It's been a little over two years since the release of Miranda Lambert's highly acclaimed album Four The Record. She just released her new single "Automatic" from her yet to be titled fifth studio album expected sometime this year. It's a song about the good old days and appreciating the little things. She co-wrote it, and it shows. It's always great to see an artist write and sing about things that are close to them and things that they believe in. It's a concept that shouldn't be so rare but unfortunately it is in a mainstream realm. She sings about things like her '55 Chevy that she still owns, growing up in the lower class, and the fact that she doesn't believe in divorce. This song is quite personal to her and I'm glad to see that there are people like Miranda out there on the radio that do care about the quality of the songs they put out. I really do enjoy this song, but the thing is though just because a song isn't super pop or doesn't sing about trucks and beers it doesn't mean it deserves to be rewarded on the highest degree. It's so easy to think just because something is a little different than what everyone else is doing it's groundbreaking and non-conformist. I think this song is a huge step up from 99% of the things on country radio, but in the grand scheme of things it falls a little flat for me. The intro starts in with a guitar and bass drum beat which sounds like a modernized version of "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way." (Ironically she is wearing a Waylon Jennings tank top on the single cover) The first verse is fairly simple but then the chorus comes in and I think it kind of ruins the theme of the song. The chorus is this big pop country breakdown with some electronic sounds added in. Even more of these modern electronic elements are included at the very end of the song and they just don't fit. It's almost like the song seemed incomplete or too simple so they had to add all this extra stuff to make it fit into the mainstream country norm. This song is about simple things and simple times. It was a perfect opportunity to make a great simple country song using country instrumentation and melodies. She made so many great ones in the past, especially on her two records with her group the Pistol Annies. Lyrically the song is great but it seems like a lost cause because the song itself contradicts a lot of what she is trying to say. Maybe it's because I know what she has done and what she can do that this safe mainstream appealing song doesn't quite do it for me. Keep in mind this is her first single off a new record. Everyone tries to make the first single click with the masses so they are aware they have a new album coming out and will buy it. "Baggage Claim" was her first single off Four The Record. It was super catchy and mainstream appealing and I think it was one of the worst songs on that album. I don't know what's in store for the next album but I'm looking forward to it. Miranda is a great writer who writes from the heart. She can make a great country record if she wants to, she has what it takes. We will have to wait and see.
Rating: B+
