By LINDSAY ALEXANDER
Marking his second album release in 13 months, Tim McGraw’s, Two Lanes of Freedom, released Feb. 5.
The album has the usual McGraw sound with plenty of keyboard melody and electric guitar riffs, but hints at entering the pop-country world with driving bass drum beats in songs like “It’s Your World” and “Two Lanes of Freedom.”
“Two Lanes of Freedom” declares the album’s country genre with classic small-town, narrative lyrics and twang-y guitar, but also has a faster tempo with a bass beat that many of McGraw’s former albums lack.
The album showcases more upbeat tempos in songs like “Truck Yeah” and “Southern Girl.” While “Truck Yeah” is a little too southern for even this country music lover, “Southern Girl” is sure to make Billboard’s Country Top 30. “Southern Girl’s” catchy snaps in the background and lyrics like, “[She was] Daytona sunny, soft as cotton in some cut-off jeans,” make it a sure winner on the charts.
By tack six, the albums pace slows with “Nashville without You,” and track seven, “Book of John,” which is reminiscent of McGraw’s inspirational 2004 hit, “Live Like You Were Dying.” With a strong rhythm, “Book of John” is an uplifting song that anyone who has lost a loved one can relate to. Track 9, “Mexicoma,” is about as cheesy as break-up songs come, but track 10, “Number 37405,” which discusses the life of a prisoner who loses love, is somber and serious.
The album wraps up with “Highway Don’t Care” and “Let Me Love it Out of You.” “Let Me Love it Out of You” does not make an impression listeners will remember, making the conclusion of the album disappointing.
“Highway Don’t Care” features Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, two consistently pop-country artists. The appearance of these musicians shows the slight evolution in McGraw’s sound. The harmony between McGraw and Swift rocks and Urban’s powerful vocals complement the electric guitar.
Tim McGraw’s Two Lanes of Freedom successfully transitions from a more traditional to a more modern country sound without losing McGraw’s conventional routes.
The 411
Album Title: Two Lanes of Freedom
Release date: 02/05/2012
Cost: $13.99
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars; fun to listen to, but cliche in parts
Note: Slightly different from the usual McGraw sound