Customer Reviews

Sevens

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I am usually not a fan of country music, but I decided to buy this cd the week Garth Brooks said he would donate all proceeds to Oprah's "Make a Wish" Foundation. Well, was I ever pleasantly suprised.

Sevens is one really good album. The songs have a smooth country feel with some rock characteristics mixed in as well. "Two Pina Coladas" and "Lockneck Bottle" are propably the two most well known singles, but others like "She's Gonna Make It" and "Fit For a King" are well done also. "In Another's Eyes" is a wonderful duet with Trisha Yearwood, and it has an incredible sound. I suppose that is what happens when you put two leading country voices together. Anyway, it is a thrilling song and a real pleasure to listen to.

All in all, this is a really nice sounding album, chock full top notch songs. This is easily one of Garth Brooks' best efforts. You will enjoy this cd.

Before I bought this CD I only had one other Garth CD (double live). But after I saw him sing Belleau Wood on his Christmas special, I just had to get whatever CD it was on.

Ater listening to that song a few million times, I decided to listen to the rest of the songs, and WOW are they ever great.!

There are some fast, fun songs like Cowboy Cadillac, Longneck Bottle. Some slower songs that make you think like I Don't Have to Wonder, A Friend to Me. And then there are some songs with messages How you Ever Gonna Know, Do What You Gotta do. And of course, Belleau Wood, what an incredible song, even people who have told me that they hate country music can't find anything bad to say about this song.

Overall, this would be a excellent CD to add to any collection, if you have some other Garth music, be sure to get this CD, I'm sure everyone will find something on it that they can relate to.

Garth Brooks' album Sevens is his best album since No Fences. Unlike the singles off some of Garth's previous records, where at least one was a throwaway song, every song on Sevens that became a single is great. "In Another's Eyes", Garth's duet with his long-time friend Trisha Yearwood, is the highlight. The country swing song "Longneck Bottle" is a toe-tapper that features some fine lead guitar work by its writer, Steve Wariner. "Two Pina Coladas" is a Caribbean-flavored song that, like "Longneck Bottle", has some great lead guitar work in it. The last of the big hits from Sevens, "You Move Me", is an uplifting song with some good background vocals by Susan Ashton.

There are other great moments as well--for instance, the driving song "Do What You Gotta Do", featuring the musicians of New Grass Revival; Carl Jackson's bluegrass-sounding waltz "Fit For A King"; the wartime ballad "Belleau Wood"; and the song "I Don't Have To Wonder", about coming to terms with the end of a relationship. In "I Don't Have To Wonder", the man's taking his girlfriend's ring from his pocket, "letting it fly", and watching it sink into the ocean is a vivid picture of the finality of a breakup, although Garth himself didn't write the song. Indeed, of the 14 songs on Sevens, Garth wrote only six of them. Although I think Garth is a skillful songwriter when he's at his best, I believe that on Sevens, Garth's willingness not only to use other writers' songs but to look for them is a sign that he knew what he was doing. Garth and his producer, Allen Reynolds, deserve a big hand for their song selection here.

To sum up, Sevens is one record that has "Great" written all over it.

Garth Brooks is one of music's greatest. He most certainly is my favourite singer and entertainer in the music business. For almost three decades Brooks has enjoyed a career in music, that saw him eventually get his record deal with EMI's Capitol Records division in 1989. His debut album "Garth Brooks" rose to the top of the charts and follow-up album's "No Fences" and "Ropin' The Wind" cemented his success both commercially and musically.

Between his debut and this set there had been a total of 9 albums to his credit. His previous studio album had been "Fresh Horses" and although it had done very well, critics were beginning to claim Brooks was washed up and running out of ideas. This album is proof, if any was needed, that they were wrong.

The album starts with "Longneck Bottle" (a track written by Brooks' friend and fellow Country singer Steve Warierner), a hard hitting Country song with a humours streak about whether to say in the bar or go home ("Longneck Bottle let go of my hand/Jukebox don't play that song again/I got a girl at home that loves me/She won't understand"). This was the 1st single off the set and the one that was played on radio stations the world over before the album was put out.

