Storm

Travis Tritt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Category 5 Records
• ASIN: B000TAN8WS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,834 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Travis Tritt's decision to put Randy Jackson at the helm of his first album for a new label isn't as weird as it might appear--before American Idol made him a household name, Jackson played bass for Aretha Franklin and Journey and was an A&R man at various record companies. And gastronomically speaking, Tritt--Georgia born and raised--always mixed a good portion of blue-eyed soul with his country black-eyed peas. So this R&B-heavy album--greasy in spots and balls-to-the-wall bluesy throughout--isn't as much of a surprise as the fact that Tritt schizophrenically includes two oh-so-wrong Diane Warren ballads, neither of which suits his personality or his phrasing. Happily, Tritt finds a more suitable home covering Richard Marx's "You Never Take Me Dancing," a funky meditation on the men-are-from-Mars-women-are-from-Venus theme (dig the black background shout-outs), and stretches out on the it's-my-fault-she-left-me plea of "Should've Listened." Throughout, Tritt sprinkles a little Allman Brothers stardust (particularly on the title track), and drives the Southern-rock nail home with Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Pressure Is On," a cheating man's lament that's as deep-dish Southern as rhubarb pie. There are other high points, particularly Kenny Wayne Shepherd's blistering guitar solo on Tritt's cover of his gritty "Somehow, Somewhere, Someway." But the two songs Tritt wrote with Marx ("Doesn't the Good Outweigh the Bad") and Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas ("What If Love Hangs On") typify the album as a whole--good, but not truly great. Watch him deliver his masterpiece next time out. --Alanna Nash

Product Description

The STORM is HERE! This redefining release catapults Travis to a whole new level. THE STORM includes the current hit single "You Never Take Me Dancing" Songwriting credits on the album include Rob Thomas, Richard Marx and Diane Warren. The Storm is a brand new album with a little bit of something for everyone. Travis Tritt and Randy Jackson team up to create a radio friendly powerhouse collection of songs that emphasize the irresistible soul side of Travis Tritt's singing. Travis has sold over 25 million albums, won two Grammy awards and three Country Music Awards. The Storm finds him bold and invigorated and at the top of his game.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tritt "Storms" On the Right Foot with New CD, August 27, 2007

By 

Timothy Yap "thy4568" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Storm (Audio CD)

Prime Cuts: (I Wanna) Feel Too Much, I Don't How I Got By, What If Love Hangs On

"The Storm" has wiped away the debris of any radio-kissing gloss that has blemished Tritt's last few CDs. As a result, this Category 5 Records debut is Tritt at his most bona fide best. Perhaps without the pressures from a major label, Tritt has never sounded more relaxed, more assured, and more himself. By "being himself" means that this is not a traditional country record. In fact, right from the get-go Tritt has never been a traditional country artist. Rather, his calling cards have always been power ballads ("Anymore" and "Sometimes She Forgets") and southern rocky blues ("Bible Belt" and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"). Further, with American idol judge Randy Jackson at the helm and with Diane Warren, Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas and Richard Marx name-listed as the album's scribes, these confirm the album's rock predilection. Having accepted that this is essential a rock album with southern leanings, it is quite a good one to boot.

There are reasons why superstars Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion hankered for Diane Warren's songs. Hands down Warren's two entries here are the cynosure. Starting on a stately pace before crescendoing into a high charged choir-aided declaration of living life to the full, "(I Wanna) Feel Too Much" is one of those performances that deserve repeated ovations. Tritt's slightly gruff experienced-filled vocals is the perfect vehicle to carry Warren's other composition "I Don't Know How I Got By," a romantic ballad about a man who is still filled with gratitude for his paramour. Less bombastic but no less heartfelt is "What If Love Hangs On" is a Tritt and Rob Thomas co-write, a gentle ballad with the reveries of a love gone right as its theme. "Something Stronger Than Me," which has a striking reminiscent to Tritt's former hit "Strong Enough," is the platform for what is arguably Tritt's most passionate performance on record.

