Tim McGraw - Emotional Traffic
By: George Peden, Sr. Staff Journalist
The wait is over. Almost. For keen and eager Tim McGraw fans pencil in January 24, as that’s the arrival date for Emotional Traffic, the new album from one of country’s hottest performers. With the well-publicised artist/label contractual shackles loosened, McGraw is back with an album he states is his best effort in three decades of
music.
He may be right. Having snared an advance listen to the 12 tracker, I won’t pop champagne or throw streamers, (McGraw is evolving musically and much of this album skirts close to testing boundaries, to my ears anyway) but I will say it’s an album that ticks most of the boxes.
For the talented singer and actor, Emotional Traffic builds on a solid base of thirty-two number one hits and the envied kudos of being the most played on American radio of the last decade. It’s all further proof, if any is needed, this Indian Outlaw hit maker with the smooth the vocals, polished tunes and tight instrumentation knows how to move and maintain an audience.
Test tasting for the album began with the earlier released chart climber “Felt Good On My Lips” and the current at radio
spin, “Better Than I Used To Be”. To maintain the momentum, Curb Records has the digital single “The One That Got Away” released this week. One thing for sure with this “Artist of the Decade” is that he never fails to deliver with top-drawer albums. To the fans, this will be a belated Christmas gift.
Given McGraw’s vocal range and talent, with the chops to make ballads bleed and twang rock, the album rides the range, and comfortably, with a cross fusion of weepers and toe-tappers.
“Halo”, a grizzled view to the inside of a rocky relationship, opens the album and has McGraw raising rafters with a voice
powered and sensitive. Reflective and paced, the tune sits well with the defining “I Will Not Fall Down”, and the self-probe of “Only Human”, featuring R&B star, Ne-Yo. They all make a fine album good.
Other standouts include "Right Back Atcha Babe,” the funky “Hey Now,” “Die By My Own Hand”, and the thought inspiring “Touchdown Jesus” (Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip).
Not too many will sit on red with Emotional Traffic. Me, I’m on amber, But if you’re rearin’ to go, waiting on green,
January 24 is the date.
The wait is over. Almost.
Track listing:
1. Halo
2. Right Back Actha Babe
3. One Part, Two Part
4. I Will Not Fall Down
5. The One
6. Better Than I Used To Be
7. Touchdown Jesus
8. The One That Got Away
9. Felt Good On My Lips
10. Hey Now
11. Only Human
12. Die By My Own Hand
www.timmcgraw.com
The wait is over. Almost. For keen and eager Tim McGraw fans pencil in January 24, as that’s the arrival date for Emotional Traffic, the new album from one of country’s hottest performers. With the well-publicised artist/label contractual shackles loosened, McGraw is back with an album he states is his best effort in three decades of
music.
He may be right. Having snared an advance listen to the 12 tracker, I won’t pop champagne or throw streamers, (McGraw is evolving musically and much of this album skirts close to testing boundaries, to my ears anyway) but I will say it’s an album that ticks most of the boxes.
For the talented singer and actor, Emotional Traffic builds on a solid base of thirty-two number one hits and the envied kudos of being the most played on American radio of the last decade. It’s all further proof, if any is needed, this Indian Outlaw hit maker with the smooth the vocals, polished tunes and tight instrumentation knows how to move and maintain an audience.
Test tasting for the album began with the earlier released chart climber “Felt Good On My Lips” and the current at radio
spin, “Better Than I Used To Be”. To maintain the momentum, Curb Records has the digital single “The One That Got Away” released this week. One thing for sure with this “Artist of the Decade” is that he never fails to deliver with top-drawer albums. To the fans, this will be a belated Christmas gift.
Given McGraw’s vocal range and talent, with the chops to make ballads bleed and twang rock, the album rides the range, and comfortably, with a cross fusion of weepers and toe-tappers.
“Halo”, a grizzled view to the inside of a rocky relationship, opens the album and has McGraw raising rafters with a voice
powered and sensitive. Reflective and paced, the tune sits well with the defining “I Will Not Fall Down”, and the self-probe of “Only Human”, featuring R&B star, Ne-Yo. They all make a fine album good.
Other standouts include "Right Back Atcha Babe,” the funky “Hey Now,” “Die By My Own Hand”, and the thought inspiring “Touchdown Jesus” (Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip).
Not too many will sit on red with Emotional Traffic. Me, I’m on amber, But if you’re rearin’ to go, waiting on green,
January 24 is the date.
The wait is over. Almost.
Track listing:
1. Halo
2. Right Back Actha Babe
3. One Part, Two Part
4. I Will Not Fall Down
5. The One
6. Better Than I Used To Be
7. Touchdown Jesus
8. The One That Got Away
9. Felt Good On My Lips
10. Hey Now
11. Only Human
12. Die By My Own Hand
www.timmcgraw.com
