Scarecrow

Garth Brooks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: PEARL RECORDS
• ASIN: B000NTPECM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (152 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,789 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His best album since No Fences, November 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Scarecrow (Audio CD)

Being a rabid Garth Brooks fan, I love ALL of his albums. But even I found some of his more recent work (1997's Sevens, for instance) lacking a soul. On Scarecrow Garth has found whatever it was that his music lost in the late 90's. "Wrapped Up In You," is a happy, infectious song that you'll find yourself humming hours later. Powerful and evocative, "The Storm" is an appropriately dark sequel to the theme of "The Thunder Rolls." "Thicker Than Blood," with its references to Brooks' own family, is touching and for some reason makes me smile every time I hear it. A dark and melancholy ballad, "Mr. Midnight" defies explination. "Big Money" and "Mexico or Rodeo" are toetappers with a sense of humor. Without going into all of them, I can say that there is not a weak song on this entire album. It's a pure joy to listen to all the way through. This CD is typified by great lyrics, spices of harmonica, fiddle, piano, banjo, and steel guitar, and the excellent vocals of Mr. Brooks at his most diverse and powerful.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good return to form, November 19, 2001

By 

James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scarecrow (Audio CD)

Scarecrow is a fine album - one that favorably compares with Brooks' best efforts. Garth and longtime producer Allen Reynolds have put together a set of songs that move effortlessly between poignant and exhuberant. It is, however, more than just a country album.

From the start of his recording career, Brooks has shown us that his range of influence spans beyond traditional country. Garth's composition "Thicker Than Blood" is a tribute to familial devotion that takes on a global importance in light of the the September 11 tragedy. It recalls vintage James Taylor, while the first single, "Wrapped Up in You," has a Paul McCartney meets the Kingston Trio feel to it, and "Mr. Midnight" seemingly crosses Billy Joel with Harry Chapin.

After the bland Chris Gaines' CD, it is nice to hear Brooks cut loose on a set of uptempo tunes that create a little ruckus. He sounds delighted to be in the presence of his hero George Jones on the duet "Beer Run" while "Squeeze Me In" finds him whooping it up with Trisha Yearwood. "Big Money" and "Rodeo or Mexico" are particularly fun, while his bluegrass rendition of America's "Don't Cross the River" is a rootsy gem.

Emotions run the gamut on this album, from the optimistic love song "Why Ain't I Running" to the pessimistic "The Storm." "When You Come Back to Me," which Brooks recorded for the film Frequency, hits home with its theme of reconnecting with a loved one, while "Pushing Up Daisies" takes a chilling look at Brooks' father's disconnection with life since his wife's (Garth's mother's) death last year.

It all combines for a well-balanced package, sometimes fun, sometimes moving, and usually substantial. If it is Garth's last release (don't hold your breathe on that one), this was a great swan song.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasing Return From the King of Country, November 13, 2001

By 

B. E. Nickerson "BTVN1827" (Amesbury, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scarecrow (Audio CD)

After that Gaines nonsense, Garth has made a triumphant and very pleasing return to what he does best. The album opens with possibly one of his best songs....ahhh....GARTH HAS RETURN TO US ALL!!! The album's first single, "Wrapped Up In You" not one of the album's best songs, but far from a dud. Of course, Garth's #1 girl, Trisha Yearwood, returns for yet another amazing duet, but this time it's not a ballad!! It's a great upbeat song about trying to not to loose the loved one. Even the legendary George Jones sides with Brooks for a great, yet typical, country song called Beer Run. A moving and haunting piece called "The Storm" could have easily been a b-side of "The Thunder Rolls" discussing the mental power of mother-nature. "Rodeo or Mexico" reminded me of Jo Dee Messina's classic, "Heads Carolina, Tails California" and the CD could not have been complete without the breathless, priceless ballad from the Frequency Sndtrk. "When You Come Back To Me Again."
The easiest way to categorize this album is the a little heavier than "Sevens", a similiar sound as "In Pieces" with the power and attraction of "Double Live" Overall....a great CD with a promise of assurance that Garth is the undefeatable king!