Zac Brown Band - You Get What You Give
The country music genre is a tough one to get right in the mainstream, trying to ballance mainstream trends whilst sticking to your roots.
By and large, it would be fair to say that the Zac Brown Band managed to achieve this, whilst putting out a universally great album.
Criticisms regarding fairly generic lyrical content aren't exactly unfounded, but the instrumentation and clear knowledge of country music makes for an enjoyable album.
You Get What You Give peaked at Number 1 in the US Billboard Chart after its release in the States last year.
Whilst the country scene isn't quite as big here, the tracks here manage to have enough charm that, marketed well, The Zac Brown Band could crossover here in the same way Shania Twain did.
Due to Brown's vocals, the album may struggle to have the same kind of mainstream success in the UK, but has all the tools to prove us wrong.
The main pit-fall for this may be that, whilst it's a great album, You Get What You Give doesn't offer anything really fresh.
Lyrically and instrumentally, this is something any country fan has heard before, although it is carried out wonderfully.
Specifically, 'I Play The Road' is a great song about touring, but offers little that we haven't heard before.
That makes You Get What You Give slightly frustrating. It's tempting (and at times justifiable) to hail this as an incredible album with no real weak or 'filler' tracks.
However, as noted, these songs don't tread new ground.
Of course, at this stage it is next to impossible to create something completely original, and The Zac Brown Band deserve credit for what they've achieved here.
A definite positive is that this doesn't ever get repetitive, with songs like 'Colder Weather' providing a beautiful change of pace.
It's nothing new, but works as a sensitive ballad that showcases Brown's vocal talent.
Noteworthy is the 10-minute almost rock 'n roller 'Who Knows' an ambitious and brave song to include part way through the album.
It's one of the best tracks on here, proving that the Zac Brown band are something special.
In all honesty, this may not find the same success here as it did in the States, but that takes nothing away from You Get What You Give.
A solid album from start to finish, it proves that an album doesn't have to be groundbreaking to be consistent and great.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge