Luke Bryan - Tailgates & Tanlines
By: Dan MacIntosh
A few songs on Luke Bryan’s new album find the singer reaching (desperately?) beyond the stylistic sphere of the typical country music audience member. One notable tune, of course, is the single “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” which is an out-and-out dance song, country style. Bryan even performed it at the CMA Awards accompanied by sexy girls worthy of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Then on “Drunk On You,” Bryan sings about music that makes his speakers go boom-boom. I’m not 100% certain, but I don’t think Hank done it that way.
Mixed in with this album’s more questionable selections are a few drop-dead gorgeous country songs, as well. One of these is “You Don’t Know Jack.” The song title’s meaning is twofold: On the one hand, it’s a reference to a man’s struggle with the whiskey bottle – in this case, Jack Daniels. Furthermore, in a much deeper sense, the lyric talks about how those of us with good jobs, stable homes and, well, lives, just don’t know the first thing about what it means to be homeless. We don't ‘get’ what it feels like to have “lost it all,” as the song lyric says. This homeless guy reminds no one in particular to count their blessings, because they (we?) just don’t know how difficult it is to hit the skids. We don’t know Jack, indeed.
Another fine song, “Too Damn Young” tells the story of a couple that falls in love young. At first glance, the song’s title suggests something horrible, such as date rape. However, the lyric explains that these two young lovers were “too damn young to know any better” when they first got together, which is socially acceptable.
“I Knew You That Way” is a wonderful song from the pens of Jay Clementi and Radney Foster. It’s a sad lyric about intimacy, more specifically intimacy lost. Sadly, the only thing that time can’t take away from this pitiful man was the special way he loved a girl. The song does more than just cry in its beer over the loss of a lover, and it's more than just about the loss of a special person. It also concerns the accumulation of wasted memories. These memories should have remained alive and precious, shared between two passionate lovers, instead of tragically dying on the vine.
It sometimes seems as though Bryan wants to have things two widely different ways, the way Kenny Chesney now has it. Chesney walks that fine line between being a hearty, party animal one moment, and a guy that can sing a break-your-heart song, the next. To his credit, Chesney doesn’t sing songs as dumb as “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” anymore. Let’s hope his ‘she thinks my tractor’s sexy’ days are behind him for good. Perhaps Bryan is aiming to be the hunk with a heart, and not just the good-looker that parties hard. We’ll see.
Bryan contributed to writing the majority of these songs, so he can take all the credit and/or blame for its direction. Nevertheless, this disc’s two best songs, “I Knew You That Way” and “You Don’t Know Jack,” were ones he had no hand at all in writing. Therefore, he still has a ways to go before he reaches the next level.
Luke Bryan is at a crossroads in his career. Whether he becomes a dumb hunk or a smart – but good looking – cookie, is entirely up to him.
A few songs on Luke Bryan’s new album find the singer reaching (desperately?) beyond the stylistic sphere of the typical country music audience member. One notable tune, of course, is the single “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” which is an out-and-out dance song, country style. Bryan even performed it at the CMA Awards accompanied by sexy girls worthy of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Then on “Drunk On You,” Bryan sings about music that makes his speakers go boom-boom. I’m not 100% certain, but I don’t think Hank done it that way.
Mixed in with this album’s more questionable selections are a few drop-dead gorgeous country songs, as well. One of these is “You Don’t Know Jack.” The song title’s meaning is twofold: On the one hand, it’s a reference to a man’s struggle with the whiskey bottle – in this case, Jack Daniels. Furthermore, in a much deeper sense, the lyric talks about how those of us with good jobs, stable homes and, well, lives, just don’t know the first thing about what it means to be homeless. We don't ‘get’ what it feels like to have “lost it all,” as the song lyric says. This homeless guy reminds no one in particular to count their blessings, because they (we?) just don’t know how difficult it is to hit the skids. We don’t know Jack, indeed.
Another fine song, “Too Damn Young” tells the story of a couple that falls in love young. At first glance, the song’s title suggests something horrible, such as date rape. However, the lyric explains that these two young lovers were “too damn young to know any better” when they first got together, which is socially acceptable.
