Released 21 years ago this October
Real Fine Place
Sara Evans · 2005
68 min · 17 tracks · country music
A rich blend of heartfelt storytelling and contemporary country melodies that capture the complexities of love and home.
Top tracks — play these first
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A Real Fine Place to Start Start here — This title track opens the album with a catchy melody and relatable lyrics about new beginnings in love, setting the tone for the entire project.
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Cheatin' — With its infectious rhythm and sharp narrative about betrayal, this song showcases Evans' ability to blend traditional themes with modern sensibilities.
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Missing Missouri — This reflective ballad highlights Evans' emotive vocal delivery while capturing a profound sense of nostalgia and longing for home.
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These Four Walls — The song's poignant exploration of isolation within familiar spaces resonates deeply, showcasing Evans' skill in conveying emotional complexity through storytelling.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines storytelling with contemporary sounds, though it follows familiar country templates.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a more reflective tone with slower pacing.
- Several songs feature prominent storytelling elements, with lyrics that unfold narratives over the course of each track.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- heartfelt storytelling across tracks
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- nostalgic themes of homecoming
- empowering anthems for personal growth
- for late-night drives
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification songs
- seek high-energy party vibes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Evans' reputation with hit singles and strong chart performance.
- Themes
- nostalgic longing for Missouri· betrayal in love stories· new beginnings in relationships
- Career context
- Released on October 4, 2005, Real Fine Place marked Sara Evans' fourth studio album. At this point in her career, she was building on the success of her previous album, Restless, which had solidified her presence in the country music scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Martina McBride· Reba McEntire· Kacey Musgraves
Tracklist
- 1 Coalmine 3:28
- 2 A Real Fine Place to Start Start here 4:03
- 3 Cheatin' 3:29
- 4 New Hometown 3:57
- 5 You'll Always Be My Baby 4:40
- 6 Supernatural 4:41
- 7 Roll Me Back in Time 4:58
- 8 The Secrets That We Keep 3:43
- 9 Bible Song 4:48
- 10 Tell Me 3:58
- 11 Missing Missouri 4:18
- 12 Momma's Night Out 2:55
- 13 These Four Walls 4:35
- 14 Caged 3:31
- 15 Best Days Are Coming 4:02
- 16 You 3:34
- 17 Suds in the Bucket (live) 4:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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