Music review: Blake Shelton – 鈥楤ased on a True Story鈥︹��
As the current Country Music Association entertainer of the year, Blake Shelton shows he鈥檚 earned the title with his latest album, 鈥淏ased on a True Story鈥�,鈥� which is filled with a dozen tracks that mirror the singer鈥檚 life experiences.
鈥淐hew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit,鈥� sings Shelton on the opener 鈥淏oys 鈥楻ound Here鈥� with Shelton assisted by wife Miranda Lambert and the Pistol Annies.
You know you鈥檝e got a sure-fire country hit when you write a song that includes God, girls, trucks, backwoods, dirt roads, ice cold beer, Bocephus, kissing and crickets.
The charming Oklahoma native follows up 2011鈥檚 鈥淩ed River Blue鈥� with another collection of straightforward country arrangements that are simple, honest and from the heart.
鈥淪ure Be Cool If You Did鈥� is the smooth and infectious first single that shows off Shelton鈥檚 softer side as he sings about that defining moment you meet that special someone.
The rowdy 鈥淚 Still Got a Finger,鈥� is the ultimate worker鈥檚 revenge anthem, second only to Johnny Paycheck鈥檚 classic 鈥淭ake This Job and Shove It.鈥�
鈥淢y Eyes鈥� features Gwen Sebastian from the second season of NBC鈥檚 鈥淭he Voice鈥� rejoining her vocal coach on a love song which possesses the classic pick up line, 鈥淢y eyes are the only thing I don鈥檛 want to take off of you.鈥�
鈥淕randdaddy鈥檚 Gun鈥� is a nostalgic look back at a family treasure that has been passed down through the generations with Shelton describing how the double-barreled shotgun has deterred burglars, assisted in bagging the various trophies hanging on the wall and created unforgettable bonding moments between grandfather, father and son over the years.
鈥淒oin鈥� What She Likes,鈥� 鈥淢ine Would Be You鈥� and 鈥淟ay Low鈥� are tender love songs that certainly prove that marriage agrees with Shelton.
鈥淏ased on a True Story鈥︹�� details a life full of good times, love, family memories and appreciating just what you鈥檝e got.
This summer, Shelton will make a Pittsburgh appearance at the First Niagara Pavilion on Aug. 2 with special guests Easton Corbin and Jana Kramer.