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Avg. Rating: 4
Garth's last classic album
While Garth has recorded some great music since this album was released, this was the last of his classic albums. It includes traditional country (The cowboy song) and a Cajun-styled song (Calling Baton Rouge) but most of the songs here owe as much to pop and rock influences as country. Die-hard traditionalists may not be impressed but this album has much to commend it.
The big American hits were generally the more up-tempo songs such as Ain't going down till the sun comes up, American honky tonk bar association and the aforementioned Calling Baton Rouge, which is a cover of a New Grass Revival song and features that group (including Bela Fleck and Sam Bush) as backing musicians. The album also includes Garth's two biggest UK hits, these being the mid-tempo Standing outside the fire and a power ballad, The red strokes, which provided Garth with his only UK top twenty hit.
Garth shows his romantic side on outstanding ballads such as Anonymous and One night a day, either of which would have made brilliant singles. Though none of the tracks were as controversial as We shall be free (from Garth's previous album, The chase), some tracks certainly caused a stir. One of the songs her (The night I called the old man out) is about a fight between a father and son. Another (The night will only know) manages to combine adultery and murder in the same song, though here the lovers are only witnesses to the murder. Another great track, without controversy, is the bluesy rocker, Kicking and screaming.
This is truly a classic album from Garth. Among his album, I rate it second only to No fences, though I can understand why some people think it's the best of the lot.
His best album
This is the peak of Gb's career. This disc is literally packed with great material. A dramtic step-up from The Chase. 'Standing Outside The Fire' is his best song, while 'Ain't Going Down' is his 2nd best. But, there's always a few glitches. 'Callin' Baton Rouge' shows his love of fencing, while 'American Honky Tonk Bar Association' shows the music clinging to the root so much it seems a bit queasy. But the rest of the songs are priceless, the last track off the album is pure mystery. Definite buy.
Garth is the Real Deal
Garth Brooks was quoted at the time this CD was released as saying that this was "the most live album that we've cut", and it has a very basic up-close and personal feel to it; perhaps why I like much of country music is its lack of artificiality, and the making of great music without gimmicks and engineered manipulations (I'm obviously not counting cross-over "pop" country in that category). Here we have Garth's vocal mastery, with some virtuoso musicians backing him, giving us the real deal.Garth co-wrote 5 of the 11 tracks, and the two songs that some find controvesial are my favorites: "The Night I Called the Old Man Out", about a rebellious son whoose father teaches him some old fashioned discipline, with a fist fight. "The blood came from my mouth and nose / But the tears came from his eyes". It has a fabulous rhythm and melody, as does "The Night Will Only Know", about an adulterous couple who are compromised to keep a dreadful secret. "But they would pay for their deceiving / For a deadly web was weaving / Why they picked that spot that evening / Lord, the night will only know". It has a blend of slow and lovely ballads (Garth's sweet singing and the smooth, mellow saxophone on "One Night a Day" make it a winner, and "Annonymous" is truly romantic and beautiful) and rousing dance tunes like "American Honkey-Tonk Bar Association", and on all the numbers the musicianship is thoroughly brilliant, with each instrument given its time to shine.
This is some of the finest country music you can get; a combination of superb artistry and skill, and good for years of listening pleasure.
The sound is terrific, and total time is 40:42.
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