Garth Brooks was quoted at the time this CD was released as saying that this was "the most live album that we've cut", and it has a very basic up-close and personal feel to it; perhaps why I like much of country music is its lack of artificiality, and the making of great music without gimmicks and engineered manipulations (I'm obviously not counting cross-over "pop" country in that category). Here we have Garth's vocal mastery, with some virtuoso musicians backing him, giving us the real deal.
Garth co-wrote 5 of the 11 tracks, and the two songs that some find controvesial are my favorites: "The Night I Called the Old Man Out", about a rebellious son whoose father teaches him some old fashioned discipline, with a fist fight. "The blood came from my mouth and nose / But the tears came from his eyes". It has a fabulous rhythm and melody, as does "The Night Will Only Know", about an adulterous couple who are compromised to keep a dreadful secret. "But they would pay for their deceiving / For a deadly web was weaving / Why they picked that spot that evening / Lord, the night will only know".
It has a blend of slow and lovely ballads (Garth's sweet singing and the smooth, mellow saxophone on "One Night a Day" make it a winner, and "Annonymous" is truly romantic and beautiful) and rousing dance tunes like "American Honkey-Tonk Bar Association", and on all the numbers the musicianship is thoroughly brilliant, with each instrument given its time to shine.
This is some of the finest country music you can get; a combination of superb artistry and skill, and good for years of listening pleasure.
The sound is terrific, and total time is 40:42.
