Rodney Atkins- “Invisibly Shaken”

Initial Impression- Top 20

Prediction- His 5th #1 from one album!

Review:

An artist gets on a roll sometimes and his record company wants to get as much out of their money as they can.  When that’s the case, they may release a song to radio that they may not have normally had in order to try to keep their artist on a roll.  I’m not sure if this song was a planned single all along, but there’s no argument that Rodney is on fire.  His If You’re Going Through Hell album is/has been nominated for lots awards and has scored Rodney four straight multi-week #1 singles.  I bought the album while “Watching You” was climbing the charts, and cannot believe how good this album was for someone who just couldn’t get going a few years ago.  

Okay, I’m rambling on about one of my favorite all-time albums and this is a single review!!  The best things about “Invisibly Shaken” is that is a lot different than his previous 4 singles.  Instead of the medium- to fast-paced songs he’s had at #1 recently, this song is truly a ballad.  As a matter of fact, it’s one of only two on the entire album.  However, this is probably his best song on the entire album.  According to his liner notes, the fans requested this song a lot at his shows, so they recorded it.  He evens admits that it sounds much different than the rest of the album.  I think a lot of people who don’t have the album, will be surprised to find out that it is on the same album as his four #1’s.

The vulnerability that Rodney gets across in this song sells it for me.  The song is about a guy who’s taking a breakup well on the surface, but is ‘invisibly shaken’ on the interior.  This song is as good or better than some of the songs that are currently in the Top 20, and I think it’s so good that he’ll end up having his 5th #1 with it.  Great job!!