It was immediately followed by "How you ever gonna know?", this has to be my favourite track on the CD, Brooks' deliverance of powerful lyrics has always been one of his many greatest assets as a performer and this song puts that gift to good use ("How you ever gonna know/What it's like to be there/How you ever gonna know/How it feels to fly/How you ever gonna know?/ If you never dare to try) the song also features the somewhat tongue in cheek lyric "Listen no to the critics who put there own dreams on the shelf/If you wanna get the truth to admit it you gotta find out for yourself" no whilst this fits in perfectly with the rest of the song, one can't help but wonder if Garth was talking about the music critics who were claming his career was coming to a close.

The next two songs "Shes Gonna Make It" and "I don't have to wonder" are about loves turned bad, in "Gonna Make It" the song is about a man who wants to get back with his wife ("The crazy thing about it, is she'd take him back, but the fool in him that walked out, is the fool that just won't ask") while "Don't Have To Wonder" is about a man who sees his ex-lover marry someone else and end's up killing himself in the last verse.

It's probably a good thing the next song is "Two Pina Colladas" which is another tale of love turned bad, but rather than killing himself, this time Brooks just goes out and get's drunk. Probably a much better alternative.

"Cowboy Cadalac" echo's Brooks' classic 1994 rocking country hit "Ain't Going Down ('Til The Sun Comes Up)", while "Fit for a king" takes us to the beliefs of Christianity and is from a poor mans point of view. "Do what you gotta do" also echo's the message from a previous Brooks' hit "Standing Outside the fire", with it's never give up on your dreams message.
"You Move Me", on the other hand is a tender love ballad, that shows Brooks talents off wonderfully.

"In Anothers Eyes", another ballad, is a duet with Trisha Yearwood, whilst "When there's noone around" is a song about being your own best friend (This is a glimpse of a child that's within/He's so immature but he's still my best friend.. he's the kid that I am when there's no one around"), meanwhile "Friend to me" is a tribute to best friends, even when they can be the most annoying person in the world ("Times i'd rather kill you than listen to your "honesty"/But you've always been a friend to me").

Brooks then treats us to a fine rocker "Take The Keys To My Heart" (great lyrics in this one, he compares his heart to a car and then says "Fill 'Er Up").

I mentioned that "How you ever gonan know?" was my favorte track on this CD , but the final cut "Bellau Wood" has got to be a close 2nd (Interestingly this is Garths favourite cut on this album, followed by "How you ever.."). "Bellau Wood" is a beautiful song about a Christmas truce being declared by the American and German soldiers during the war.

It is a fitting ending to the "Sevens" album, an album of wonderful lyrics, wonderful musicians and one of the greatest singers of all-time taking the lead.

If you're a major Garth fan they you should already own this. If you are big or casual fan you might not. If not I can highly recommend it and if you don't own a Garth album, this is a good an introduction to his talent than "No Fences" or "Ropin' The Wind" (plus you get more bang for your back, 14 great songs on 1 CD!).
This is Garth Brooks, the singer of songs, showcased at his best.

Country was not my favorite genre of music..then I heard Garth Brooks! Talk of God-given talent!!...Garth definitely has that and "Sevens" proves it. Garth Brooks sings with such emotion that it seems to come directly from his heart not from the vocal cords. AFTER buying the Sevens album, I bought the "Garth Brooks Limited Series Box Set" (6 CDs) and the "Garth Brooks Live from Central Park" video. I also purchased the "Garth Brooks Double Live" CD set (am waiting for a video or DVD format of more live performances). I enjoy them all, though Sevens continues to be my favorite music CD. He has such a diverse voice range that nothing is impossible for him...reminds me of a canary in full song (a sound to treasure always). Add to this that Garth Brooks is such a great live performer, what else can be said. Sevens is a MUST HAVE for all Garth Brooks fans.

