This is Blake Shelton’s eighth album, he recorded his first album in 2001. His first single “Austin” reached number one in the Country Singles Charts (most requested song on radio) staying at the top for five weeks. Since then he has rarely been out of the Country charts (eight songs have reached the top position.) He was voted ‘Male Vocalist Of The Year’ in 2010. His fiancee, Miranda Lambert, was voted ‘Best Female Vocalist’ the same year. They are due to be married in May 2011. This year Blake was chosen to join Reba in Las Vegas, to present the ‘46th. Academy Of Country Music’ awards. He is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
When asked to review this album, I did not know which of the fifteen songs to write about, they are all worthy of a mention, I hope I can do my selection justice.
“Austin”. She left him suddenly without leaving a number. He assumed she had gone home to Austin. “It was almost a year before she called him up / Three rings and an answering machine is what she got /” His phone message said he was “Not available, please ring back later, but P.S…. if this is Austin, I still love you”. She could not believe that he still loved her. She waited three days and called him back, again she got the answering machine with his message ending “If this is Austin, I still love you”. Her reply “If you’re calling about my heart / It’s still yours / Can’t you tell this is Austin and I still love you /”
“Ol’ Red” Is about a man serving ‘life’ in prison for murdering his wife’s lover. He befriends the warden and the prison guard dog, Ol’ Red. The warden sings “Come on somebody why don’t you run, Ol’ Red’s itching to have a little fun / Get my lantern, get my gun / Red will have you tracked ‘fore the morning come /” Ol’ Red has never let anyone escape, he was a four legged tracking machine, but our prisoner has a plan. He bribes a guard to post a letter to his cousin who owns a Bluetick Hound bitch, he asks him to bring the hound to the prison wall when she is in ‘season’. When the time arrives to make his escape, Ol’ Red is too busy chasing and “making puppies” with the Bluetick Hound…so he gets clean away..”Love got me in here and love got me out”. This is the song that audiences shout for when he comes on stage, so it has become his signature song.
“Home” is where the heart is’ song. No matter where you roam, you yearn to return home to the one you love. (I have read that this song echoes Blake’s own love of his home). Sung with feeling, and gentle musical backing. Michael Buble has also recorded this song.
“The Baby”. Tells of the youngest of three sons. His mother calls him “the baby”. His brothers say he is rotten to the core, they are jealous because he can do no wrong in her eyes. He leaves home to find work. He phones his mother when he turns twenty-one, to say “Your boy is now a man / She says I don’t care if you’re eighty / You’ll always be my baby /” She proudly shows the family photographs of her sons saying “This is Greg, this is Ronnie and that one’s kind of crazy, he’s my baby/”. One day he gets a call to say “Hurry home, Mother is very ill”, but he arrives too late “I never got to say goodbye, I softly kissed that lady and cried just like a baby /”. A very moving song, which he sings with emotion.
The ladies will love this one.
“Goodbye Time” is a beautiful ballad, sensitively sung, with pleasant piano, strings and steel accompaniament. Previously recorded by Conway Twitty in 1988.
“Hillbilly Bone”. Blake is joined by Trace Adkins on this catchy, silly, bar room song. It won best Vocal Event and Video Awards (CMA’s 2010). The song tells us we all have a hillbilly bone in our bodies, and all country bumpkins at heart. Maybe we are all descended from Jed Clampett of Beverley Hillbilly’s fame.
“Some Beach” At times of stress, pain or anger, we all try to turn our minds to think about something pleasant; i.e, “Some beach, somewhere”… for example… when you are in the dentist’s chair and he starts to drill before your gum is numb….do you punch the dentist, or think “some beach somewhere / There’s a big umbrella casting shade over an empty chair / Palm trees are growin’ a warm breeze is blowing / I picture myself right there / On some beach somewhere. /” A further example is when you see the last parking space and a guy with a Mercedes Benz beats you to it…do you ram his car… or think “some beach somewhere”? A sing along, true to life song.
“Playboys Of The Southwestern World”. A macho’ Tex Mex fun song…..(Someone could make a movie out of this song !)
“All About Tonight” This jovial song tells of a man who is going out to have a good time, dance with every girl in the room, ask their name, but not their phone number. It’s going to be a wild night…but beware girls, this man is more likely to want a one night stand, than a wedding band.
“Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”. He wonders if she is the ‘real deal’. Is her beauty only skin deep? “Who are you when I'm not looking / Do you pour a little liquor on the rocks / Slide down the hallway in your socks / Do you break things when you get mad / Eat a box of choc’s 'cause you're feelin' bad /” ….(he has a very suspicious mind !)
Blake Shelton does not go for the easy options when choosing songs, as he has the ability to perform more meaningful lyrics (unlike the “one sentence repeated” boring songs sometimes classed as country)
A really great album, country music to suit all tastes from beautifully sung ballads, story songs, humorous ditties to rocking country.
Rita