Rascal Flatts Address Emotional Issues with “Unstoppable” Album

Douglas Boultinghouse
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Courtesy of Rascal Flatts

Unstoppable - Country-pop trio Rascal Flatts released their sixth album, "Unstoppable," April 7. The album shows a more serious side of Joe Don Rooney, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus.

   Country crooners Joe Don Rooney, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus, better known as Rascal Flatts, released their sixth album, “Unstoppable,” April 7.

New Album

   The album, the first since 2007’s “Still Feels Good,” contains 11 tracks. Some stand out while the others fall into the category known as “Typical Rascal Flatts.” The Flatts possess talent and the ability to dominate the stage and charts, but unfortunately after six albums, everything begins to sound the same.

   Still, with that said, six tracks could be six of the trio’s best to date.

   “Here Comes Goodbye,” the emotional first single, became an instant radio hit.

   The song paints a painful picture that depicts goodbye as something that arrives. In the music video for the song, the actors bring the story to life in an Oscar-worthy performance.

   “Here comes goodbye / Here comes the last time / Here comes the start of every sleepless night / The first of every tear I’m gonna cry / Here comes the pain,” lead singer LeVox sings.

Putting It Out There

   “Forever” and “Things That Matter,” both put the sensitive side of the guys front and center.

   Rooney sings harmony on “Forever,” a track about a relationship living on, even after it’s over. LeVox tells a story with “Things That Matter;” one that serves as a chilling reminder to all who have forgotten what really matters in life. 

   A single message emerges from both songs; there is only so much time, so make the best of what you have in life. Nothing lasts forever.

   In mid-tempo form, the title track of the album, “Unstoppable,” continually builds to an inspirational chorus.

   “You find your faith has been lost and shaken / You take what's been taken / Get on your knees and dig down deep / You can do what you think is impossible / Keep on believing don't give in / It'll come and make you whole again / It always will, it always does,” the trio sings.

   The song “Once,” co-written by songwriting-genius and “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi, lets Rooney show off on the guitar.

  The alterations in music behind strong vocals and lyrics make “Once” the special gem on the album.

   “I’m so lost, I’m so alone, and I just want you to know / Everywhere that I go I’m reminded of us / Where we’ve been, all we’ve done and all the love that we shared / Once, you made the world feel so right / Once, you were my morning, noon and night,” the Flatts sing.

Addressing Suicide

   The last song on the album, “Why,” addresses a serious issue; suicide.

   On the band’s Web site, LeVox discussed the song by saying, "Songs like 'Why,' which deals with a very important and sensitive topic, put me in a place vocally where I've never been.”

   The song opens with the haunting lines, “It must have been a place so dark, you couldn’t feel the light reaching for you through that stormy cloud / Now here we are gathered in our little hometown / This can’t be the way you meant to draw a crowd.”

   The darkness and intensity only grows deeper as LeVox allows his emotion to pour out. The clincher comes when he painfully sings, “And who am I to try to judge or explain / But I do have one burning question / Who told you life wasn’t worth the fight / They were wrong, they lied / And now you’re gone / And we cried.”

   Other tracks on the album include: “Love Who You Love,” “Close,” “She’d Be California,” “Summer Nights” and “Holdin’ On.”

   The Flatts will hit the road this summer on the “Unstoppable Tour” to support the album.

   For more information on the trio, visit the official Rascal Flatts Web site.

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