Artist: Rascal Flatts
Album: Changed
Label: Big Machine Records
Release Date: April 3
Grade: C
Wisdom and maturity are the positive hallmarks of aging. Unfortunately for country group Rascal Flatts, this doesn't hold completely true.
Since the release of their first album in 2000, the members of Rascal Flatts have gained a lot of experience in the music industry. Changed proves just that, in both positive and negative ways.
The overall sound of Changed moves away from the upbeat, pop style of the early Rascal Flatts albums to a more country-rock feel. The melodies are slower and complement the emotion of the lyrics, which are primarily about a mature kind of love.
The title track opens the album by reflecting on the past and the growth made since, conveying the message that the change was for the better.
"I got off track I made mistakes/ backslid my way back to that place/ where souls get lost, lines get crossed/ and the pain won't go away/ I hit my knees now here I stand/ there I was now here I am," they sing.
From there the band moves on to sing about the pain and happiness in love. With tracks like "She's Leaving," "Lovin' Me," and "Great Big Love," Rascal Flatts does not stray from the theme that has permeated previous albums.
Turning on the radio, it's easy to recognize the vocals of Gary LeVox and even easier to predict how the song will go. If the band was going to commit to such an album name, it shouldn't have broken away from the trite country theme.
Failure to progress from previous sounds hinders the central idea of Changed. For those entrenched in their musical preferences, Changed will suit them nicely.
The members of Rascal Flatts may have tweaked a few things when recording this new album, but one thing that has not changed is the undoubtedly recognizable music that they've been making for years.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Mhdariby / Wikimedia Commons
