Millions of people listen to country music. Millions of other people—when asked what kind of music they listen to—say they listen to every kind of music . . . well, every kind except country. Shoot, y’all don’t know what you’re missing. Sure, there’s bad country music out there, but there’s bad everything out there. Okay, maybe there’s a little too much twang in it for you. Or possibly the lyrics are too sentimental, or too rural, or too downright cheesy. Maybe a country song broke your heart once and you refuse to let yourself be hurt again.
Cowboy up, buckaroo. It’s time to get back on that pony.
You know that classic Eagles/Fleetwood Mac/Neil Young sound that almost nobody makes anymore? You can still find it in country music. You may have to do a bit of searching, but it’s there. Catchy riffs, screaming guitar solos, beautiful harmonies, and actual melodies . . . none of that disappeared. (In fact, some of these things pop up repeatedly on this very album, especially killer harmonies.) Those elements simply put on some boot-cut Wranglers and a Stetson while making a lateral shift into another genre.
Little Big Town is not your typical country band. Do they occasionally employ fiddles and banjos and sing about cows? Sure. If they didn’t, they’d be just another excellent pop-rock band who would never get played on the radio. (Like The Belle Brigade.) But along with the usual country trappings, Little Big Town also cover artists like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Adele and Maroon 5 during their concert tours. They’re like the Transformers of country music. There’s more than meets the eye.
Little Big Town scored their first #1 Country song this past summer with “Pontoon.” It’s a laid-back, lazy, day at the lake kind of song which wouldn’t be out of place on a Jimmy Buffett album. I don’t know how non-country fans feel, but I love it. If for no other reason than someone managed to write a #1 song with the word “pontoon” as its title. Seriously. That takes mad songwriting skills.
So track down some Little Big Town. Open yourself up to some country, and let the healing process begin. Giddyup!
Little Big Town – Leavin’ In Your Eyes
1 2 3 o' clock 4 o' clock Rock 