On Kenny Chesney‘s twentieth studio album Born, out right this moment (March 22) by way of Blue Chair Data/Warner Music Nashville, he continues his repute for recording songs that each elevate the spirit and minimize to the bone.
Touchdown almost 4 years after his 2020 album Right here and Now, Chesney’s newest revels in each taking dangers and taking in each second life offers you. Chesney included extra songs than ever on his new challenge, clocking in at 15 tracks, every one mining common truths and detailing yearnings for love, freedom and connection.
He works as soon as once more along with his longtime producer Buddy Cannon, crafting an album that may be a patchwork of songs, musical commemorations of a myriad of life moments, drawing on spontaneous street journeys and dive-bars stuffed with the scent of ocean breezes, in addition to high-octane cases of embracing wide-open independence, and tempered by extra contemplative areas accepting how time refines lives, each therapeutic hurts and spilling heartbreaks, etching recollections firmly into consciousness. Some songs, resembling “Take Her House,” contact on lasting love, whereas “Responsible Pleasure” facilities on ardour within the second. A sense of gratitude for the complete spectrum of life programs via the album.
“There was no theme we’re singing about that holds it collectively,” the eight-time entertainer of the 12 months winner stated in an announcement concerning the album. “However in the event you take heed to all 15 songs, you’ll get the excessive power enjoyable, chasing adventures, don’t let folks get you down piece and you’ll get the extra reflective excited about somebody who’s died, the individual you realize you shouldn’t name feelings which have at all times been within the music, too.”
Maybe a line in one of many album’s tracks, “Few Good Tales,” sums it up finest: “When it’s all stated and performed, I’ll know I lived it effectively If I ain’t obtained nothing however just a few good tales to inform.”
Right here’s a take a look at Billboard‘s rating of the album’s 15 tracks:
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“Simply to Say We Did”
One other rock guitar-fueled celebration anthem, this observe particulars spontaneous street journeys from Knoxville to Myrtle Seashore in an RV with no air-con, leaping off cliffs and shedding observe of time in a neon Vegas evening—all of the whereas, Chesney maintains that oftentimes the improvised dangers are well worth the recollections made.
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“High Down”
A candy, regular groove propels this easy-come, easy-go story as he revels in a automobile experience along with his love. The automobile’s high is down, the radio has simply the fitting track on and he is aware of he’d do something for her.
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“Lengthy Gone”
“What good are wheels in the event that they ain’t rolling,” Chesney sings above crashing drums and careening guitar traces, on this observe written by Tony Martin and Wendell Mobley. A sure-fire dwell efficiency favourite, this track pulses with energy, and serves as a tribute to all of the pleasure seekers undeterred from chasing a good-time feeling to all corners of the globe.
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“One Extra Sundown”
Brett James, Tim James and Danny Myrick wrote this rock-tinged observe completely crafted for communal live performance singalongs. Chesney hits a snug groove right here, as he sings of residing on “good vibe commonplace time,” nodding to Shakespeare, beautiful sunsets and good drinks.
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“Come Right here, Go Away”
A slice of B-3 organ piles atop a latticework of drums, bass and guitar on this meditation of a heart-breaking push-and-pull cycle of an on-again, off-again relationship. “After we say it’s over after which we are saying why don’t you come on over/ We get misplaced and drink an excessive amount of/ Then we morning after assume an excessive amount of,” Chesney sings, his voice selecting up the complete brunt of angst, ardour and frustration. Chesney wrote this observe with Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally and Greylan James.
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“Born”
An ideal mesh of churning percussion, immense singalong refrain, and stadium-ready, blistering rock riffs draw listeners deeper into the soul-searching, human-connecting cavities of every lyric on this high-octane title observe and album opener. “All of us wish to know what we’re made for,” he sings, a nod to how the humanity of searching for goal in every day might be sought with pleasure.
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“Take Her House”
Chesney’s present high 20 Billboard Nation Airplay hit was written by HARDY, Zach Abend and Hunter Phelps, with HARDY additionally providing background vocals on the observe. The primary verse seemingly paints the scene of the start sparks of a fleeting romance, however by the refrain and second verse it’s clear that the possibility assembly changed into extra, with a narrative arc that will get a slight twist on the finish, when it’s not solely his lover he’s taking dwelling, however the couple’s new child baby.
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“Thinkin’ Bout”
Seemingly the continuation of the album’s earlier ruminations on these hot-and-cold relationships, right here he begins courting ideas of reducing the connection off for good, realizing the back-and-forth in the end isn’t the most effective for both of them. Tucker Beathard and Kyle Fishman wrote the track, whereas Laci Kaye Sales space provides clean, silky background vocals.
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“Few Good Tales”
Written by Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins and Chris Stevens, this observe blends guitars, Wurlitzer and bass for a feel-good conglomeration that fetes good whiskey and cigars, previous guitars and nights spent spinning a lover across the dancefloor to traditional Motown tunes. “If I ain’t performed all of it, simply means I ain’t performed it but,” he sings. Like many songs on this album, he maintains that his mission is creating recollections that he can look again on fondly.
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“Blame It On the Salt”
This light-hearted, barely tropical groove of a track facilities on free-spirited evening of ingesting and dancing, writing their names on cash and taping it to the partitions, all with an open-minded nod to seeing the place the evening could lead on. “If you happen to get to catchin’ emotions child it ain’t your fault/ Blame it on the salt,” he sings on this plucky, laid-back track. ERNEST provides up background vocals on this observe, and is a co-writer alongside Matt Dragstrem and Ryan Vojtesak.
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“Responsible Pleasure”
Bolstered by metal guitar and tamborines, this jangly, upbeat quantity finds him taking pleasure in being another person’s responsible pleasure–somebody’s first name once they want a distraction. “You solely need me while you’re ingesting/ And also you’ve obtained a mistake you wish to make once more,” he sings, his supply sounding each flirtatious and unbothered by the romance’s uncommitted nature.
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“This Too Shall Move”
Written by Brent Cobb, Charlie Worsham and Jaren Johnston, this observe encompasses a loping rhythm and relatable storyline of discovering refuge amongst strangers in a bar from “walkin’ via the rain of life’s huge storm,” the place generally love is “all oyster, no pearl.” Some fine-grain, poetic storytelling and Chesney’s everyman fashion of singing at all times interprets these sorts of tales so effectively.
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“One Lonely Island”
Layers of electrical and acoustic guitars and synths heighten the sense of anticipation right here, as he sings of a possible love story nonetheless in its early days–or as he sings, “This could be nothing or this could be severe.” This observe directly encapsulates the loneliness, hopefulness and starvation of two souls prepared to maneuver previous previous hurts. Chesney wrote this observe with Josh Osborne, Ross Copperman and David Lee Murphy.
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“The Means I Love You Now”
One of the heartfelt, beautiful ballads on this album is that this susceptible, soul-searching observe of forgiveness and acceptance, which Chesney wrote with Mike Reid. He’s way back relinquished the heartbreak and the harm has dulled right into a love that accepts the connection as it’s.
“The best way I really like you now Is completely different than it was/ It’s in my brokenness It’s what the therapeutic does,” he sings right here.
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“Wherever You Are Tonight”
Over the course of his previous few albums, Chesney has recorded some sterling ballads and mid-tempos devoted to the reminiscence of family members which have handed on, resembling “Understanding You.”
“Religion is left to heal what tears can’t contact/ You’re not gone, simply out of sight,” he sings on this attractive piano ballad, written by Mike Reid and Gary Burr. As at all times, Chesney’s top-shelf expertise as a vocal interpreter infuse this observe with additional heat, wistfulness and hope.
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