| Stronger Than Time - Lee Greenwood | |
|
Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
While he'll always be remembered for "God Bless The USA," Lee Greenwood is much more of an artist known for that one patriotic song. He was a master ballad singer prior to the hit and continued to be one throughout the 1980s and early 1990's. After his career stalled for a while, Lee took time off to start a family and then built a theater in Branson. While performing there, he got the urge to record again. After his song was an unexpected hit again two years ago, Curb Records signed Lee to a new recording contract with the result being the CD Stronger Than Time."
"Rocks That You Can't Move" was a small station hit and has a neat melody backing up lyrics that talk about a man who experienced many things in his life and despite the troubles; he lived to tell the story of acceptance and tolerance. Why this song wasn't a bigger hit is beyond me for it sounds as good as anything else currently on radio.
Written by Curb label-mate Rodney Atkins ("Honesty [Write Me A List]") and Billy Kirsch, "Invisibly Shaken" is a reflective ballad that finds Lee singing as a man who is composed on the outside but on the inside he's "dying cause you can't be mine" so he's "Invisibly Shaken." This ballad would make a nice single at radio.
"I Will Not Go Quietly," written by singer/songwriter Robert Ellis Orrall ("Boom! It Was Over"), like many of the songs on the CD, it's about love. This time the song is about a guy who promised not to change the way he was after marriage and now she wants to change him by leaving him and he professes that he "will not go quietly."
"'Round Here" has a familiar melody and story and it tells the story of a man who stops in a small diner to have a bite to eat and is given a local history by the waitress. The song sounds like something that country radio needs and hopefully will be a single someday.
"When A Woman's In Love" is the second single from Stronger Than Time. It is a song that says that a man can always tell when a woman is in love by all the crazy things they do when they're happy. This mid-tempo song sounds like a hit and I hope it is for Lee.
Recently, it seems that a Lee Greenwood CD would be incomplete with another version of "God Blessed The USA." This version is exactly the same as the original from the 1980s except that it features the Fisk Jubilee Singers from Fisk University in Nashville.
Lee Greenwood has always been compared to Kenny Rogers because both sing a style of country music that is usually romantic and both have similar voices. After listening to Lee's return "to the major leagues," I think he sounds more like country music's own version of Don Henley. Those looking for a romantic CD to play for their loved ones should seek this one out. I also recommend it if you are a fan of ballads and story songs.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of Curb.
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
Click on the button below to find the best price for this CD and purchase it from a retailer on the Internet.
