This Audio CD Music item from Spring Hill was reviewed on 10-Oct-2008.
Front Row Seats Reference Music. Classifications : General Country Styles Music CD Album CD Format (binding) Refinements Music Main Album Edition (format) Refinements Music . Click the following link to view the cover of Front Row Seats. Related topics: Hard to Be Cool (In a Minivan) - The Oak Ridge Boys, Feek, Rory Lee. Heaven´s a Small Town - The Oak Ridge Boys, Hill, Byron. Dream on Me - The Oak Ridge Boys, Bach, Jane. Smaller - The Oak Ridge Boys, Colgin, John. Something in the Water - The Oak Ridge Boys, Brown, Roger. Jonah, Job & Moses - The Oak Ridge Boys, Silers, Tina. Crazy Not To - The Oak Ridge Boys, Douglas, Phil. A Feeling Like That - The Oak Ridge Boys, Tomberlin, Bobby. Heaven on Earth - The Oak Ridge Boys, Sillers, Tina. Closer to Home - The Oak Ridge Boys, Tirro, John. Didn´t It Rain - The Oak Ridge Boys, Emerson, Bill. Compared to You - The Oak Ridge Boys, Taylor, Bobby [4]. Until You Get There - The Oak Ridge Boys, Dodson, Marty. Did I Make a Difference - The Oak Ridge Boys, Crosby, Rob. General. Country. Styles. Music. CD Album. CD. Format (binding). Refinements. Music. Main Album. requestid: f6d5679a-bcf9-4c22-a0d1-17066ddeb559
requestprocessingtime: 0.1453220000000000
salesrank: 30524
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1) Audio CD Music Front Row Seats by Spring Hill. This is a great CD, especially if you are a William Lee Golden fan (of which I was only slightly before I bought this). William Lee sings lead on most of the really good songs. Out of 14 tracks, I only skip over 3 or 4.¤ 2) Audio CD Music Front Row Seats by Spring Hill. As always wonderful, beautiful harmony and great songs. Just like being at a concert.¤ 3) Audio CD Music Front Row Seats by Spring Hill. I bought this CD just before seeing the Boys in concert and it was a very wise buy. The disk has outstanding songs on it; there´s not a bad one here. Hard to Be Cool In a Minivan is already a hit and its a cute, fun song. Every Oak gets a chance to shine. My favorites: Smaller (Joe), Crazy Not To (William Lee), A Feeling Like That (Richard) and Did I Make a Difference (Duane). My absolute favorite is Dream On Me, a rollicking song with Duane in the lead that you´ll play over and over. Duane Allen has always been a letter perfect singer but I´ve noticed he seems to be putting more emotion in his voice nowdays and it really works well, especially on these songs.
The Boys have never sounded better and if you haven´t listened to the Oaks in a while, this is a great way to get back in the fold.¤ 4) Audio CD Music Front Row Seats by Spring Hill. The Oak Ridge Boys´ Brand-New CD, "Front Row Seats", is a great collection of music. 14 awsomely-cool, brand-new tracks, and the powerful 4-part harmony of The Oaks, stand out, on this springhill release. I would now like to give my song by song review of the entire project. Enjoy!!!!!
1.) "Hard To Be Cool (In A Mini-Van)"-The project´s opener, sung by Oaks´ Tenor, Joe Bonsall, is a fun, up-tempo song, with humerous lyrics, and ad-libbing from Bonsall, towards the end of the song. This is the first single from the new CD. I like it. The harmonies are really showcased, here. The only thing I would´ve enjoyed more, is if Richard Sterban, had added some "Bass Licks" during the chorus. Other than that, it is an enjoyable sing-along song.....TWO THUMBS UP!!!!!
2.) "Heaven´s A Smaill Town"-Oaks´ Baritone William Lee Golden, takes the lead vocal, here. He sings it with such emotion, and power. With the other Oaks´ voices blending right in, makes for an ORB Classic, for sure. Right on, Guys!!!!!
3.) "Dream On Me"- One of a few to feature the lead voice of Duane Allen, it is one that you´ll find yourself going back, and listening to, again, and again. Duane Allen, always seems to find the perfect song for The Oaks. This is an example of the many perfect songs, that The Oaks put their hearts, and souls, into. You can hear the powerful harmonies throughout the song. My favorite track, indeed. GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!
4.) "Smailer"- Another Joe Bonsall lead, this is one of the project´s slow ballads. Reminds me of another Joe Bonsall lead, "Don´t Turn Around", from 1987´s "Heartbeat" album. A serious look at the world around us, in smaller form. Touching, indeed.
5.) "Something In The Water"- A fun, up-tempo song, with a bluegrass feel, this song has William Lee Golden, singing at his best, yet. Don´t believe me??? Take a listen for yourself. The Oaks have a blast with this one. COOL SONG!!!!!!!
6.) "Jonah, Job, & Moses"- Another Duane Allen lead, this is a beautiful ballad, that tells the story of three of the most heroic men of Bible times. It is a "tear-jerker".....Have a box of kleenex on hand. You´re gonna need it. The Oaks´ emotions pour out, DEEPLY. Very, very moving.
7.) "Crazy Not To"- Another fun William Lee Golden lead. One word, WOW!!!!!!!! Just listen!!!!!!
