Music review: Darius Rucker 鈥� 鈥楽outhern Style鈥�
Twenty-one years after Hootie & the Blowfish found the spotlight by delivering hits like 鈥淗old My Hand,鈥� 鈥淟et Her Cry鈥� and 鈥淥nly Wanna Be with You鈥� with the release of 鈥淐racked Rear View,鈥� the band鈥檚 former frontman Darius Rucker鈥檚 musical rebirth from mainstream pop-rock singer to country sensation is fully solidified with the South Carolina native鈥檚 fourth country effort.
For 鈥淪outhern Style,鈥� Rucker builds off the relaxed and reflective mood of 2013鈥檚 鈥淭rue Believers鈥� with a common thread found in the sincerity displayed in the 48-year-old singer鈥檚 comforting baritone voice. 鈥淗omegrown Honey,鈥� the album鈥檚 first single penned by Rucker, Lady Antebellum鈥檚 Charles Kelley and songwriter Nathan Chapman, is a smooth and infectious ode to the down-home charm and appeal of Southern women.
鈥淚 ain鈥檛 ever been accused of recusing myself from a Friday night,鈥� declares Rucker on the party anthem 鈥淕ood for a Good Time.鈥� The foot-stomping declaration of it鈥檚 always the right time for a good time is reinforced by Rucker announcing, 鈥淒on鈥檛 need no excuse to go out and cut loose beneath the neon light.鈥�
Rucker displays his Carolina soul and easygoing country roll on sweetly melodic arrangements like the title track, 鈥淗igh on Life,鈥� 鈥淵ou, Me and My Guitar鈥� and 鈥淵ou Can Have Charleston.鈥�
The tender ballads 鈥淧erfect鈥� and 鈥淣eed You More鈥� draw inspiration from Rucker鈥檚 wife, while 鈥淏aby I鈥檓 Right鈥� features the playful vocal support of Mallary Hope. 鈥淪o I Sang鈥� is both sentimental and beautiful as Rucker details how music became his passion and purpose. With 鈥淪outhern Style,鈥� Rucker promises to continue his rise as a country superstar.
Rucker comes to First Niagara Pavilion on May 15 with CMA New Artist of the Year Brett Eldredge, Brothers Osborne and A Thousand Horses.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.