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1. I'm Not The Only
One (Buie/Hammond)-5:13 |
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The album opens
with a new version of this song from the 1989 album Truth… A slightly
faster pace and more powerful presentation make this a much better
version, featuring Hammond's vocals and Bailey's guitar work. |
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2. Who You Gonna
Run To (Buie/Cobb/Nix)-3:26 |
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Another song gets a new rendering, but this time it's an early classic
from 1974's Third Annual… With state of the art production work
and a driving, uptempo approach, the song is brought to life again-what
once was old is new again. |
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3. Dreamy Alabama
(Buie/Cobb/Hammond)-4:35 |
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The first new song on the album
is a classic. A slower tune in a style ARS had used to classic effect
on multiple songs previously, the lyrics reflect on a pastural Southern
setting and related memories, brought alive by a great Hammond vocal,
lovely musical support and pristine production. |
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4. Nothing's As
Bad As It Seems (Buie/Hammond/Cobb)-3:22 |
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This mid-paced song extends some
themes from the song before it in a musical presentation nicely
compliments the lyrics. "Ups and downs, highs and lows…what it all
means a higher power knows…" |
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5. When (Buie/Daughtry)-4:39 |
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Another beautiful, slower paced song that features great guitar
solos by Bailey and yearning vocals by Hammond asking an eternal
question-"I know love is the answer, the question is..." More great
ARS. |
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6. You Aint Seen
Nothing Yet (Buie/Cobb/McKibben)-4:21 |
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Featuring an arresting keyboard intro, this song of hope rolls at
an easy pace behind Hammond's lyrical musings and Bailey's guitar
explorations. A unique tune and another classic. |
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7. Fine Day (The
Day You Came Back To Me) (Buie/Cobb/Hammond)-4:46 |
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The great new songs keep coming on this song of celebration over
love returned that showcases again the band's great ensemble performance
of a fine song. |
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8. What Happened
To Us (Buie/Hammond)-3:49 |
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Another song from Truth… that is given new life here. The pace seems
to pick up a little with this version, and the lyrical questions
of love and loss are more engaging here with a lighter touch. |
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9. Unique (Buie/Hammond/Cobb)-3:29 |
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The tempo picks up again with this reaffirming song reflecting on
one's place in the modern world with solid musical backing. "I'm
barely afloat with a hole in my boat up a creek but I ain't that…" |
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10. How Can You
Do This? (Buie/Cobb/Hammond)-4:11 |
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Another slow, beautiful ARS song that in words and music captures
the heartbreak of a relationship coming to an end. |
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11. What's Up Wid
Dat? (Stone/Hammond/Buie/Daughtry)-3:07 |
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The album closes with an instrumental-the first recorded by ARS
since their Dog Days album of 1975. It leaves one wishing they had
done this more often, as the virtuoso playing and energy of the
performance show to great effect a band that has been playing for
over 25 years and hasn't lost a thing. |
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This time ARS only took two years to get a new album out-and they
came up with another winner featuring a number of songs that stand
with the best of their catalog. The same band line-up that played
on Partly Plugged returned, plugging back in and rocking with
that sweet Southern sound that is ARS' alone. The state of the
art of production work displays the ARS sound to great effect.
Lead singer Ronnie Hammond is in classic form and the guitar work
of Barry Bailey sounds as good as ever. But as always, it's the
quality of the songs and the ensemble performance that make this
a standout.