Rascal Flatts' Still Feels Good
Rascal Flatts' new album, Still Feels Good, is coming out in a few weeks. Fans won't be disappointed with the upcoming release because it sounds like what they've put out in the past -- infectious contemporary country music with impressive rock solos from Joe Don Rooney's guitar. The group certainly didn't deviate from their authentic sound.Listening through the tracks, the one that caught my attention the most was "Winner at a Losing Game." To me, it is hands-down the best song on the album. And it's the only song on the album they wrote completely by themselves. No co-writers involved. It melodically sounds familiar to Gretchen Wilson's "When I Think About Cheatin'," but it lyrically captures the same sincere longing of heartache. "Winner" expressively exhibits the human condition in love.
I think the boys got inspired by the Beatles while making the album recorded at Nashville's Blackbird Studios, which is decorated with tons of Fab Four memorabilia. For example, the track "She Goes All the Way" (featuring Jamie Foxx on vocals) has lyrics similar to the end of Abbey Road -- "And in the end/The love you take/Is equal to the love you make." In the Flatts' song, the chorus goes, "Giving more than she takes/‘Cause it's more the love the makes/She goes all the way."
The last song is the most vivid one I've heard in a long time. "It's Not Supposed to Go Like That" opens with two boys playing cowboys with their father's real pistol, saying, "You'll be good, and I'll be bad." As the verse continues, one of the boys pulls the trigger and kills the other. Listening to the opening, I can see the scene as Gary LeVox sings the lyrics. It's eerily visual.
Also they covered the Beatles' "Revolution," but it won't be featured on the CD. It's only available through a digital download. Listening to it, I didn't want to like it. The Beatles are my all-time favorite band, and I'm very skeptical of other artists covering their work. It's substantially similar to the original, except for the harmonic "ooh's" and "aah's" in the background vocals. I encourage everyone to listen to it and develop their own opinion on the Rascal Flatts version.
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Travis M says:
Great review! I am ready for the new album as well as many other fan club members.. as I have already preordered 3 copies of the CD/DVD. Looking forward to it!
Once again,
Great review!
TM
Mandy Andrews says:
Awesome review! Can’t wait!
Brandi Burleson says:
Awesome review!! These are the kinds of reviews us Flatts fans enjoy reading! Sept 25th still seems like forever away tho! I think we need an advanced copy NOW! ~B
Jessica S says:
Great Review! Definitely cannot wait for the new album to drop!!
Megh says:
Awesome review…cant wait for the CD!
Renee says:
Can`t wait till it comes out!!!!! Come on Sept. 25th!!
Tammi Pittman says:
As a small business owner, I am so appalled regarding Faith Hill’s top 20 countdown #29 where she refers to the boots she was wears as from a “trashy” store she had come across on her tour. Can you imagine how the small business owner must feel. No no one asked her to purchase boots from their store… it’s as if they did not cost a fortune she could not walk in them. Until now, I really thought Faith Hill was real. I think what she said was extremely downgrading to the small business owner of store where she purchased the boots and extremelty selfish on her part.
Tom Sandwich says:
Cool review! Other reviewers seem to be saying Secret Smile is the stand out track. I guess we’ll all be able to decide soon enough!!!!!
Tom Sandwich says:
Got it!!!!!!!!!! Not a bad track on the whole thing but Bob That Head and Secret Smile are both AWEsome!!!
Reading theliner notes says Secret Smile was by Steve Robson (What Hurts The Most! yeay!) adn Don Mescal. Can this be??? He’s all hip hop/funk according to Myspace!!!
Tom S says:
ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!!!! Got it wrong!!!! (doh!) TWO “L”s in Mescall and what a crackin’ artist he seems to be. Irish singer-songwriter. Sorta Americana/rootsy with an Irish accent - cool myspace!
Tim Williams says:
News Flash!!!
Rascal Flatts, Deirks Bently (how ever you spell it), Keith Urban… NOT COUNTRY!
Anita Chivses says:
I recently received RASCAL FLATTS new CD “Still Feels Good”.This is a great CD! These guys keep getting Better and Better.
TO THE COMMENT”NOT COUNTRY” WHO ASK YOU ANYWAY? “IF YOU
DON’T LIKE THESE GUYS/GROUPS…DON’T LISTEN.AS FOR ME,AS WELL AS OTHERS ”LOVE THEIR MUSIC AND SOUND!”
Sam says:
Great Album!! love them all i especially love “She Goes all the Way”…..i can already see a “Cross Country” with Jamie Fox….Keep up the great work guys!!!
