There was going to be a lot of hype for new Garth Brooks music in the first place, but the constant delays on a new single only increased the anticipation. Did it live up to the hype? Well... sort of. "People Loving People" features some positive elements, and some bad ones.
The positives? The message is a good one, about the only way to help this world is to all get along and stop our petty arguing. It's one that I wholeheartedly agree with, and one that likely resonates well with many listeners. The other positive element is the strong melody, which perfectly portrays the feeling intensity the song attempts to portray.
The negatives? The vocal here is so incredibly thin and weak. I've never been a huge fan of Garth Brooks as a vocalist. I wouldn't say he's a poor vocalist, but he's never blown me away either. However, he has always been front-and-center in his recordings, and that quality is missing completely here. He honestly sounds like an amateur. Likewise, "People Loving People" sounds like it was recorded in someones garage. It's like watered down arena-rock. I get what they were going for here, but they failed miserably.
There are enough positive components here to not make it a station changer, but too many negative elements to keep it from being classic. As it is, we're left with a middling result.
Grade: B-
Listen: "People Loving People"
The positives? The message is a good one, about the only way to help this world is to all get along and stop our petty arguing. It's one that I wholeheartedly agree with, and one that likely resonates well with many listeners. The other positive element is the strong melody, which perfectly portrays the feeling intensity the song attempts to portray.
The negatives? The vocal here is so incredibly thin and weak. I've never been a huge fan of Garth Brooks as a vocalist. I wouldn't say he's a poor vocalist, but he's never blown me away either. However, he has always been front-and-center in his recordings, and that quality is missing completely here. He honestly sounds like an amateur. Likewise, "People Loving People" sounds like it was recorded in someones garage. It's like watered down arena-rock. I get what they were going for here, but they failed miserably.
There are enough positive components here to not make it a station changer, but too many negative elements to keep it from being classic. As it is, we're left with a middling result.
Grade: B-
Listen: "People Loving People"
