A hallmark trait of good country songs is the authentic sound- the distinct guitar chords and strong voices that sound the same live as recorded. Unfortunately, these qualities were severely lacking from most tracks on Little Big Town’s latest album, “Pain Killer.”
The group’s sixth album, released Oct. 21, is made up of unoriginal lyrics and at times sounds heavily auto-tuned.

In the music world of today, it is becoming increasingly rare for artists to write their own songs. Knowing this, we give Little Big Town credit for the eight original tracks on “Pain Killer.” However, the majority of these songs didn’t do justice to the group’s vocal talent. As one of the few country quartets, Little Big Town has the unique ability to harmonize. This gift was wasted throughout the album with songs that often showcased one member while the others acted as backup singers. The few bright spots in the otherwise average album were when all four voices came together to perform several beautiful ballads.

The disappointing title track “Pain Killer” is composed of cliché lyrics like “You’re my pain killer/a little dose of you goes a long, long way/you’re my pain killer/ you take me away.” This song is basically just a chorus repeated for three minutes while the verses in between do nothing to support it. The tempo is off, stuck somewhere between a fun sing-along song and a “just sway awkwardly in the corner” beat.

The high point of the album comes in the tenth track, a hauntingly beautiful ballad entitled “Live Forever.” This is the first time that the true vocal range of all four artists is apparent. The tempo and message of the song are reminiscent of fellow country group Lady Antebellum’s “Golden.” However, it still maintains originality through striking imagery such as, “you and me/wild as willow in a hurricane/strong enough to stand in the stormy weather.”

The last track “Silver and Gold” finally strikes a balance between featuring one voice and relying on the talent of the other members to round out the melody. The strong vocals of Jimi Westbrook are showcased while the harmonies provided by Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet and Kimberly Schlapman come through. Most of the album features rock-style electric guitar, yet the lyrics in “Silver and Gold” are accompanied by acoustic chords. This allows the group to return to their country roots in the final minutes of the album.

After listening to “Live Forever” and “Silver and Gold” it is hard to understand why Little Big Town’s popularity stems from shallow songs about “Day Drinking” and floating on the “Pontoon.” Clearly, their strength lies in more meaningful tunes like these.

Overall, “Pain Killer” is an entirely mediocre album. Attempts to experiment with an electronic sound fall flat, coming across as hollow and tinny. Quality lyrics and strong harmonies are too few and far between. Ultimately, don’t skip out on your Halloween plans to give the unremarkable “Pain Killer” a listen.