With a very familiar sound, "Fastest Girl in Town," written by Lambert with Angaleena Presley, could have easily appeared on either of Lambert's first two albums, Kerosene or Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. It was a good move to include this track. While growth is essential to the evolution of an artist, straying too far from formulas that have proved successful in the past can be off-putting. Betsey Long, background vocalist, lends her vocal chops on "Girl," which celebrates a woman who's "feeling frisky" and wants to blaze through town. Be warned fellas, there "ain't no use in trying to slow me down, 'cause you're running with the fastest girl in town." Throughout the song, Lambert talks cigarettes, whiskey, and fast cars, which easily embodies her real life persona. In the past, Lambert has not been afraid to say and sing exactly how she feels; this is no exception.
The first solo penned song on Four the Record is "Safe." Here she expresses her love for her man, Mister Blake Shelton, and feeling safe whenever she's with him. "You walk in front of me to make sure that I don't fall and break my own heart," Lambert sings. The tale of comforting love runs thick in verse structure but lacks in a strong chorus. "With you I'm safe, with you I'm safe" is the short and sweet chorus. It is rare that Lambert gets lovey-dovey, and with the longer verses, she says what she needs to say without leaning on a word-packed chorus line. In over four minutes, "Safe" declares that she, in turn, will always be there to make sure her man is safe. No need to go grabbing your tissues and whispering an "aww" because Lambert keeps the touching sentiments to a minimum. Certainly not a ground breaking delivery, "Safe," while an enjoyable performance, is just too safe for the "Gun Powder and Lead" singer.
What we've come to expect from the blonde bomb shell, "Mama's Broken Heart," written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Kasey Musgraves, is a revenge-injected rock song that breaks down all the barriers. With the rowdy sensation of Lambert's best man-hating material, "Heart" takes on a different persona and style. Her Mama gives her some much needed advice about refusing to let a break up to spiral her daughter out of control. "I can hear her now saying she ain't gonna have it. Don't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look," Lambert cooes right before belting out the triumphant chorus. She wishes she "could be a little less dramatic," but, she points out, that just isn't her. Her mama "came from a softer generation" where women simply dabbed on makeup and went on their way. Lambert will have none of it. In a short three minutes, "Heart" stabs you in the gut and takes your change purse. All you gotta do is put that sucker on repeat.
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