Changed

Despite its title, <i>Changed</i> doesn’t mark a radical departure from this country-pop trio’s expert blend of soaring harmonies, catchy melodies, and genre-crossing arrangements. What makes the album’s songs resonate most strongly are the lyrics' very human themes and the ability of band members Gary LeVox, Jay Demarcus, and Joe Don Rooney to make them feel real and immediate. The title track sets the album's overall tone with a message of spiritual rebirth. The upbeat “Banjo” and the mandolin-accented “A Little Home” touch deep strains of small-town nostalgia. The album’s ballads (especially “Come Wake Me Up” and “Let It Hurt”) are unabashedly emotional affairs with heart-tugging choruses. At the spectrum's other end is “Hot in Here,” a summertime romantic vignette that’s both steamy and smooth. LeVox remains one of mainstream country's most engaging lead vocalists, keeping his downhome charm even when veering into arena-rock territory. <i>Changed</i> stays faithful to Rascal Flatts’ core appeal, even as it celebrates the promise of renewed love and fresh beginnings.