Little Big Town – “The Reason Why”
Songwriters: Little Big Town, Wayne Kirkpatrick
Little Big Town experienced a commercial resurgence in 2010 with “Little White Church,” the first single from their latest album The Reason Why. But that song’s Top 10 finish was followed by the limp chart performance of “Kiss Goodbye,” a subtle ballad that failed to score points with radio programmers.
The quartet works to rebound with the set’s uptempo title track. “The Reason Why” is a tuneful four minutes that starts slowly but builds to a satisfying climax. Its simple, understated arrangement allows the myriad emotions–tension, joy, nervousness, generosity–to stand front and center. Most radio fare offers little musical insight or intrigue, but “The Reason Why” is a winning take on the template first developed by their Seventies pop-rock predecessors.
On “The Reason Why,” Little Big Town lays out a series of standard lyrics about finding the perfect romantic partner. The song isn’t poetry until it’s put into motion. With Karen Fairchild’s edgy, twangy voice burbling with confidence, she sounds ready to put aside any distractions and surrender to her new love. As she sings with tender sincerity, she sounds more smitten than she’s ever been.
At first, Fairchild sings alone to a bruising electric guitar riff, but eventually her bandmates chime in with their trademark harmonies. Then husband Jimi Westbrook ably handles the second verse, veering into the swelling chorus that closes “The Reason Why”: “You’re in my head, like a song I can’t forget,” he sings. “I wanna hear it over again and again.” It would be easy to see how the couple’s relationship inspired the song’s sentiments.
Now that Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band are both on a blistering roll, Little Big Town has often gotten lost in the shuffle. But this underrated act continues to be one of the most consistent performers on Music Row. The reason why? Classy performances like these.
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March 3, 2011 at 8:31 am
I love this song and everything Little Big Town, but “Why Oh Why” screamed to be the follow-up single to “Kiss Goodbye.” It’s one of the best tracks on the album.
With the current popularity of groups and duos in country music, it’s only fitting that LBT share in a piece of the pie. They are easily the best of the bunch, right behind Zac Brown Band.
I’ve never understood why LBT isn’t a massive success story. Radio needs to get its act together quickly.
March 3, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Love their sound but do not think they will continue their success. The “Little White Church” was an aberration of the continued seeming decline. Don’t understand as they are a great group. Another example of switching to a larger label then going downhill from there. Best of luck to them.
March 3, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I have to agree with Waynoe…This is just bad pop…Which is what Nashville puts out now because that’s what all the label and band people grew up on. They can’t do anything that has any merit. I don’t understand either how Little Big Town gets all the press they do…Two hits and all others stiff pretty much. Please bring out something more original than this…Anyone!!!
March 3, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@Charles – You stated, “…Which is what Nashville puts out now because that’s what all the label and band people grew up on.”
You hit upon one of the major reasons for the music produced today from Crapsville.
March 3, 2011 at 1:57 pm
I’m a big fan of this group, but I was really disappointed with this last album.
March 3, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Love it. Love them. They make everything sound special!!
March 3, 2011 at 5:52 pm
This album was a slow grower for me, but lately I’ve fallen totally in love with it. I don’t know about this as a single, though — the intro requires entirely too much patience for country radio. I would have picked “Runaway Train” or “Why Oh Why” myself. Not that anyone asked me.
March 3, 2011 at 6:09 pm
…and Crapsville claims another victim.
March 3, 2011 at 6:17 pm
I’d like to hear LBT make an album along the lines of Dierks’ “Up On The Ridge”, only with much better songs…
March 3, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Yeah, I’ve never found anything particularly interesting about LBT’s singles. I’ve never been a fan of their “Seventies pop-rock predecessors”, and honestly find songs like this boring. Don’t mean to be too harsh, but I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be hearing besides a basic pop melody and chords and unoriginal lyrics set to outdated pop production? Nice harmonies, I suppose.
March 3, 2011 at 9:03 pm
I was very disappointed that “Kiss Goodbye” didn’t catch on with radio like “Little White Church.” LBT’s current style might not owe much to traditional country, but I still think the style works well for them, though there harmonies are the real treat. I think the song itself is decent, though not outstanding. But their performance elevates it greatly in my book. I think it’s a great single. It might be more pop, but it’s awfully good pop.
March 4, 2011 at 6:51 am
…this didn’t do much for me after the first few spins but a day later i find it incredibly catchy and well sung. guess that’s what lbt is all about – some of the best vocal harmonies in country. no doubt, this is gonna be a hit for them since it’s awfully good pop, indeed.
March 4, 2011 at 7:49 am
Just another act that has trouble gaining traction from one single to the next. It’s a tough business and the competition is more heated than ever. Some acts just get lost in the shuffle. LBT seems to be one of them, at least as far as hit singles are concerned. It doesn’t mean they’re not producing good music.
March 4, 2011 at 8:25 am
I beleive in their past before they became beter known they came out with a pop influnece and it went nowhere. Now we are back to that?
March 4, 2011 at 8:34 am
I’m a fan. They have such a great sound and I hope they lean more on the traditional in future projects. It’s their niche.
March 7, 2011 at 11:09 am
If you haven’t, try to find the Crossroads with LBT and Lindsey Buckingham…It is so uncomfortable to watch as LBT tries So So hard to put themselves in the same category and level as Fleetwood Mac as Lindsey Buckingham kinda subtley brushes them off.
March 7, 2011 at 11:11 am
Excellent choice, and this really should’ve been the 2nd single. Wonder how much momentum they have left now that Kiss Goodbye killed off everything they had going for them. Hopefully radio gives them a rebound here!
March 7, 2011 at 11:48 am
@Charles: I was in the front row at that taping, and I can assure you that you’re reading the performance precisely wrong. Buckingham seemed thrilled to have the kind of strong vocal support he hasn’t had in FM since Christine McVie left the band. He was positively jubilant the whole time.
March 7, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Yeah…On stage is one thing to put on an act, but I am talking about the interview portion of the show.
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