The country industry has always tried to distinguish itself from other music genres and sometimes gets angry when musicians claim they aren't exclusively country. Rascal Flatts is a perfect example of a band that crosses the rock and pop genres while keeping a strong hold on the country sound. The band, a favorite among country fans and rockers alike, will be performing this Friday in Milwaukee.
The story of the band's history begins with second cousins Gary Levox and Jay DeMarcus's common love of music. The two would constantly jam together at family get-togethers, but it wasn't until 1997 that Jay was able to convince Gary to leave his job and form a band. The duo asked Jon Don Rooney, another guitarist, to jam with them. The moment they began, chemistry surfaced and soon the three formed the band known as the Rascal Flatts.
The band has since released three critically acclaimed albums and has garnered recognition at the Country Music Awards for their stunning vocal abilities. Their latest album, released in 2004, is no exception and a necessary accoutrement for any Rascal Flatts concertgoer.
The title track off the album Feels like Today is a slow but uplifting song that combines piano melody with the electricity of guitar. The violin in the background gives the song a soothing feel. It picks up in energy when the chorus chimes in "It feels like today / I know / It feels like today / I'm sure." The beat is soft in the background and is lost in the strumming of the guitar and the stroking of the violin. DeMarcus' voice is gentle but at the same time robust and is well complimented by the violin's high-pitched sound. At the end of the song, the guitar, drums and violin come together in an amazing crescendo that is surprising to be found in a country song.
The song has an important meaning to the guys of Rascal Flatts. "It's got a different feel and a different message, a way of presenting today as the day to get over that struggle in your life," says Rooney on their website.
The song "Break Away" has a more rock feel to it where the guitar dominates the melody. DeMarcus' voice is the only reminder that it can be classified as a country song, as he sings "We'll have some fun / Gonna dance on the run / It's a perfect day to break away." DeMarcus' voice is close to a soprano and parallels the higher pitch of the guitar. The drums are more prevalent, harder and faster paced on this track, making it seem more like a hard rock song as opposed to a country song. The clue that this song can still be thought of as country, however, is DeMarcus' high-pitched singing mixed with the faint sound of a keyboard in the background.
In the song "Holes," there isn't one resounding instrument but instead a symphonic combination of the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass and violin. The electric guitar sounds similar to a piano in terms of melody and makes this song the most harmonious track on the album. The guitar resonates with each pluck of the strings as he sings "Holes in and around / I keep falling back into / Holes big and they surround me / God knows what I'm going to do." The acoustic guitar adds a nice beat with the bass to the song giving it more weight and power. The drums are being harshly tapped in the background but they are soft enough not to overpower the other instruments and give the song enough beat.
The album shows the sheer capacity of the band to make their sound something entirely different from others in their genre. Rascal Flatts has the ability to be not only a successful country band, but also a band that successfully crosses into other areas of music. Their upcoming Milwaukee show promises to be a good one, bringing something music lovers of all types will enjoy.
