There is a feeling like no other when I find a new album so expressive and well-balanced that also brings me joy when listening to it. I rarely find these, but thanks to a recent music release, I am as carefree as one can be.
Releasing his 11th studio album, Keith Urban’s mix of rock and country bops has all of his fans on a euphoric HIGH.
Rocking in over 15 million streams, the lead single on this record “MESSED UP AS ME” lyrically speaks to all those that have gone through rough romantic relationships. When speaking to iheartcountry in an interview, Urban himself said how the song is about “a relationship that has one really, really good part about it, and everything else around this relationship is dysfunctional, incompatible, maybe makes no sense whatsoever, it might even be toxic, but this one area is amazing.”
A track that ranks a bit lower on the streams is “LAUGHIN’ ALL THE WAY TO THE DRANK.” If any track sticks out to me on the album, it’s this one. It’s so different from all the others, with a much bigger rock element to it. It’s weird, creative, and reminds me of the band Queen’s style of music. I find it funny in the best way possible with references like “Seat Back like McConaughey, alright (alright, alright),” to contrast with the somewhat ominous feeling the song brings with its delivery. Whether it’s a hit or miss, I always praise artists who make bold decisions in their music to switch things up.
My personal favorite, “STRAIGHT LINE” is just the optimistic tune I need to put me in a great mood each day. This is a song about turning one’s life around, and deciding to just go for it in life when there is nothing left to lose. It’s the perfect tune to blast in the car with friends and family when wanting to pass the time. It’s possible, given the cover of the Eagles and the collaboration he has done with Taylor Swift in the past that he secretly references their songs in the lines “Finally leaving hotel California/Couple runaways in a getaway car.” Though there is no way to know for sure, one can always hope that was the clever intention.
Lastly, if I had to choose a least favorite track on this record, it would have to be “LOVE IS HARD.” This is not by any means a bad song, but it sounds like something that was written rather quickly, and not given the time and additional effort to sound more unique lyrically. Though I don’t harshly review Urban for his lyrics most of the time, I have seen the potential he has to write things that are less cliché and have the power to draw in listeners on a deeper level when focusing on the lyrics.
Overall, other than a track or two, this album pairs pretty well with my ears. Most songs on this album feel nostalgically familiar to some of Urban’s older hits but are fresh and different enough to carry a whole new feeling and significance with them. Nearly all songs on this album hold a different, special place in my heart already. I rate this album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
