Blake Shelton’s latest offering, Red River Blue, is pop country at its toe-tapping, hat-tipping best. Energetic and well-produced, Shelton’s sixth studio album is no disappointment as far as pop country albums go. But with respect to true art and creativity, it’s a total bust.
Featuring cloying and trite lyrics set to tried-and-true melodies, Red River Blue adds little that is new or creative to the current country music scene. Shelton sings hillbilly music without the rustic charm of truly remarkable country music.
The album starts out with “Honey Bee”, which became a Billboard #1 country hit. The track is an enthusiastic and affectionate if maudlin love song. The second, “Ready to Roll”, has more of a rock feel to it, but is a complete bore, much like several of the tracks that follow. Red River Blue features one more single, “God Gave Me You”, which is significantly different from the rest of the album, stylistically and lyrically. Hopeful and repentant, it features skilled finger-picking work and melodic success. “I’m Sorry”, a little later in the album, is the only track that really showcases Shelton’s voice and his range, but bitter lyrics that are unoriginal in both content and semantics prevent this song from being what it could have been. “Sunny in Seattle” is an amusing and quaint ditty, leading into the final part of the album, which is less dull but still nothing to write home about.
Overall, Blake Shelton’s Red River Blue is great for those who enjoy cookie-cutter country music in the vein of Garth Brooks and Brad Paisley. Shelton has a lovely voice and skill in arranging music. But if you’re looking for music that will speak to you, this is not the place to find it.
Final Words: Don’t bother, unless there’s nothing else to listen to.
Blogger Mandiri…
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