The reason I gave this five stars is because Garth displays an eclectic sound that inspires different emotions in this CD. Almost all of the songs were up to his level and didn't disappoint. I still think that some of greatest CDs were his first three (Garth Brooks, No Fences, Ropin' the Wind), but the later ones still had their fair share of great songs. Sevens, in my opinion, has a number of songs which are overlooked. (Songs such as "I Don't Have to Wonder" and "When There's No One Around." If you're a Garth Brooks fan this CD should already be yours, but if you're not, buy "The Hits" and then consider buying his latest.

Garth Brooks is the best entertainer in the history of music. "Sevens" is, along with his other albums, one of the best ever released. Garth is king.

I bought this one as soon as it came out without hearing anything on it just because I knew it would be as good as I thought, and better. I would very much like to know how anyone gets the idea that "I Don't Have to Wonder" is about suicide, though!! It seems to me to be a very deeply personal account of letting go of the one you love. "The angels sang like thunder, as I felt myself go under"... Okay I can see how that can be interpreted as he killed himself but still I hardly believe Garth would write/sing/publish something that dark. On the whole, I was very impressed, "Fresh Horses" was a little disappointing but "Sevens" has me realizing Garth may just be starting.... and that he is his own person. He's been highly influenced by Chris LeDoux and George Strait but there is no way he can be anyone but Garth. Just because an artist is influenced by another artist does not make him a clone. We are all shaped by the things around us, from the music we listen to to the books we read to the people we come into contact with. Garth has become and is still evolving into the artist who will influence the next generation of serious country and popular music artists. I can hardly wait for his next adventure!!!

Garth Brook is an awsome singer, number one. Number two, this, I think, is his best CD ever. The songs, "Do What You Gotta Do", "Bellau Wood", and "When There's No One Around", are my all time favs. They really touch somewhere, that other songs don't even come close to. I was so entrigued by this CD, that I just had to get the piano music for it! I'm still trying to find a place or website that has it. If you know of anyplace that does have it, please E-mail me. Thanks, greatly appreciated. If there is one CD that I could keep 'till the end of time, this would be it. Music is My Life, My Life is Music, Diminuento

Even though, some argue that Sevens didin't reflect much of Garth's personality, This is another Garth Album with very bold songs, in my opinion. Like The Chase, which was said to have been his most bold album with his most serious songs. I believe this album is the same idea, only maybe even more bold with some of the most powerful and inspirational songs. Garth said himself that this was a very personal album. Here are some of my favorites. How You Ever Gonna Know, a purely inspirational song to motivate yourself to have courage and go out and try something new, even if it is really risky and uncomfortable, because if you never try, you'll never know how it feels to do something like flying. Fit For a King, one of Garth's most powerful and bold songs, about a homeless preacher, who despite haing no home, his appearance and his weak condition, he bleives and preaches that his torn rags will be fit for a king someday in heaven. My favorite is Do What You Gotta Do, it doesn't motivate you to try something scary like How You Ever Gonna Know, it keeps you moving on in your hardest times of life, and tells you that you have the truth in life and you can't let anything anyone says get to you, if you wanna be a hero or make a diference, and that you have the power in yourself to make it through life and reach your dreams. It has some echos of Standing Outside The Fire, with fire being used as a metaphor for standing for what you beleive in. There's the duet with Shania Twain, In Another's Eyes, When There's No One Aroud, a beautiful song about his imaginary friends and self-images, and his imagination in the middle of the night when he's alone. A Friend to me, another good song, either about a friend he had growing up, or about his wife, I'm not sure. The last is Belleau Wood, a Christmas Ballad, set in Germany during World War II, a song aobut tolerance, where he says that heaven isn't beyond the clouds, it's just beyond the fear, when he could die if he was worng. Every other song on this album I like, there's probably not any Garth song I don't like, he sings and writes songs like no other country artist.