Customer Reviews

Ropin the Wind

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

It might seem strange having a British person writing a review of a country music album, but I think this is a truly brilliant album. I cannot fault any of the tracks. I've heard people say that Garth Brooks isn't real country, well I wouldn't know about that as we hardly ever hear country music in England! Whether it's country or not, it's still good music, and that's all that matters to me.

Garth Brooks is mainly famous for his ballads, and the best ones here include 'What She's doing Now', 'Lonesome Dove' and 'The River'.

For me though, the best songs on this album are the humorous, honky-tonk numbers - 'Papa Loved Mama' and 'We Bury The Hatchet'. Whereas for the ballads I need to be in a certain mood to listen to them, I can put on those two songs any time of the day and they'll always make me laugh, it's exactly how I picture country music to be. In fact, whenever my friends who don't like country music come round, I'll always play them those two songs. Their response is always the same - "What's so good about it, ALL country music sounds like that!" or "Yeah, yeah, I've heard all that Hillbilly crap before" I think the key to liking those songs is not to take them too seriously. Other good songs apart from the ballads and jokers are 'Rodeo' and 'Shameless'.

Overall, a fantastic album and probably my favourite non-rock album of all time. Even if you don't like country music you'll probably like this, and that's the key to Garth Brooks' success.

By the time this album was to be released, Garth Brooks has clearly established himself as an icon in country music. So, it was with great anticipation that "Ropin' The Wind" came into existance. With the success of his first albums firmly establishing his marketability, there was speculation that this third entrie into the Garth franchise would have difficulty beating the records set by "Garth Brooks" and "No Fences". Who would have guessed that this album would, in fact, be his most successful and largest grossing album of them all.

"Ropin the Wind" is virtually a collection of greatest hits for Garth. Of the ten tracks on the CD, no less than five went on to become top 10 hits, many of which going straight to the top.

The album redefined Garth's style and firmly established the rock/country hybrid style that made Garth popular in multiple music markets. Where his first two CD's were more traditional in their sound, this CD really crossed over into rock, while at the same time maintaining the rich sounds of country music. Even Garth, who had recorded the work of other country artists in the past, turned to friend Billy Joel ("The Piano Man") to help pen "Shameless", arguably one of the strongest songs on the album.

Though thematically, the lyrics of his songs remained faithful to the ideas and themes found in country music, his styling definitely was more edgy, riding the line between country and classic rock. "Rodeo", a song about a man who is torn between the love of his woman and his passion for the rodeo is driving, with a very rhythmic feel. It plays at once like an up-tempo country song and a soulful blues/rock ballad.

"Papa Loved Mama" plays along those same lines, a hybrid of rock and country, perfectly blending the styles to create an entirely new sound. This song's lyrics are also a reversal of traditional country, where a vengeful husband turns against his cheating wife, running his semi-tractor into the side of a motel where she and her lover have slipped away. Where the song could have a very dark overtone based on its lyrics, its instead upbeat, with quick driving tempos and slick guitar and fiddle solos fleshing out the over-two-minutes long outro.

Of course, no Garth album would be complete without at least one power-ballad, and this album has three beauts: "What's She Doing Now", a lament about a love gone wrong, and the balladeer pondering what his lost love is up to, "Lonesome Dove", a wonderfully narrated depiction of a family growing up in the old west, and, this reviewer's personal favorite Garth song of all time, "The River", an inspirational piece about chasing your dreams, and taking chances, regardless of the challenges that might be placed before you. This song, the final track on the album, resounds as Garth's favorite as well. (It should be noted that Garth always placed the songs most personal to him as the final track on each of his albums.)

In all, "Ropin the Wind" is powerful, highly-stylized, and definitely one of the pinnacle albums in Garth's career. This is a great album for anyone who has never listened to a Garth Brooks CD, because it will make you an instant fan, no matter what style of music you listen to.

