I Loved Her First

After Heartland’s emotional father/daughter wedding ballad “I Loved Her First” hit number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in 2006, the band realized they needed to record an album to put it on. This, their sophomore album, surfaced shortly after, brimming over with the kind of old-school country that fans of Alabama and Charlie Daniels are sure to appreciate — just listen to Heartland’s upgrade of “No Getting Over Me,” the slow-burning tune that Ronnie Milsap had a number one hit with in 1981. “Built to Last” is another heartstring puller with lyrics penned to play for a wedding reception. “Too Country” is a funky roadhouse rocker that champions modern day hillbilly livin’ with lyrics about tailgating, beer drinking, and cooking crawdads from the creek, while “Boys Like Us” and “Let’s Get Dirty” sound reminiscent of the A.M. radio country- rock popular in the ‘70s. “Freebird In a Firebird” is a boot-stomping twang-rock tune that struts like better moments of the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, as frontman Jason Albert sings of Skynyrd, summer, longnecks, longhairs and lighters held up high for guitar solos.