Album- Golden
Artist-Lady
Antebellum
Lady Antebellum have been one of the defining country music
groups of the 21st century, with the trio bringing us powerful and
fine-tuned songs that deal in heartbreak and passion and provide the listener
with some great harmonies and songs that make you feel. Yet arguably the
group’s career is taking a little bit of a dip in late, as lead single from
Golden, Downtown, failed to reach number one on the Hot Country Songs Chart,
something that the lead singles from their last two studio albums achieved.
Furthermore, this records sales sees a considerable from their last studio
efforts, and latest single Goodbye Town is certainly taking its time in rising
up the charts. I may be a bit too early in my judgements, but as I look at
Golden, could this actually be a record that doesn’t live up to its title, and
could signal that it’s time to say goodbye to Lady Antebellum’s major success?
Track 1- Get to Me
Album opener Get to Me is a stomping guitar driven number
that is influenced by some musicians of the past such as Bonnie Rait, and is a
song that band member and co lead singer Hilary Scott has described as making
her a better singer. The track is a simple love song but with a nice essence of
urgency, as Scott tells her lover that she doesn’t care what it takes, he just
needs to get to her and let their love flourish. The simplicity but intensity
of the lyrics makes the song well rounded in this respect, with the three words
of the title being imbued with emotion that makes this a catchier song for the
listener. Scott definitely gives us a strong vocal on the track, nicely going
between soft touches in the verses to this powerful, commanding vocal in the
chorus, whilst male lead vocal Charles Kelley acts as a nice complimentary
voice that adds a touch of grittiness and further intensity to the song.
Production wise the song is invested in heavy drum beats and simple guitar
rhythms that give us a sound that does compliment the songs message, but feels
a little bit too much like what you would expect a song like this to sound
like, and so this element of the track is its only real downfall.
3.5/5
Track 2- Goodbye Town
Second single Goodbye Town is a track that finds the trio in
a well-trodden state of singing about a break up, with Kelley this time taking
lead vocal duties. The song lyrically follows the perspective of Kelley as this
man who wishes to leave his town, because every aspect of the town reminds him
of his former lover. The gritty texture of Kelley’s voice really brings
substance to the song so that we really believe in the lyrics, with Scott
acting as a soft complimentary voice that nicely layers the song with a touch
more sadness, particularly when she takes things solo before the final chorus.
The stomping drums and powerful guitar rhythms create a potent sound that works
well with the lyrical content, and in many ways this is a perfect break up
song. Yet in it’s essence it feels like something that is typical Lady
Antebellum, and the final minute of the song tries to be a really powerful,
loud finish to the song but just comes across as a waste of listening time and
uncontrolled creativity that could be appealing but which only really gets to
the listener with the last vocal moment.
3.5/5
Track 3- Nothin’ Like
the First Time
Described by the group as one of those songs that they could
have written themselves, Nothin Like the First Time is another typical Lady
Antebellum song that is fuelled by love, with this time that love is really
sweet. The song has more of an organic feel than the previous numbers as the
drums and guitar are a little more toned down, but for me it still would have
perhaps been better to keep things even simpler, as there does sometimes feel
like there is a bit of a fight between the overall sound and the vocals.
Vocally this is a great offering as the duet really works well in both blending
the voices of Kelley and Scott, but also highlighting the power of these
vocalists as individuals. Lyrically the songs message is really encapsulated in
the title, as the group reminiscence about how the first times in relationships
are great, and how you hold onto these things even after the relationship has
ended. The message is sweet and the hook is strong, with the lyrics being made
better by the way the song dips between this lilting quality and a more fast
paced edge.
