Release Date: 3
April 2015
Label: Capitol Nashville
Producer: Frank Rogers
Label: Capitol Nashville
Producer: Frank Rogers
Kitch’s Rating: 7.5/10
2015’s Southern Style marks the
fourth country album from Darius Rucker who, in another life, was better known
as the lead singer of 90’s rock giants Hootie and the Blowfish. Say what you
will about that band’s middle-of-the-road music, but their best was very good,
and their album sales command respect. In fact the Hootie debut Cracked Rear View – one of my favourite
albums ever, and on frequent rotation on my iPod – is the sixteenth-highest
selling album of all time in the United States, with sales totalling above
sixteen million, and reached the top of the all-genre Billboard 200 chart five separate
times in 1995. Oh, and they won a Grammy.
Even Hootie, formed by four friends who attended the University of South Carolina, has country leanings. One of their biggest hits, ‘Only Wanna Be With You’ has a distinctive mandolin part, and Rucker now tells audiences that mega-hit ‘Let Her Cry’ is “the first country song I ever wrote” so perhaps his switch from rock front man to successful country solo artist isn’t such a surprise. Nor is the success of said move: half a dozen #1 singles and three albums that, at minimum have gone gold.
My love for country music can be traced to Rucker switching genres. Being a Hootie fan, I was naturally curious – and a little said that the four-piece wouldn’t be making new music together for the foreseeable future – I bought his debut country album, Learn to Live, and loved, in particular, ‘It Won’t Be Like This For Long’ and ‘Alright’, both of which charted at #1 on the Billboard 200 country charts. From there, I branched out to other modern country, and the rest, as they say, is history.
For Southern Style, Rucker, with returning producer Frank Rogers, appears to be leaning towards more traditional country music after the massive success of his Grammy-award winning cover of the Old Crow Medicine Show’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ on his previous release, True Believers. Far from the usual mix of country-pop, Southern Style is infused with fiddle, slide guitar, dobro and plenty of honkytonk-ready anthems. It’s easily the most traditional country album I’ve listened to (with apologies to Mr Garth Brooks) and not even a vague hint of bro-country to Jason Aldean-style country rock.
Gone, however, is the heavy helping of ballads that have marked Rucker’s three previous country releases. In their place, and spearheaded by the excellent lead single ‘Homegrown Honey’ are upbeat, mid-tempo songs about having a good time. The insanely catchy melody that drives ‘Homegrown Honey’ has nudged the song, co-written with members of Lady Antebellum, into the top five. Once you’ve heard it, it’s hard not to really like it.
Even Hootie, formed by four friends who attended the University of South Carolina, has country leanings. One of their biggest hits, ‘Only Wanna Be With You’ has a distinctive mandolin part, and Rucker now tells audiences that mega-hit ‘Let Her Cry’ is “the first country song I ever wrote” so perhaps his switch from rock front man to successful country solo artist isn’t such a surprise. Nor is the success of said move: half a dozen #1 singles and three albums that, at minimum have gone gold.
My love for country music can be traced to Rucker switching genres. Being a Hootie fan, I was naturally curious – and a little said that the four-piece wouldn’t be making new music together for the foreseeable future – I bought his debut country album, Learn to Live, and loved, in particular, ‘It Won’t Be Like This For Long’ and ‘Alright’, both of which charted at #1 on the Billboard 200 country charts. From there, I branched out to other modern country, and the rest, as they say, is history.
For Southern Style, Rucker, with returning producer Frank Rogers, appears to be leaning towards more traditional country music after the massive success of his Grammy-award winning cover of the Old Crow Medicine Show’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ on his previous release, True Believers. Far from the usual mix of country-pop, Southern Style is infused with fiddle, slide guitar, dobro and plenty of honkytonk-ready anthems. It’s easily the most traditional country album I’ve listened to (with apologies to Mr Garth Brooks) and not even a vague hint of bro-country to Jason Aldean-style country rock.
Gone, however, is the heavy helping of ballads that have marked Rucker’s three previous country releases. In their place, and spearheaded by the excellent lead single ‘Homegrown Honey’ are upbeat, mid-tempo songs about having a good time. The insanely catchy melody that drives ‘Homegrown Honey’ has nudged the song, co-written with members of Lady Antebellum, into the top five. Once you’ve heard it, it’s hard not to really like it.
Good For A Good Time' and the title track, which features guest vocals from The Black Crowes front-man Chris Robinson are amongst the best. 'Lighter Up' feels like one of those songs that will be sung with gusto by all and sundry at upcoming tour dates, and 'Perfect' is a nice ode to a beautiful woman.
Yes, there are a few ballads sandwiched in amongst the lighter stuff, including ‘You Can Have Charleston’, a song about a failed relationship where Rucker invites his ex-flame to remain in the South Carolina city because he can’t. It’s a great chance for Rucker’s still-powerful vocals to really shine. The man, through more than twenty years at the top of music, can still hold a high note with the best of them. It seems that there are three certain things in life: death, taxes and Darius Rucker’s booming baritone.
Yes, there are a few ballads sandwiched in amongst the lighter stuff, including ‘You Can Have Charleston’, a song about a failed relationship where Rucker invites his ex-flame to remain in the South Carolina city because he can’t. It’s a great chance for Rucker’s still-powerful vocals to really shine. The man, through more than twenty years at the top of music, can still hold a high note with the best of them. It seems that there are three certain things in life: death, taxes and Darius Rucker’s booming baritone.
Southern Style seems Darius Rucker at the top of his game, and amongst the best all-around performers in country music.
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