Disco de Sara Evans: “Restless”

This isn't Sara Evans' best effort (for that you need to go to her 2000 multi-platinum Born To Fly), but it's a solid album, with a lot of songs that are pleasant and listenable and a few that match the excellence of her previous release.

Song By Song:

In 2000 Sara Evans burst onto the scene in a big way with her album Born To Fly. The album, which went triple platinum, blended Evans' traditional country vocals and instincts with mainstream country-pop and spawned hits such as the title track, "Saints and Angels" and "I Could Not Ask For More." Now Evans is back with her fourth album, tentatively titled Restless. This album is a continuation of where Born To Fly left off with a few exceptions. One of those is Evans' musical diversity. While Born To Fly was mostly mainstream, this album offers a selection of diverse tunes that cover the spectrums of traditional country, mainstream country, pop, rhythm and blues. On tunes such as the opening "Rockin' Horse" and the closing "Suds In The Bucket" Evans will surely please the neo-traditionalist country fans she won with her first two albums. On cuts such as "Niagara" and "I Need To Be Next To You" Evans showcases a larger than life pop style with gaudy arrangements and instrumentals. The title tune is reminiscent of Irish Celtic music, while "Big Cry" is reminiscent of rhythm and blues. The remainder of the songs on the album fall somewhere in between country and pop. Such is the case with the first single, "Backseat Of A Greyhound Bus," which tells the moving story of a single mother whose life changes when giving birth to her child on a trip away from home. The second single, one of the five co-written by Evans, "Perfect," is a catchy and upbeat love song which will surely do well on the country charts. Overall, this album is a diverse collection of musical styles that flow together with Sara's heavenly vocal qualities. Fans of Evans will surely be pleased with this album, no matter what album or song originally made you a fan.

Now I'm someone pretty well jaded one might say. Pretty well biased you could say. Nothing but nothing will ever tear me away from my Shania and my Faith (Hill). But I have to tell you... this girl can sing! What a voice! It's like velvet! So clear and clean and smooth. This Sara Evans "Restless" album is a must have! This is the first time (11/07/04) I have sat down and listened to it from start to finish and me... the biggest Shania fan in the universe, instantly fell in love with Sara and her voice. Instantly! Now I can't stop listening to it! It's just my opinion but, not one weak track on this entire disc. I mean it. No filler. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Sara Evan's latest release... "Restless". Not only is Sara a very beautiful girl but can she carry a note and then some! A beautiful voice! On "Restless"... Sara Shines 4 Sure!

On her fourth set RESTLESS, Sara Evans attempts to build on the momentum gained from her previous breakthrough BORN TO FLY, while at the same time adding a few more pop touches and veering farther from the traditional country that marked her first and, to a lesser degree, second albums. Which is to say she wants to remain relevant in the "Nashvegas" establishment--no problem there, considering that Evans' song selection remains spot-on and her voice still one of the more distinctive in country circles. First single "Backseat Of A Greyhound Bus", highly reminiscent of something you might here from Martina McBride, wasn't the huge hit it should have been but remains one of Evans' best singles. Other very strong offerings here include the Celtic-styled title track, the upbeat twosome "Perfect" and "To Be Happy", and the soul influenced "Otis Redding" and "Big Cry". All in all, this ranks right with BORN TO FLY in terms of musical quality, and about ten notches above alot of the assembly-line dreck that continues to filter out of Nashville.

I love Sara Evans! Some people will surely accuse her of not "being country" on this album. I don't care what you call it - I just love it.

I started out writing how I felt about each song, but all I was typing was, "this song is great" or "I love this song." I don't know how to describe good music, other than it is just good music. The ballad "Niagara Falls" is fantastic. It's really your typical ballad, but with Sara's voice it has such power that it really blows me away. Same with "I Give In."

"Rockin' Horse" and "Feel it Comin' On" completely rock and to the contrary, "Suds in the Bucket" is the "countriest" song on the album. It's hilarious. ;o) If you like 'Born to Fly', I have a feeling you will really enjoy this album at least as much as 'Born to Fly', if not more. Go Sara! You rock! :o)