Review Summary: "Those days are gone."
Author's Note: I'm not doing this
just because i'm a drooling sycophant for country music's version of *NSYNC. Recent events got me inspired.
Of course, y'all know me as the flaming Rascal Flatts fan on this site. I own it, it's my niche, it makes me me. What you probably don't know, however, is that the acclaimed country trio with sixteen number ones and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, have undergone a tumultuous end to their journey the last few weeks. After their planned farewell tour was cancelled due to the pandemic, they unceremoniously split up to pursue other interests, while being completely vague and ambiguous about the details. This year, lead singer Gary LeVox started actively churning out faith-inspired solo material (not my cup of tea, tbh) and guitarist Joe Don Rooney made headlines after a DUI arrest in September. Just two weeks prior, he and bassist Jay DeMarcus appeared at the Academy of Country Music Awards to accept the Cliffie Stone Icon Award on behalf of Rascal Flatts, though LeVox was neither present nor mentioned in their acceptance speech. LeVox and DeMarcus (second cousins) also don't follow each other on Instagram anymore.
As a diehard fan who trekked along with these these bandmates, brothers and best friends for the vast majority of my life, seeing them publicly collapse under the least ideal circumstances is very disconcerting. Now, I don't want to beat you over the head with tabloid gossip about three middle aged men who look and harmonize like Backstreet with a touch of twang. I figured writing would be an amicable outlet for my frustrations; first the pandemic deprived me of a proper goodbye with my favorite band and now I have to watch their demise unfold. I guess it serves as a reminder that the music industry is a mysterious, haunting place and while we may think our favorite artists are living a fairy tale, we have no clue what's really going on behind closed doors.
All that said, the news of their disbandment compelled me to stroll down memory lane. I started with their eponymous debut from 2000; felt going in chronological order was a good idea. "Prayin' for Daylight" is glowing as ever; heartbreak never sounded so fun and bouncy. "This Everyday Love" is the textbook love on fire only these guys can bring to life. "While You Loved Me" is a steamy, adult contemporary jaunt. "Some Say" is the band's ode to themselves, a pat on the back for even making it as far as putting that first record out into the world. "There's that star, the one they said we'd never reach," LeVox thankfully individuates. "See Me Through" is a nice showcase of the band's harmonies, a decent enough trade off for its bloated six and a half minute runtime. "It's Not Just Me" is another glossy ballad that sees the trio firing on all cylinders vocally. "Long Slow Beautiful Dance" is a rare taste of lead vocals from all three members. And then of course comes the absolute gut punch that feels rather prophetic at this point in time.
"I'm Movin' On" has been dubbed the group's finest moment on record. Countless stories have been shared of listeners and fans who pondered suicide but decided to turn their lives around upon hearing this song on the radio. Intimate, subdued and emotionally devastating, LeVox sings of feeling like a stranger in a sea of familiar faces. "I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong," he regretfully muses. The song's lone chorus is a glimmer of optimism in the face of the plaintive stanzas that surround it. The trio sings of new beginnings; "I have made up my mind that those days are gone," they proclaim. The track swells with fiddles, echoing keys and a sense of finality, closing the book on what would be just the first of ten full length efforts from the Columbus based trio. But, as I sit here smashing sentimentality into my keyboard, it feels more poignant and more like an
end than ever before.
I know it must sound silly to imagine that a band like this provided me with so much joy, but it's true. Their music saved my life. Talking about it is a labor of love. Your mileage may vary, but I think we'd all do well to find an artist or group who can be that for us. So, attempting to brush aside the bevy of negative headlines attached to their name that have come out in the last few days, all I can say to the band directly is:
thank you. It all started with a bombastic Tom Cochrane cover for a Disney movie. How could I have foreseen the happy dream it would start? I love you now like I loved you then. And I always will. Your music has been the greatest joy of my life and I'll hold it close to my heart as long as I live.
