Customer Reviews

For the Love

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Prime Cuts: As Easy as Our Blessings, Speed of Flight, Till I Was a Daddy Too

Career suicide is the result when an artist's personal life overshadows his ability to churn out hits. Anger mismanagement and spousal abuse leading to his gnarly divorce and a censurable suspension of his recording project are definitely not ways to curry country radio's morally supercilious favor. Further, with the folding of Atlantic Records into Warner Brothers, Lawrence has not had a top 10 hit since 2004's "Paint Me a Birmingham." Never one to allow his faux pas to hold him down, Lawrence has set up his own label and "For the Love" is the result. Though lead single "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" has caused a blimp on the charts rising up to the modest 26th position, the album itself has fared even better dropping in at number 6 on Billboard country chart. Nevertheless, any new music from Tracy Lawrence is quite an event. Lavishing in emotional details and rich in their melodious textures, "For the Love" is a fine return to form for the once-troubled singer.

Lawrence is at his best when he allows his songs to draw from life's most penetrating moments. "Till I Was a Daddy Too," for instance, is a revealing ballad with Lawrence confessing perspicuity to his father's affection after becoming a father himself. Lawrence's delivery of this heart-wrenching ballad is an A-plus--one copious in honesty and vulnerability. Recalling his hit "I See It Now," "Speed of Flight" harkens the same sentiment of heartbreak as the unspoken affection of the protagonist has had forced his paramour to depart in a "speed of flight." Moreover, the fact that this is also Lawrence's solo composition is this ballad's further treat. Conversely, "As Easy as Our Blessings" finds a wizened-up Lawrence not willing to take for granted the propitiations that life brings. Delivered over a warm and inspirationally nuanced melody "As Easy as Our Blessings" may easily become an anthem for countless families over Thanksgiving.

Even on the up-tempoes, Lawrence is not one given in to emotional frivolity. On the vanguard single, "Find Out What Your Friends Are," Lawrence makes it clear that superficiality in friendships will not suffice. For Lawrence, a friend is one who "drops everything" and helps you when your car is stuck in a ditch; someone who'll be there "when the weather isn't fair and when the well runs dry." With such declaration of arduous devotion, no wonder Lawrence has such friends in high places i.e., Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney as they join him on the same version of the same song at the album's end. However, not everything is that emotionally hefty, "You Can't Hide Redneck" is one of those overdone self-deprecating rockers while "Rock and a Soft Place" over uses the rock motif that it comes across as trite.

With the tracks produced by longtime associates of Lawrence, Flip Anderson and Julian King coupled with the fact that the songs are garnered from Lawrence's trusted horde of writers (e.g., Larry Boone, Paul Nelson, Ed Hill and Mark Nesler), it looks like Lawrence does not just sings about devotion. Rather, he comes across as a man de facto with the words he sings. Hence, whether Lawrence is singing about friendship or paternal love or romantic affections, he comes across transparently as one who sings from the fabric of his heart. In a genre of pretenses, Tracy Lawrence is the real deal.

Tracy Lawrence has the best pure country voice this side of John Anderson and Randy Travis. Like previous efforts, this CD has two or three cuts that are merely okay, and the rest are terrific. My favorite songs is "Til I Was a Daddy Too" , as meaningful a song as you will ever encounter. "You Can't Hide Redneck" is a fun romp and "Rock and A Soft Place is another highlight. Such is the vocal prowess of Tracy Lawrence that his solo cut of "Find out Who Your Friends Are" is considerably better than the cut on which he is joined by Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, both lesser vocal talents. I love this disc, an early nominee for CD of The Year honors.

This is another spectacular album from a truly gifted, and under appreciated Country Artist! Tracy Lawrence is what REAL Country music is all about, and what it should strive to be like! Tracy's vocals have never been finer, and his true fans, as well as newcomers to his music, will both be pleased! Welcome back, Tracy, and keep on makin' us happy! This is one SUPERB piece of work! "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" is destined to be a classic, it will just touch your heart! Give it a listen!!!

Tracy Lawrence is still as country as he ever was and this CD is great...It has a couple of songs that Tracy wrote himself and of course one of his signature waltzes. Any Tracy Lawrence fan or traditional country music fan will love this album. It is is must have !

Tracy has out done himself on this CD. Most of the time there are a few songs I don't care for but I really love the whole CD. Find Out Who Your Friends Are is a great song. ( I like the version with Tracy singing by himself the best) My fav song is Your Why God Made Me. I preordered the CD and have already bought a few for family and friends. Everyone who enjoys true country music needs this one in their collection. Way to go Tracy....

After surviving five record label mergers in six years, country music artist Tracy Lawrence decided enough was enough.

Lawrence decided to find some professional stability and started his own recording company, Rocky Comfort Records, with his brother in June of 2006.

