Customer Rating: 
Summary: Oaks' new CD: Front Row Entertainment
Comment: Prime Cuts: A Feeling Like That, Smaller, Jonah, Job and Moses
It is hard to be cool when your locks are grey and you look like Kenny Chesney's grandfather. Though tanked at the bottom of the barometer of "cool," this has not perennially stopped the Oaks from releasing songs that could give the Chesneys, Straits and Jacksons a run for their monies. Discounting the hip factor, this new release continues to usher some front-row material rich in melodic flare and affecting in its ability to stir the heart. This is because these paeans are red-carpeted by the who's who among the songwriters of country music including Paul Overstreet, Ron Harbin, Rob Crosby, Billy Yates, Steve Dorff, just to name drop a few. However, unlike their previous bluegrass detour "Journeys," "Front Row Seats" finds them back on the contemporary country route with an understated yet complimentary backing maneuvered with lots of fiddles, steel and slide guitars. Vocally, with their four-part harmony still in galore, they are still singing as if they were one voice with multi-dimensions of soul and heart.
Of the tracks that are a little on the less predictable side is the lead single "It's Hard to Be Cool (In a Minivan)." A light weighted popish ditty, "It's Hard to be Cool" tells of a guy's struggles in trying to impress a girl in a red corvette when he is driving a minivan with a baby sit. Though witty and realistic, it is somewhat hard imaging these aging dudes singing such a song pertinent with an adolescent tenor. Much more appropriate for the Oaks, given their soul-trenched Christian faith is "Jonah, Job and Moses." Utilizing the Biblical stories of these thee patriarchs of the Christian faith, this inspirational ballad calls for perseverance at hard times. Also serving as chicken soup for the soul is the Rob Crosby and Al Anderson slowie "Did I Make a Difference." Presenting a montage of stories of self- sacrifice, this heart-render luxuriates in some beautiful piano playing and soul-edifying steel guitars. Serving as pinch to workaholics is the acerbic "Smaller"--a sobering ballad that advocates the prioritization of the transcendent ingredients of life deserves repeated listens.
Of the tracks that deal with proverbial issues of relationships, Bobby Tomberlin and Steve Dorff's "A Feeling Like That" is a standout. A breathtaking ballad that revels in the simplicity of love brings out a sentimental and glowing tepidness from the Oaks. While the the gospel-tingled love song "Until You Get There" lives up to the lofty standards set by its co-writer, the ever-reliable Paul Overstreet (who penned Blake Shelton's "Some Beach"). Also notable is Richie McDonald's (of Lonestar) who co-writes the complaisant "Crazy Not To" boasting some excellent guitar riffs.
Over the years, the Oaks have made some stellar records. However ever since the 90s, their albums have been hits and misses. Nevertheless, "Front Row Seats" is a welcomed return to form. Not given to moment of snooze, the well-chosen songs from some of Music Row's finest writers coupled with the Oaks keening delivery, this effort ranks as one of the boys' best endeavors since their sublime "The Long Haul" CD. With an album this good, even if the hip factor may be illusionary, their front row seats will never be empty.
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