8.) "A Feeling Like That"- One of the projects more-serious tracks, it has Bass Singer, Richard Sterban, singing his VERY BEST, YET. Take A Listen, and you´ll hear why!! The Oaks have a monster-hit on their hands, here. Nicely done!!!!!!
9.) "Heaven On Earth"- Another Joe Bonsall Lead, this song talks about a man´s affections of the woman he loves. Only one way to describe it......HOT!!!!!!!
10.) "Closer To Home"- Duane Allen, taking the lead, once again. A powerful look at the many people in our lives who´ve been our heroes, that we find all around us. One of the projects´ best cuts, for sure!!!!
11.) "Didn´t It Rain", A Fun, up-tempo song, about "Noah´s Ark", and the GREAT FLOOD. Sung by William Lee Golden, it is sure to be an ORB Gospel Classic!!!!
12.) "Compared To You"- Good Song, and power harmonies. One of Joe Bonsall´s Best leads, EVER!!!!!!
13.) "Until You Get There"- Duane Allen Has Done IT, AGAIN!! Enough said.
14.) "Did I Make A Difference?"- We all wonder in this day, and time, whether, or not, we´ve made a difference in the world we live in. Duane Allen´s lead, and The Oaks on the chorus bring this new project to a close. I couldn´t thing of a better way to end this new collection of music by the 2004 CCMA Mainstream Artists Of The Year, The Oak Ridge Boys. They have DONE IT, YET AGAIN. This song proves just that!! 5 STARS!!!!!!!
In Conclusion, "Front Row Seats", is probably the best ORB Recording to date. Co-produced by the production team of Duane Allen, & Michael Sykes, it is sure to be a "Must-Have" for any ORB Fan. All 14 songs, are destined to be ORB Classics. Nice Project, with the best VOCAL GROUP IN THE WORLD, singing their hearts out for their many fans. I´d recoomend this CD to anyone who has not yet heard the Oak Ridge Boys sing. You are sure to become a fan, once you hear it. Amazing job, Guys!!!!!! You´ve outdone yourselves, THIS TIME!!!! GREAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!¤ 5) Audio CD Music Front Row Seats by Spring Hill. Prime Cuts: A Feeling Like That, Smaller, Jonah, Job and Moses
It is hard to be cool when your locks are grey and you look like Kenny Chesney´s grandfather. Though tanked at the bottom of the barometer of "cool," this has not perennially stopped the Oaks from releasing songs that could give the Chesneys, Straits and Jacksons a run for their monies. Discounting the hip factor, this new release continues to usher some front-row material rich in melodic flare and affecting in its ability to stir the heart. This is because these paeans are red-carpeted by the who´s who among the songwriters of country music including Paul Overstreet, Ron Harbin, Rob Crosby, Billy Yates, Steve Dorff, just to name drop a few. However, unlike their previous bluegrass detour "Journeys," "Front Row Seats" finds them back on the contemporary country route with an understated yet complimentary backing maneuvered with lots of fiddles, steel and slide guitars. Vocally, with their four-part harmony still in galore, they are still singing as if they were one voice with multi-dimensions of soul and heart.
Of the tracks that are a little on the less predictable side is the lead single "It´s Hard to Be Cool (In a Minivan)." A light weighted popish ditty, "It´s Hard to be Cool" tells of a guy´s struggles in trying to impress a girl in a red corvette when he is driving a minivan with a baby sit. Though witty and realistic, it is somewhat hard imaging these aging dudes singing such a song pertinent with an adolescent tenor. Much more appropriate for the Oaks, given their soul-trenched Christian faith is "Jonah, Job and Moses." Utilizing the Biblical stories of these thee patriarchs of the Christian faith, this inspirational ballad calls for perseverance at hard times. Also serving as chicken soup for the soul is the Rob Crosby and Al Anderson slowie "Did I Make a Difference." Presenting a montage of stories of self- sacrifice, this heart-render luxuriates in some beautiful piano playing and soul-edifying steel guitars. Serving as pinch to workaholics is the acerbic "Smaller"--a sobering ballad that advocates the prioritization of the transcendent ingredients of life deserves repeated listens.
Of the tracks that deal with proverbial issues of relationships, Bobby Tomberlin and Steve Dorff´s "A Feeling Like That" is a standout. A breathtaking ballad that revels in the simplicity of love brings out a sentimental and glowing tepidness from the Oaks. While the the gospel-tingled love song "Until You Get There" lives up to the lofty standards set by its co-writer, the ever-reliable Paul Overstreet (who penned Blake Shelton´s "Some Beach"). Also notable is Richie McDonald´s (of Lonestar) who co-writes the complaisant "Crazy Not To" boasting some excellent guitar riffs.
Over the years, the Oaks have made some stellar records. However ever since the 90s, their albums have been hits and misses. Nevertheless, "Front Row Seats" is a welcomed return to form. Not given to moment of snooze, the well-chosen songs from some of Music Row´s finest writers coupled with the Oaks keening delivery, this effort ranks as one of the boys´ best endeavors since their sublime "The Long Haul" CD. With an album this good, even if the hip factor may be illusionary, their front row seats will never be empty.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 7-Nov-2008, 789042111829, TOB-E4B-V2B-3MB-TCB-RCB-8 
Front Row Seats, Music, Image © Spring Hill
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