Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Let's Be Us Again

 
Album Review: Let's Be Us Again
 

  • Artist: Lonestar
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: May 25, 2004
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Country

Review

Toward the end of the '90s, Lonestar decided to move firmly into the mainstream of contemporary country, leaving behind any hardcore country influences they may have had in favor of sweet anthemic ballads and poppy country-rockers. In essence, they picked up where Alabama left off, so it's little surprise that Alabama's Randy Owen sings on "From There to Here" on the group's fifth album, Let's Be Us Again -- he's passing the torch to this likeable bunch from Tennessee. Like Alabama, Lonestar are catchy and bright, not as concerned with keeping country as they are with hooks and tunes that keep them on the radio, and after they moved toward contemporary country with 1999's Lonely Grill, they have stayed near the top of the country charts. Given that success, perhaps it's inevitable that the group doesn't try much new on Let's Be Us Again, but they're savvy enough to pick up on some early-2000s trends, whether it's dedicating "Somebody's Someone" to "the fallen heroes" or cribbing from Kenny Chesney's island obsession on "T.G.I.F." Lonestar are at their best when they keep the tempo and the mood upbeat, and fortunately most of the album is on the faster side, which makes it more entertaining than some of their previous albums. It's also a consistent album, with only a handful of duds -- such as the well-intentioned "Let Them Be Little," which sounds disarmingly close to "Let Them Belittle," as if it's an anthem for condescension -- which also makes it one of their strongest records. If Lonestar don't quite have the engaging personality to truly make them an heir to Alabama's throne, they at least are likeable and reliable, a good workingman's band, and they're at their best on Let's Be Us Again. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
County Fair Chris Waters, Richie McDonald, Robbie Cheuvront Lonestar (3:52)
Class Reunion (That Used to Be Us) Frank J. Myers, Richie McDonald, Don Pfrimmer Lonestar (4:32)
Let's Be Us Again Richie McDonald, Maribeth Derry Lonestar (3:53)
That Gets Me Bob DiPiero, Tom Shapiro, Richie McDonald Lonestar (3:53)
Women Rule the World Brett James, Dean Sams Lonestar (3:53)
What I Miss the Most Frank J. Myers, Michael Britt, Richie McDonald Lonestar (3:54)
Let Them Be Little Billy Dean, Richie McDonald Lonestar (4:01)
T. G. I. F. Richie McDonald Lonestar (2:54)
Summertime Tom Shapiro, Dean Sams, Rivers Rutherford Lonestar (3:55)
Now Steve Robson, Jeffrey Steele Lonestar (4:05)
Mr. Mom Richie McDonald, Don Pfrimmer Lonestar (3:28)
From There to Here Richie McDonald, Don Pfrimmer Randy Owen, Lonestar (3:32)
Somebody's Someone Richie McDonald Lonestar (4:20)

Credits

Matt Rollings (Piano), Eric Darken (Percussion), Jeff Balding (Engineer), Jeff Balding (Mixing), Mike Brignardello (Bass), Paul Franklin (Guitar (Steel)), Mark Hagen (Engineer), Rob Hajacos (Fiddle), Paul Hart (Assistant), Dann Huff (Guitar (Electric)), Dann Huff (Producer), Paul Leim (Drums), B. James Lowry (Guitar (Acoustic)), Pat McMakin (Engineer), Justin Niebank (Engineer), Chris Rowe (Digital Editing), John Willis (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jonathan Yudkin (Fiddle), Jonathan Yudkin (Mandolin), Jimmy Nichols (Piano), Jimmy Nichols (Strings), Jimmy Nichols (Keyboards), Russell Terrell (Vocals (Background)), Lonestar (Producer), Drew Bollman (Assistant), Tim Akers (Keyboards), Jed Hackett (Engineer), Jed Hackett (Assistant), Russ Harrington (Photography), Dean Sams (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dean Sams (Harmonica), Dean Sams (Piano), Dean Sams (Keyboards), Dean Sams (Vocals), Dean Sams (Group Member), Trish Townsend (Stylist), Michael Britt (Guitar (Acoustic)), Michael Britt (Guitar (Electric)), Michael Britt (Vocals), Michael Britt (Group Member), Mellissa Schleicher (Grooming), Richie McDonald (Guitar (Acoustic)), Richie McDonald (Keyboards), Richie McDonald (Vocals), Richie McDonald (Group Member), Keech Rainwater (Percussion), Keech Rainwater (Drums), Keech Rainwater (Group Member), Brady Barnett (Engineer), Mike "Frog" Griffith (Coordination), Keith Horne (Bass), Scott Kidd (Assistant), Adam Ayan (Mastering), David Bryant (Assistant), Astrid Herbold May (Art Direction), Astrid Herbold May (Design), Jesse Amend (Assistant), Dan Hochhalter (Fiddle), Lowell Reynolds (Assistant)
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a word or phrase...
All Community Q&A Reference topics
 
 
Learn More
The Best of the Staple Singers [Stax] (1990 Album by The Staple Singers)
The Awful Truth (1925 Comedy Film)
60's Dance Party (1987 Album by Various Artists)

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

Mentioned in