Randy Travis Album: “Around The Bend [Digipak]”

Prime Cuts: Dig Two Graves, Faith in You, Love is a Gamble

Years ago Randy Travis used to canvass the country chart with hits such as "I Told You So," "Look Heart, No Hands," and "Whisper My Name" amongst many others. However, ever since 2003's "Three Wooden Crosses," Travis has yet to reach the turret of the country singles chart. Looks like this portentous dry spell is not about to lift anytime soon, considering that this album's lead single "Faith in You" failed to find traction with country radio and missed the Billboard country singles chart completely. Such an atrocity is unforgivable given that "Faith in You" is a gorgeous string-laden ballad that testifies to love's instigative prowess to those downtrodden by the wails of life's cares. Brimming with religious overtones, "Faith in You" can function both as a love song to Jesus as well as to a significant other. Though this CD is this former CMA Male Vocalist of the Year's return to commercial country music since 2004's "Passing Through," Travis often weaves his religious faith into these paeans giving them a spiritual depth and dimension that is often inspirational.

Despite its morbid sounding title "Dig Two Graves" is a story song coming from the pens of Bob Regan and Ashley Gorley about the blissfulness of marital love. Though it's a solid ballad with spades of emotional investiture from Travis' sensitive delivery, "Dig Two Graves" may not be the best follow-up single. After all, its proximity in terms of its tempo and sentiments to "Faith in You" may not be advantageous after radio's tepid response. Much better in terms of single potential is Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." Boasting a lilting feel with its jazzy overtones, producer Kyle Lehning has transformed this rocker about a man who is set to leave his no-good paramour into a gentle fiddle drenched delight that would certainly set your feet tapping. If "From Your Knees" sounds like a song from George Strait's repertoire, it's because it's written by one of Strait's favorite writers, Leslie Satcher. Another Nashville's scribal dignitary Hugh Prestwood who penned Travis' "Hard Rock Bottom of My Heart" gets an entry here with "Love is a Gamble." Refusing to settle for any dicey moral stances, this understated acoustic guitar-driven ballad is a clarion call to open our hearts to love others unconditionally.

In keeping with all of Travis' country CDs, there's always room for some raucous laughter and fun. Refusing to take life too seriously, the infectious "Everything I Own (Has a Dent)" is littered with humorous lines such as "I guess her haert's like that old dead goldfish I forgot to feed." For some exceptional fiddling extravagance, take a listen to Larry Franklin's bullet train fiddling on "Til I Am Dead And Gone," which is a exhibition of Travis' session players in their glory on an otherwise average uptempo. Despite using his baritone to great effect, it's hard not to notice that middle age has caught up with Travis vocally. On various tracks such as the title track and "Fain in You," Travis has not been able to hit the higher notes as well as he used to. And in today's competitive market of Rascal Flatts, Keith Anderson and Taylor Swift, the uptempoes lack the energy and drive to make Travis grist for the penthouse position on the chart again.

Despite the quibbles, "Around the Bend" is consummate Randy Travis. He does not betray the neo-traditional path he has had blazed all those years ago for today's country music. With fiddles, steel, and acoustic guitars at the fore without sacrificing an iota of its contemporary edge, Randy Travis' "Around the Bend" is still a formidable CD to reckon with.

Five BIG Stars!! Honesty, Authenticity, and THE VOICE. The CD "Around the Bend" catches Randy Travis in a 2008 country set that is one of his best ever and one of the best country CDs of the year. The artist that first lifted country music into the multi-platinum-selling stratosphere with

" has come up 'aces' once again. After a number of gospel CDs, including

, Mr Travis returns to his neo-traditionalist country roots with a smoothly programmed set of 11 emotionally-charged country songs that range from honky-tonk, ballads, blues, gospel, and a little humor, with his strong faith on prominent display throughout. The overall production values of this CD makes Randy Travis' return to Warner Brothers Records a highly enjoyable experience.

The 'best of the best' begins with the title song "Around the Bend" that goes in and out of tempo with some amazing, declarative singing by Randy bolstered by the blazing fiddle of Larry Franklin over a hot back-beat. Randy creates a hard-swinging country version of the Bob Dylan classic "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" with the Travis baritone giving new nuances while pushing deep bottom notes in the bass range. Humorous things happen through the eyes of a kid in church on "Every Head Bowed", "taters" and all. "Faith in You" is an expression of pure faith in good things and a special person that is a classic timeless country ballad. (and it landed on my iPod) The sizzling "'Till I'm Dead And Gone" has Randy cutting loose, singing some clever lyrics with the band doing some inspired picking (also went straight to my iPod): a great performance that is not to be missed. With "Around the Bend", Randy Travis is back and better than ever. Kudos to producer Kyle Lehning and Mrs Elizabeth Travis for providing great frameworks and inspiration for this awesome artist. Bravo, Randy Travis!!. Highly Recommended!! Five ENJOYABLE Stars!! (This review is based on an iTunes download.)

Twenty-two years ago a young singer named Randy Travis burst onto the scene like a breath of fresh air and rescued country music from the doldrums, as the trailblazer who led the much-needed return to a more traditional sound. In 2008, with country music in even more dire straits than it was in the mid-80s, the return of Randy Travis is a welcome one indeed. After spending the better part of a decade making gospel music, Randy returns to Warner Brothers Nashville and the world of secular country music with "Around The Bend".

I'll admit to being slightly concerned when the first single, "Faith In You" was released as a free digital download on Randy's website a few months ago. A ballad with a lush string arrangement, "Faith In You" has a much more polished sound than what we're used to hearing from Randy. For a moment or two, I was worried that Randy had "gone pop". Perhaps it was a concession to commercial realities -- hardcore country music doesn't get much of a reception at radio these days. Still, I would have expected a more uptempo number for his comeback record.

My fears, it turns out, were unfounded, since the rest of the album is vintage Travis -- just good, old-fashioned country music with plenty of fiddles and pedal steel, with little regard for commercial concerns. Randy's made an album of the kind of music that is near and dear to his heart, and the hearts of the many fans who have been with him since the beginning of his career. It's unlikely to get much attention from radio, but those of us who were around when Randy was at the top of the charts wtih hits such as, "On The Other Hand", "Diggin' Up Bones" and "Forever And Ever, Amen" have pretty much given up on country radio anyway. His voice is more seasoned than when we last heard it, but he still sounds fresh and energized.

The standout tracks on this album are the title track which opens the set, "Every Head Bowed", "Love Is A Gamble", a cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", the humorous "Everything I Own (Has Got A Dent)" and "Till I'm Dead And Gone", which surprisingly, is an uptempo number.

Listening to this album reminded me that it's been a very long time since real country music was the norm on the radio airwaves. Even though this collection is unlikely to make a dent in the charts, I'm very glad that Randy Travis is back. I hope we won't have to wait such a long time for the next album.

What can I say about Randy's latest release?? He not only revitalized country, but he continues to stay true to country. He turned me on to country in the late 1980's and has never disappointed. Please continue traditional country, not what so much of the new crap is.

This is the best Randy Travis release in a long, long time. It's varied, fun, spiritual and down home country.