Paker says:
I agree with Tim Williams. All I have to say is Rascal Flatts is they are not country. First of all, they don’t sound country. Many “country” artisits these days are going more pop because they attract a larger crowd. Secondly, what country artist wears more hair gel than ambercrombie models? They just make me sick. I am not saying they are bad singers, just not country. When people say they like “country music” and say Rascal Flatts is their favorite “country” band, it makes me mad when they can’t sing along to any Hank Williams song or don’t know who Merle Haggard is. Thats just my 2 cents.
And to counter what Anita Chivses is going to say, I don’t listen to them, but its hard when they come onto CMT and every country radio station every other song. I just wish they would play country music like they should. They play rascal flatts on pop stations for goodnes sakes.
mandy says:
got the cd and i loooovvveee it….it is so awesome and i agree that they are should not be considered country anymore, but they are still at the top of my list and they havent disapionted me yet. i dont know how old the rest of all of you guys are, but im 14 going on 15 in about 2 months and i listen to rascal flatts faithfully. they are my favorite group and cant wait to see what the future brings!!
Melanie says:
Rascal Flatts is Country…I was blessed to have seen them in Concert in Dallas and the instruments that were used and the messages of the songs are definately Country…they even invited children on stage with them to sing with them…how much more country can they be? I can’t wait to get their new CD…every song means something and I can relate to Movin’ On…b/c my husband just left me after 22 years of marriage for another woman and Rascal Flatts is a part of my daily healing…God bless them…
mandy m says:
i know what you mean……i tend to relate music to my life as well….
Lisha says:
Rascal Flatts music is the most enjoyable music out there I respect this group and enjoy everything about their new CD. They are a wholesome group of guys who are good at what they do and I enjoy listening to them very much.
karen says:
i dont care what anyone says i have seen rascal flatts in concert, it was one of the best times i’ve ever had.i consider them one of the best country bands of our time.
benteast says:
you idiots you made country what it is today and then bitch because rascal flats isnt country yes they suck but you did it. country fans are gone now its just pop and its your fault. want country back make it happen its all all up to you call your radio station and ask for nor more CRAP just goood ole COUNTRY music
benteast says:
karen lisha you are pop fans not country
benteast says:
melanie you have bigger problems than rascal flats can fix
russ says:
Ok…I sit down and watch the CMA’s for the first time in years and country has gone to the dogs. Except for George Strait or Brad Paisley…the performances look like something outta LA or High School Musical. And I’m sorry, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney can not sing. A test of a real artist in the live performance. I have never heard so many flat (no pun intended on their name…well, ok it is) notes and singers off key.
Pam Rivers says:
THESE THREE GUYS JUST DO IT FOR YOU. THEY ARE THE BEST GROUP TO COME ALONG SINCE I CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN. I CAN’T EVEN THINK OF A GROUP THAT I’VE LOVED AS MUCH AS THESE THREE GUYS. GREEEEEAT JOB AND DON’T EVER STOP (WE HOPE).
JENNIFER ANDERSON says:
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BANDS AROUND. I’VE BEEN A FAN SINCE THE FIRST ALBUM CAME OUT. JUST WANTED THEM TO KNOW.KEEP ON COMING UP WITH THE GREAT SONGS AND LYRICS. YOU ALL ARE SO VERY TALENTED AND LOVE YOUR MUSIC.
jacob says:
Dear rascal flatts I like your music especially “Take me there” I am like your biggest fan. My nana showed me all about country and when I heard you I said nana,nana “who is that cool guy” I just love all of your songs all of them
I hope you write me back
Sincerly, Jacob Douglas
Casey says:
I have bought the album, I got it the very first day it was out on the shelves at wal-mart. I personaly love all of the songs on the album, I’m what you can call a die-hard Rascal Flatts fan. Winner at a losing game is my favorite song on the album. They actually wrote that one themselves. My all-time favorite Rascal Flatts song is My Wish for more reasons than one. I’m a thirteen year old who is CRAZY about Joe Don Rooney. He is soooooo Cute!!!! I’ve actually met him and I have his guitar pick!!!!
Casey says:
Russ i don’t know who you are or where you live but you have problems!!! Rascal Flatts is THE BEST!!! I need to get over yourself and your little obsession with Brad Paisley, if anyone is “flat” it’s him!!!! If you don’t like the flatts music that’s fine but You don’thave to get up here and talk about how “bad” they are and put them down like that!!! They already have 5 or 6 albums out. So get over yourself hotshot wannabe!!!
