Music review: Keith Urban – ‘Ripcord’
Don鈥檛 let the banjo-led opener fool you, Keith Urban鈥檚 latest album isn鈥檛 your typical contemporary country effort.
The Australian songwriter, vocalist and guitarist has said that 鈥淩ipcord鈥� is all about the energy. With all that unrestricted energy surging through the new tracks, there comes a sense of excitement and freshness through the exploration of different musical styles while still maintaining a familiar country core.
As Urban鈥檚 eighth studio release seems destined for massive crossover appeal, some die-hard fans may need to give the arrangements a little extra time to digest and process before making a final conclusion on whether the change is for the better.
鈥淩ipcord鈥� is fueled by the country leanings of the first hit single 鈥淛ohn Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16鈥� that was released nearly a year ago. The guitar work that navigates the thumping beat and irresistible hooks was inspired from Steve Miller鈥檚 鈥淭he Joker.鈥�
鈥淲asted Time鈥� is the perfect summer anthem about cruising the town listening to the radio singing along to 鈥淪weet Child O鈥� Mine.鈥� I have no doubt that Urban has probably belted out a few notes of this classic by Guns N鈥� Roses more than a few times before.
The party atmosphere continues on 鈥淪un Don鈥檛 Let Me Down,鈥� featuring the charismatic rap of Pitbull as well as the funky guitar playing of Nile Rodgers. 鈥淭onight鈥檚 going down until the sun comes up,鈥� announces Pitbull as he kicks off the festivities by introducing Urban as Mr. Worldwide.
鈥淗abit of You鈥� is a slow, sultry R&B number that has Urban channeling the pop slickness of Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and 鈥淏lue Ain鈥檛 Your Color鈥� serves as an engaging country-blues arrangement with a throwback feel from the 1950s. Urban continues to turn up the heat with the steamy 鈥淵our Body鈥� and 鈥淕ettin鈥� in the Way.鈥�
The highlight of the album appears during Urban鈥檚 duet with Carrie Underwood. Both country superstars deliver an infectious pop sheen on 鈥淭he Fighter.鈥� Underwood鈥檚 performance proves that (if she ever wanted) she could follow Taylor Swift and seamlessly make the transition from a country mega-star to pop diva without alienating her fans. If you get the chance, I strongly urge you to check out the video Urban posted of him and his wife, Nicole Kidman, lip-syncing and having a playful blast with the number.
Urban鈥檚 latest musical diversion reminds me a lot of Grace Potter鈥檚 transformation on her last album. On 鈥淢idnight,鈥� Potter risked the shedding of her earthy blues and rock roots for a dance-pop flavoring that resulted in pure intoxicating magic.
My wife and mother-in-law simply adore Urban. They have all of his albums and have even stood in a torrential downpour just to experience one of his entertaining shows. Only Mother Nature鈥檚 lightning could abruptly bring a halt of their euphoric viewing and listening adventure.
With no current concert stop in Pittsburgh posted yet, it looks as though I鈥檒l be taking my wife on a well-deserved road trip to see Urban perform at Cleveland鈥檚 Blossom Music Center on July 15.