith Urban's third solo outing Be Here will be a cross genre hit. Equipped with an arsenal of stringed instruments (acoustic, electric, slide and 12-string guitars, mandolin and banjo), Urban shines as a multi-talented artist. He's a true vocalist, punctuating his songs with hums and coos that add a distinctive flavor to his work.

The Billboard number one track "Days Go By" starts the CD off with a bang. The positive theme is continued through most of the songs, reflecting the life and faith of a man who has battled his demons and kept them at bay. Urban attests to this himself with "God's Been Good to Me." If a disk has two tracks with the same significant word, they had better both be stand outs. This is achieved with "Better Life" and "You're My Better Half." "Better Life" with it's funky banjo is the better better song, but both are single-worthy. Who knew a banjo could be funky in the first place? The pace slows down for the romantic Rodney Crowell ("Raining on Sunday") penned "Making Memories of Us" and the somber "Tonight I Wanna Cry." "Nobody Drinks Alone" is the highlight of the compilation. With lyrical depth and a killer guitar solo, this moving masterpiece will touch hearts and leave the listener in tears. Urban's traditionalist country roots are not forgotten. The toe-tapping "Live to Love Another Day" harkens back to his days in The Ranch. Oddly enough the low point of the CD is the Elton John/Bernie Taupin hit "Country Comfort." Perhaps this is due to placement since anything would pale when following "Nobody Drinks Alone," but it seems significant that a John/Taupin song could be the low point on any CD. Be Here comes full circle with "These Are the Days," which is a beautiful reprise of "Days Go By," dedicated to Urban's grandmother.

Keith Urban better hold on tight because a juggernaut is about to launch him to the heights of success. Topping all this talent off with Jon Bon Jovi-like charisma and down-home good guy sex appeal, Urban will not be confined to a single category. The stratosphere is the limit. I suggest for anyone reading this to be here for the ride.

K.U brings us another HIT CD with "Be Here". Just when you thought a follow up to Golden Road couldn't be better, think again.

Every song on the CD is amazing and are written with words that everyone will be able to relate. His appreciation for love and life will melt your heart.

For Golden Road fans, #03 - "God's been good to me" will bring a smile to your face when you hear the track music (don't want to spoil it, so that's all I'm going to say).

03 - Making Memories of Us will be the NEXT big wedding song that you'll be hearing.

Keith woo's us once again with his amazing lyrics & guitar "virtuoso"/he is the Steve Vai of country music as my husband would say.

I strongly suggest going to see K.U. live in concert. You will not be disappointed! He will be coming to my hometown in Novemeber. I'll be seeing him for the 3rd time and can't wait!!

You definitely want to "Be Here" with this CD!!, September 23, 2004
Reviewer: Rebecca Morgan (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews


Keith Urban does it once again! He has taken us to a different plane. With Be Here keith explores life and love and living in the here and now! Not living in the tomorrows and yesterdays. All 13 songs have catchy foot stomping bee bopping rhythm. Keith has grown so much muscially over the past few years. You can tell it in the choices of songs on this CD. He said this one is an extension of the Golden Road and I feel that is so true. It is like BH picks up where GR left off in his personal growth and putting his demons behind him.

I can't wait to see him live and hear this CD live. He plays the heck out of the guitar (If you have not seen him, you don't know what you are missing).

He brings tears to your eyes with "Making Memories Of Us" a song written by Rodney Crowell for his wife for Valentines, and "Tonight I Wanna Cry" written by keith and a co-writer. This songs brings to life the pain that one suffers when one loses their love. Keith has captured the emotion that we all go thru when our heart is broken or breaking.

I could not name a favorite track because I LOVE all 13 of them. "Days Go By" exploded onto the country charts as will the rest of the songs on the CD. This is a definite MUST HAVE for any music lover. Aside from keith's amazing vocals/backing vocals I love the guitar solos that he does. He has such an amazing talent!!

Go out and buy this CD!! It will be the best music buy all year!! You will be stomping your foot thru most all the songs and pondering the heart on a couple.

WAY TO GO KEITH!! I LOVE IT! I am PROUD TO BE AN URBANITE!!!

This CD is just packed with emotion, talent, awesome guitar riffs, etc etc...Every song is a monster hit. I cannot recall any CD in my collection that has this many good songs on it. The songs are either extremely emotional or great melodic country rock songs. This is a must have!

Also, if you have not seen Keith perform live, you are missing out. The best concert you will ever see.

This CD is great! I love every song on it. I haven't taken it out of my CD player in the car since I got it. I would definitely recommend this to any country music fan and especially any Keith Urban fan.

Why, yes. Keith has talent. No doubt about that. It doesn't matter the genre. Country. Bluegrass. Rock. Blues. He has been praised from plenty of "real country musicians," too. EARL SCRUGGS, the legendary banjo-picker, asked to personally meet and speak to Keith after the Southern Rock Tribute at the '05 Grammys. RICKY SKAGGS noted four or five years ago at the Grand Ole Opry that Keith was one of the few up-and-coming artist that he liked because of his raw musicianship. Yessir, he can back-up those accolades.

His musical talent is what sets him apart from most newer acts. Guitar, ganjo, piano, etc. You'll get to hear just a small piece of that on this album (if you want to see more of this talent, just get a ticket to one of his shows).

Personally, the best songs are tacked in at the end. By best, I mean those that probably won't go to radio but are more worthy to be heard than some of those that were released as singles.

"Nobody Drinks Alone" has that amazing guitar solo at the end which should have been longer. Lyrically, the second verse glues this song together:

You remember whiskey on your daddy's breath
So you always stick to wine
And you scared your little brother half to death
You just kept it all inside
You can hear your mama cryin'
Only now she cries for you

Then there's his remake of Elton John's "Country Comfort." It's the countryish song on the album. You can definitely hear the twang, see the imagery of the farming community, and the infamous "truck" emerges to stamp this as a down-home, old-fashioned country song.

With "These Are the Days" the lyrics and vocals make it evident that Keith is sincere about his message of carpe diem.

"The Hard Way," which is the fifth song, makes my list of favorites from this album, too. I love the acoustic guitar playing and the delivery of the lyrics in this one.

The reason I gave this CD four stars out of five is because it's very evident that Keith purposely recorded several songs because they were guaranteed hits, but I guess that's not bad to have as an artist. Albums are just promotion and teasers anyway. Playing live is where the real Keith Urban dwells.