Casey says:
They might play rascal flatts on the pop stations but that’s because it’s not only rednecks who like them. They are like nation wide not just back there in the boonies like brad pitt and tim mcgraw. Just like carrie underwood and gretchen wilson. Benteast rascal flatts do not suck and what kind of music do you listen to? I bet you listen to that opera crap don’t you? Stop griping and actually sit down and listen to a rascal flatts song and maybe then if you STILL don’t like hem you could actually give us a good reason why you don’t like them. Your just going along with what all the other Rascal Flatts haters are saying they are the closest thing to country that we will ever have agaion because people like you keep putting all the singers down and that makes them not want to do what they do any more so therefore it’s not the layal fans that are screwing everything up, it’s the buttholes like you and russ who are screwing up the country music culture. I really wish that people like you would just shut up and let the singers do what they love doing. so just sit down and listen to a rascal flatts song and get over yourself!!!!! I hate people like you!!!!!
Anna Aldridge says:
Rascal flatts always get great review because thre the best countey band . and I just love them I’m the biggest fan.
Tina7387 says:
Rascal Flatts is the best country/pop group I have ever heard. Gary LeVox has the most versatile voice, he can sing
any kind of music and sound awesome. Jay and Joe Don sound great on harmonies and are extremely talented instrumentalist. I have all of their cds and listen to them everyday. They are so good, live in concert that they turn people who just sort of liked them before the concert into diehard fans who will love them forever. They truly love what they are doing and its all for the fans.
Casey says:
Everyone who is all for RAscal Flatts is right. I love them and I never want them to stop making the music they make I have every CD and i listen to them everyday. My dream is to go to a Rascal Flatts concert!!!!! Everyone who likes Rascal Flatts should respond to my comment!!!!
linda says:
my husband played music till he got hurt.
he loves country music.
music is a gift.if you can sing any kind of music do it.
ilove the songs Rascal Flatts sing.
their from the heart.
you can relate to them.
music makes the world go around.
keep singing.thanks
love rascal flatts says:
i love them! there concert was amazing!
watch the video i took from there concert!
i was 5th row..it was amazing!
melissa says:
from the first time i heard rascal flatts( the opened for jodee messena) i was like WOW!!! i would have rather heard more of them then her! i have been every year to see them, most of which i was in the very front. i look forward to seeing them. they usually come right around my birthday so tickets are usually a gift. one that i look forward to getting every year. im just wondering why they dont have a christmas album yet???? i just love hearing all their songs on all of the cds. by far they are my favorite band of all times.
toby says:
i like rascall flatts, but on one of the award shows, there were gary was off on a lot of notes and seemed 2 have trouble completin the words.
anna says:
to casey, i love rascal flatts more than life itself, they are the greatest group of men in the world. I have dreamed of being able to attend a rascal flatts concert, but i have not had the honor to do so, because of personal and financial reasons i can’t but i hope someday I will. Gary, Jay and JoeDon are God’s greatest gift to the country music industry as well as to the world itself, Everytime you see them on tv or hear they’re music you can tell that they love singing. They are so blessed with their talents they have, i have heard each one of them sing individually and they all have wonderful voices, Gary is my favorite,but i love Jay and JoeDon to. They will continue to make music for years to come, because of the wholesome and wonderful personalities,and the wonderful music that they make. They have pulled me through alot of hardache and bad times, and they still are helping me cope with all the personal things going on in my life, i am physically and mentally abused and listening to rascal flatts after all of the abuse has settled down and i am alone, it helps me feel better. any of their songs help they all are special, so any of them help. Nothing hurts worse as being through what I go through everyday, but knowing that Rascal Flatts is there in music really helps ease the pain. It even helps me forget about the bruises and scratches . I love Rascal Flatts, and I think God everyday for them.
samantha says:
i truly love rascal flatts. i had an accident about 5 years ago and my sister brought in their cd and ever since the first day she played their music for me i have been hooked!! i am really looking forward to the day i can finally meet my idols and tell them how much they mean to me and to keep up the great work. i wish every day that i can get the chance to meet the guys who saved my life. I do not ub=nderstand why people do not like Rascal Flatts, they truely are the best band in the music industry.
anna says:
samantha, I truly love rascal flatts too. I know what you mean about them saving your life, they save mine everyday as you can read above, i go through abuse and the only thing that pulls me through is rascal flatts , they are definately the best band in the music industry. I have never met them either, but i hope i can someday to. Thank you for listening to them. I don’t understand either why people don’t like them either, they just don’t know what they are missing do they?
Anita says:
I used to think Country Music was old fashioned, hickey(when I was GROWING UP)and I know eveyone has their opinion(YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY) opinions are like BUTTS! “Everyone has one!” But Rascal Flatts will always be #1! This is from “A Teenie Bopper” - now a full grown-up
“RASCAL FLATTS is the absolute BEST!! TO BAD THEY HAVEN’T/weren’t around in my teenie bopper years.
