CMT Blog: Archive

Forgive me for borrowing the title of Love and Theft's debut album, World Wide Open, for the title of my blog. But go listen and you'll get what I'm saying -- basically, that this band has a lot of opportunities ahead. And to quote the title track again, every day's an open page, a brand new start and a fresh clean slate. The guys in this new band are young and enthusiastic, which is one reason why I think the sentiment there works. But it's also because of the sound they're bringing to the genre. Yes, harmony bands have been done before. But this trio has captured a country-pop (and at times rock) vibe while maintaining enough of the instrumentation that makes you remember that, oh yeah, they're country.

Like the mandolin/fiddle/banjo combination on the gospel-like "Dancing in Circles." And the banjo-backed, breathy gritty vocals on "You to Miss." And the harmonized hook on their open letter to life on "Slow Down." Even the plucky guitar on their latest single, "Runaway," feels countrier than some of the other neo-traditional stuff on the radio these days. The only curious track in the bunch is "Freedom," which has no chorus but still brings a relevant message to all the guys out there contemplating an unnecessary breakup.

And not to get all preachy, but I do like the way these young men -- Stephen "Hey Stephen" Barker Liles, Brian Bandas and Eric Gunderson -- take time in the liner notes to give a shout out to a faithful God whose love never fails and to be grateful for being raised in a Jesus-filled home. That's a good sign. They also thank Christian rocker Michael W. Smith and Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, so you know this band has been inspired by all walks of life. And it shows.