The Oak Ridge Boys were a revelation. They introduced four new tunes, and they were the best things I’ve heard them sing in 20 years. Their pitch-perfect, four-part harmony proved that they have lost nothing vocally over these many years. BOB OERMANN, @ MUSIC ROW (August 4, 2006)
The audience, its gears jammed in the high "woo" and "yeah" positions, reacted by clapping and swaying along to the many familiar melodies and snapping photos with cell phones retrieved from fanny packs. THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, Columbus, OH (August 9, 2006)
Smiles were common in the crowd. Old couples held hands. Young couples spooned vertically. A dad rocked his baby on his hip in time to the music. It was a hot night on the fairgrounds. It was a slice of America. GAZETTE XTRA, Janesville, WI (July 31, 2006)
(T)hey're part of the fabric of Americana...a marvel: utterly relaxed, supremely confident, vocally superb, and so supremely energetic... COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, KY (August 22, 2006)
Speaking of Middle America, the mini-van driving audience went nuts for the band’s new rocking song “(Hard to Be Cool) In a Minivan… CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM, Wellington, OH (August 24, 2006)
The Oak Ridge Boys serve as a reminder for the entire industry on how to evolve as an act over the course of time. They have lost none of their drive, their ability to select material that the public can identify with, and their delight in bringing that music to the masses in concert. Their recent performance at the CMA Music Festival is proof of the latter, and FRONT ROW SEATS is a fine example of one of Music City’s crown jewels continuing to raise the bar to a new musical level. NEW MUSIC MAGAZINE (September 22, 2006)
It was fantastic. I loved how they blended the classic hits with the new songs and the gospel selections. Top notch performance! Kris Losh, Country Club In The Morning, WKDW, Staunton VA (March 5, 2007)
(N)obody brings people together (more) than the wonderful Oak Ridge Boys. I left … wondering, how many of today's “hitmakers” could have drawn such a big crowd on such a miserable night. Tommy Jackson is a longtime Arkansas newspaper editor who now writes a weekly entertainment column for a number of papers in Arkansas and Missouri. (August 13, 2007)
Sounding like the day they brought home the Grammy award for best country group in 1981, the Oaks (as they’re affectionately known) brought a high-energy show and didn’t leave the audience disappointed. Gary Carter, HERALD DEMOCRAT ONLINE (October 29, 2007)
The Oak Ridge Boys have continued to make the journey no matter what... through all of the incredibly tough times, through changes and adversity, through financial struggles, record deals, touring, and through the challenges of both Gospel and country music and the industry that controls them… The Oaks have always had a higher calling than any other group I know of, (They are) the supreme example of a "class act" in every way. Matthew Gillian, Historian/Broadcast Personality/Entertainer (January 10, 2008)
FRONT ROW SEATS – A REVIEW
This legendary quartet first rose to prominence in the gospel field, then crossed over to country, where it ruled the airwaves in the '70s and '80s. In recent years, it has successfully revisited its gospel roots, but this time out the Oak Ridge Boys deliver a mainstream country record as potent and chartworthy as anything currently playing on radio. "Hard to Be Cool (In a Mini-Van)" is a clever tune many will easily relate to, while Duane Allen's warm, smooth voice delivers an emotional punch on the poignant ballad "Until You Get There." He also takes the lead on the compelling closer, "Did I Make a Difference." Somehow, Allen, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban and William Lee Golden are all singing better than ever, and they've put those distinctive voices to good use on this great collection. Deborah Evans Price, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE (October 31, 2006)
CHRISTMAS TOUR REVIEW
The quartet certainly painted this town red and white and green and gold. Their harmonious voices and warm demeanor made for a perfect intro into the holiday season. The Oaks entertained concert-goers with their big hits for the first half of the evening. But after intermission, it was all about Christmas. The snow was falling, the elves were dancing, the lights were twinkling and spirits were high. PANAMA CITY NEWS HERALD / THE ENTERTAINER
Reviews
