Right in the middle of “Strong” is three songs that do two things.
First – and most importantly for Tyler Hubbard – they underline just how good this record is, but also, on a more personal level they are everything I’ve ever loved about country, providing a window as to why these songs about small-town America resonate around the world.
“Take Me Back” sounds on the surface to be a love song. It is. It’s just its one to his hometown.
Then there’s “Back Then Right Now” a strident rocker of a thing that harks back to another era (probably pre- social media given that Hubbard reminisces about “when you took a pic and didn’t have to post it”) that probably never existed. But don’t we all wish it did? Let’s be honest, the 21st century sucks.
Completing the holy trinity is “Vegas”. He’s seen a girl in a bar and wants to marry her straight away. When we were kids this used to happen every Thursday when we went to the pub. We never did. Or at least I didn’t. My mate back then is on wife number three.
“Strong”, frankly, is as good as country – and by that I mean modern country – gets. “Wish You Would” draws you in, “Park” is more proof that if American singer/songwriters failed their driving tests, we’d all be worse off, and the small town, small dreams thing that country does, is right here in “Lot With A Little”.
It comes as no surprise that Hubbard is a master of his craft. He’s counting 21 number ones as I type this. He’s supreme. But he also writes all these. And if “Night Like That” follows the formula, then who cares? Try and resist it if you like country, I dare you.
The slower ones like “Turn” are so wholesome that you consider moving to Nashville, but to be serious about this for a minute, there are occasions where what Tyler Hubbard does brilliance. I am not from “nowhere USA” and I am not sure what a Dairy Queen is, but I am sold on the dream on “American Mellencamp”. Anyone would be. That’s the point of this music.
“BNA” is so 80s it might as well wear shoulder pads, and let’s not kid ourselves here, you already know what “Summer Talkin’” sounds like from the title, but try and listen to “73 Beetle” (the one sole Hubbard written song) and not feel emotional. A proper heartstring tugger. It’s from a personal place.
Interestingly the title song has more of a twang about it, the pedal steel is class, and a song that is tied to its roots has the music to go with it.
“Strong” is going to win awards and go gold whatever I say, that doesn’t make it any less special.
Rating 9/10
