Track Listing

1. Rockin' Horse
2. Backseat Of A Greyhound Bus
3. Restless
4. Niagra
5. Perfect
6. Need To Be Next To You
7. To Be Happy
8. Tonight
9. Otis Redding
10. Feel It Comin' On
11. I Give In
12. Big Cry
13. Suds In The Bucket

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40495 in Music
• Released on: 2003-08-19
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Sara Evans's 2000 effort, the platinum-selling Born to Fly, put her in the front ranks of the most promising of modern country singer-songwriters. As a woman with a strong traditional background, she found a way to marry contemporary sounds and sensibilities with her bedrock country and bluegrass history, and, with the help of producer Paul Worley, delivered a complete, believable, and very fetching record. But Restless sounds as if she and Worley just went in and cut a passel of songs. A lot of them carry a message of hope, of making "something magic out of something frightening," as she sings in "Rockin' Horse," one of five tracks she co-wrote. But most of them just sound as if she had getting on radio more in mind than anything else. It's hard to tell if the album doesn't know what it wants to be, or if it's Evans who's confused. Worley over-produced the majority of it with unnecessary layers and busy arrangements, and the repertoire ranges all over the place, from an awful attempt at swaggering R&B ("Big Cry") to the hay-bale-and-pickup milieu of "Suds in the Bucket." While the languid and affecting "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus" sticks in the memory and the sensual "Otis Redding" gets the hormones charged, too many of the songs just roll by. Evans remains a wonder of a singer, however, whether she's projecting her clearer pop voice or calling on the nasality of her Missouri barn-dance-and-bluegrass training, something in too short supply on this uneven effort. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Voice, Ordinary Material
The 2003 release from former Missouri farm girl Sara Evans contiunes her pop/country departure from her first two records like her most recent, Born To Fly. This CD features a theme of maturing, spreading your wings, especially on cuts like "Suds in the Bucket" and "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus." I like "Suds" and the other hit, "Perfect," but I love "Niagara," a fun, contemporary song typical of Sara's new material. Don't expect "Crying Game" or "Three Chords" from her earlier efforts, but Sara sounds like she know what she's doing.

I wish Sara would stretch her voice and let it fly, so to speak. Also, I'm not in love with the direction this CD's taking, but her beautiful, eloquent voice overcomes sometimes pedestrian material. Sara walks the tightrope between country tradition and mainstream accessibility, but I wouldn't call this a sellout. I believe an artist can be successful and maintain integrity;check out Lee Ann Womack. She's a complete throwback and unapolegetic about it. I love Sara's voice; she only needs the right material to express her gift properly. Recommended to any fan of new country.

A Different Sound
Sara takes a chance with "Restless". This is more of a pop album than a country one. However, the results are fantastic. Some of the hits on this album are "Rockin' Horse", "Perfect" "Restless", "Need To Be Next To You", "To Be Happy" and the chart-topper "Suds In The Bucket". It also includes ballads such as "Big Cry" and "I Give In". Every song has a catchy rhythm and great energy. I would recommend this cd even though it doesn't sound like country, but because it shows Sara's superb vocal range and talent. It proves that Sara can sing any kind of song; either country or pop. I would recommend this cd to anybody. Great job Sara!

Pick Up
Sara picked up the pace in her 4th album to good effect. This is the album of hers that I first heard and that got me interested in her. Sara recovered energy and tempo in this album in comparison wiht "Born to Fly." There are a number of good songs that serve as the pillars of this album, with very presentable songs in between. A strong 4 stars. Some worthy songs:

Rocking Horse
Back Seat of a Greyhound Bus - giving birth while on a bus trip
Niagra Falls - good imagery in this one, about love being as unstopable as a waterfall

Perfect - very catchy tune and lyrics

To Be Happy - stirring

Otis Reading - has a nice, homey feel to it. Sweetness of lover coming over

Feel it Coming On - great energy

Suds in the Bucket - excellent spirit and good story about girl who grows up real fast one day and leaves parents shocked