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Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volumes 1 and 2 (2017) Album • Page 3

Discussion in 'Music Forum' started by Craig Manning, Apr 6, 2017.

  1. JRGComedy

    Trusted Supporter

    Digging the new tracks, but I can't help but feel that they are a little conservative. I would love to hear Chris's voice in a more soul/gospel vibe with some massive production
     
  2. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    Definitely not getting massive production as long as he's working with Dave Cobb.
     
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  3. JRGComedy

    Trusted Supporter

    Still love Dave though
     
  4. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    I do too. And I don't think a massive production album is what Stapleton wants to do or should do. What's special about him is how incredible his voice sounds even with none of the usual bells and whistles. I'm not opposed to him getting a little more experimental with whatever he does next, but I like the traditional approach.

    Also worth noting that all of these songs were "from the vault," so to speak. He hasn't written much since Traveller, so we're not really seeing the next iteration of Chris Stapleton yet.
     
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  5. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    Saw him last night. He's so good live, and his voice is just one of the best things I've ever heard. But man oh man do I wish I'd gotten a chance to see him live before he became the biggest thing in country music. People screaming during the ballads, talking over the new songs, and just generally being awful. I don't think he quite paced the setlist right, so maybe that's why people were being so restless, but it was just not a good crowd.

    Brent Cobb opening was clutch, though. That guy has a lot of potential.
     
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  6. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    Can confirm that Volume 2 rips.
     
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  7. Micah511

    We reach for the longest shadow

    Cool. Does it have a ripper like Second One to Know? A song as emotional as Either Way?
     
  8. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    I'd say it rocks a little more, on first listen. "Midnight Train to Memphis" and "Hard Livin'" are in the vein of "Second One to Know." Nothing as devastating as "Either Way," but "A Simple Song" is pretty poignant in a different way.
     
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  9. ChaseTx

    Big hat enthusiast Prestigious

    Vol 1 didn't stick much for me, but I'm ready. Scarecrow is good
     
    Micah511 likes this.
  10. ChaseTx

    Big hat enthusiast Prestigious

    Oh yeah except Up To No Good Livin, that song is a jam
     
  11. Micah511

    We reach for the longest shadow

    I didn't like how Vol 1 started and ended, but tracks 3-7 are all pretty cool.
     
  12. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    Really? I love "Broken Halos" and "Death Row."

    There seems to be more storytelling on this record, which I like.
     
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  13. Micah511

    We reach for the longest shadow

    Yeah, just a personal preference. I like Death Row more than Broken Halos. I feel like BH is just standard by the numbers Stapleton. It's fine, but that's all it is for me.
     
  14. abw123

    Trusted

    Broken Halos is great and Either Way is one of my favorite songs of the year for sure. Those are my 2 favorites off that album.
     
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  15. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    I feel like "Broken Halos" could have benefitted from a punched up recording. Maybe some harmonies or a guitar solo. It sounds a little like a demo.
     
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  16. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    Volume 1 won Album of the Year at the CMAs.
     
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  17. radiodead

    Trusted

    Meanwhile Sturgill Simpson is outside the CMA’s doing the good work.
     
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  18. Dave Diddy

    Grief is only love that’s got no place to go Supporter

    Interesting. While I liked Volume 1 it didn’t really stick in my rotation. There’s definitely other country albums I like more this year, although none of them are probably mainstream enough to even be considered for the award, outside of Isbell I guess.
     
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  19. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    It's been pretty constantly in the rotation for me, though I don't think it's as good as Traveller, and probably not as good as Volume 2 either. But it's been a consistent seller and they obviously love him.

    I'm still surprised he won, though. It's not a flashy album at all. Very workmanlike and restrained in songwriting and approach. I think the songs are great, but I figured they'd want something a little "bigger" to give AOTY to. I expected Miranda Lambert to win. Isbell would have been my pick, but that wasn't happening.
     
  20. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

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  21. abw123

    Trusted

    Pretty much had same reaction to Craig..........slightly better than Vol 1 overall, nothing as good as Either Way or Broken Halos, but really good.

    I find myself liking his little acoustic songs more than the full on barnburners.
     
  22. Micah511

    We reach for the longest shadow

    A Simple Song and Either Way are easily my favorite "acoustic" songs of his.
     
  23. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

    “Scarecrow in the Garden” is my favorite track on here. I’d love more of that Isbell kind of writing from him.

    Review coming later today, probably.
     
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  24. Craig Manning

    @FurtherFromSky Moderator

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  25. Micah511

    We reach for the longest shadow

    I don't know how much crossover there is here, but the guitars in A Simple Song remind me a lot of Iron Fist by Coheed & Cambria.