Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing

Keith Urban | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Liberty
• ASIN: B000ICM5QW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (144 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,678 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #12 in Music > Music Deals > $9.99 and Under

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's tempting to read these songs--many about hope in the face of potential heartbreak--as an adjunct to Keith Urban's own tabloid-fodder life, which lately reads "ex-junkie country star marries Nicole Kidman, enters rehab." But his three previous albums have similar dark undertones. That would also be an underestimation of Urban's creative powers, which are broad enough to balance assembly-line Nashville pop with emotionally fine-tuned artistry. Breezy rockers like "Faster Car," sweet hooky ballads like "Shine," and readymade big-chorus hits like "Once in a Lifetime" rub elbows with more complex numbers like "I Can't Stop Loving You"--an essay about sad courage that starts with an acoustic guitar and adds instrumental textures as it unfolds--and "Stupid Boy," a tale of loss and self-discovery. It's no coincidence that both those songs climax with Urban's own crying guitar solos. As a player, his bold, midrange-heavy tone complements his most nuanced vocal performances. Another highlight is "Raise the Barn," which Urban co-wrote and sings with Ronnie Dunn. The cheerful tune, inspired by the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, is a tribute to the durability of the human spirit--a subject Urban seems to know more than a little about. --Ted Drozdowski

More Keith Urban

Be Here	Golden Road	Keith Urban

Product Description

Limited Edition enhanced Japanese pressing of the 2006 release from the Country superstar (AKA Mr. Nicole Kidman) features one bonus track ('Got To Let It Go') plus the enhanced video for 'Once In A Lifetime'. Grammy Award winner and reigning Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban has completed the follow-up to his nearly four times platinum third album Be Here. Toshiba EMI. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps Urban's best work to date, November 7, 2006

By 

DanD - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing (Audio CD)

It's sometimes hard to take Keith Urban seriously as an artist. After all, songs such as "Once in a Lifetime" were written specifically to be radio hits. It's unfortunate that only his lesser material (for the most part) gets radio airplay, because looking at his albums overall, one gets the sense that Urban truly knows how to craft a fine piece of music.

LOVE, PAIN, & THE WHOLE CRAZY THING is a great record, and let me tell you why. Sure, it has its ready-for-radio tunes, but we'll look beyond that. What we're looking at, specifically, is Urban's musicianship: what other chart-toppers today can boast that they play guitar, bass, ganjo, piano, and various other odds-n-ends on their records? Not many. What other artist today can write an instant chart-topper, alongside tunes that require a bit more thought-processing? Not many. What other artist today can amass such a following, and yet still feel compelled to prove himself time and time again? Urban could sit back on his heels and enjoy the success he's gained...yet, as the non-standard production of "Got It Right This Time" shows, he's still experimenting with what he can do. Listen to the bass line of "Faster Car" (played by Urban), and not feel that Urban has something else to say. Listen to the drum/guitar solo of "I Told You So" and not feel like you're in the midst of a revolutionary rock record.

So maybe Keith Urban isn't "revolutionary." But he's definitely pushing the bar. He is a super-talented singer/songwriter, who hasn't let his success limit him. LOVE, PAIN & AND THE WHOLE CRAZY THING is a great pop/country/rock record, with more emphasis upon the latter two. The songs are by and large standouts, and the musicianship is stellar. Urban has another winner on his hands here; don't miss this one.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, Pain, and the great tapestry of life and music, November 7, 2006

By 

V. Parisi "Country and rock and roll fan" (Doylestown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing (Audio CD)

This highly anticipated release by country music's innovator, Keith Urban takes this artist's previous country rock blend and pushes the envelope of the genre even further. This album is the next step blending country, rock and Beatlesque pop in one gorgeous aural tapestry of music that proves country singers can have not only heart but soul. At first listen to the first single, Once in a Lifetime, this CD would seem to reflect the joy of love but underneath there is also the current of pain and regret that proves that nothing in life is perfect and that love can both lift you up and break your heart.

Highlights are Shine, the amazingly fun and funky Faster Car, the aching regret of Stupid Boy,the gorgeous Won't Let You Down and the joyous hoedown of Raise the Barn which is a valentine to the American south in need from an Australian boy who has made Nashville his home. There is not a disappointing track on here. Even God Made Woman with its Stones Can't Always Get What You Want like choral opening is a bit of over the top fun.

This CD is one that should appeal to music lovers and is sure to open up a new audience for Keith's music while keeping him in the forefront of country music as a true innovator and artist.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful songwriting, super instrumental talent, November 12, 2006

By 

F.Faulkner "F.F." (Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing (Audio CD)

This singer has a beautiful, passionate voice with quiet strength in it. It moves you, especially since most of his songs really resonate from the heart, or at least seem to. These are the songs people live and love to hear and listen to. I love the unique quality of Urban's voice which always seems haunted and mysterious whether he's happy or sad while he's singing. There's a lot of emotion there, and the tortured soul of an artist making money doing what he loves.