Weather the Storm

Carolina Rain | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Equity Music Group
• ASIN: B000GY72UG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,457 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great New Group!, May 22, 2007

By 

Monkeyville Citizen (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Weather the Storm (Audio CD)

This is a great debut from a group that will likely be around for a while. The song "Carolina Rain" is one of my favorite songs for the melody and the picture the words paint. "Dealin" is a song that everyone can relate to about those days when you feel like you're just getting by. The radio releases (so far) are as different as night and day. "Isn't She" is slow, sweet, and nostalgic about the aftermath of a break up, while "Get Outta My Way" is a rowdy upbeat song about getting rid of your wingman at the bar so you can hook up. "Sweet Virginia Kiss" reminds you a young love and has a great beat. The rest of the songs each have their own character and you can listen to the CD straight through.

This is a perfect CD for a long walk, a boat ride, or a drive through the mountains.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fair Weather Predicted for Carolina Rain's Equity Debut, September 19, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Weather the Storm (Audio CD)

Prime Cuts: Isn't She, Dealin', Get Outta My Way

Good things come to those who wait. After a handful of misfired singles, all of which have had lukewarm responses from radio hitherto, Carolina Rain has finally braved through the weather with this debut on Clint Black's enterprising label Equity Records. Clear skies seem to be on the horizon as their brand new single "Get Outta My Way" is zooming up the upper echelon of the Billboard chart. Thanks are in order to the trio's Eagles-like breezy yet resonant soft-rock tunes and their southern rustic-sounding harmonies. Named after the first song they ever wrote (which is the opening track on this disc), Carolina Rain consists of Rhean Boyer, Jeremy Baxter and Marvin Evatt. Unlike other country groups that are heavily parturient by their lead singer, democracy seems to be the group's mantra. Each member actually is musically inclined: not only does each member play on the CD, but also 11 out of the 12 cuts are in-house compositions. Vocally, lead singer Boyer's sturdy tenor and the trio's congruous harmonies present a prismatic of emotions that fills the subtle nuances of each song with heart as well as depth.

Producer Clint Black's knack for songs with melodic flare is on display in penning the lead single "Get Outta My Way" (the only song not written by the boys). A cute pick-up song with a funky kick, "Get Outta My Way" rocks with a youthful abandon. The trio's originals are by no means inferior, in fact, "Isn't She," a mid-pacer, has a seductive melody engulfing a romantic valentine that goes beyond the caricature of those superficial "I-love-you" paeans. "I Ain't Sacred," a gritty propulsive number, ought to have female fans swooning with the protagonist finally willing to forgo his roving single life for marriage. Still within the ballpark of romance is the Lonestar-esque ballad "Who Needs the Sun." "Who Needs the Sun" brings out the warmth in Boyer's voice; just listening might give you a tan.

As message songs are currently in vogue (a la Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" and Diamond Rio's "God Only Cries"), these lads do move out of their carrel to tackle such a genre on a number of selections. Though the forlorn ballad "Somebody's Child" finds some fiddles sharing in the song's desperate cry for the homeless, the track sounds more obligatory than authentic. Much better, though not revolutionary, is the wistful utopian seeking "How Should It Be." Like an empathetic friend, "Dealin'," a song dealing with the angst of life's tribulations, offers a shoulder of comfort with its easily warmed up sing-along melody.

If there are any quibbles, it resides in the production. Perhaps due to his lack of experience at the helm, Black approaches each of these 12 cuts with a monolithic 70s soft-rock style on all the cuts. Perhaps, a little variegation especially with the uptempoes would have created a more sustaining listening experience. Nevertheless, as a whole, with their acumen for songs with a sturdy melodic flair and songs that explore the various facets of life, Carolina Rain is the badly needed elixir to modern music's relentless loop of repetitive and superficial furor. Poised for great things to come, based on this debut, fine weather is indeed ahead for these guys.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, April 21, 2007

By 

Dennis Ellerbee (Jackson, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Weather the Storm (Audio CD)

Being a professional musician I listened closely to all of the songs on this CD and I personally think this is one of the best country CD's I've heard in years. I hope the record company will support these guys. I think all of the songs are very well written. Better than most of the junk coming out of Nashville now. The three part harmony is second to none. Reminds me of Restless Heart, Eagles etc. The music is so good, mixing, steel, banjo, guitar, and mandolin at just the right levels. One of the best mixes I've heard in along time. Buy this CD and turn it up loud. It's great.