sweet_caroline's Full Review: Restless by Sara Evans
When it comes to strong and unique voices, Sara Evans ranks right up there with the best of them. She is one of my favorite singers in any genre, and I was anticipating this release quite highly, wondering if it could live up to her last album, which was her strongest effort to date. Sara Evans consistently puts out albums that appeal to the country music masses, complimenting her music with her own style that shines through in each album. From her debut up to her last album, Born To Fly, Sara's sound was slowing moving in the 'pop' direction. However I found this CD to have more of a country sound to it than her last effort, which was a welcome change to the way a lot of country artists are heading these days.
There is a good mix of up tempo and slow songs, each with those strong vocals Sara is well known for. This album was produced by Paul Worley and Sara Evans, the same duo that produced her last album. And after listening to Restless a few times now, I am more than pleased with the outcome. Each song is well produced and musically rich, while keeping the flavor of each song unique and capturing the style of singing Sara is known for.
Below is the song listing with a brief summary of each track:
Rockin' Horse - 3:58
Co-written by Sara, this song wastes no time in getting things started. It's an up tempo track with a definite country sound to it, signaling that this CD will not be quite as 'pop' as her last one
Backseat of a Greyhound Bus - 5:33
This was the first single released off the album. I remember first hearing it on the radio and falling in love with it. This mid tempo track is about a girl running away from a town that wouldn't accept her, and starting a new life. It's very catchy and easy to get into.
Restless - 4:14
This is the title track off the album and is a slower, moody song that has a slight Irish influence with prominent use of the flute. The chorus is sung in a deep and drawn out voice, while I found that the bridge really made the song. It strikes a chord when Sara sings out "Oh, to hold somebody close that cares... Oh, to finally find roots somewhere" with each "Oh" echoing off in the background. This song really grew on me after hearing it a couple of times.
Niagra - 5:34
This is a lovely ballad that was co-written by Sara. I found this song very sweet and touching. When she sings, "Asking me not to love you is like asking Niagra not to fall", she is, of course, referring to the famous Niagra Falls. This is simple song about deeply loving someone and not being able to stop, and is one of the stronger tracks on the album.
Perfect - 4:01
Another song co-written by Sara, this one picks up the pace quite a bit, as she sings about about how everything in a relationship doesn't have to be perfect, especially the little things that don't really matter in the long run.
Need to be Next to You - 4:29
This song was written by famous songwriter Diane Warren, and not surprisingly it features some very touching lyrics. The title says it all: this song is about loving somebody so much that you need to be with them your whole life. Sara explores her upper register a little in the chorus of this beautiful ballad.
To Be Happy - 3:51
This is an uplifting and upbeat song with Sara saying she wishes everyone could be happy. Featuring the harmonica throughout, it's a very sweet and sincere song that is a lot of fun to listen to and makes you want to get up and dance.
Tonight - 5:26
Another song that is full of emotion, Tonight is a touching ballad with heartfelt lyrics.
Otis Redding - 4:38
Sara sings this song very sweetly, and is very cute when she sings, "Come on over, come on in, I like it when you come arooooooooound". A very catchy song to listen to, with bongo drums used throughout. The chorus noticeably changes pace and feeling from the verses, which is unlike the other songs on the album. It works well to switch things up a bit.
I Feel It Comin' On - 3:03
Sara takes co-writer credits on this up tempo track that features catchy verses, actually even more so than the chorus. Usually it's the other way around. I like the way each verse is structured, as they match her singing style well.
I Give In - 4:52
This is the fifth song on the album that was co-written by Sara, and it's nice to see that she had a part in so much of the album's lyrical direction. This mid tempo song lets Sara really exercise her powerful voice in the chorus.
Big Cry - 3:18
This song has a different feeling to it than others on the album. It's got a bit of a blues feel to it, and it took a couple of listens to appreciate, but I do like it. That said, it is probably the weakest song on the album. Yet it still allows Sara to use her strong voice to make the song hers.
Suds in the Bucket - 3:47
I was hoping for one more fast song, and I got it to finish off the album. Suds in the Bucket is classic Sara Evans, and a little reminiscent of The Great Unknown from her No Place That Far album.
Final Thoughts
As you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest offering from Sara Evans. She never fails to make an album featuring great songs that are easy for anyone to listen to. Each song is well written and features great production that fits the 'Sara Evans' style her fans all know and love. I'd recommend this CD to any country music fan, and it's a must buy for any fan of Sara's.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.