Collectively, Lady Antebellum has only been making music together for two years. However the country sound of the trio is already hit laden, heart torn and road worn.
Straight from the gate, the twenty-something band members, comprised of Hillary Scott, lead vocalist, Charles Kelley, lead singer, and Dave Haywood, multi-instrumentalist, hit the No. 3 spot on Billboard’s country charts with “Love Don’t Live Here,” the first single from their debut self-titled album on Capitol Records.
The 11 track set was released April 2008 and got off to a fast start. It debuted on country album charts at No. 1 and on the pop charts of Billboard at No. 4. Paul Worley, industry veteran producer, and Victoria Shaw, highly respected performer and songwriter as well as a musical mentor for Scott, were Lady Antebellum’s producers. Since it was released, the album has sold around 5,000 copes per week according to Haywood.
“Looking For a Good Time,” the second single of the album, a bar-prowlin’, upbeat tune hit Billboard’s country charts at No. 10 for the week ending on September 27, 2008, climbing five spots in one week.
Haywood, in response to the single’s jump in the rankings said we are excited we broke into the top 20. It’s tough to compete against Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney, and nowadays album sales are weird. With iTunes you are able to buy one song only instead of the whole album. That has changed the industry. Now it’s a whole different ballgame. However, we’re excited to have one of the country singles chart’s fastest movers.
They have moved. All the way up to the top. Lady Antebellum, with their debut album out in stores for just a month, beat out Carolina Rain and The Wreckers, securing the Academy of Country Music’s award Top New Vocal Duo or Group at the 43 annual awards ceremony that took place on May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas. However just listening to the Lady Antebellum album with their vocal harmonies and driving guitar rhythms that are kismet, it’s not hard to understand the radio success or quicksilver win at the Academy of Country Music awards show.
Lady Antebellum, inspired by Southern and ’70s rock, including bob Seger and the Allman Brothers, along with R&B, soul, and classic country, delivers a contemporary and robust sound that has turned country fans by the thousands into recruits for Lady Antebellum. “Lookin For A Good Time” and “Love Don’t Live Here” have an evergreen appeal, and the players have been able to establish themselves as artists who need to be reckoned with. They also got to skip years worth of paying their dues by playing in honky tonks and VFW halls.
They co-wrote 10 of the tracks on their album. On “I Run To You” the trio visits Kelley’s high end range with Scott in tow on the vocals. Haywood instead of being on his usual acoustic guitar plays electric, boasting an easy groove great for sunset gazing or highway driving.
Scott shines brightest on the tune “Can’t Take My Eyes off You.” She evokes a vulnerability through her vocals on the song that doesn’t get much play anywhere else on the album. The track gives listeners a greater appreciation for the talents of Scott as being a lot more than merely a good harmony or duet singer. She is front and center here in a slow, unrushed dance that ends too soon undoubtedly for some of the fans.
The guitar work is mesmerizing on “Long Gone” from the very first acoustic strains. The voice of Scott kicks in, leading the song into its catchy bridge.
“Slow Down Sister” is another great cut on the album. Haywood, Georgia son, is the only member of Lady Antebellum on the writing credits. However Kelley, childhood friend turned band mate, on this toe tapping tune leads the charge on vocals, with warm guitar tones that are delicious and trickle just like honey.
Maybe it’s beginners luck, however Lady Antebellum deserves this ride. The debut of the trio, like the pre-Civil War time period they are named after, is a symbol of romance for revolution, although it’s an uprising that is filled with melody.
