What feeling do you get when you think of nightfall? Odds are, Little Big Town’s latest album fully encompasses that feeling in one way or another. Little Big Town released their first full album, Nightfall, since The Breaker in 2017, and it comes fully equipped with new features. Nightfall was a personal project for the group, which demanded that they stretch their limits and rely on each other more purposefully than ever before. The album is self-produced by LBT, which might be the most noteworthy feature. It is the product of 13 delicately chosen songs from a vast multitude of options, and, so— Nightfall came to be.
Nightfall as a whole is a cinematic experience, in the words of Karen Fairchild, which is conceptually about connection and understanding in every variation of emotion. From songs on the album like “Sugar Coat” and “The Daughters,” which expound on societal expectations of women; or songs like “Forever and a Night” and “River of Stars,” which capitalize on the intense and objectifying state of love that knows no boundaries; or the rectifying familiarization of the misunderstood underdog in “Problem Child,” each song on the album represents something entirely different from the next. The magic, though, is despite different experiences expressed via individual song, the album collectively expounds on human connection as a whole. It expresses the relatability people feel in love, in lust, in struggle, hardship, loss, in whimsy, or in a social night of drinking, as imagined in “Wine, Beer, Whiskey.”
Each song is a different cloth woven together to create a coat of comfort for each listener. Each song has its own personality and musical flair, but somehow ties in effortlessly the classic and contemporary direction of country music in its current state.
As a personal LBT fan and pure enjoyer of country music, I have narrowed down my three favorite songs on the album:
1. Forever and a Night
Phillip Sweet takes the lead on vocals in “Forever and a Night.” It is a genuine cry of passion but packaged in an easy listening kind of way. Sweet’s sound makes the song successful. I am a fan of LBT individually and collectively, but I do believe that Sweet’s voice makes the song as charming as it is. He brings a texture and purposeful crack to his voice that progressively builds at the end of each chorus. The lyrics are deep and personal, but the sound is gentle and easy to listen to.
2. Throw Your Love Away
Kimberly Schlapman holds down the lead vocals in the heart aching “Throw Your Love Away.” It is the perfect counterpart to follow the deep sentiment of “Forever and a Night”—an unfortunate sequel, a cynical soul might say. And, also quite possibly a fitting sequel for song number three. “Throw Your Love Away” has a lighthearted, almost joyful sound accompanied by desperate lyrics of ridding every material thing but not being able to be devoid of a memory.
3. Trouble With Forever
“Trouble With Forever” is tried and true of the LBT sound. Karen Fairchild leads on the vocals of this one. It feels exactly as it sounds. The song goes through a turbulent relationship; it starts with high school infatuation mistaken for love and travels through time ultimately absorbed in a longtime relationship coming to a heart-stopping end. The song claims that even forever ends. I, arguably, think the ending is up to interpretation.
The complexity of the album is wrapped up in the hauntingly pristine harmonies that Little Big Town capitalizes on and captivates listeners with so well. Congratulations on Nightfall, LBT!
o