Nothing Like This

Rascal Flatts returns to country but never ceases to surprise

It have already been a decade since Gary LeVox (vocals) and Jay DeMarcus (multi-instrumentalist) formed one of the most successful country groups of the present days, Rascal Flatts. The duet has become a trio in this time (another multi-instrumentalist Joe Don Rooney joined them almost immediately) and released several great records earning itself the reputation of a band which never rests on its laurels. The number of Rascal Flatts fans keeps growing exactly because the team constantly includes something new in its creations using all the capabilities of the splendid vocals, guitars, drums and orchestra elements. Although many think it a country-band there was no purely country composition on the last year’s album Unstoppable but an interesting mixture of rock and R&B was prevailing. That is why respecting the country fans and striving for improving its skills in this music area Rascal Flatts has recorded the new album Nothing Like This, which nevertheless offers some pleasant surprises as well.

Faultless love compositions on Nothing Like This

The album Nothing Like This is Rascal Flatts’ debut album on the new label Big Machine Records, and the musicians have done their best to please their fans. First, they have selected eleven faultless compositions whose main theme is love, naturally. Second, they have remembered their best country albums and created several classic genre representatives along with some songs with the content opening the band’s new side. The first single Why Wait is one of the best country compositions on the record, it is a life-affirming story about a man who cannot wait to marry his beloved. The sad, even bitter number Easy has a completely different feel to it – it is a beautiful country duet with Natasha Bedingfield in which the failed relationship is remembered with hidden pain, covered with affected optimism and assurance that the decision to break up has been the right one. Next it is happy love that is reigning all over: the mid-tempo song Sunny Afternoon is drawing a peaceful picture filled with joy, fiddles and guitars on the country-song Play invite us to enjoy life, and the title track is a wonderfully beautiful ballad about the importance of finding true love, refined with a splendid guitar solo. Up-tempo compositions All Night To Get There and Red Camaro prove that country is really one of the band’s strong sides but the guys surprise with new effects in the guitar sound and a beautiful pop-melody on They Try which is different from everything in the band’s entire creative work. Rock elements appear on Summer Young – electro guitar and vocals are competing to be the most emotional here, and the album closer is another ballad I Won't Let Go, the most touching moment on this record.

Little traditions and eternal experimentation

On the one hand, Rascal Flatts never cease to experiment with music styles and never fail to exceed expectations. On the other hand, they have some little traditions of their own – for example, the albums mostly close with an emotional ballad, and the listeners can always compare the up-tempo joyful compositions with slow songs touching upon some more serious issues. Gary LeVox’ voice range keeps surprising, he is brilliant as ever on Nothing Like This, and it is really impossible to say for sure whether the slower songs are his weak or strong points compared to those stadium up-tempo anthems, the man obviously does enough practice to succeed in all the directions the band decides to take. We are now only left to guess how Rascal Flatts is going to surprise us next, after it has recorded one of its most mellow, melodious and powerful creations which Nothing Like This has proved to be.