Music review: Brad Paisley’s ‘Wheelhouse’
On his eighth regular studio album, Brad Paisley made a conscious decision to take a few steps outside his comfort zone to push himself past his own musical boundaries. The end result is the entertaining and enlightening 鈥淲heelhouse.鈥�
Paisley鈥檚 latest effort showcases traces of his charming wit, masterful guitar playing, clever lyrics and contagious melodies. The West Virginia native self-produced the new album at his farmhouse just outside of Nashville, writing or co-writing all of the songs.
The album鈥檚 first single, 鈥淪outhern Comfort Zone,鈥� is a sentimental tale describing Paisley鈥檚 yearning to return back to his Tennessee home after experiencing and appreciating cultures and customs from across the globe. The appealing single recently became the singer鈥檚 21st No. 1 hit. Released just in time for the sun and sand season, 鈥淏eat This Summer,鈥� is the second single that finds Paisley detailing the magical memories of an epic summer filled with plenty of parties, adventure and romance as he sings, 鈥淚 ain鈥檛 ever gonna beat this summer with you.鈥� In addition to Paisley鈥檚 band, the Drama Kings, there are plenty of special guest appearances along the way.
Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes lend a hand to the rousing party anthem 鈥淥utstanding in Our Field,鈥� sure to be a much-requested tune during live performances. Mat Kearney adds his rich voice to the heartache ballad 鈥淧ressing on a Bruise.鈥� Rapper LL Cool J is featured with Paisley on 鈥淎ccidental Racist,鈥� an eye-opening arrangement examining prejudice from both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. Monty Python鈥檚 Eric Idle gives new meaning to the phrase 鈥渦ntil death do us part鈥� on the whimsical 鈥淒eath of a Married Man鈥� and 鈥淗arvey Bodine,鈥� while Charlie Daniels delivers his best play-by-play monologue since 1979鈥檚 鈥淭he Devil Went Down to Georgia鈥� on the women鈥檚 revenge arrangement 鈥淜arate.鈥� Paisley delivers one of his strongest vocal performances on the introspective 鈥淚 Can鈥檛 Change the World鈥� as he tenderly serenades a partner afraid to commit because of past heartaches.
鈥淒eath of a Single Man鈥� possesses Paisley鈥檚 classic turn of a phrase as he sings about the passing of a man鈥檚 bachelorhood for the newly married life that awaits him on his wedding day, making it a sure bet to be heard at more than a few wedding receptions this summer. Paisley also offers a different twist on the traditional hymns he normally performs with 鈥淭hose Crazy Christians,鈥� written from the viewpoint of a nonbeliever. As usual, the guitar playing is the catalyst of the material as Paisley proves once again why he鈥檚 considered one of the best guitarists in the business.
To solidify his guitar prowess, Paisley is the first country artist to be featured on the cover of this May鈥檚 edition of 鈥淕uitar World鈥� magazine. Paisley will be bringing his 鈥淏eat This Summer鈥� tour to Burgettstown鈥檚 First Niagara Pavilion on June 1 with Chris Young and Lee Brice.