Blake Shelton leaves me wanting a whole heck of a lot more

I had listened to Blake Shelton's perfect-for-those-with-ADD experiment that is the Hillbilly Bone Six Pack last week as soon as his record label peeps had sent me a digital copy and I instantly fell for the Bone.   Unfortunately, as many of you know, I hate, hate, hate writing reviews so I put it off and put it off and put it off a little bit more. 

So here I sit now listening to the Six Pack for about the 13th time trying to put my thoughts into some semblance of interesting writing.  That's the problem with writing reviews, I use cool, awesome, wow, love it, etc. far too often. I have sort of mental constipation when it comes to expressing why I love something and simply run out of adjectives.  So let me do something a little different, let me tell you why I suddenly have this massive love for Blake.

I've always liked Blake Shelton in a uninterested sort of way.  I thought he had a great voice and some entertaining tunes - not to mention he wasn't hard on the eyes...well all but the mullet, but we can't all be perfect.  In all honestly, though, I was never a fan of Austin - go ahead and pick your lips up off the floor - and other than Ol' Red and Some Beach I probably couldn't have told you two other Blake songs. Sacrilege, I know.  Oh sure, I could listen to a song on the radio and recognize it as a Blake song, but I couldn't have named them off the top of my head without prompting.  But then all of a sudden Blake cuts his hair, gets on People's sexy list, starts dating Miranda, puts out a video trying to get people in New York to notice him, and then suddenly he hit my radar.  But what sealed the deal for me was his Twittering.  Sure, he says some questionable things, but it's him and he's so dang funny, so smart-assed, so I-just-don't-care-if-you-like-me-or-not that I've come to regard him as the one celeb that would fit best into the group of slightly-disturbed-but-always-lovable characters who inhabit my own tiny piece of the world.  Besides, I have a thing for guys who hunt and drive old pickup trucks.  And Miranda is my favorite lady singer in the world so I'm always so, so happy to see the two of them together. 

I guess what I find most fascinating about Blake is that it's almost like watching a flower bloom.  A sarcastic PETA-bashing, gun-toting, deer-killing, beer-guzzling, Golden-Girls-loving, never-know-what's-going-to-come-out-of-his-mouth redneck flower.  And the best part is that since he's a singer, his music is becoming as interesting to me as Blake himself is.  You just aren't sure what's going to happen next, and honestly that's half the fun.

Now I may just be talking like a new Blake fan and those of you who have been fans for years will argue that Blake's always been the same, but my eyes are just now starting to be opened to what seems to be the "real Blake" and it seems to me like Blake's music lately is starting to reflect the real deal that I've just recently thankfully discovered.  I do know that whenever I had ever seen anything about Blake in the past he always sort of hit me as the quiet country boy, the sweet-bring-home-to-mama sort of person.  Kinda boring I guess, at least to me. But lately he's started showing the in your face, take-me-as-I-am Blake and the music on "Hillbilly Bone" seems to reflect that perfectly.  But "Hillbilly Bone" also shows that there's a lot more to Blake than just that redneck, kiss-my-country-ass attitude that I've come to love and it leaves me really wanting to know more about what makes the man tick.

First off is Hillbilly Bone. I think we all know the tune he sang with Trace Adkins.  It's funny with an even funnier music video, it's catchy, and it says bone several times. What could be better than that? Still makes me chuckle in a 6th grader sort of way.

Then comes the song Blake admits is his favorite never-gonna-be-played-on-the-radio tune, Kiss My Country Ass.  I'v'e heard the song criticized because it dares to say ass. I say boo hoo.  It's one of those songs that is sure to become a rowdy concert favorite and it's one country song I'd love to have blasting from my own speakers when I pull up next to some punk in their low rider blasting crappy rap music. Kiss My Country Ass indeed.  It's an anthem and it's fun and it's perfect!

But wait, the next song is You'll Always Be Beautiful.  Melt my heart and call me smitten.  It's a love song of epic proportions. It's a slow-dancing must-have.  It's a box of chocolates, a night out at the movies, and a new pair of diamond earrings all rolled into a song.  So romantic.  It's one of those songs that a girl dreams of having their significant other dedicate to them.  The sort of song you want as your first dance at your wedding....Wait, what's this about the girl not being able to handle her alcohol and ending up slung over a shoulder as she's packed out of a party?  Last night's makeup smeared on her pillow case.  Headaches, fussin', and cussing the sun?  Okay, not your classic romantic song but right up my alley nonetheless.

Can't Afford To Love You - not my favorite but listenable. 

Delilah.  Oh what to say about Delilah?  This may just be my favorite song on the Six Pack.  Why you ask?  Because it was inspired by Miranda's dog, Delilah.  True story. Any song that's inspired by a pooch without being blatantly a tearjerker (The video for Feed Jake still makes me bawl like a baby) deserves a thumbs up.

And lastly, Almost Right. A fitting song to end out a great CD.  A good guy who can laugh at his mess ups...all set to music.  A guy who is almost okay, absotively, posilutely, just give him a little more time and a few more beers. 

Now I'm not a music critic in any sense of the word, but I know the music that I like and I like the music Blake's offered us on "Hillbilly Bone."  The best part is, with only six songs on the CD Blake didn't have to fill a full-length CD with a few good songs and then a bunch of fluff that passes for CD filler.  What a unique concept.  The next best thing?  It's left me wanting more and excited to see what Blake gives us on his next CD.

For the price of a donut and coffee, a magazine, or a #1 on the McDonald's menu ($6.00 plus $3.00 shipping you can even get your own autographed copy here), I say buy it.  Heck, buy two, you won't be disappointed.  

Comments

[Celebrity Fashion]

Love Blake Shelton, would also like a pic of him, autographed or not. Love his style and his beautiful blue eyes.

[Gail]

I went to go buy an autographed copy and it says sold out:( Blake autograph some more copies!!!