From the time they came out in the 1990s, Lonestar was a band that instantly appealed to me.  I was and am still very much a mainstream music kind of guy (with lots of ‘alt’ stuff thrown in) so, even as the mainstream has changed a bit, I still like a majority of what I hear.  After surviving the loss of John Rich only to see Lonestar become the band it’s known as today, Lonestar and Richie McDonald parted ways in 2008 and the band decided to continue by picking up singer Cody Collins, a young man who previously was part of the short-lived group McAlyster, who released “I Know How The River Feels” to radio in the year 2000. 

Collins’ brings a different vocal dynamic to the group along with bringing a freshness and excitability about performing.  The quartet (which includes founding members Dean Sams, Michael Britt and Keech Rainwater) now has a sound that is less “sippie-cup” country and much, much more accessible mainstream country that fits in well between the latest singles between Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Easton Corbin and Carrie Underwood.  In other words Party Heard Around The World is one of the most mainstream of recordings that you’re likely to hear this year.  Eight of the 10 tracks are written by Lonestar members and the entire album was produced by the band.  Only “Let Me Love You,” which they released in 2008 as a teaser track, and “The Future” (written by Brett James and Matt Scannell, the lead vocalist of Vertical Horizon).

Collins’ vocals are clean and bright and he can really hit a really pretty falsetto note when he needs to, which is a skill not every singer can do.  “She Wants What She Wants” is a perfect example of where Collins hits those falsetto notes.  “You’re The Reason Why” finds the band firmly in their groove and that groove is the songs that came out during the Lonely Grill era.  This track is completely ready to be played at a wedding while “Y.O.U.” finds Collins singing with a little ‘grit’ to his voice and this up tempo track feels like it could have been on a Keith Urban album as the tempo, lyric, and melody all fit the style of songs that he’s made a staple on the country charts. 

The title track, “Party Heard Around The World” closes out the album and it does make for a curious title for a Lonestar album, for while this group has had their ‘uptempo’ moments, they’re not exactly known to the world as a ‘party’ band in the way that artists like Colt Ford or Randy Houser might be.  As far as this song goes, it’s a slice of countrified southern rock and the band could’ve really released this one for a summer time single as it has the tempo, fun and attitude that radio seems to favor during spring/summer time. 

While Party Heard Around The World isn’t as much of a ‘new direction’ as some fans might’ve expected it to be with the band going the indie route with their new lead vocalist, Lonestar has managed to make a record that explores their new sound without escaping the kind of country music that longtime fans of Lonestar have come to love and expect. 

You can support Lonestar by purchasing this album at Amazon or digitally at Amazon | iTunes.