Sawyer Brown - Can You Hear Me Now Audio CD
A fair review of the Sawyer Brown "Can You Hear Me Now" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all
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Band: Sawyer Brown
Title: Can You Hear Me Now
Rating: 
Release Date: 2002-06-11
Media: Audio CD
Tracks: 1: Can You Hear Me Now 2: I Need A Girlfriend 3: Circles 4: Where Was I 5: Hard, Hard, World 6: I Got To Have You Girl 7: When The Sun Don't Always Shine 8: Someone 9: Come Back Baby 10: I Got A Plan
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Sawyer Brown Hits Home....AgainI am completely Sawyer Brown byist. . or at least that is what everyone who knows me would say. However, that doesn't change the fact that "Can You Hear Me Now" is one of the best efforts of Sawyer Brown to date. "I Need A Girlfriend," "She's an I've Got to Have You Girl" and "Come Back Baby" are all fun, rock-style cuts on the album. The title track and the other soulful songs about the conditions of love and desire: "Where Was I," "Hard Hard World," and "Someone," deeply move me. In my life, I have been unable to find the words to tell someone how I felt about him, waited for love, lost in love and (hopefully) learned so each of the Sawyer Brown love ballads touches me, as the songs would anyone who has been through the same thing. "Circles" is such a moving song about the things we take for granted and how eternity and love touches our lives that I quoted it in my graduation/valedictorian speech. "I Got A Plan" sends the most amazing message about what people really need to consider in their lives that it is unforgettable. For me, this just another Sawyer Brown album that hits home.
The Problem with Hearing
They kept churning up hit after hit. In the early 1990s, Sawyer Brown could do no wrong. And it's not a mystery why: they have the guts to deal with real-life issues such as struggling farmers ("Cafe on the Corner"), infidelity ("All These Years"), fatherly affections ("The Walk"), and really fun issues about falling in love ("Some Girls Do"). The band certainly had caused it's dent in country music, and rightly so.
However, as with many artists from the 80s and 90s, as soon as the millenium turned, they were struggling at radio. The harder the struggle, the less inspired they were. This new CD, in all honestly, is a disappointment. While Sawyer Brown had always been on the cutting edge with their kind of rock/country music, on this CD, they have just recycled what they have done in the past. To make matters worse, the melodies this time round are not that strong. With its numerous rock tunes, this CD at times sounds like bad 70s rock.
"I Need a Girlfriend" is a cheeky attempt to carbon copy "Some Girls Do," but unlike "Girls" it fails to have a strong melody line. "She's An I've Got to Have You Girl" is as clumsy as the title suggests.
As the band progressed through time, Sawyer Brown has had become more and more serious, perhaps trying to move away from the boyband image. They have succeeded in the past with inspirational odes such as "The Walk," "The Dirt Road," and the underrated "Homestead in My Heart. " This time around inspirational songs abound: the best of which is "Hard Hard World"--a nice tribute to love in the midst of tribulation. The song is set at a slower pace--which gives the listener a break after the numerous uptempo numbers. "Circle," the debut single from this album, cleverly plays around the metaphor of circles, a symbol of unity. It's perhaps one of the most meaningful songs on the CD. "I need a Plan" is Sawyer Brown in more gospel territory; the song is upbeat and positive but again not too memorable.
Overall, there are some pleasurable moments on the CD, but they are far and between. Maybe Mark Miller (the lead man of the group) is just trying too hard. Maybe more outside songs (for the best of the songs here are not written by Miller, "Circles" and "Hard Hard World") would help and a fresher production that's more adventurous might do the group good. Here's hoping Curb Records will give the boys another chance. They have potential.
The Boys are Back!
My personal favorite is I Need A Girlfriend. This is just an awesome CD from Sawyer Brown! Like the other reviewers have stated, there is not a bad song on this CD. Another real great track is I Got to Have You Girl. The last track, I Got a Plan is just an awesome song to end a fantastic CD!
Thanks Guys!.
Can You Hear Me Now - Sawyer Brown's Best Music Yet!
As a 17 year fan of the band, I have listened as they have gone through different musical phases and grown as musicians, performers and most importantly, songwriters. Sawyer Brown's latest cd, "Can You Hear Me Now" is some of the best music of their careers. The material on "Can You Hear Me Now" is diverse - from the upbeat and fun "I Need a Girlfriend" to the mellow ballad "Somewhere Out There" to the soothing "I've Got a Plan". Sawyer Brown's vocals are mature and full bodied. Definitely one of their best projects to date!.
Great Stuff!
There's a great mix of emotion-stirring ballads and typical Sawyer Brown rockers. This is a great album! It's some of the best music they've had out in a while. This is sure to be a classic.
You can see a complete list of all Sawyer Brown discography, or go back to the Sawyer Brown tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.