![]() Even then, though, nothing here carries the unique details that could at least make past songs like “Life Changes,” “Die A Happy Man” or “Unforgettable” interesting. The thing is, after a mostly obnoxious first half in which Rhett does his best HARDY impression, this album mostly settles into the same lyrical content listeners mostly expect from Rhett these days – the family man living the Instagram-worthy life with his perfect family who might go all Brad Paisley on you and slip in a dad joke every now and then, only without Paisley’s easy humor. And what’s strange is that even if we use the Life Changes album as a comparison point for that, there was better and more convincing pop music there than there is here. ![]() ![]() But I’m not sure that surprises or bothers me more than some of the most egregiously mixed backing vocals I’ve heard on an album trying to masquerade as country … pretty much ever – seriously, “Simple As A Song” needs to be removed from this universe because of that alone. “I wish country music still got played on country radio” Riley Green on “Half of Me,” which is just a shameless (but, sadly, better) redo of his duet with Jon Pardi, “Beer Can’t Fix,” from a few years ago.Īnd really, how in-depth do I need to go with tracks called “Bass Pro Hat” or “Slow Down Summer” that are beyond basic in their respective constructions, or mention how the production is mostly lousy across the board except for on the more tempered cuts? Even if we’re to assume that this is the pop-country rebound, there’s very little here in the way of memorable hooks, melodies, or grooves, instead often just trapping itself within the confines and negative elements of modern pop that favors overmixed snap percussion over everything else. I’d call it all slapdash, except I think Rhett is actually convinced this good ol’ redneck image he tried to portray on Country Again is something he can call his own, when in reality, the pop-country star from Life Changes and Tangled Up feels more authentic to he actually is – which is one reason I don’t buy a duet between him and Mr. And to that song’s credit, Rhett is starting to show cracks in it all as time takes it toll and he tries to maintain his composure there’s at least some dramatic flavor, at least.īut that image is undermined by the fact that he also tries to sell being the goofy hell-raiser that often backfires on him on tracks like “Church Boots” and “Anything Cold,” which try to aim for that working man spirit but just feel like cheap country buzzwords and clichés thrown together. Sure, it starts off strong with “The Hill,” where the acoustics are tempered and it sounds like Rhett has settled into the family man role he’s portrayed (and milked to death) through his music with a legitimate amount of sincerity. ![]()
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