“I Knew You That Way” is a wonderful song from the pens of Jay Clementi and Radney Foster. It’s a sad lyric about intimacy, more specifically intimacy lost. Sadly, the only thing that time can’t take away from this pitiful man was the special way he loved a girl. The song does more than just cry in its beer over the loss of a lover, and it's more than just about the loss of a special person. It also concerns the accumulation of wasted memories. These memories should have remained alive and precious, shared between two passionate lovers, instead of tragically dying on the vine.
It sometimes seems as though Bryan wants to have things two widely different ways, the way Kenny Chesney now has it. Chesney walks that fine line between being a hearty, party animal one moment, and a guy that can sing a break-your-heart song, the next. To his credit, Chesney doesn’t sing songs as dumb as “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” anymore. Let’s hope his ‘she thinks my tractor’s sexy’ days are behind him for good. Perhaps Bryan is aiming to be the hunk with a heart, and not just the good-looker that parties hard. We’ll see.
Bryan contributed to writing the majority of these songs, so he can take all the credit and/or blame for its direction. Nevertheless, this disc’s two best songs, “I Knew You That Way” and “You Don’t Know Jack,” were ones he had no hand at all in writing. Therefore, he still has a ways to go before he reaches the next level.
Luke Bryan is at a crossroads in his career. Whether he becomes a dumb hunk or a smart – but good looking – cookie, is entirely up to him.
READER'S COMMENTS
David says:
Posted: Monday, August 29, 2011
I'm starting to get tired of this whole "If it don't sound like Hank, it ain't country." Country has always been about songs about real life and connecting to it's listeners. Which for the most part it still does. Dan sounds like he was turned off by Country girl and is closing his mind down on a great artist, just like most people did with Billy Ray Cyrus, who in my opinion was a great songwriter who was written off by one questionable song. I know I personally can connect to most of the songs on this album. I have definately brought a girl i barely know out with my buddies to try to see if she still cares as in "Been There Done That". While "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" may not have the solemness of Chris Young's "Tomorrow" I believe it still connects with someone who has been in that situation, I know it does for me. "Harvest Time" is a perfect description of small town life, which makes it seem you aren't from a small town or you would have pointed that out. Two songs that I really connect with are "I Don't Want This Night to End" and "Faded away" the first one is about that last night before a fling leaves it could be a summer romance or a one night stand, I know I personally connect to it and I think most people can relate to this at some point in their life. Faded away is about falling in love on spring break, which I'm pretty sure almost every person can relate to in the last 50 years at least, I know my momma still talks about her summer romance of her youth. This particular song connect with me almost line for line at this moment and thats all I care about. I may be fairly young, but I have enough common sense to see that if you come into something with a closed mind you are going to leave dissapointed. I love my Hank, Hag, Waylon and Possum as much as the next guy, but I'm also open minded enough to see that just because it ins't "Dear John, I've Sent your Saddle Home" or "I'm so lonesome I could cry" doesn't mean it ain't a good song (Dan, those are Hank Sr. songs, just incase you didn't know becuase you kinda sound like a general music critic sitting in an office in New York or L.A. as opposed to someone who actually knows about country music and it's listeners). Country music comes from the heart and for the most part this album and most of the other ones you have cut down do that.
rodney says:
Posted: Saturday, August 13, 2011
Dan, if you don't like any of TODAY's country music then you should probably take a break from trying to review it. The fact that you only said positive things about 3 songs on this cd (3 songs that will more than likely not even be considered for singles) is kind of big red flag. You say a song like Country Girl Shake It For Me is "reaching (desperately?) beyond the stylistic sphere of the typical country music audience member". Dan, that song is in the Top 5 and headed for #1 and as of last week 956,583 have paid their hard earned money to BUY it. I'd say you were comnpletely wrong about that one. AND 3 or 4 of the other songs on this cd that you made demeaning remarks about will also more than likely be Top 5 singles on a CD that will be Luke's 2nd Gold Record in a row and maybe his 1st Platinum record. I'm sure that back in the day you were really good at reviewing all the Clint Black, Neil McCoy, and John Michael Montgomery records, but maybe you should take a break for a while since it seems like your grasp on what's really good and bad has kind of slipped away. You used the quote "I don’t think Hank done it that way" ... well Dan, the great Hank Williams died in 1953 ... maybe you should try to judge todays country music against something a little more current.