3.5/5
Track 4- Downtown
Released as the records lead single, Downtown is definitely
a different kind of song for the group as it is more upbeat, fun and sassy and
works nicely as a song that people might not expect from them. The track
focuses on Scott taking lead vocals and singing of how she questions why her
lover wont ‘take her downtown’ for a night out, in essence saying that he is
romantically failing. The chorus is extremely catchy, and lyrically the whole
song is fine tuned in a good way. The vocals of Scott also really make the song
great, as her performance is loaded with sass and confidence that makes for a
welcome change of pace and a nice new side of the group. The production is also
strong with the plunky quality of the guitar riffs and snappy power of the
drums. The problem with this track is that it feels like a song where you
question why Kelley is even providing vocals, and it is a song that would have
worked well as a Scott solo venture. It’s a good track, but it just doesn’t
come across as a full group effort, and suffers because of this.
3.5/5
Track 5- Better Off
Now (That You’re Gone)
Better Off Now continues from the upbeat energy of Downtown,
but increases the tempo and goes into more of a country rock territory.
Actually a cover of a song from singer Will Hoge’s album Blackbird on a Lonely
Wire, the song is lyrically a true power anthem for those who have had a break
up, as the song simply centres on Kelley as this guy telling this girl life is
better because she isn’t in his life anymore. The song has some real lyrical
bite that is brought out strongly through the simplicity of the chorus, which
is immediately catchy. The energy of the group breathes life into the song that
makes it more of a pleasurable listen, with Kelley’s vocals giving a great
gritty tone to the track that makes the song a bit more cutting. The blend of
Kelley and Scott on the song also feels more natural and so makes the song have
more of a group charm, whilst the production is really effective with the
stomping drums and the vibrant middle section, and so weirdly the best track on
the record at this point comes through a cover.
3.5/5
Track 6- It Ain’t
Pretty
Taking things down to a much slower pace, It Ain’t Pretty is
a country ballad that is a state of exposure wrapped up in a song. The song
sees Scott as this woman who is trying her best to get over a break up, but
ultimately just becoming this sort of heartbroken mess in the process. The rich
but delicate tone of Scott’s voice works really well with the tone of the
lyrics, and her vocal performance also brings a touch of sincerity to the
track. Keeping the production as delicate as the lyrics with the piano and
simple, steady drumbeat makes for a great sound to the song that perfectly
captures the lyrical emotions, and for once you don’t feel like you are
listening to a full on Lady Antebellum number that goes overboard, but rather
you are listening to a sad post break up love letter in a weird way.
3.5/5
Track 7- Can’t Stand
the Rain
Beginning a stretch of songs written by the group, Can’t
Stand the Rain is a delicate but powerful mid tempo number that focuses on the
idea of being there for someone and expressing your love through sheltering
them through the hard times. The metaphorical message is catchy and although
perhaps clichéd, it marks a nice change in that the band could be singing about
any kind of relationship rather than that of boyfriend and girlfriend, which is
their typical route. Kelley’s rough voice has this essence of power and warmth
that makes the song believable, with Scott once again acting as a nice
complimentary voice, and with a simple and steady sound that is typical but
right for the song, this would perhaps make a nice addition to the groups
singles collection.
3.5/5
Track 8- Golden
Title track Golden is a simple love song that acts as a kind
of dedication to the group to their respective spouses. With poetic lyrics that
feel sincere and heartfelt, the song focuses upon Kelley and Scott singing of
how things remind them of their special someone and how they want to tell this
person that to them they are like gold. The message is really sweet and is Lady
Antebellum at their best in terms of not only lyrical execution but also in
vocal execution, as the grainy tone of Kelley’s voice makes you feel so
comfortable within the song that you know he is not lying, and Scotts
undertones just breathe further life into the song. Production wise the simple
guitar riff that the song is built around is so delicate that it allows you to
really take in the songs meaning, and create this moment of really pleasurable
listening. Stevie Nicks said that this song is the groups Landslide,
referencing the signature song that Nicks wrote and which was made a hit by
Fleetwood Mac, which Nicks was a member of. That is perhaps a bit too strong a
statement, but Golden definitely is a song that lives up to its title and shows
of the group to their best and fullest ability.
