Family [Import]

LeAnn Rimes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Wea UK Generic
• ASIN: B000VXVWXU
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #797,581 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Family

2. Nothin' Better to Do

3. Fight

4. Good Friend and a Glass of Wine

5. Something I Can Feel

6. I Want You with Me

7. Doesn't Everybody

8. Nothing Wrong

9. Pretty Things

10. Upper Hand

11. One Day Too Long

12. What I Cannot Change

13. Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore [*]

14. When You Love Someone Like That [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This sounds like a pivotal release for Rimes, who made her breakthrough as a childhood prodigy with an uncanny vocal resemblance to Patsy Cline, and then evolved into an eclectic diva who couldn't quite decide what she wanted to be when she grew up. She's all grown up now, as both the sensual "Upper Hand" and the spiritual "What I Cannot Change" attest. Rimes had a hand in writing all the material (except for the bonus-cut duets with Jon Bon Jovi and Reba McEntire), and themes of family--though not always her family--pervade the lyrics. Musically, this is grittier, harder-edged, and more propulsive than much of her previous fare, with the title cut and "Nothin' Better to Do" evoking the Southern country soul of Bobbie Gentry, her duet with Marc Broussard on "Nothing Wrong" riffing like the Rolling Stones, and "One Day Too Long" sounding like the female Otis Redding. She's lost none of her supple upper register, as the balladry of "Pretty Things" attests, but Leann Rimes in no longer just a pretty voice. --Don McLeese --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

From the time she burst onto the music scene as a teenager with the smash hit "Blue" to the release of her new studio album "Family," she has seen it all while taking it with a grain of salt. Some people will always see her as the little girl with the booming voice. She wants to change all that, and part of that process will start with her latest album "Family." For the first time, LeAnn wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. From the autobiographical first track "Family" to the hit single "Nothin' Better To Do," she pours out her soul for the world to see. While the album is incredibly personal, LeAnn managed to create music that is incredibly universal. Her confident, compelling voice helps to solidify her as one of the premier vocalists in Country music. "Family" showcases her diversity as a vocalist from engaging duets with Marc Broussard on "Nothing Wrong" and Bon Jovi on "Til We're Not Strangers" to the soul searching song "What I Cannot Change." Through LeAnn's journey to adulthood, growing up, and developing as a writer and vocalist, she has produced an album that is one for the ages that chronicles the myriad relationships and experiences that have shaped the life of one of America's most successful artist.

LeAnn Rimes Photo

More from LeAnn Rimes

Greatest Hits

This Woman

LeAnn Rimes

Twisted Angel

Blue

You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs

--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing better to do.... and she does it very very well, November 8, 2007

By 

Mike R. Guill - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family (Audio CD)

ok all you whiners saying she should enunciate on nothing better to do.... This is done purposly to envoke the southern cajun feel to the song. Stop listening and Feel the dang song.... Thanks for the buzz Leann!
a++

29 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some great songs here, October 9, 2007

By 

Patrick (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Family (Audio CD)

What makes this album special is that LeAnn wrote pretty much all of it herself. She's growing to become a better artist than where she started out which was just a singer who sings other people's songs. So for that, I give her credit. There's still some growing to be done but this is a pretty solid album. I'll break down the songs:

Family (C+)
Not one of the stronger songs on the album.

Nothin' Better To Do (B)
One of the problems with this song is that it's so hard to understand. You want to sing along to it, but you can't really tell what the words are due to LeAnn's poor enunciation.

Fight (C)
Good Friend And A Glass OF Wine (C-)
Something I Can Feel (C)
There really isn't anything wrong with these songs. There just doesn't seem to be any purpose to them. They seem like the last songs she wrote for the album. She wrote the important songs to her first, and then needed 3 more to fill an album so she just slapped any old thing together. That's what it sounds like anyway.

I Want You With Me (B+)
This song was included with the charity LeAnn was involved in to support the troops. I don't know if that was the intention of the song when it was first written, but now the song has a special meaning and it's touching to listen to every time because of it.

Doesn't Everybody (A+)
One of the brilliant songs on the album. LeAnn takes on life observations, including tabloid celebrities, and questions whether or not we're all the same or if people are just missing out on what is really important in life.

Nothing Wrong (A+)
Another brilliant song. Marc Broussard's scratchy voice fits perfectly with LeAnn's pipes. This is one of the best duets she's ever done. It's loose and fun. One to sing along to in the car.

Pretty Things (A)
An unexpected and interesting song on the album. LeAnn singing about the superficial things in life. Beautiful vocals and with each listen you discover the deeper meaning of the song.

Upper hand (B)
A cool rock song but compared to others on the album it seems a little flat.

One Day Too Long (A+++)
FANTASTIC!!! That's all I have to say for this song

What I Can Not Change (A-)
Beautiful vocals and arrangement. What takes away from this song is that she's sung it on two prior albums. Not the song, but the subject matter. I hate to break it to LeAnn, but her life could be a lot worse than it is. She should sing a song about all the things she's grateful for instead of how she has family and stress problems all the time.

Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore (B)
I was expecting more out of a Bon Jovi song.

When You Love Someone Like (A)
I love this song. Reba and LeAnn sound amazing together. And it's one of the best songs on Reba's duets album too. Thankfully, Reba didn't hog the song like she did through most of her album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Artistic and Personal Growth, August 2, 2008

By 

J. Adrian (Orange,New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Family (Audio CD)

Family which LeAnn admits is her most personal record to date,clearly shows her continued growth as an artist in general and a songwriter in particular.She wrote(or co-wrote)all of the songs on the cd(which is a first in her career thus far).
The first single off the cd 'Nothin Better To Do' cracked Billboards Top 20 and the video was in heavy rotation on CMT and to a lesser degree on GAC.The song is very original,upbeat and the video perfectly suited the song and is Ms.Rimes best video to date. Some have been critical of the song citing that they cannot make out the words.This is weak.If you can't make out all the words,read them in the cd booklet.I can think of many great songs by many different artists where all the words cannot be clearly discerned. It can perhaps be classified as another vocal style.
LeAnn's live performance of NBTD on the CMT music awards was spectacular.
The best song on the cd(and one of the greatest songs that she has recorded thus far)is 'What I Cannot Change' which has just gone to radio(and is her third single off the record).The vocal performance of WICC is gut wrenching and drenching with emotion and the lyrics are as powerful as the vocal delivery.
One Day Too Long is a classic bluesy song that also is performed with great emotional power and depth. It is just further evidence (and there has been plenty in LeAnn's impressive career)that she can sing any style of music with enourmous skill(as if that was the only type of music that she recorded).There is a good mix of upbeat songs(Family,NBTD,Upper Hand)and slower songs(I Want You With Me,Pretty Things,WICC,When You Love Someone Like That-the duet with Reba).Every song is quality(no filler here).
What I Cannot Change is Grammy worthy and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
LeAnn just continues to get better with age and 'Family'gives ample evidence of that from start to finish.
It is exciting to anticipate what is yet to come from this creative juggernaut.