“RASCAL FLATTS FOR PRESIDENT”
President-LEVOX
Vice President(s)DeMarus-Rooney
Kathy says:
I agree with Anita, growing up as a teenager I hated country music. Now that I’m older it’s all I ever listen to. Rascal Flatts are one of my favorite country bands. I haven’t seen them in concert yet,but they are going to be in St.Louis in a few months and I HAVE TICKETS!! I can’t wait. All of their songs seem to have a message behind them. They touch a chord in my heart and soul.
JaclynPierce says:
Rascal Flatts rock. They did a good job when I went to their concert. I would like to meet them though. I LOVE RASCAL FLATTS 4 EVER.
HANNAH says:
HI I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH I OWN ALL OF YOUR CDS
11jbs says:
hey guys, i so in luv with all of you. you guys sing the most amazing songs. my favorite song is stand cuz i think it just really has a wonderful meaning. best of luck at the CMT awards!
Dani says:
ME and my sister are MAJOR Rascal Flatts fan and we love this site!! At her wedding almost 75 percent of the songs were all Rascal Flatts!! WE LOVE YOU!!!
Elizabeth says:
OK> Here’s the deal. The best part of this discussion is that we live in a country where it is possible!!! I love Rascal Flatts, although I was disappointed in their latest CD. Yes (for all you nay sayers) my husband is retired Air Force. He did 2 tours in IRAQ, and eventually decided to retire instead of a 3rd tour when several of the guys hadn’t even gone yet!
Anyway, point is don’t bad mouth “the flatts” because you think they’ve sold out or whatever, and if you disagree with anybody here-well, so be it. But we don’t have to be calling everyone names. Everyone is entitled to their opnion,so let them be heard, you just might learn something!!!
Taylor L.= miniature Taylor S. says:
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Concert on Friday night @ HP ROCKED MY SOX!!!!!!!!!!!! Taylor I
susana stripling says:
rascal flats music is totally the best!Susana Strpiling
garrison stripling says:
everybody should listen to rascal flats!it’s totally awesome!garrison stripling
Alexa Atwell says:
OMG!!! I love Rascal Flatts!!! They are the best country group ever!!!They keep getting better and better! And their concert for still feels good on April 4th was sooo awesome!!!!Can’t wiat to see them again!!! LOVE YA GUYS!!!
Thorjens410 says:
hey, i love rascal flatts and they are my favourite band but i need a little help. Does anybody know where i can get free music sheets (for piano) of his songs. Like what i meen is their music notes. I need them for a project so it would be soooooo cool if you could help me. Just email me at jensen55ringette@hotmail.com with your answers or if you just wanna chat! Thanxxx! Lov ya’ll!
Kristin says:
Okay, so some of these people who are saying that Rascal Flatts isn’t country, that it’s more pop, so what. You’re mad because people aren’t singing Hang Williams or Mearle Haggard?? Well that’s old country. All music evolves over the years. It just happens to be that country music has grown with a pop twist to it. So Rascal Flatts is pop-country, along with a ton of other country musicians… woohoo big deal. But that just means they have a wider variety of fans. And if it really bothers you that much, then DON’T listen to it. Your negative reviews aren’t wanted or needed.
And as for whomever said “Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney can’t sing…. I’m sick of hearing flat notes…” yeah well I’d like to hear you try to sing. They are great artists/musicians and if you don’t like that then tough.
Personally, I’m a HUGE Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chensey fan. They are definitely my FAVORITES in COUNTRY MUSIC.
:]
Kristin says:
Oh, and another thing… who cares what the music is labeled as long as there’s still people who enjoy it? There are people out there who depend on music. Everyone can relate to it; why put it down? You don’t like this music, then go listen to your own stuff.
Jared says:
And this is the reaosn I love blog.cmt.com. Amazing post.
stan says:
Rascal Flatts is by far the worst neo country band ever.The crap they have pawned off as music is more like really bad bubblegum pop then it is country.It amazes me that anyone with a grain of respect for country music would refer to this noise as country.The fact that anyone would buy one their albums boggles my mind.The nasal high pitched singing and weak guitar riffs should be enough to turn the stomach of most any person,they should thank god for the tin eared and the truly tasteless.True country music is dead,bands like Rascal Flatts and today’s country radio killed it.Country musics death makes me sad and Rascal Flatts makes me sick.
sean says:
liking a band does not make them country… rascal flatts is not country. what self respecting country artist would do a song with justin beiber? he is the opposite of country. And i would say the only few good country artist left are jamey johnson, justin moore, and josh thompson(with a few songs from random people in there).