Music Review :: Little Big Town

I'm sure you've heard Little Big Town's Pontoon, which was the summer anthem of 2012.  It's the song that was on the verge of being over played by country radio stations, TV Channels and everyone who downloaded it, but no one could get mad because it's that good!

Every time we were on our boat this past summer that was the only song my dad would let us play.. truly a Summer Anthem!

And now I'm sure you've heard their next single Tornado and current single Your Side of the Bed, thinking that Little Big Town is on a roll.  

What you may not know is that Little Big Town is not new to the country music industry.  After 13 years of working together, 5 albums and 3 different record labels, Little Big Town has finally topped the charts for the first time and they couldn't be more deserving.  

Pontoon became Little Big Town's first #1 hit as the summer of 2012 came to a close.  Their newest album Tornato (released on September 11th) was debuted at #1 and held that spot for 4+ weeks.

Have you heard it yet?  If not, you should.  

I had the pleasure of meeting Little Big Town when they made a stop in the Philadelphia area late last summer on Rascal Flatts' Changed Tour.  They were so nice and friendly!  I told them how we listened to the song all the time and especially on the water, they loved it!  While my co-worker and I were waiting in line to meet them, Philip Sweet kept coming around the back-drop to take a sip of his drink.  He kept joking around with us that we put something in his drink.  Later when we saw him again backstage as he was getting ready to perform, he joked that he was still awake and that we didn't do a job of roofie-ing him! That day as a whole was my top 3 favorite days of working at the radio station.  More details of the day can be found on this post.  

 

Now, let's talk music... Pontoon is a great song, but what about the rest of the album?  Is it worthy of that #1 spot and recent nominations/awards?  

The answer: Absolutely!

Little Big Town has shown us something we haven't seen before.  Four unique artists whose sounds compliment each other wonderfully.  I love how each song produces a different feel due to the variety of strengths in each of them.

 Little Big Town took home 2 ACMs this past weekend:  Vocal Group of the Year and Video of the Year, "Tornato".  And like I said before, they are so deserving.  They have shown that it's not always easy, but the wait is so worth it.  I know they are enjoying & appreciative of every bit of their success.

The album is for sure worth a listen, but here are a few of my favorite songs off the Tornado album that you haven't heard on the radio:
 
Sober

Pavement Ends

Front Porch Thing

What do you think of Little Big Town?  What's your favorite one of their songs past or present?

#KeepPernetti

I'm not usually one to voice my opinion involving scandals or other controversial matters.  I prefer to keep those types of things to myself, but this is different.  This one hits extremely close to home and effects one of the things I am most passionate about- my alma mater and first love, Rutgers University.  

On Tuesday video tapes of Rutgers Basketball Coach, Mike Rice, being physically and verbally abusive to players surfaced through ESPN. 

Mike Rice was then fired on Wednesday.  

Thursday there was an abundance of rumors flying around all types of media outlets that Athletic Director, Tim Pernetti was in jeopardy of losing his job as well.  

I agree that Coach Rice needed to be fired, but think Tim Pernetti should remain the Athletics Director at Rutgers for many reasons.  First being when Pernetti first learned of Rice's antics during practice he took action which was supported by Rutgers Administration including fining, suspending and forcing Rice to attend anger management classes as well as threatening any further behavior of this kind.  Second, Tim Pernetti has done more for Rutgers Athletics than I'm sure any outsider or even avid sports fan may realize.  He has not only decreased reliability on university funding, but has enhanced all athletic programs and most importantly has made Rutgers a part of the Big 10 Conference starting in 2014. 

The Rutgers Community and others have spoken out via Facebook in the group "I support Tim Pernetti" as well as through the hashtag #KeepPernetti via Twitter.  Great points were made in counter to NJ State Senator Steve Sweeney stating "for the good of the school, its students and its faculty, he should either resign or be removed from his position immediately".  Among these points were the fact that Sweeney (and the state) was once against gay marriage, have since changed their minds and still have their jobs.  Tim Pernetti as well as other Rutgers Administration took necessary steps in resolving the issue in December when the footage was first brought to their attention.  They have since changed their minds in their initial reaction.  (Gay Marriage is now legal, Mike Rice is now fired.  End of story.)

