It was 11:08 am on November 25th when I first popped the disc into my CD player. I laid down on my bed and opened the booklet inside and got my first real live taste of Sevens.
Sure, the radio stations had been playing cuts off the album for several days prior, but it's one thing to hear a song on the radio, and another thing altogether to listen to it on your own stereo. This was magic.
I had heard 11 of the 14 songs prior to listening to the disc. The only songs I hadn't heard were "I Don't Have To Wonder," "When There's No One Around," and "Belleau Wood."
The songlist is as follows:
- Longneck Bottle
- How You Ever Gonna Know
- She's Gonna Make It
- I Don't Have To Wonder
- Two Piña Coladas
- Cowboy Cadillac
- Fit For A King
- Do What You Gotta Do
- You Move Me
- In Another's Eyes
- When There's No One Around
- A Friend To Me
- Take The Keys To My Heart
- Belleau Wood
I started with "When There's No One Around," because I had really been looking forward to hearing that. I had seen Tim O'Brien sing it on Today's Country a week prior, and I just knew that Garth would do a fantastic job with the tune. It seemed a perfect song for him, and as I listened to it, I was not disappointed. The playfulness with which he sings it is refreshing. I love the whistling at the end.
Next, I wanted to hear the song everyone was talking about, "I Don't Have To Wonder." The song was very powerful, reminiscent of "The Change," to me.
I had heard it mentioned how wonderful the Christmas song, "Belleau Wood" was. This was my third choice.
As the story unfolded, I could just picture the soldiers sitting in their trenches. I could almost hear them singing "Silent Night," and then the verse came where "...the battlefield where heaven stood was blown to hell again." This song definitely moved me to tears. To think of sharing a Christmas with soldiers from the other side, and then to have to just start the killing again. It was so sad. So beautifully sung by Garth. Makes me ache for this world, that we might one day find the heaven of which he speaks.
After "Belleau Wood" finished, I started the CD from the beginning, and as usual, my toes started tapping at the beginning of "Longneck Bottle." I don't know how to dance, but that song always makes me feel like I can.
"How You Ever Gonna Know" was a song that I had heard before, and at first I didn't care for it because of the changes in the tempo. But after hearing it a couple times, it was just those changes that made it unique, and fun to listen to. That, and the inspiring lyrics. I read them and thought, "Whoa...this is good!"
"She's Gonna Make It" was another song that many people had touted, and after the first time hearing it, I agreed. I love the feeling Garth puts into it.
Just the first few notes of "Two Piña Coladas" and you know you're in for a treat. This song is just one of those that you just can't stop singing. The ending sing-along is fun as well, and I enjoyed hearing it, but for me, I'd like to hear a bit more. The song could definitely be longer.
As with "She's Gonna Make It," "Cowboy Cadillac" was another song that I had heard in concert, in Sacramento. This song just grows and grows from something really catchy, to something you just gotta get up and dance to. I absolutely love the fiddle part, and can picture Jimmy playing it in concert, each time I hear it, even though he wasn't the session musician on the album. Definite George Strait tribute material here.
Another song that took a few times of listening before I truly enjoyed it was "Fit For A King." I've never been big on gospel, but this does tell a great story, and I have gotten to like this song quite a bit.
Garth has got a definite hit with "Do What You Gotta Do." The New Grass Revival backing him up here really does the trick. Their background vocals are sheer pleasure to the ear, just as they were on "Callin' Baton Rouge."
My very favorite song on this album has to be "You Move Me. The intensity with which Garth sings this is amazing. I love Susan Ashton backing him up on this. This was originally a song off her album, so it's great that he got her to sing on his version of this lovely song.
What can you say about "In Another's Eyes? The song is a great blend of two beautiful and powerful voices. I can't wait for the duet album that Garth and Trisha are planning on releasing. Can you say solid gold?
If "You Move Me" is my very favorite, "A Friend To Me" comes in a very close second. This song was another that I had heard live in Sacramento. I loved it then, and I loved it even more on the album. This song is perfect for any relationship. The lyrics speak to me of so many relationships I have had in the past, and in the present. I'd have to say, I can't think of this song without thinking of my friend, Ward Fisher. You truly are A Friend To Me.
"Take The Keys To My Heart" is another song that does a lot for me. It sends shivers up and down my spine when Garth says, "Fill 'er up!" *sigh* Lucky Sandy! :)
If you'd like to hear some RealAudio ® clips and some MPEG samples of the songs on this album, check out this link at Music Blvd
