Some of the numbers on these country releases are incredible. Here are a few stats: 28 number-one singles, 17 billion streams, and 20 million albums sold. I reckon all of that means that Jason Aldean couldn’t give a shake of his Stetson what I think of his new record.
But on his third album in three years (12 months on from his double album project “Macon” and “Georgia”), he’s back with another 14 songs that basically give the faithful (and there are billions of them) what they need and want.
“Tough Crowd” is your hinterland, your bread and butter. “We got some country-ass, beer-drinking, hell-raising, go-all-nighters. We got some dirt-turning, diesel-burning, hard-working nine-to-fivers,” he sings as he surveys his audience, and the beauty of all this is he knows what these modern-day Tommy and Gina’s need from their music.
The mention of Bon Jovi was deliberate too; this has exactly the same arena rock tactics, and if it’s not the Blue Collar of New Jersey, then it’s the same deal in the Red Clay of the South.
“Let Your Boys Be Country” (it’s already been number one) is a co-write with Aldean, and it’s the small-town dream, boots and roots in the ground that we all love. It’s not a criticism at all to suggest that this is one of those records, one that, in honesty, I could have reviewed without listening to it. There are no surprises. And that’s cool.
What there is instead is glorious modern country, like “Knew You’d Come Around,” one where she’s left him, and there are just memories and a brilliant guitar solo. There’s genuine regret in the words and the sounds of “Hungover In A Hotel,” and there’s an air of stoicism throughout “Try That In A Small Town.” “We take care of our own,” he spits through gritted teeth: “that shit might fly in the city… You’re a long way from home here.
From there on, though, there’s a bar, there’s a girl, there’s a girl that got away, and sometimes more than one of them. “Whiskey Drink” does it, as does “Whose Rearview,” and the three-minute ballad “I’m Over You.” But here’s the thing: they are all so clever and all so brilliantly done that you can’t resist them.
He’s essentially the master of three-minute rock songs. “Rather Watch You” is a masterclass in the genre, and as if to illustrate the point, “Breakup Breakdown” is literally 180 seconds of showing how it’s done.
And of course, he doesn’t write many of these; he never does. But neither did Elvis. Not everyone has to be a singer/songwriter, but Aldean was born to sing cowboy songs for the broken-hearted like “Get Away From You” or “Changing Bars.”
“From This Beer On” reckons that “I’m gonna let her go.” Let’s be honest; no one believes that. While the title track that ends things has the heart of a hobo: “every cowboy knows, you can’t hang your hat in just one place.” There’s a highway, there’s always a bar, always a girl.
And for all of them, and everyone else, there’s always a Jason Aldean record. And like “Highway Desperado,” you know what you’re getting, and it’s always majestic.
Rating: 8.5/10
