CD Review
This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.
These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.
Artist: Rascal Flatts
Album: Unstoppable (2009 Lyric Street)
Tracks: 11
Artist website: http://www.rascalflatts.com/
REVIEW OVERVIEW:
This is the sixth studio album of this country rock act from Ohio, Rascal Flatts. Despite the band’s wide success, this is the first time I’ve heard their music and I am getting the rest of their catalog to see what I’ve missed.
The songwriting is solid, as one would expect of a modern country act backed from Nashville. The musicianship is awesome. Where pop and rock music have failed on the front of musicianship for the better part of a decade, country music has retained it.
Unstoppable was such a joy to listen to. It has a little something for everyone.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Once, Here Comes Goodbye, She’d Be California, Things That Matter, Summer Nights
PLAY BY PLAY REVIEW
Track 1 – Love Who You Love
Good opening track. This song has a great hook and sing-along friendly chorus.
Track 2 – Here Comes Goodbye
This was the lead single from the album. The track has a very polished feel to it. I would categorize it as a power ballad. Great guitar solo! This is one of the few times I think an album single deserves a highlights nod.
Track 3 – Close
Good old school style with a modern twist rock n’ roll song.
Track 4 – Forever
Another balladesque song. It’s definitely singalong material but it didn’t grab me the same way track 2 did.
Track 5 – She’d Be California
Nice uptempo song. Very catchy. Awesome vocal work.
Track 6 – Unstoppable
The album’s title track is a balladesque rock song. The minor key melody in the verses is beautiful which resolves nicely in the chorus which happens to be in a major key. Neat.
Track 7 – Things That Matter
Here’s that lyrical modern country ballad that I expected would be on the album. The band has thus far flirted with the idea of a ballad on this album, but to get a real ballad as nice as this one is very good. Nicely done. I absolutely love the guitar solo at the end.
Track 8 – Summer Nights
No, it’s not a cover of the famous song from Grease. This is a great feel good rocker that is bound to make the crowds want to dance at the Rascal Flatts shows.
Track 9 – Holdin’ On
I’m cringing as I write this, but I’m going to have to pigeon hole this one as a power ballad even if I don’t want to. I’m having a tough time describing it because I feel it is the weakest song on the record.
Track 10 – Once
I really like this song and think it would make for a great single. I would go as far as saying that this is probably the best song on the album (in my opinion).
Track 11 – Why
This isn’t a bad ballad, but they should have stuck with “Things That Matter” for the token album ballad and kept this for a b-side.