NashvilleGab reviewer, Jacob, gives us a great review of Toby Keith's "American Ride."
"Dream Walking", in my opinion, is easily Toby Keith's best album. When I really want to listen to some Toby Keith, that's inevitably the cd that's going to be played. However, "American Ride" is giving it a run for its money. Here, Toby hits the ground running with the title track, and he keeps it coming all the way through "Ballad of Balad". With most of the songs being co-written by himself and Bobby Pinson, there's a real consistency in the quality of song here, the rockers rock, and the tender ones break your heart.
The first single, and Toby's 19th number one, does one better than most of his heavy handed cultural indictments. It points a finger or two at everyone. You might say it's a "Fair and Balanced" attack of what makes Americans Americans. Were it not for the awkward chorus, this would be one of my favorite songs right now. Instead, that spot is left for "Woke Up On My Own", about a man that's ruined his love, but he didn't go get drunk or make the rounds with a handful of women, and he has no illusions about her forgiving him, he just woke up on his own. This type of song is Toby Keith at his best. Showcasing his excellent singing voice, utilizing his many writing capabilities.
Opening with just an acoustic guitar and a little jazzy saxophone, the second single "Crying For Me (Wayman's Song)" is obviously the closest to the heart on this collection, and it shines through. Earlier this year, Wayman Tisdale, a basketball and bass player, and friend to Toby Keith succumbed to cancer, and like "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue", this is Toby Keith at his most open, honest self. It's a heartfelt, mournful tune about not being sad for the ones we've lost, but for ourselves for losing them. Truer words rarely spoken.
My only gripe with this album is that it feels a little short. It took me a few listens to really get why that was, because each song is about as long as any average song. Save for a few songs here, it feels very disconnected. The lyrics are great, the melodies are infectious and creative, the production is tasteful and low key, but I cant help but feel like some how I cant really relate to them. Is there a disconnect being communicated between the singer and song? Or am I just not getting into it for my own reasons that I don't see? I wish I knew the answer to that, because despite it feeling short, I really do love this album.
Glenn Frey and Don Henley, Fred Rose and Hank Williams, and the most infamous team of Lennon and McCartney. They've all left a storied history of what can happen when two creative minds get together. Toby Keith follows this same example, only rather than fall into the rut that a lot of these writers have, he makes a point to change it up every few albums or so, before it gets too stale. First it was Chuck Cannon, then Scotty Emerick and Dean Dillon, and on this album he's teamed up with the excellent Bobby Pinson (whose two albums are worth the price and more themselves). His changing up co-writers has lead to his continued success, and surely will in the future. With "American Ride", he has definitely found his stride again, after a few stumbles on his last few albums.
Thanks Jacob for the great review.
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