"I was officially let go from Mercury in January of last year," Lawrence said Tuesday during a phone interview from his home in Nashville. "We licensed our record label in June and our first single came out and here it is May of 2007, less than a year later. We already have a top 10 record with a new imprint, a totally new business model that hasn't been done before and an album that's doing well on the charts. We're in a good place."

The album is called "For the Love." It's currently ranked number 22 on the Top Country Albums at Billboard Magazine.

"It's going to take a little time to build up to the level of a big label," Lawrence said, "but the album is doing well."

Lawrence, who was born in Atlanta, TX, and raised in nearby Foreman, AR, got a clear vision for his new record after touring with country legend George Strait.

"When I toured with Strait last year, it hit me in the head like a ton of bricks how many people out there still love traditional country music," Lawrence explained. "I just decided it was time to get back into my comfort zone and make that the core of my music from now on."

The new CD is chock full of tunes that harken back to a more traditional time in country music.

"I think everybody has been chasing the pop direction so hard for the last several years," Lawrence said. "But I came to Nashville to make country records."

The single, "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," is a great reminder of how lucky we are to have people who will stand by us, in good times and bad.

Lawrence also includes another cut of "Find Out" with special appearances by his long-time friends Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney. It wasn't as simple as just having McGraw and Chesney show up at the studio and lay down the tracks.

"I didn't realize what the people in our back office do," Lawrence said, speaking of the staff who secure clearances for guest artists. "This thing with Tim and Kenny almost didn't happen. We got clearances for them just in time for the single make it on the album."

Other standouts on the new record are the title cut, about those who serve, and "`Til I Was a Daddy Too," which Lawrence co-wrote. Lawrence says "`Til I Was a Daddy Too" will most likely be the next single to be released.

"You Can't Hide Redneck" gently chides those who tries to hide their country roots. It will make a great summer song, and promises to provide a lot of laughs at class reunions.

Lawrence is particularly proud of "Speed of Flight," a waltz he wrote.

"It's the first song I've recorded that I wrote by myself," Lawrence said. "I was on the bus and I just locked the door and wrote."

In less than four hours, he had a song.

"It's really satisfying," he said. "I've had a writer's block, but I'm starting to find my zone again."

Lawrence has found more than a productive professional zone. After a rough few years, Lawrence's personal life is finally in a good place.

He and his wife are the parents of two young girls, Skylar , 6, and Keegan, who just turned 4.

The toughest part of his life now is being away from home.

"The one thing I struggle with most right now with my career going so well is I've been gone from my family a lot," Lawrence said. "I just missed Keegan's birthday."

About his earlier life, Lawrence says, "I made a lot of mistakes when I was young. It's tough to be a young artist and fall down, but I have perseverance and I'm just thankful that I've found stability at home. That's what I was missing. I have a great family and a wonderful home life. It's given me peace of mind."

With his own record label, a new album and peace at home, Tracy Lawrence's life is running in greased grooves.

No matter what happens, he'll be able to make the kind of traditional country music he loves. He's found a home.

After all, he says, "Now, nobody can drop me from my label."

As Always since the first time I saw Tracy in concert in Houston, TX at the Arena Theatre back in 1994-95 I have loved every album he has made. He is one of those individuals that has a unique voice/sound.
As with all other albums its hard to decide which ones I like the best.
I just bought this album last night, and right now, I seriously love #6 Speed of Flight, #9-You're Why God Made Me, #5 As Easy as Our Blessings, #11 Find Out Who Your Friends Are..... This is an awesome album, and I am going to see him in concert tomorrow at the KILT Cinco Country...
Kathy

Tracy has done again with his new cd "For The Love"; it is vintage Tracy.
Great songs especially the one called "Find out who your friends are".
I am a BIG Tracy fan, love all his music and will continue to listen to this great artist.
I really recommend this cd to all country fans.

I have been a Tracy Lawrence fan forever, and each time I hear him sing I am amazed at how he continues to turn out songs that are truly the best. This cd is no exception. His songs are reflective of what TRUE country music sounds like. He is a man who stays true to his roots, and that is evident in his selection of material. Listening to Tracy is second best to seeing him perform live.

Another awesome CD from a true Country Music artist. Tracy takes you on an emotional journey with this CD. It's one of his finest accomplishments. From the opening track "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" recalling how you realize who the true ones are when they are there for you even when your down on your luck, to the moving "Easy As Our Blessings" reminding us to be thankful for what God has blessed us with instead of what is troubling us. The title track "For The Love" featuring Brad Arnold from 3Doors down made me aware of the importance of things taken for granted, that are provided by people unselfishly giving of themselves. The inclusion of the road musicians on the album made it all the more special for a fan that frequents as many shows as possible!
This project is touching in many ways to a true Tracy Lawrence fan because of the pure country aspect of the performance. The album encompasses all things country no matter what generation you are a member of.