Big and Rich Album: “Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace”

You can't possibly listen to Horse of a Different Color, than compare their other CD's with it. It's like comparing apples to oranges. I admit that Horse of a Different Color was by far their best CD so far. Thats because the sound was fresh, never before heard before. And with that album, Big and Rich formed a new form of country music. HANDS DOWN...You will love this CD if you are open to mixing genres of musics, and if you are open to COUNTRY MUSIC WITHOUT PREJUDICE. If you like Big and Rich because of their style, and their voices than you will like LOVE this CD. If you are not a fan of Big and Rich, you will hate this CD. DO NOT JUDGE THIS CD BASED ON BAD REVIEWS ALONE, from a person who listens to every new country CD released, knows every word to nearly any song on any modern country CD, and who has country music IN HIS BLOOD, this is one AWESOME CD...ANOTHER HIT FOR BIG AND RICH!!!

I have to say, as long as Big and Rich took to release this album I expected alot more. This cd is almost all ballads, and even the couple of up-tempo numbers are really lack-luster. I bought this as soon as it came out hoping for some fun country rockers, but this is not that album. Good luck, and buy this only if you like alot of ballads!

Takes until track 9 to get any tempo above slow.

The slow ballads are nice, but what I like about the two first CDs is they get you movin and groovin. Laughing and dancing. With a tear in between.

This is all tears.

I had so hoped for more, expected it to rock, start the party.

I still believe in the message. And Big and Rich are still the messengers.

They are absolutely the best thing out there.

freakparade . com

Big & Rich are bound to spark controversy. In a conservative, restricted country music environment, they are liberal-minded outlaws, testing the limits of "progressive" music. Their records consistently show that there are no boundaries between music genres; country and rap are essentially the same, when you get right down to it. This is an attitude that is almost blasphemous in the country music world.

Yet Big & Rich don't let the criticism stop them, and they make albums of music--the fact that it's labelled "country" means absolutely nothing. BETWEEN HELL AND AMAZING GRACE is divided into two parts, sides A and B. Side A is slow, driven by ballads and emotion; it features tunes such as the tender "Lost in This Moment," the beautiful "Faster Than Angels Fly," the reflective title track and "When the Devil Gets The Best of Me;" and Big Kenny's elegant "Eternity." Side B is rockin, features odes to Aerosmith and AC/DC (two hard rock bands that country fans usually identify with; these same "country fans" criticize B&R for not being country...but we'll save the hypocrisy lecture for later). Tunes on Side B include a country shuffle version of AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long;" the radio-ready but still enjoyable "You Never Stop Loving Somebody;" the autobiographical "Loud" and "Radio;" the reggae-esque "Please Man;" and the whimsical "High Five."

John Legend and Wyclef Jean make enjoyable cameos, but their presence really isn't necessary; Big & Rich get their point of music across very well on their own. That point is this: that music is one artistic entity. Call it rock, call it rap, call it jazz, or call it country if you dare--music is music, and all of it is enjoyable. BETWEEN HELL AND AMAZING GRACE is the third installment of Big & Rich's lecture "Why All Music Matters." Pull up a seat and take a listen. You just might learn something.

Big and Rich continue to produce incredible left of center country/rock/rap/ballad music that nobody else is doing right now. They are a unique and fabulous vocal duo which gives them great range. The lyrics are fun and speak to so many social issues and music industry issues - music without prejudice - this is it! Teaming up with Wyclef Jean works particularly well. Buy it, as you can't get the full feel of their musical talents by only hearing them on the radio. Oh, by the way Kenny and John, will you pleeeeeeeeeeeease come play live in the San Francisco Bay Area? Having seen them once before, they're a show not to be missed. Buy this CD!!!!