A year and a half after the release of their self titled debut album, Lady Antebellum released their sophomore disc yesterday. Need You Now is an infectious country-pop record that verges on perfection. Fans of a country music will appreciate Need You Now but the album’s scope should also make it accessible to the general public.
The album’s lead single, also entitled “Need You Now,” is a rock tinged cut that allows lead vocalists Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott to show off their respective ranges. The song hit number 1 on the Billboard Country Charts shortly after it was released and remained there for 5 weeks. It also found its way to the top of the iTunes Top 100 Chart, a rarity for Country musicians. One listen to the song and it’s easy to see why, “Need You Now” is incredibly catchy. Then again, that’s pretty much the case with every song on this album.
Need You Now’s second single “American Honey” is a catchy song that puts Scott on display but it’s actually one of the albums weaker tracks. “Love This Pain,” one of the few tracks not written by Lady Antebellum themselves, has a nice guitar riff and memorable chorus that would make it a radio friendly track. After “Love This Pain” the group offers “When You Got A Good Thing,” which is reminiscent of an 80’s power ballad in the best way possible.
Lady Antebellum rarely venture into full country mode, but even when they do it works. Such is the case with party anthem “Stars Tonight,” a song that I imagine playing well live. While, “Something Bout A Woman” just leaves you smiling, avoiding clichés and embracing them at the same time it is the album’s most impressive song. From production, to writing, to the way Kelley and Scott’s vocals blend with David Haywood’s instrumentation, this album is executed with an acute precision that makes it can’t miss music.
