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There are some duds here but with a 14-track listing and 50% being of decent standard, then it's not bad value for money. Family is a very grown-up album from a very accomplished & talented young lady. Not Bad, but as the school-card says 'MUST DO BETTER'. Production on this album falls way short of what you would expect from an artist of this calibre and becomes irritating whilst trying to listen to the lyrical content of the songs. She shows a maturity here that was lacking on previous albums. The collection itself is not bad with standout tracks being the three collaborations (Nothing Wrong - Mare Broussard, Till We Ain't Strangers - Bon Jovi & When You Love Someone Like That - Reba).
And on ONE DAY TOO LONG, already mentioned, she lets loose more than ever before. This is apparent more on this cd than previous ones and she must be careful that it doesn't become stronger as she develops into even more of an adult artist.The cd is not her best but it is certainly very good. On NOTHIN BETTER TO DO, FIGHT and DOESN'T EVERYBODY her vocals are strong but her articulation is off and it is difficult to understand the words she is singing.
This cd is a very important stepping stone in her career. Both bonus tracks, duets with Bon Jovi and Reba McEntire, are also very effective. Leann Rimes is an amazing talent and has established herself as a force to be reckoned with as a country artist with an immense catalogue of work established at a very young age.
There is a problem on some songs here though. It is a bluesy, major belting ballad done expertly.Enjoy. She has cowritten many of the songs here and a more mature sound is established.Some songs work better here than others.
Standouts are FAMILY, ONE DAY TOO LONG and WHAT I CANNOT CHANGE.
.better in person than the CD.I love the CD, but we saw Leann in Boise back in June (08) and I thought she was awesome.she is.The CD is great, alive, she's awesome.
It is just further evidence (and there has been plenty in LeAnn's impressive career)that she can sing any style of music with enourmous skill(as if that was the only type of music that she recorded).There is a good mix of upbeat songs(Family,NBTD,Upper Hand)and slower songs(I Want You With Me,Pretty Things,WICC,When You Love Someone Like That-the duet with Reba).Every song is quality(no filler here).What I Cannot Change is Grammy worthy and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.LeAnn just continues to get better with age and 'Family'gives ample evidence of that from start to finish.It is exciting to anticipate what is yet to come from this creative juggernaut. It can perhaps be classified as another vocal style.LeAnn's live performance of NBTD on the CMT music awards was spectacular.The best song on the cd(and one of the greatest songs that she has recorded thus far)is 'What I Cannot Change' which has just gone to radio(and is her third single off the record).The vocal performance of WICC is gut wrenching and drenching with emotion and the lyrics are as powerful as the vocal delivery.One Day Too Long is a classic bluesy song that also is performed with great emotional power and depth. Family which LeAnn admits is her most personal record to date,clearly shows her continued growth as an artist in general and a songwriter in particular.She wrote(or co-wrote)all of the songs on the cd(which is a first in her career thus far).The first single off the cd 'Nothin Better To Do' cracked Billboards Top 20 and the video was in heavy rotation on CMT and to a lesser degree on GAC.The song is very original,upbeat and the video perfectly suited the song and is Ms.Rimes best video to date. Some have been critical of the song citing that they cannot make out the words.This is weak.If you can't make out all the words,read them in the cd booklet.I can think of many great songs by many different artists where all the words cannot be clearly discerned.
Her voice sounds better than ever, and man, she has some awesome pipes. It's rocking, rollicking fun.
What a vocal performance" She sounds so great. The fact that this bombed at radio is beyond me."Nothin' Better To Do"-Wow.
With 2005's "This Woman", LeAnn delivered one of the best albums I've heard, and even though this is a small step down, it is still a true 5 star album, that everyone should buy once they get the chance. This song is one of my all time favourite numbers by LeAnn.
This is just a classic uptempo country song, and simply an amazing song.Buy this album along with Trisha's newest release, "Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love", and you've got the two greatest releases of 2007. Now that LeAnn is writing her own songs, she is delivering more impressing performances than ever before.
A true winner.Favourites:"Good Friend & A Glass Of Wine"-Oh My God.
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