Search - Aaron Lines :: Moments That Matter

Lines' New CD has "Moments That Matter"

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 07/17/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Cheaper to Keep Her, It Broke Off, Nothing Like You



Aaron Lines lit up the radio lines in 2002 with the gorgeous ballad "You Can't Hide Beautiful." A track that gives voice to the heartfelt and yet unutterable longing of so many females that Lines had become a favorite among legions of female fans. Unfortunately, subsequent singles have failed to bespeak to life's situation with the same limpidity as his career defining hit. After a few mediocre singles, he was dropped by his record label RCA Nashville. Disheartened somehow by the superficiality of the music business, Lines returned to his home tuff in Canada. With the support of his family, the multiple CCMA winner is back with "Moments That Matter." And on this new release Lines sounds most at ease with himself, sounding more confident than on his previous releases. Further, such a newfound fortitude is evidenced by Lines co-writing or writing all the ten tracks on this new set.



Most transparent in terms of his new found confidence is in the choice of songs. Instead of just slavishly relying on over-produced radio staples, Lines has branched out to include riskier material. This includes the first single "Cheaper to Keep Her." Inspired by his friend's divorce and instead of writing a jaundiced diatribe, "Cheaper to Keep Her" is fiddled-laden barroom stomp of the loss felt by the divorce told with lots of witty and humorous lines. Also, novel is "Let's Get Drunk and Fight"--- no, it's not an invitation to a barroom brawl. Rather, "Let's Get Drunk" finds Lines in the marriage counselor's chair offering advice to a couple in a rut to let loose and be themselves again. The chugging radio-friendly "It Broke Off" tells of a self-sustained man loosing his composure on life in the face of life. With that irresistible hook: "I used to have a handle on life, but it broke off," "It Broke Off" has "hit" stamped all over it.



For fans who have wallowed in Lines' more serious side, there's much to indulge here. Sophomore single "Somebody's Son" is Lines' tribute to the victims of war which really questions the ethnicity of war with that haunting line: "I wonder if anyone ever wins (in a war)?" Written with Nashville's ace-team of scribes, Hilary Lindsey, Troy Verges and Aime Mayo, "Nothing Like You" is this CD's most romantic love song though not as effective as his hit "You Can't Hide Beautiful." Giving credit to where credit is due, the title cut "Moments That Matter" finds Line paying tribute to his family for their unwavering support.



Though Lines has struck a good balance between materials of various flares, there's nothing that really stands out as "You Can't Hid Beautiful" did. Nevertheless, as far as modern country CDs go, this indeed pass muster. And Canadian country also thinks alike as "Cheaper to Keep Her" has already shot to number 1 (which is also Lines' first number 1) in 11 short weeks. A fleet that is admirable. With its depth and diversity, this record indeed has enough moments that matter."