Part of the reason for the lack of annual or semi-annual album releases is because of Curb Record’s policy of not wanting to release albums until there’s a bonafide hit to help sell the record. The label has always operated this way and they show no signs of changing from this philosophy any time soon (it’s why it took Rodney Atkins and Lee Brice so long to break through). Another reason for Steve’s lack of album releases is the fact that radio seemingly doesn’t play his music enough but for once every five years or so. Look for that to change with Love Don’t Run.
The lead single “Love Don’t Run” is an obvious hit and if it was released by an artist who was in the ‘instant add’ category at country radio, it’d already be a Top 10 hit but as of the release of the Love Don’t Run album, the song is inside the Top 20 and is now the third biggest hit of his career. Regardless of chart placement, few songs sound as good as this tender, romantic ballad does on the radio.
Known now for both his ballads (“Good Morning Beautiful” and “Love Don’t Run”), Steve also scored a #1 hit with the spirited “Brand New Girlfriend.” “Hauled Off And Kissed Me” reminds me a wee bit of that song and it is one of four tracks co-written by Steve on this record. Album producer (and hit songwriter) Lee Thomas Miller co-wrote the tune with Jim Collins and Steve and it feels like it has a chance to be a big hit, something that can be said about the romantic “Until The Rain Stops,” a song written by Matt Jenkins (who wrote “Heaven” on Jake Owen’s Barefoot Blue Jean Night), Matt Ramsey and Trever Rosen. While neither of these songs says anything brand new lyrically, they are pleasant and fun slices of melodic ear candy.
It’s always interesting to hear a Rodney Atkins song sung by a different singer and that’s exactly what we get with “If It Gets You Where You Wanna Go,” a song that doesn’t have much room for vocal runs or anything of that sort but it has a message lyrically that is instantly relatable while the melody is tempo, tempo, tempo. Rodney Atkins co-wrote the tune with Jim Collins and Rodney Clawson.
Two songs dripping with ear-catching melodies and supurb vocals are the tempo-filled ballads “Heart of A Hero” and “Wonders.” The former, written by Kelly Roland, Nicole Witt and Pat Bunch) tells of the courage and sacrifice it takes to do what is right, no matter the fear they may have in doing such things. It really reminds me of Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy” on many levels which means it could be a whopper of a hit if released to radio. The latter tune was written by Steve Holy with Joel Brentlinger (“Pray For You”) and Steve Rutledge and it feels like a ‘partner’ for “Love Don’t Run” in terms of theme and message. The processed production may be bothersome to some but Steve Holy is most certainly strong enough of a vocalist to sing over it.
“Like I’m Famous” is another tempo-filled twangy rocker not unlike something that Tim McGraw would record. It’s the kind of song that tells of an average Joe being loved like he’s her famous superstar. He’s surprised by her love but what it really shows is that many women do really love their men like they’re famous because they are the leading man of their personal movies.
The record concludes with a strong cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” proving that Steve Holy is at home singing stone country classics as he is at singing rockabilly rave-ups, processed radio fare and contemporary ballads. The record has a ‘bonus track’ which is a less-produced version of Steve’s first big hit “Good Morning Beautiful.” What’s funny about this take is that the original version was pretty acoustic-based. Still, a good song is a good song and that’s definitely what “Good Morning Beautiful” is.
Steve Holy’s had an interesting roller coaster of a career but if the songs on this record are any indication, he’s soon gonna break his “every five years a big hit happens” streak and there are more than a handful of songs on this record that should be able to help him get there.
Buy: Amazon mp3 | Amazon CD
0 Comments