Music review: Brad Paisley 鈥� 鈥楲ove and War鈥�
鈥淟ove and War鈥� is the 11th studio release from one of the finest guitar players in all of country music today and showcases Brad Paisley鈥檚 knack for penning heartfelt stories about life and love that evoke a wide range of emotions.
鈥淗eaven South鈥� has the West Virginia native singing about beer-battered chicken, sweet tea, nightcrawlers, crickets, fishing, the flag and the local courthouse as part of the perfect day on the album opener.
鈥淟ast Time for Everything鈥� serves as a nostalgic trip filled with great memories and the subtle reminder that we need to make the most of every day.
Applying the same wit and charm that produced previous infectious hits like 鈥淐elebrity,鈥� 鈥淎lcohol鈥� and 鈥淥nline,鈥� Paisley addresses the follies of social media on 鈥渟elfie#theinternetisforever.鈥� 鈥淵ou gotta be ashamed,鈥� sings Paisley as he warns that the internet is forever and your online stupidity is granted more than just 15 minutes of fame.
A number of energizing collaborations are featured on the 16-track set.
Written and performed with Mick Jagger, 鈥淒rive of Shame鈥� finds Jagger performing his best honky-tonk vibe since 鈥淔ar Away Eyes鈥� from 1978鈥檚 鈥淪ome Girls鈥� by the Rolling Stones.
On the title track, Paisley and John Fogerty illustrate that all is certainly not fair in love and war as the pair outline the poor treatment experienced by many of our veterans after sacrificing everything and returning home.
Country legend Bill Anderson helps to offer up the heartbreaking tale of a man who has lost his will to live after the death of his wife and the desire to reunite with her in heaven on 鈥淒ying to See Her.鈥�
Paisley has always had a way of delivering the perfect love song. 鈥淭oday鈥� is yet another melodic testament of true love that Paisley presents in such a moving manner. Continuing the theme of true love, Paisley adds music to a gorgeous poem originally written by Johnny Cash for June Carter on 鈥淕old All Over the Ground.鈥�
Timbaland helps to lighten the mood and infuse a fresh energy on the rousing 鈥淕rey Goose Chase鈥� and soaring 鈥淪olar Power Girl.鈥�
From the comical side of trying to dispose of any traces of the house party held for friends before the parents come home with 鈥淥ne Beer Can鈥� to the heaviness of the darkness that permeates through the world on 鈥淭he Devil Is Alive and Well,鈥� Paisley proves once again why he鈥檚 worthy of country superstar status.