With ten songs, this album includes favorites such as What's She Doing Now, The River, and Papa Loved Mama. Other lesser known tracks like In Lonesome Dove and Burning Bridges are classic Garth Brooks. This is a cd that you can listen to straight through without forwarding past a song. You absolutely get your money's worth.

This album may not be the best of Brook's albums, but it is definitely up there. Hits "What She's Doing Now" and "The River" are as good as any of his other hits. I especially like "What She's Doing Now." "Papa Loves Mama" is possibly the worst song Brooks has ever sang, but one rotten apple does not spoil the bunch. I did not "Shameless," but many people found it a refreshing addition to this album. And this is only the hits.

But what makes me declare this album worthwhile is not any of the hits but rather Garth Brook's greatest song he ever wrote and greatest song he ever sang: "In Lonesome Dove." It is a true country song and the lyrics are pure genius. There are few songs that I really, really, just love. "Love, Me" by Collin Raye is the best song ever, but this is in the top 25. Too bad it was never released so that it could earn its deserved respect.

This album is worth the purchase if you don't have it and you like Garth Brooks. Do not buy it if you do not like Garth; that song will not change your opinion.

"Ropin' the Wind" was Garth Brook's third record, after "Garth Brooks" and "No Fences" made him a superstar. The album debuted on the pop charts at #1: the first time for a country artist. It would go on to sell a staggering 14 million copies in the U.S. alone - only 25 records have ever sold more, including Garth's own "No Fences" (16 million) and "Double Live" (15 million).

Garth pulled five hits from "Ropin' the Wind," starting with the ramped up "Rodeo." The single did fairly well, peaking at #3 on the country chart, although it ended Garth's string of five #1 songs. Up next was the pop-rock `Shameless" - a remake of a Billy Joel song from "Storm Front." The song hit #1 for two weeks and became a fan favorite at Garth's concerts. The third single was the biggest - the rich and smooth ballad "What She's Doing Now" (#1 for 3 weeks). Garth's voice has never sounded better than it does here. The most countrified song was released next: the playful "Papa Loved Mama" (#3). It was one of my favorites at the time, although it sounds a bit forced now.

The final single was "The River" (#1 for 1 week). The song perfectly encapsulated Garth's gradual turn from traditional country to the more adult contemporary sound in which he would subsequently specialize. The song would fit nicely on any James Taylor CD, or maybe even something by Dan Fogelberg. It's not a bad song, but it's rather tame and feels like 80s pop. Although the CD is glossier than his prior releases, it's top-notch all the way - it WAS country music at the time. I have all of Garth's CDs; "Ropin' the Wind" is his last CD with a more a more traditional country feel and not coincidentally also his last release that really enthralled me.

Garth's second best studio album, surpassed only by the phenomenal "No Fences". This album has something for everyone. Ballad lovers will appreciate "What She's Doing Now" and "The River". Pop lovers will enjoy the cover of "Shameless". People that like good harmless country will enjoy "Rodeo" and the humorous "Papa Loved Mama". Just like "No Fences", this album is loaded with hits and great songs, a fantastic album from beginning to end.

I think that the best thing that I can say about this CD is that I've had it for more than five years and haven't stopped listening to it.... so what if Garth isn't doing 'pure' country? I've found in my twenty-two short years that when someone accuses another person of selling out it's just because they're selling records.... heck, I have this one and I live in Harlem in NYC....

The sentimental songs on this disc are awesome. Country music has always been about making people laugh or people cry, and he's always got a good mix of both on every CD. 'Papa Loved Mama' is funny; 'The River' is about as sappy as they come. And that is a good thing.

I have a hunch that because this CD is so old I'm either preaching to the converted or to people who have Garth's newer discs but not his older ones. Well, this is one that you should have. It's a classic: hype, in this case, didn't account for it selling so many records....

