Lonestar Mountains [Sony/BMG] 2006
Produced by Mark Bright
Review by Cherl Breo
"Mountains", the album, and the first release that shares it's name, is truly inspiring…a collection of musically meaningful songs about everyday people, going through everyday struggles, handling everyday hardships with courage, dignity and faith, knowing that the Good Lord truly did give us "Mountains (Richie Macdonald, Larry Boone, Paul Nelson)", not to keep us down, but so we could learn how to climb.
"What She had To (John Edwards, Garrett Parris)" and "Long Lost Smile (Marc Beeson, Neil Thrasher)" are sobering, yet uplifting songs about domestic violence and neglect, each showing the power, the strength, the courage, the sacrifice, the determination a woman can possess when she has finally has had enough and bravely faces an uncertain future, stares down her fears….spreads her wings, and flies to freedom. She holds on tight, never giving up, never giving in, and by her example, weaving her courage, her strength, her values, her love…deep into the hearts of her children.
"Nothing To Prove (Jim Collins, Wendell Mobley)", is a soulful ballad about spending our everyday working hours conforming to other people's rules, other people's standards, other people's time clocks… trying to be everything to everyone around us…but when the day is done, kicking the shoes off, driving home to that certain someone who loves you, just the way you are, relax in their arms, knowing that "when you're with me, you've got nothing to prove".
Lonestar also shows us they are not afraid to reveal their sensual side with "Careful Where You Kiss Me (Jeff Bates, Wendell Mobley, Neil Thrasher)", whose upbeat sexy lyrics are playfully teasing. In "One Of Those Nights (Jason Sellers, Tom Shapiro)", the steamy lyrics smolder of wrapped around, tangled sheets, passionate kisses that always leads to "one of those nights, that leads to one of those days, that leads to one of those nights".
By far my favorite track on the album is "Hey God (Richie MacDonald, Tommy Lee James)", a lyrical prayer, a wake up call for all of us to slow our busy lives down to realize God's blessings are in everything….a lyrical prayer reminding us to never forget to thank God, not just for the joyful happy times, but to drop to our knees in the depths of our sorrows, not understanding His reasons, but humbly trusting His judgment, giving thanks through our tears.
This is the 9th studio release for Lonestar, a band once know as "Texassee" and it is filled with their signature ballads, mesmerizing harmonies and inspirational lyrics. Lonestar once again has a definite hit, perhaps destined for gold, a pure slice of country music at it's very best. I give "Mountains" 5 stars out of 5
