Album Review: "Old Boots, New Dirt" - Jason Aldean

Artist: Jason Aldean
Release Date: October 2014
Label: Broken Bow
Producer: Michael Knox

Kitch's Rating: 8/10

You know you’re doing something right when Garth Brooks, the country music legend with in excess of 175 million record sales to his name, comes out during his own comeback tour press conference and specifically mentions your music and how good it is. Obviously, such praise really makes people sit up and take notice.

That’s what Garth did for Jason Aldean, describing the Georgia native’s music as “muscle country” and pointing out that as the sub-genre’s pioneer, so many others have copied and now Aldean is looking for a new style, a way to recreate himself.

Old Boots, New Dirt is that effort, and, to a point, Aldean succeeds nicely. Sure, there are still the hard-driving guitars that remind you of something AC/DC might include on one of their releases, and Aldean is still talking about parties, girls, two-light towns and country life, but there are enough departures from the norm to make it a very interesting listen.

Take the lead single “Burnin’ It Down” as an example. Written by the duo of Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, better known as Florida-Georgia Line, there’s a definite urban-influenced feel to it, right down to the interesting auto tune, drum loops and the steamy film clip. 

Whilst such a diversion from what Aldean is known for – bruising guitar-driven country-rock – is going to create an uproar on social media because everyone seems to, the overall reaction was a positive one. It reached the top spot on both the US Billboard Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and #12 on the all-genre Billboard 200, and sales have been helped along by Aldean’s management pulling his latest effort from Spotify. 

It’s not Aldean’s first foray towards rap and urban music. Remember “Dirt Road Anthem”, his cover of the Colt Ford song, and the version with Georgia-born rapper Ludacris. Even so, it’s a brave move that’s paid off handsomely. Either side of “Burnin’ It Down” come songs that we’ve come to expect from the rowdy Georgian, including “Gonna Know We Were Here” which feels like an update to the epic “Tattoos on This Town”, and the ganjo-driven “Sweet Little Somethin’.”

The album’s second single was announced as being “Just Gettin’ Started” and it’s more of the typical Aldean sound we’re used to: cranking guitars, a little heartbreak and a powerhouse vocal performance. On the other hand, you have “Two Night Town”, which is about as close to a traditional country song as appears on the album.

Is it as good as the previous album Night Train? Close, but not quite. I loved every song on Night Train – which is incredibly rare for me – and although Old Boots, New Dirt is a very good collection of tracks, I just favour his preceding album. Not by much, though, and it doesn’t mean the new one won’t grow on me like Night Train has since my first listen.

Aldean has carved out a niche in the modern country world with guitar-driven country/rock, and obviously it’s working. Old Boots, New Dirt debuted in the top spot on both the Billboard Country and Billboard 200 all-genre charts, and continues to sell solidly.

Then there’s the live audience. Aldean’s been selling out NFL stadiums for years now – no easy feat, not at upwards of 60,000 in each stadium – and will next year co-headline a mammoth tour with Kenny Chesney that will surely be his biggest ever, and one of the biggest in world music next year. His brand of “muscle country” as Garth called it sounds great in stadiums. I can’t wait to hear some of the new stuff live at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City next August.

In the meantime, I’ll be keeping Old Boots, New Dirt on high rotation.