While their career has had a rocky ride stateside, in their native country Canada Emerson Drive are undoubtedly stars. Thanks to this status, the band has released A Decade of Drive: 10 Years of Hits via Open Road Records in Canada.  The first hit of their career, “I Should Be Sleeping” kicks off the album and showcases the immediate talent the group possessed, including their ability to play all of the instruments played on the songs in the studio, something that was uncommon, given the strength of the studio musicians in Nashville.  “Fall Into Me” showcased their harmonies and how their country/pop sound melded well with radio themes at the time as it became the group’s second consecutive Top 5 hit.  “Countrified Soul” was a big hit in Canada right before “Moments” became the last hit from Emerson Drive to hit the Top 10 and is so far their only #1 hit in the USA.  The latter tune proved that not only could a great song still make the top of the charts but it also proved that a great vocalist could get to the top with the right song; no matter how small their recording company is (It was Midas at the time). 

The last album from Emerson Drive, 2009’s Believe never scored a release date in the USA, mainly due to the fact that Midas Records Nashville and Big Machine Records severed ties which left the group without a USA-based label.  Still, the open road records recording delivered quite a few hits to country radio in Canada, including “The Extra Mile,” “Believe” and “Belongs To You,” the last tune of Emerson Drive’s to break the Top 40 in the USA.  What’s odd is that Emerson Drive’s “What If? Album has only one track, an acoustic take on “November,” featured on this coolection while “A Good Man” and “Everyday Woman” are taken from Countrified and then “I Love This Road” and “That Kind of Beautiful” are from Believe.

The Decade of Drive album features three new singles, including the fantastic “When I See You Again.”  It’s a song that could be paired with Moments” as a cousin of sorts as it discusses the aftermath of losing a treasured friend or family member.  In a perfect world country radio would play the heck out of this tune but given how they wouldn’t play “Why” from Rascal Flatts or “I Will Not Say Goodbye” (songs with similar themes), then I doubt if US radio will play this beautiful and heart-felt tribute to the loss of band member Patrick Bourque.  The other two new tracks on record include the jovial “Sleep It Off” and upcoming USA single “Let Your Love Speak,” a song that mixes the rhythmic island vibe of a Jack Johnson song with a contemporary country/pop feel.  It’s a sound that suits Emerson Drive and could really help the group get some more airplay on country radio. 

While it’s true that Emerson Drive isn’t a band for everyone out there, particularly traditionalists, A Decade of Drive proves that the groups talent is real and that talent has allowed them to survive in a market where bands come and go on a seemingly daily basis.

Video: When I See You Again

Video: Moments

Video: I Love This Road

Video: Belongs To You

Audio: That Kind of Beautiful

Review: Believe

Lyrics: Emerson Drive Lyrics