Even those who despise and loathe country music probably have heard or found themselves singing the song "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" sometime since its release. It was not only a song, but also a trend with bumper stickers and even T-shirts sporting the catchy title phrase.
The two men that created this phenomenon, John Rich and Big Kenny, better known to the music world as Big and Rich, are back with their second album, Comin' To Your City. This CD is a mix of all different types of country music that any fan is sure to enjoy. Big and Rich bring together dance music, mellow ballads and even a twangy, funny bluegrass song about margaritas to craft an enjoyable listening experience.
The fifth song on the album, "Caught up in the Moment," is by far one of the better tracks. It sounds a bit like "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" and has the potential to be just as popular. The song tells the story of a girl and a guy who meet in an airport, get "caught up in the moment" and by the end of the song wind up getting married in Vegas by Elvis. "Caught up in the Moment" will likely keep listeners tuned-in with its catchy beat and laughing along with the absurd storyline. Another song that definitely will be very popular, especially in the dance clubs, is "Jalapeno." This is an amazing song to dance to and you cannot sit still while listening to it. "Jalapeno" will soon be playing in every country and southern bar around the country.
In addition to the upbeat song, there are multiple mellow ballads on the album. "Slow Motion" is quite chill — something that country music is usually not — but Big and Rich do it well. The lyrics are a bit depressing but if you are just in the mood to sit by yourself and sulk for a while, then this is a great song to throw on repeat in your CD player. "Never Mind Me" is a beautiful ballad on the album that has a semi-Rascal Flatts feel to it. It has more of a pop feeling than a country to it, but it is really relaxing and pretty to listen to. It's about breaking up with someone and getting over it.
Along with the great songs on this album, there are a few that deserve the skip button. The song "Soul Shaker" starts out decent, but by the middle of the song it starts to really drag. There is an annoying drumbeat that plays throughout the entirety of the track. Most listeners will probably not get past the first minute of the song. Another track that is not as entertaining as the rest is "Leap of Faith." The lyrics and vocals are very enjoyable but the background music is very strange and something about it is a bit off.
The must-hear track on the disc is undoubtedly the very funny, bluegrass-tinged "20 Margaritas," which tells the story of Billy from "up there in Virginny" and Jose, who "makes the best guacamole." This song serves as an excellent drinking song and it's hard not to laugh at a chorus that goes, "I'll trade you 20 margaritas for your moonshine 'cause I hear that stuff can really blow your mind."
For anyone who isn't an avid listener of country, the overall backwoods feel to the track may be more of a turn-off, but anyone from down South should have a lot of fun listening to this track.
While it doesn't really break any boundaries and offer sounds that may appeal to the general public, the album is a fun listen and offers a lot of quality material for the average country music fan. Judging by the quality of this album, it seems Big and Rich are not going to be the one-hit wonder many had assumed they would.
Rating: AB