Kenny Chesney - Songs for the Saints
In my latest bout of self-destruction, I decided to listen to a country album for this week’s review. To be honest, I don't generally like country music, but I have found over the years that saying you're a person who "likes every kind of music, except country" is pretty pretentious and usually false. I mean, everyone like Johnny Cash, right? Plus, this year alone has yielded two country records I enjoyed, Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour and Ashley Monroe's Sparrow (for the record, both are better than Songs for the Saints). With an open mindset, I tackled the new Kenny Chesney album, and I was rewarded with a laid-back but celebratory album with a hidden depth that made the experience ultimately worthwhile.
The big concept of Songs for the Saints is a celebration of Carribean culture in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which interestingly fits well into the good-time country feel despite the immense sadness and destruction related to the event. The tone and lyrics of the album suggest a tribute to the continuing culture rather than a focus on the disaster itself, which allows this set to feel light and summery without losing its depth. Except for the handful of standard mainstream-influenced light rock songs (one of which, "Get Along", is actually pretty good despite referencing singing, dancing, friends, mom, boats, and beer all back-to-back), the level of warm and reflective intimacy makes most of the album work really well.
This is especially the case with the lyrics, which from front-to-back are clearly heartfelt. Some are uplifting like the title track, others like "Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season" are a bit more melancholy. Even with a hint of sadness running throughout, Chesney makes sure everything the vibe stays mellow and relaxed, which ends up far more interesting than just wallowing in sorrow. Thankfully, the lyrical themes are kept consistent throughout, even in the good choices of cover songs: Lord Huron classic "Ends of the Earth", Texas native John Baumann's "Gulf Moon", and the particularly fitting "Island Rain", originally by Mac McAnally but recaptured in Chesney's signature feel.
Obviously, there's nothing new and groundbreaking here, but that doesn't keep the album from feeling fresh and fun. My guess is that this is exactly what his fans will want: a thoughtful but simple album that works as easily as background music as it does for Friday summer fun. This will not change anyone's minds about the quality or value of country music, but we can't expect all music to be that good. Chesney is simply collecting music for a project he considers important, and I am sure his fans will appreciate his efforts.
The big concept of Songs for the Saints is a celebration of Carribean culture in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which interestingly fits well into the good-time country feel despite the immense sadness and destruction related to the event. The tone and lyrics of the album suggest a tribute to the continuing culture rather than a focus on the disaster itself, which allows this set to feel light and summery without losing its depth. Except for the handful of standard mainstream-influenced light rock songs (one of which, "Get Along", is actually pretty good despite referencing singing, dancing, friends, mom, boats, and beer all back-to-back), the level of warm and reflective intimacy makes most of the album work really well.
This is especially the case with the lyrics, which from front-to-back are clearly heartfelt. Some are uplifting like the title track, others like "Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season" are a bit more melancholy. Even with a hint of sadness running throughout, Chesney makes sure everything the vibe stays mellow and relaxed, which ends up far more interesting than just wallowing in sorrow. Thankfully, the lyrical themes are kept consistent throughout, even in the good choices of cover songs: Lord Huron classic "Ends of the Earth", Texas native John Baumann's "Gulf Moon", and the particularly fitting "Island Rain", originally by Mac McAnally but recaptured in Chesney's signature feel.
Obviously, there's nothing new and groundbreaking here, but that doesn't keep the album from feeling fresh and fun. My guess is that this is exactly what his fans will want: a thoughtful but simple album that works as easily as background music as it does for Friday summer fun. This will not change anyone's minds about the quality or value of country music, but we can't expect all music to be that good. Chesney is simply collecting music for a project he considers important, and I am sure his fans will appreciate his efforts.
Comments
Post a Comment