Tim Pernetti seeked independent advise in the matter and gave public punishment when this issue was first brought to his attention in November.  The university (and state, for that matter) is allowing the media to sway their decision.  The media consists of people who know nothing about the history of the university or how its athletics have grown under the direction of Tim Pernetti.  They should not be influential in this crucial decision, but unfortunately that is not the case.  Once again, the media is getting what it thinks it wants. 

Has Steve Sweeney met Tim Pernetti?  This is a serious question that I would like to know the answer to.  I indeed have met Tim Pernetti a number of times.  If Steve Sweeney knew Tim Pernetti he would not be questioning his position with Rutgers University, but instead would know his amazing character and overall love for the university.  He would know that Tim Pernetti was more than just an Athletic Director.  How many other schools would have this outcry of support for their Athletic Director? Not many.  Support for the coaches, yes, but not Athletic Directors.  Tim Pernetti has made it his job to be one with the Rutgers community and has arguably done more for Rutgers Athletics than any one else in the past.

I am extremely saddened by Rutgers decision to force him to choose between resigning or being fired as this is a decision that will effect Rutgers University, its athletics and community long after this scandal is put to rest. 

I fully believe Tim Pernetti should remain the Athletic Director of Rutgers University and can not express the sadness I felt when reading his Letter of Resignation just moments ago.

 

Tim Pernetti at Rutgers Athletics Golf Outing June 2012

Currently Listening To...

Unlike my short lived Friday Favorites, I hope to update you with some new songs that I download or just like in general.  These posts will be short and sweet and give you a glimpse at the music I am Currently Listening To...

These are the newest songs that I purchased and I'm in loveeee (aka they're on repeattttt):

Kip Moore: Hey, Pretty Girl

Darius Rucker: Wagon Wheel (I'm also a huge fan of the Mumford and Sons version)

Luke Bryan:  BuzzKill

If anyone is interested in some country music suggestions, I would be happy to put together a playlist for you.  You could also check out my New Country Music Listener's Playlist.

I am not a music expert by any means, I just love it and love getting others interested in it as well! :)

Music Review: Brantley Gilbert

Brantley Gilbert is someone whose name you're hearing a lot more of lately in the Country Music world.  To be honest, I thought Brantley was a lot newer than he actually is.  He's not really someone I've been keeping up with. Whoops.

Turns out, Halfway to Heaven is his sophomore album and didn't come out as recently as I thought it did.  Regardless of its release date, it is a great album.  I downloaded it several weeks ago and can't seem to get enough of it.  Literally listening to it non-stop!  I tend to do this with albums that totally catch my ear!- like Jason Aldean in general or his most recent album, Night Train and Chris Young's Neon.  I love an artist that produces an album that is the whole package- having no urge to skip songs.  That's how I feel about Brantley's Halfway to Heaven album.  Don't get me wrong there are songs I like better than others but it is a great download and worth every cent.

You have also heard Brantley's work through the voices of other artists including Jason Aldean and Colt Ford.  Brantley co-wrote and recorded the songs later recorded by Jason Aldean including Dirt Road Anthem, My Kinda Party, and The Best of Me. 

Brantley was recently nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year, ACA Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist ("You Don't Know Her Like I Do"), and most recently, ACM New Male Vocalist (which will air on April 7th!).  He has also head-lined his first tour and signed a contract with Mountain Dew to be a part of some of their upcoming projects.  

Besides Brantley's songs that you might of heard from Halfway to Heaven including You Don't Know Her Like I Do, My Kind of Crazy, and Country Must Be Country Wide, these songs are among my favorites of the album:

His newest single:  More Than Miles

Back in the Day

Saving Amy

Bottom line, if you're into rock and country music Brantley is a perfect mix of the two and defintely worth a listen.  

Let me know what you think of him! :)