Rascal Flatts - Unstoppable (CD)

Rascal Flatts Impressive But Far From Unstoppable On Sixth LP

By Yahoo! Shopping User  May 11, 2009

Pros: Despite going mroe country this time around, the band still has some good songs worth putting on one's MP3 player or iPod.

Cons: The band seems to ahve gone back to the country sound more than the genre blurring soudn that made them so popular.

Rascal Flatts has made a name for itself through its existence by trying to walk a fine line between mainline country and pop music. The band reached what was possibly the apex of that separation with the release of ‘Still Feels Good.‘ Ever...yone knows that whenever anyone reaches the top of their game, the only way to go is down. Luckily for Rascal Flatts, the band has yet to do that, even on its new album, ‘Unstoppable.‘ While the band isn’t going downhill, this album feels more like a regression of sorts for the band than a progression. ‘Unstoppable’ feels like a regression in that it doesn’t have that straight-on pop sensability that fans heard on ‘Still Feels Good.‘ That album was radio friendly enough lyrically and musically for both country and mainstream pop radio. Now, however, the band seems to have regressed more to a primarily country sound, both musically and lyrically. Take a listen to songs such as “Holdin’ On”, “Once”, “Forever”, and the album’s lead single, “Here Comes Goodbye.“ Those tracks are standard country in that lyrically, they are about lost love. The sound and lyrics make these songs very difficult to listen to regardless if an individual is single or not. While ‘Unstoppable’ does have its low points in the songs about lost love, it manages to save itself thanks to the album’s title track, “Unstoppable”, “She’d Be california”, Love Who You Love”, and the outstanding “Summer Nights.“ These songs are more of a positive nature. “Love Who You Love” is a wonderful song about appreciating family and friends. It is about making sure to let them know you appreciate and love them, rather than just taking advantage of them, and letting time pass. “Unstoppable” comes across as a semi-religious piece. Herein lies another factor that makes this album as successful as the band’s previous releases. Rascal Flatts makes a valid attempt to focus on more than just songs about love lost, and relationships in general. “Love Who You Love”, “Unstoppable”, and ‘Things That Matter” are off the beaten path of standard country. They are songs that anyone can relate to in terms of their lyrics. So yet again, Rascal Flatts has risen to the challenge and succeeded. The songs aren’t the only factor that has led “Unstoppable” to be a successful album. The band offers its fans the chance to download ringtones of songs from the album, as well as a free trial membership in the band’s “fan club”, “All Access” and a chance to see the band live at the 2009 CMA Awards. For some, this may not be enough motivation to buy the album. The relation to the band’s earlier work may even deter some fans from buying the album. That regression aside, Rascal Flatts has still managed to assemble an album that will appeal to at least one audience or another. It shows that the band has no problem with consistency of success. It is an album that will help solidify the band’s place in the annals of both pop and country music decades down the road. Read more Less