Brittany says:
Posted: Thursday, August 11, 2011
O, and Sam, the next single is "I Don't Want This Night To End". :-) (Forgot my name in the last post)
says:
Posted: Thursday, August 11, 2011
I would just like to say that many country artists have had the party animal AND heartbreak songs. There is Tim McGraw with "I like it, I love it" and then "Red Ragtop", Blake Shelton with "The More I Drink" or "Hillybilly Bone" (also w/ Trace) and "Home", Garth Brooks with "Friends in Low Places" (which btw Mark Chestnutt also put out the same year only its a little slower. Never understood that...) and "The Dance".... The list goes on! In my opinion, that's just fully exploring and being a country artist. A make and brake song would be more like "Achey Breaky Heart". In fact, I don't know any other song by Billy Ray Cyrus! Luke didn't write on 2 of the songs... so what! He wrote on the other 11, and all of his singles so far. The last 3 went #1, and Country Girl is climbing both Media and Billboard charts more quickly than anything he has released previously. I hope it goes #1 and he stays on this streak! I love the new album. "What Country Is", from his sophomore album (Doing My Thing) is still my favorite song by Luke. Such a pity that radio was hesitant to play it because the words "rebel flag" are in the lyrics. I am a huge Luke Bryan fan. I wish him nothing but the best. Especially since I personally know he is one of the few guys in the business who hasn't let the whole experience go to his head and make him forget his roots. He is already taking things to the next level. Dierks Bentley is a dumb hunk... "Up On The Ridge" was the worst album I ever heard.
John says:
Posted: Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Dan, your reviews are consistently wrong and awful. The things you pick out in songs are just irrelevant. You're like a mom reviewing songs for her 5 year old kids. Country music is a lot about partying and drinking and you clearly are opposed so why dont' you find another genre of music and quit writing bad reviews just like you did for Eric Church and Justin Moore. Just keep your lousy mouth shut and your opinions to yourself!
Sam sager says:
Posted: Tuesday, August 9, 2011
After listening to this album I have to say your wrong on this reveiw just like I thought you might be. Luke puts out a great effort here. Drunk on you is great summer song. Been there done that feels like it could be a single down the road and a hit. I think harvest time should be the next single since my town has apple harvests so that would be great I guess I'm just hoping really. Tailgate blues is awesome it will most likley be a single due it's melody. You don't know jack is a great song it's kinda like moments from emerison drive only a little more emphatic to the bumb thanthat song was. I don't want this night to end is a romantic type song. In conclusion there isn't a misstep on this album. Potential singel predictions tailgate blues, harvest time,been there done that. And if you don't like redneck stuff stat away from country music, Becuase that's what real country music is and has been, and seriously brown chicken brown cow was the dumbest song ever, probably trace Adkins biggest misstep aside from allafrecking bama they were equally dumb thats why neither Caught on at radio
levoyeur says:
Posted: Monday, August 8, 2011
Country music has some good songs (Brown Chicken Brown Cow) but mostly it is just dumb songs about being a redneck, having no job, and being a loser, and liking moonshine. I'm sorry I don't like redneck music. I say that county singers should have their bosacks removed.
JeffT says:
Posted: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Sam, use some punctuation. Do you talk this way, as well, all one sentence? Hard to follow your thoughts when it's all ONE sentence.
matt says:
Posted: Saturday, August 6, 2011
I agree with ya Sam. They need to find another person to take reviews from cause i am getting tired of reading Macintosh reviews!!!
Sam says:
Posted: Saturday, August 6, 2011
I'm going to listen to this myself being a Luke Bryan fan from the first two albums, but seriously does Dan macintosh like any country music at all so far in the last couple months I've seen reviews by him tear down two of the best albums of the year as though they sucked and now this album get a bad review and he complains about country girl shake it for me which is a great song maybe he just dosnt like stuff that goes to 1 but if I were an artists I'd appreciate him tearing me down Becuase every time he does they go to 1 so it's inevitable that country girl shake it for me and the album will be 1 heck his last awful review went 1 in the entire country maybe Luke will too
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