When the tempo picks up, the entertaining level peters a little. However, there are a few that still feet sweeping: Tritt's cover of Hank Jr's "The Pressure is On" is a killer. With the simmering moan of the organ and the fiery blast of electric guitars, Tritt captures the angst of a man toying between the options of two women. While the sensuous "Rub Off On Me" finds Tritt climbing up the pantheon of Motown blues bolstered with some Stevie Wonder-esque harmonica. Pop artist Richard Marx who has recently been quite active on the country music scene with his production of Emerson Drive's latest effort has two compositions. First of which is lead single "You Take Me Dancing" which first appeared on Marx's "Flesh and Blood" CD. "Dancing" is unfortunately quite a nondescript bluesy-rocker about a hard to pleased wife. A little better is "Doesn't the Good Outweigh the Bad" which reels off with Tritt recalling their romantic moments together.

Not all the rockers work: at times the blasting guitars and the heart-pounding drums do get on the indulgent side especially on the title track and a few others. It would be interesting how country music radio would respond to this CD. But at this point in Tritt's career, such concerns may be secondary. Nevertheless, the ballads ought to find a home on AC channels. Regardless of genres, the ballads here are first class. If you want an artist who sings as if his life hangs on each note, look no further. The storms of change will not erode what a balladeer he is.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Comeback, what a Winner!, September 12, 2007

By 

Tom (Vienna, Austria) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Storm (Audio CD)

I have followed Travis pretty much since the beginning and always liked his rowdy southern-blues-rock tinged, yet traditional country approach and his rather distinct voice. Yet, I had almost given up on him delivering something fresh and new, or exptecting him to even getting a chance from a label to try to do so - especially after the patchy "Honky Tonk History", it seems like Mr. Tritt would be history himself.
"The Storm" proves otherwise indeed! This is a soulful R&B-styled album, that stays on the easy path of love songs, without macho-clicheed Redneck anthems. Most of the time, after being halfway through a song, soulful female background-singers join in and lift the songs. One can only imagine what the album would have sounded if they had gone all the way and included a sassy horn section, such as Waylon did so excellently with his Waymore Blues Band (http://www.amazon.com/Never-Say-Die-Complete-Concert/dp/B000S6LSXE/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-9708400-4972757?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1189624438&sr=8-2).
The album is a good mix of mid-tempo and up-tempo songs, all excellently grooving, with quite a few surprises in store, starting with the souly mudcat-moan intro of the funky "You Never Take Me Dancing", written by Richard Marx and highlighting in "Rub Off On Me", a song that towards the end turns into an addictive gospel choir rendition that eventually fades off way too quick! His take on Hank Jr.s "Pressure" is a challenge and when you are familiar with the original, the first thing missing when the song starts, are the bass drums, which lets the song come off flat initially. However in the end Travis's version is not bad, as it features some interesting guitar work.
A real Travis Tritt album would be incomplete without some blues and while the title track weaves some nice blues threads into the rhythm of the song, the real blues title (not quite unexpected) sits at the end of the album. To me this is probably the only weaker point on the album, but can be more attributed to my personal taste of blues. I think Travis has delivered his blues masterpiece already, when he covered Buddy Guy on his Trouble-album and duetted with Patti Labelle on "When Something's Wrong With My Baby" for the "Rhythm, Country and Blues"-album.
All in all, this is an excellent comeback album by Travis Tritt, who shows, that he can feel very comfortable when he leaves redneck territory behind and faces Rhythm and Blues with a healthy dose of soul! Thumbs Up!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth The Wait, August 21, 2007

By 

Linda J. Loney "Tritt Fan#1" (Coon Rapids Mn USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Storm (Audio CD)

Travis Tritt's new CD "The Storm" was worth the wait. He mixes blues, ballads, and funk. His voice it so versatile and his gift at picking the right songs to suit his style shows in this CD. With the variety everyone needs at least one copy.