Four The Record [CD]

The only reason Four the Record got 4 instead of 5 stars is because I loved Revolution so much.

Miranda always moves on with her music and each song tells a story so the listener needs to actaully pay attention to the lyrics which means I'll probably want to give this 10 stars in future...

On first listen some of the tracks jar the ear but they're so cleverly written by Miranda you want to listen even if the track isn't what you expected (Fine Tune)and will grow on you.

Fav tracks so far Fastest Girl In Town, Safe, Mama's Broken Heart,Bagage Claim, Oklahoma Sky.

Good to see Miranda getting recognition she deserves. Looking forward to see what comes next as Miranda can write and sing anything and never sticks to the same old.

Miranda Lambert has done it again - her fourth album is original, fresh, inventive but with enough classic Miranda to please her fans. The songwriting, singing and production on this RCA album produced by Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke is remarkable. Several tracks feature Miranda's famous twang, the beautiful self-penned 'Dear Diamond' being one of the the albums finest tracks. Then the pace goes into overdrive: the second track takes the listener by surprise. 'Fine Tune' borders on 1980's Seattle-Grunge. But does it work? Absolutely, yes. It's brilliant. With it's heavy rock guitar and vocal reverb it may surprise people to know it was written by the same people behind her current hit 'Baggage Claim' - Natalie Hemby & Luke Laird.
Like 'Baggage Claim' with its powerful steel-string-acoustic thumping intro, we have 'Fastest Girl In Town' a song Miranda wrote with her fellow Pistol Annie, Angaleena Presley. It's hardcore country-rock, and catchy as hell.
Miranda wrote 'Safe' and it sounds very much like 'House That Built Me Part 2'. It's more upbeat but similar in terms of melody and message.
As if things could not get any better, just wait until you hear 'Mama's Broken Heart'. It's a foot stomping track about a wild woman, a darker and dirtier version of Gretchen Wilsons's Redneck Woman. It's pure, hardcore Americana country-rock.
'Same Old You' it's one of Miranda's Twangiest, most brilliant vocal performance ever. The track is written by the country-rocker Brandi Carlile and a more perfect song I can't imagine. It's pure Miranda and I can only hope Brandi Carlile provides more material for Miranda in the future.
'Baggage Claim', what more needs to be said? This current hit is about the most catchy song to hit country radio since Carrie Underwood's Before He Cheats.
So, can things get any better than this? Just wait: Miranda has colaborated with her guitar player Scotty Wray on the wonderful 'Easy Living'. Over the sound of a living room TV we hear Miranda's vocals move into Hank Williams territory. This sounds like a classic from another era of country music and reminds me slightly of Roger Miller/King Of The Road in its sentiment. Also, as of today - It would fit perfectly into the Pistol Annies set list.
'Look At Miss Ohio' is written by song-writing elite, David Rawlings & Gillian Welch and it's a stunning, moody, almost Eagles style track about a woman who knows her own mind, dodging a life of small town conformity, "I wanna do right but not right now". The chorus is mouthwatering & delicious.
Newly married to country superstar Blake Shelton, it's no surprise we have a duet and it's a track written by fellow Pistol Annie, Ashley Monroe and Charles Kelly of Lady Antebellum. It's perfect for country radio and an absolute grower. This is George & Tammy for the 21st Century. It's pure, raw vocal harmony.
Chris Stapleton who wrote Josh Turner's hit, Your Man - is responsible for 'Nobody's Fool'. It's classic Miranda but with a twist. It's on a bed of heavy drum and rock-guitar. It's a powerful vocal shout-out about being strong, tough and standing for no bull. It's not quite country radio but it's a southern-rock Travis Tritt style.
This is by no means a comprehensive review. There is far, far more to be said about this wonderful 14 (plus bonus) track, album. From the production to the choice of songs and Miranda's stunning vocal performance - this marks in stone - her place as the current queen of country music. Don't just pay to download the MP3's. OWN THE ALBUM.

I'm not a massive fan of country music, apart from Country-Pop Taylor Swift, but I really like Miranda Lambert.Her lyrics are catchy and witty and the tunes are fun and beautiful. This is a fantastic album and probably my favourite Miranda Lambert album. "All Kinds of Kinds" is a beautiful song and opener, one of my favourite songs ever in fact. This whole album is wonderful and hard to describe. It's just great! Buy this- you won't regret it.