Comments on: Album Review: Trisha Yearwood – Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love

By: Hollerin' Ben

Hollerin' Ben — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:13:37 +0000

I finally heard the Trisha Yearwood album and I was really really impressed.

I totally agree with your quote Jim that “the individual pieces of this album fit together snugly, pieces of puzzle that, when connected, form the portrait of a mature, complicated, and passionate real live woman.” That’s right on and very well put.

Just to be a stinker though, I wouldn’t really call this a country album. There were a couple of country moments on the record, but it sounded to me for the most part like a Broadway musical set in modern day Nashville (with the steel and occasional fiddles) and “Dreaming Fields” could have been straight out of Ragtime.

That’s not a bad thing mind you. I like musicals as a rule, and I consider them to be the gold standard in pop songwriting and performance. The music is sophisticated and intricately planned out, always well arranged, and the performers are some of the most highly trained and talented singers anywhere.

That being said, Broadway music is not country music, its incredibly good pop music.

Back to Trisha, I think that this was a great album, by far the best mainstream album I’ve heard in a really really long time, but is this the kind of album that Nashville should aspire to?

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:28:03 +0000

What can I say that this flawless and becoming review hasn’t said already. This album is awe-inspiring. Still, I would have to say it still isn’t my favorite Trisha Yearwood album either. Actually, no one even mentioned my favorite, Inside Out. I loved every song on that one and it was in my car’s disc changer for about 2 years non-stop … it’s still the only album to accomplish that. Not even Reba could do that …

By: chaz

chaz — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:40:54 +0000

I would have to agree ” Hearts In Armor ” is the best Yearwood album. Followed by her self titled debut…but Heaven Heartache And The Power Of Love is yet another amazing album. I personally dont think Trisha Yearwood has put out a bad album. And when she covers a song …The eagles ” New Kid In Town ” she did. She makes it her own and blows the orginal out of the waters. Another example, ” Try Me Again ” from Real Live Woman. Yearwood remains one of the most talented voices working in music today ( and past )

By: Jim Malec

Jim Malec — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:46:53 +0000

Oh, like I said, I think many people consider it their favorite Trisha album. It's very, very good, no doubt--but I think it has some issues, not the least of which is that fact that half of the record has aged very poorly. Every album is, to an extent indicative of its era, but that album (at least the up-tempo) part of it, is saturated with way too much reverb and the chunky rhythms that were at the core of so much early 90s country music. Obviously, it's impossible to tell how well Heaven will hold up over time, so I would compare Hearts in Armor to something a bit closer, chronologically speaking. Specifically, I'd compare it to Thinkin' About You, which features what I would say is a better, more effective mix of songs, as well as songs which are more distinct individually.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:59:30 +0000

I’m trying to pull up a weak spot on “Hearts in Armor” in my mind and I’m drawing a blank. I guess that’s what makes it my favorite Trisha album, if not necessarily anyone else’s.

By: Jim Malec

Jim Malec — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:05:21 +0000

Interesting comments regarding her “best” album. I know a lot of people would call it Hearts in Armor, but I think there are just too many weak spots on that record for it really be considered a classic.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:02:37 +0000

Pete-

She’s already got a Grammy nomination for the title track, but I imagine that’s the only award show that’s going to give her any love. I guess she might have a shot at CMA Female Vocalist, but they didn’t nominate her after “Jasper County”, so who knows.

IMO, the best Trisha Yearwood album remains “Hearts in Armor”, with this one and “Real Live Woman” near the same level of quality. Really, all of her Fundis-produced albums have been excellent. The only album he’s produced of hers that I don’t love is her debut CD – it sounds a bit too generic – but she was very green then.

By: Peter Kohan

Peter Kohan — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 02:16:15 +0000

I just got this CD in today and am now listening to it. Wow does Trisha sound terrific here. WOW! This is one of the classiest and most consistent recordings I’ve heard in some time. And kudos to Trisha and her producer Garth Fundis and the Big Machine A&R team for picking sparkling songs that allow her to showcase her artistry (and kudos to those songwriters as well – songs of that quality are positively inspirational to listen to).

If she isn’t up for every top award come next year every music organization worth its salt ought to hang their head in shame. It’s hard for me to imagine someone coming up with a better set of tunes, though we’d all be the better for it if someone does, as it would indicate that the level of talent we all know the Country genre to possess is allowed to flourish.

Side note – When I was dating my wife she was really into “How Do I Live” – she’d literally BAWL every time she’d hear it. she used to tell me it was “our song.” I think I talked her down off that ledge – who wants their song to be a break-up song, know what I mean? ;)

By: Ron W.

Ron W. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:27:29 +0000

I haven’t heard this one yet, but I think her best album is “Real Live Woman.” It has some fantastic, soul-bearing songs.

By: Jim Malec

Jim Malec — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:43:20 +0000

Just curious, Paul–what do you think her best is? I had one in mind as I wrote this review, but in the end I decided on this one. But it was close.