Rascal Flatts RASCAL FLATTS

Rascal Flatts: Gary Levox, Jay Demarcus, Joe Don Rooney.
Additional personnel: Larry Beaird (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason, Dann Huff, George Marinelli, Jr. (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, violin, fiddle, viola, cello); Tim Akers, Brian Siewert (keyboards); Jay DeMarcus, Joey Chemay (bass); Lonnie Wilson (drums).
Engineers: Marty Williams, Christopher Rowe.
Personnel: Paul Franklin (guitar); Larry Beaird (acoustic guitar); Dann Huff, George Marinelli Jr., Brent Mason (electric guitar); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, violin, fiddle, viola, cello); Tim Akers (keyboards); Lonnie Wilson (drums).
Audio Mixers: John Guess; Marty Williams .
Recording information: The Tracking room; Work Station.
Photographer: Russ Harrington.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Gary LeVox; Joe Don Rooney.
In 1999, Lyric Street Records introduced SHEDAISY, a female trio made up of sisters with great vocal harmonies. Rascal Flatts are Lyric Street's logical follow-up: a male trio made up (partly) of cousins, with, yes, great vocal harmonies. These harmonies are what make the group's self-titled debut CD stand out in a sea of cookie-cutter country.
The songs themselves, with a few exceptions, are standard country fare about love and relationships, but Rascal Flatts' sparkling vocal parts and some unexpected instrumental arrangements make them shine. The jaunty fiddle intro and the stacked harmonies on the lead track, "Prayin' For Daylight," make for an irresistible combination, while "Some Say" is so breezy and light that it sounds like summer feels. The grooving percussion and startling vocal breakdown towards the end of "This Everyday Love" turns a good song into a great one. Other highlights include the gospel-ish, bluegrass-tinged "One Good Love," the lovely "Long, Slow Beautiful Dance" and the heartbreaking "I'm Movin' On." RASCAL FLATTS displays that Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney can ably fill that vacant "male country vocal trio" slot...and then some.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Country