4/5
Track 9- Long Teenage
Goodbye
Taking things to a mid tempo setting, Long Teenage Goodbye
is a sweet piece of nostalgia that acts as a celebration of youth and how you
have that season of your life and memories which are great, before you go off
onto your own separate paths in life. The songs message is really quite
powerful and perhaps signals that this could be a great summer release for the
group as young people all over the world have their last summer together. The
softness of Scott’s voice makes the songs wistful essence come to the fore, but
also brings out the pleasure of really living for the moment and making happy
memories to look back on. Kelley suffers a little with this song as his vocals
don’t really add anything to the song, but the lightness of the guitar riffs
and the whole energy of the track make up for his missing piece of the puzzle
and keeps the song in a lovely territory of being a nice piece of nostalgia for
both the group and listeners.
3.5/5
Track 10- All for
Love
Written alongside the groups whole band, All For Love is
markedly different for the group in the way that vocal harmonies don’t come
into play towards the end, and rather this acts as a twofold story between a
girl and a guy where Scott and Kelley take respective solo moments. The song
finds Scott and Kelley as lovers who both think that they are right in their
actions and that love is their driving force. This passion in the lyrical
content is really powerful, and this passion is really increased by the power
in Scott and Kelley’s voices, as each singer really pushes themselves within
this song and goes to a higher range than the group normally seem to go for.
The power of the song is also really brought out in the grittiness of the
electric guitar and stomping tone of the drums, something which undoubtedly
comes from the group writing this with their band, and so with All for Love
things are perhaps signalled that Lady Antebellum needs to widen its spectrum
of how many members there are, if that means songs like these are produced.
3.5/5
Track 11- Better Man
Another band written song, Better Man is another kind of
love song that is probably inspired by the group’s respective spouses. The song
finds Kelley singing of how the fact that he has met this girl and she loves
him and he loves her means that he is a better man than he was. The message is
sweet, but it is not something that hasn’t mean heard before, and in execution
the song is very much clichéd. Kelley’s voice has this natural texture that
makes you believe that he means what he is singing, but Scott kind of feels a
bit unnecessary within this particularly track. The softness of the guitars and
the drums makes for a chilled sound that perfectly encapsulates the songs
message, but at the same time there is this feeling of unoriginality when you listen
to the track, and so by this point you wish Antebellum would just go more out
of the box.
2.5/5
Track 12- Generation
Away
Generation Away nicely ends the record on a light note of
tone, but lyrically there is also a nice bit of depth to the track. The song
has breezy summer energy and would in that respect work well as a summer single
from the group. The punchy rhythms of the guitar and drums are really catchy
from the outset and so before the vocals and lyrics kick in you really become
hooked. The song finds Scott and Kelley reminiscing of the past whilst speaking
of making moments that people will look back on in the future, and so the song
has this live life to the fullest positivity about it, but also has a strong
message of how people always look back to the past in a great way. Kelley and
Scott’s vocals feel fresh and light in a way that perfectly captures the free
spirited positivity of the track, whilst still being powerful enough to bring
out the point of making moments for others to look back on. The small gospel
influences within the track is also a welcome change of pace, and as the song
kicks into a higher gear towards the end, Lady Antebellum finish on a fun a
vibrant note that almost leaves you wanting more.
3.5/5
Final Review
So Golden isn’t as bad a record as some people may protect,
but it also doesn’t feel like enough of a step forward for the group. The
lyrics of the songs are catchy, the harmonies are tight and the production
solid, with a few songs putting the group into new and exciting territories.
But ultimately the album is full of Antebellum songs that people would expect,
exploring the idea of love in a way that doesn’t feel totally original, and the
production also after a while feels too safe and familiar. Far from terrible,
far from golden, Lady Antebellum just needs to broaden and take more risks,
cause it will probably pay off.
5.5/10
Best Track- Golden
Worst Track- Better
Man
No comments:
Post a Comment