Part or Execution by Boots Factor

Boots Factor, drummer for Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, recently put out his first solo full-length album. He had previously released 2 EP's online under his given name Brian Factor. (These are available on itunes) Having owned and listened to those EP's for 2 years, I feel that this new LP has moved forward in such a way that the change in name for the artist is appropriate. Those previous EP's are good for what they are- a side project of a drummer who is seeking a creative outlet. They lacked a focus in songwriting. The tempo for each song was similar enough that the albums themselves tended to drag, and without the lyrical chops that many expect from a singer/songwriter, the albums fell flat. (If you are a SK6ers fan, you will also notice one other important difference with this album vs. the Sixers albums, Boots' voice. These EP's have taken away some of the nasal qualities that many fans have become used to. He has such a distinct voice that it seemed that the post-production sought to eliminate the uniqueness of his voice.)

This new album, Part or Execution, has none of those problems. The album starts out with the track, Trying to Try, which is an upbeat song featuring banjo that shows off the new Boots. Other highlights on this album include the song of a man's life, Grow. This song was written during the Sixthman songwriting retreat by Boots, Tyrone Wells, and Scott Romig (Dexter Freebish). After hearing this song on the Rockboat, this is one of the songs that I was most looking forward to hearing. It showcases songwriting, Boots' voice, and subtle harmonies. This song is definitely a highpoint on this album. Other gems include Right Right Now and Lover's Past. The only song that doesn't resonate with me is North of Pearl. It has a slow tempo that feels very one note. The album ends with a track that is completely different than the rest of the album. The Killing Kind showcases an honest man plainly stating, "I wanna steal your fucking girlfriend." While this may seem harsh, the song is such a driving force of harsh lyrics and rhythm guitar that somehow the listener finds themselves enjoying the song. You may not feel good about yourself afterwards, but the song reaches something within everyone.

Overall, this album is such a step forward for Boots that one can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve. Playing the banjo, mandolin, drums, and guitars, Boots musical talent is showcased on this record. His songwriting and vocals have also come such a long way from previous EP's. I would highly recommend this album to anyone- it's the perfect album to keep in your car and have as the soundtrack to your daily commute to work or just a nice drive on a summer day.

Lady Antebellum, Need You Now

Almost 2 years ago, I was researching a charity that I was interested in supporting and came across the names of artists that were associated with this particular orgainzation. Lady Antebellum had partnered with Mocha Club for a job creation program in Africa. At the time, I didn't know anything about the band other than they were in country music and had started to get some play on country radio. I started listening to their first singles and loved them so I purchased their first cd. I fell in love with this band and have been eagerly anticipating their sophomore release, Need You Now.

The band certainly didn't disappoint with this album. They created an album that shows off the very clear harmony that they display as band while showcasing strong emotional sentiments that leave you feeling like they are writing about you. This album does a good job of mixing soft ballads with the stadium anthems- a dichotomy that has become essential to country music over the past several years. In Hello World, the soft and sweet lyrics combine with the underappreciated harmonies of Dave Haywood to give the listener a realistic picture of life around them. From the little girl in the car next to you to praying for something, the words come to life through the calming and soothing voices of Lady A.
Capitilizing on the back and forth dialog that won fans over on their first album, Lady Antebellum uses that same tactic on When You Got a Good Thing. The verses are a sweet love song while the choruses build to a mantra of truth- hold on to your good thing. Charles Kelly has said that this song was brought about by his recent marriage, and the lyrics clearly refect this deep love that is meant to last through thick and thin. "Hold on tight, don't let go, hold on to the love we're making, cause when the ground starts shaking, you've got to know, when you got a good thing".
The title track, Need You Now, and Something 'Bout a Woman bring the old country feeling back with the use of fiddle and honest lyrics that speak to the heartbreak and love that everyone experiences. Add to these songs, Ready to Love Again, which adds piano and strings, and the album starts to become more a well rounded album musically that takes instruments and fuses them with the meanings of songs to make each song a carrier of a message that the artists are trying to give. Sometimes the songs can miss such as on Ready to Love Again with melodies that are hard to follow.

Even with these small misses, the album really resounds with the listener in ways that country has been missing. Songs such as Perfect Day and Stars Tonight remind me of early Rascal Flatts. Stars Tonight is an anthemic party song that has to be a crowd pleaser during a live show. Over the past several years, country artists have given in to tired characterizations of what songs they are supposed to be producing. Every new Rascal Flatts song sounds like a Rascal Flatts song (the same is true of Keith Urban). These artists have had so much success that they rely on what has worked in the past instead of working to create a perfect song that tells a story. Hopefully, Lady Antebellum never falls into that trap, but for now, this is an album that all modern country fans needs to buy.