Alan Jackson rarely disappoints - he’s one of the steadiest most reliably pleasant country singers out there and consistently incorporates intelligence and humor into his music (not that he usually writes most of it or anything - this is his first album where he wrote the entirety of it, no small feat for a country singer of his stature - but he has good taste in what he chooses). When the other Mr. Reliable in country (George Strait) put out a truly terrible album earlier this year I was a little fearful that Jackson might have gone down the same road - which was more of a simple minded Toby Keith-esque feel with too many simple minded lyrics reminiscent of Kenny Chesney (think drinking on a beach and thinking about high school - real original).
Luckily though Jackson did almost the exact opposite. Instead of going ahead and simplifying the lyrics they continue to be the filled with the thoughtfulness that people have come to expect from Jackson. Sure, this album isn’t as touching as “Drive”, but it’s not supposed to be, it is supposed to be a good time- and it is.
So far the biggest hit “Small Town Country Man” is probably the least like the rest of the album - more old timey, gives you that “Awww, isn’t that nice” kind of feeling - although I think we may disagree on the purpose of life, he’s mighty right when he says that the best thing you can leave behind are the people in your life. Looks like “Good Time”, the opener and title track is aiming to be the second successful single and it’s pretty realistic. A little stereotypical and a bit foolish sounding at times lyrically, “Good Time” really is just the kind of song you throw on, turn up, and drink a beer too.
Jackson does the funny schtick (“Nothing Left to Do”, “If Jesus Walked the World Today”, and “Country Boy”) and he does the Kenny Chesney (although at the very least Jackson hooked up with the king of past your prime beach bum - Jimmy Buffett for the delightfully scummy “It’s Five o’clock somewhere”). He also does the sweet (“Sissy’s Song”) and the duet (“Never Loved Before” with Martina McBride).
What makes this album great though is that more so than many of his other albums it really does come off as just a good time. For a man pushing sixty it’s a bit hard to believe he just wants to party all the time, but it really is a party in “1976” as he reminisces about his teenage years and you can just tell he had a blast recording “I Still Like Bologna” and (the highlight of the album) “Long Long Way”.
Alan Jackson may not be doing anything all that new or innovative but at least he is staying true to what he has always done and he's finally doing it on his own just as well as he was when he was having other folks write his lyrics. That kind of consistency and dedication in music these days is so rare - and it makes it easy to have a good time listening to it.
The AJ Must Haves
Drive - newer (which typically means not as good for old timers) - this happens to be the most consistently flawless of Jackson's albums. Sure, his song about 9/11 seemed a little gimmicky at the time but I still get choked up listening to it. Proof though that you can talk about serious things without taking yourself too seriously. A man at the prime of his game (sad songs abound but oh so damn beautiful and humor to spare - hands down the most genuine country album I've ever heard).
Everything I Love - a great earlier album filled to the brim with straight up country music. Nothing about the beach, nothing about having a good time, just songs about loving and losing, cheating, drinking, and of course it's always good to hear that it's alright to be a little bitty.