Little Big Town - Little Big Town

Little Big Town Bottom Line:

Before Little Big Town was signed to Capitol Nashville, and even before they were signed to Equity Music, they were signed with Sony Monument, back in 2002. This is the album that they released.

The story goes that Little Big Town met in 1998 after realizing that their voices sounded good together. Around 1999 they signed a deal with Mercury Records only to see it fall through over creative differences. In 2000, Monument Records, part of Sony Nashville, decided to sign the foursome to a contract which included complete creative control.

Co-writing and co-producing their debut CD is no small feat among the Nashville community. Little Big Town has been described as a sort of countrified Mamas & the Papas. I think they are actually a countrified ABBA. Vocally they sound like a mix of Restless Heart meets SHeDAISY. Some could even compare them to the boy and girl bands of pop music.

Little Big Town, which comprises of Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads, and Phillip Sweet, have created a unique-to-country music sound that is sure to impress even the smallest of country fans. When the group went into the studio to record, they decided to record their vocals first then record the background music. In any genre, that process is usually reversed.

This group could bring country music a larger teenage audience, which has been long desired by Music Row. Lord knows they tried, and failed with created groups like South 65, Marshall Dyllon and 3 of Hearts.

"Pontiac" opens up the CD on an up-tempo note and right away. The song is about a person who gets tired of a bad relationship, and it lets the listener know one thing; the vocals are the emphasis of Little Big Town. This track is one of six co-written by the band.

"Don't Waste My Time" is the first single and was a wise choice as a first single. Not only does this track also have the female vocalists sounding like SHeDAISY a bit, but the guys have their own sound similar to Restless Heart. In fact, the guy's voices even have that husky sound that recalls the vocals of Larry Stewart.

There is a unique guitar sound that is in the background of "Never Felt Love." This track is also the most "country sounding" track on the CD. I hope this track, which is about finding that special someone is their second single.

"Tryin'," co-written by fellow newcomer Brett James, has that go to Nashville and become a star theme. However this time the chorus really makes the song a stellar track and I wouldn't be surprised to see this track become a hit at radio.

"From This Dream" has soaring "dream-like" harmonies that make the song, which is about being in love so much that it's like a dream, a keeper, and definitely the best track on the CD. Much like "I'm Movin' On" was a hidden giant on Rascal Flatts' debut, this track has all the elements: harmonic vocals, delicate fiddle background and soft instrumentation to make the track the centerpiece of the CD, even if it ends the disc.

When you add the mix of vocals to the great production, the result is a unique blend of country music that has never been heard before, while we may not be able to label them in any particular way, the group simply has filled an unfilled segment in the country music genre that is sure to leave them a hit with the critics and fans alike.

Little Big Town Track List:

1. Pontiac
2. Everything Changes
3. Don't Waste My Time
4. Still
5. Never Felt Love
6. Tryin'
7. Stay
8. Someone Far Away
9. A Thousand Years
10. From This Dream