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Band Review: Lady Antebellum

So I am back writing for Outlook, AUB's official student newspaper, after "freezing my contributions" for a while due to some technical issues. Anyway, here's my band review for this week. Hope you like it :)

Lady Antebellum is an American country band that originated in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. It consists of three singers: Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, and Hillary Scott who share the lead and the background vocals.They released their first song "Love Don't Live Here" in 2007, and which served as a single in their debut self-titled album in 2008.This album was certified platinum in the United States. In July 2009, their song "I Run to You," from this album, became Lady Antebellum's first Number One. Soon after, they released the single "Need You Now," which became their second Number One and the lead song off their second album that holds the same name.

Although this band is relatively new to the music scene, it has been nominated and awarded several recognitions, some of which are prestigious. They were nominated for four Grammy Awards over the span of two years, while taking home the award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "I Run to You." Also, they were awarded Single of the Year and the Vocal Group of the Year for the same song by the Country Music Association (CMA).

This band stands out from others, especially due to their uniqueness in the country genre which in found in very few musical groups. They are also unique since they do not have one lead singer like most bands, but rather two males and a single female singer. The band’s debut hit “Love Don’t Live Here” shows off their ability to harmonize and work together quite well in their performance. It shows off Kelley’s vocal talent, mostly, but Scott blends quite well. It’s far from the best track on their debut album, however, that is not a bad thing. In fact, this song is a great start because it immediately shows off who the band is and acts as a great introduction to their unique and enjoyable sound.

The most interesting aspect of "Need You Now," their second album, is the tone of melancholy throughout. It directly shows how cheery the band’s countenance generally is, on stage for example, but more so because of how often they put sadness into songs that, on the surface, should not be sad. “Perfect Day,” the perky live-in-the-moment song, is mostly about trying and failing to carry that feeling beyond one passing moment, about the knowledge that the moment always passes. On the rest of the album, melancholy piano lurks at every corner, coloring the mood. When the vocalists proclaim their happiness, the mood evokes doubts. The saddest-sounding happy song on the album is the duet “When You Got a Good Thing.” As the title indicates, it’s a song of satisfaction and comfort, a declaration a couple has found a great love. The tone, though, is completely downcast. Everything about the song musically states dissatisfaction.

This band is definitely recommended for country music lovers but also for fans of alternative rock music, as Lady Antebellum's songs tend to have an alternative feel too.

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