I just love this CD... each song is an instant hit. Sometimesyou just hear one song you like and buy the CD and after listening tothe CD several times, the other songs grow on you... but this is one of those CDs where each song is great to listen to the first time around. Silly songs, songs that tell a story, some are mellow, some rock... such a diverse collection of themes and sounds doesn't always work, but it works on this disc. Many are great for dancing... some two-stepping, some slow-dancing. Whether you are a die-hard country-only kind of person or if you only find a country song once in a blue moon that you can barely stomach, this is a great CD. Many of the lyrics are stereotypical of country music... cheatin' spouses, big rigs, bulls, rodeo, six-guns, cowboys and momma in prison... it's all there... so if you hate that kind of music, this won't be the disc for you. If you love an easy-to-listen-to melody, great voice and sometimes tender and sometimes hilarious lyrics, this is just the ticket.

Enthusiasts of country music certainly have the right to complain about what Nashville has done to the legacy of country with many of the current artists whose only ties to the music of Hank Sr., Buck Owens, and Willie Nelson are a predeliction for cowboy hats and boots. But while they have a point, that's not to say that everything from the 1980s on is nothing but glossed over pop. This album could be one of those arguments.

Even as Garth made his first pop crossover (with Billy Joel's "Shameless", an album track from "Storm Front"), he was still including plenty of material that showed he'd done his homework on traditional country: murder anthems and prison songs ("Papa Loved Mama"), sentimental weepers ("What She's Doing Now") and trucker odes ("Cold Shoulder"). While I'd not be so foolhardy as to say Garth is on the level of Cash, Willie, or even Conway, he's far removed from the likes of Faith Hill, Shania, and Lonestar.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"What She's Doing Now" is a wonderfully sentimental ode to an old flame from Pat Alger and Garth himself that stops short of becoming maudlin. ("Just for laughs, I dialed her old number/But no one knew her name/Hung up the phone, sat there and wondered/If she'd ever done the same"). It comes from the same place as Frank Sinatra's "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning". "Papa Loved Mama" is the tale of a jealous trucker who kills his wayward wife by crashing his rig into a hotel where she's having a dalliance. The phrase "Mama's in the graveyard/Papa's in the pen" is classic country. "Shameless" rescues a great song Billy Joel let lie waste on his album. Brooks invests it with the needed passion and turns it into a winner. "In Lonesome Dove" is a great gunslinger saga set in the old West with a twist..it's the 'little filly' who has the last laugh in this one. "The River" is a little too overproduced, but it's still a winning optimism anthem.

LOWS:
"We Bury the Hatchet" finds Garth pushing far too hard with the vocal twangs. Instead of sounding authentic, he sounds phony. "Burning Bridges" story of a ne'er-do-well that can't commit has been done many times before in country and with better writing.

BOTTOM LINE:
Traditional country fans should still find plenty to love here, though new country fans will probably be bigger supporters. Love him or hate him, he's probably caused more pop-rock fans to at least give country a second look than anyone before him (or likely after). The album was #1 for 18 weeks on the POP charts at time of release..and the first country album to claim the #1 spot pop in its opening week. This is one of his better outings.

3 1/2 stars

The album opens with the bluegrassy "Against The Grain," with its nothing-ventured-nothing-gained theme. It is followed by the cowboy blues "Rodeo," which features another topic close to the hearts of country music fans, and "What She's Doing Now," a powerful ballad immersed in steel guitar. Halfway through ROPIN' THE WIND and there's not even a trace of "pop music." In fact, Garth could even be mistaken for Randy Travis on "Cold Shoulder." "In Lonesome Dove" is a beautiful Western narrative, while "Papa Loves Mama" talks of truckers, diesels, wine bottles, the penitentiary, and the graveyard; when's the last time you heard a song like that on a Michael Bolton album?

Yes, Garth is all country on ROPIN' THE WIND--even though hefervently covers "Shameless," a song written by his idol Billy Joel. But really, with that twang, the catch in his voice, the steel guitars and the blue-collar themes, how can anyone doubt Garth's devotion to traditional country?