Review Summary: Definitely not the worst output of the bro-country era, but still not a great look for country as a whole
Thomas Rhett`s first album was a pretty big success looking back now. It had three singles that went to number one and shot him into prominence in the mainstream country realm. All of this is aided by the fact that his dad is an established songwriter and had a couple hits in the nineties, and by the fact that Rhett has a seemingly likeable personality. All I knew during this period was that Thomas Rhett was on the radio a bunch and that his songs were pretty catchy and modern. I did not realize until later that this music was truly not country and that it was not all that great. Until now, I had not actually listened to the full album, but now that I have, I see a good example of a modern mainstream country album. These albums will be loaded in the front to middle with most of the singles and "hits," while the back half is generally comprised of filler, except for the closer, which usually is a slower acoustic type tune. And that is true of this album. The last song, "Beer with Jesus," is without a doubt the records' best track, and it would have been interesting to see how the album would have turned out if there were more songs like that. But Rhett and his label were interested in putting singles on the radio that would get his name recognized so that he could establish a base and then hopefully sell out shows, win awards, and establish a legitimate career as a mainstream country star. In the climate of modern country, this album was probably a good idea, but it is pretty unimpressive besides the singles. Take a look at "Front Porch Junkies." It is a song that attempts to be "funky" while being nothing more than a dumb party song, like most of the songs on this album are. Sure, the singles are still catchy and occasionally fun to sing along to, but they are no longer relevant to my life or to country music as a whole. That is because by and large, these songs do not evoke strong emotions or feelings. With the exception of "Beer with Jesus," all these songs are pretty much about girls, drinking, and partying, or some combination of the three. The best songs provide something to relate to, whether it is heartbreak, a memory of home, or of a beautiful moment, yet that is nowhere to be found on this record. The songs are pretty shallow, without a whole lot of depth. Sure if you like to party and have a good time, then this album will satisfy you for a while, but music should do more than that. Music is not just something to dance to, but something to relate to and give you the comfort in a time where you may not be finding it in your own life.
