Four the Record [Deluxe Edition] Miranda Lambert

Lambert Continues to #OccupyCountry With Sass, Style, & Simplicityby Manchops

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November 02, 2011: Lambert Continues to #OccupyCountry With Sass, Style, & Simplicity "Four the Record" is a clever play on words. It is, after all, Miranda Lambert's fourth album on the country/western scene, and it continues to show her progress in exploring the depth of profound lyrics and sound. Sure, maybe this lovely lady can truly do no wrong in the eyes (and ears) of this fan from the beginning; but I'm always surprised at her ability to craft a lesson (be it a moral?) subtly within each and every one of her songs. Without pomp and without circumstance, Lambert holds up life itself to her musical mirrors, and the result is one of most laid-back records about restrained emotions to come out of country music this year. All Kinds of Kinds (5 out of 5): Living in this ever-crazier world, it's clear that it takes 'all kinds of kinds,' and Lambert explores the idea through a song that sounds like it'd be at home as a child's song. Perhaps that's the best audience to learn this fundamental lesson of life: "Ever since the beginning to keep the world spinning it takes all kinds of kinds." Fine Tune (4 out of 5): A bit of an experimental track with her voice clearly filtered thru one of those 'vox' units so common to pop music these days, "Fine Tune" is a bit of a healthy musical mystery - somewhat reminiscent of ELO's unique sound - played out with heavy bass, dreamy electric guitar, and a succinct snare drum. It quite probably sounds very little like anything she's done before, and, on those rights, it's a welcome diversion. Fastest Girl in Town (5 out of 5): "You've got the bullets, I've got the gun, I got a hankerin' for getting' into something ." This is quintessential, Southern rockabilly, country-gone-bad-girl country from a gal who knows how to do it like so few else with her own special talents. "Ain't you, baby? I told you I was crazy . I'll be wearin' nothing but a tattoo and a smile." This is quite possibly Miranda's theme song for life, if I'm not mistaken. Safe (5 out of 5): A soft, light backbeat - like a solid soulmate - keeps 'Safe' moving leisurely, a meditation about the comfort of being in a perfect relationship. "I follow you just like a shadow only closer in; if you get tied & bound, I'll find a way to free your hands; I'll wash them clean of everything but me." Wonderful. There's no doubt that having a love in her life makes songs like this easier to write than they were before. A musical valentine, if there ever were one. Mama's Broken Heart (4 out of 5): Country music has always staked out solid territory about broken hearts, and 'Mama's Broken Heart' slides comfortably through lands already explored many times, even by Lambert herself. "I've known the pain at the expense of my liver." Perhaps the only thing that elevates the song above the norm is that, under her watchful lyrics, she manages to wring new life by comparing her love-loss to love-loss of older, perhaps wiser women. "This ain't your mama's broken heart." Dear Diamond (4.5 out of 5): It's the song of a woman confessing her infidelity to the ring on her finger. "You cost more than he wanted to lose; and with this ring I said I do; I promise to never do what I've done; I've lied to someone, dear diamond." It's another 'traditionalist' ballad - exploring grounds not uncommon to country & western music - and Lambert has a talent of handling these without becoming trite or maudlin. Same Ol' You (4.5 out of 5): It's ama