Music review: Justin Moore – 鈥楲ate Nights and Longnecks鈥�
The title of Justin Moore鈥檚 fifth studio album tells you everything you need to know about the stirring country set.
Co-written by Moore, the album鈥檚 10 tracks tell stories of faith, family, heartbreak and plenty of drinking.
鈥淲hy We Drink鈥� serves as the rousing opener that kicks off the festivities by going through an extensive list of reasons why to
have a cold one while declaring it鈥檚 alcohol abuse if you pour one down the sink.
Opposites attract and surprisingly make for good parents on 鈥淛esus and Jack Daniels.鈥� Moore sings about how mama shared the faith and daddy taught the tough life lessons that needed to be heard to survive and how finding the right balance between the two made for a great upbringing.
Family is the focus on the touching 鈥淭hat鈥檚 My Boy.鈥� It鈥檚 all about the feeling of satisfaction that comes when you realize your son is a chip off the old block as Moore proclaims, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my heart/That鈥檚 my soul/That鈥檚 my last name/That鈥檚 a love like I鈥檝e never known.鈥�
Things get emotional on 鈥淭he Ones That Didn鈥檛 Make It Back Home.鈥� The album鈥檚 lead single is a heavy hitter that quickly puts things in perspective by honoring the memory of all the soldiers that sacrificed everything for God and country as the Arkansas native sings, 鈥淗ere鈥檚 to the ones that didn鈥檛 make it back home/The ones we ain鈥檛 seen in so long/The hold up a beer ones/The wish they were here ones/The not forgotten but gone.鈥�
Unrealistic promises are offered up on 鈥淣ever Gonna Drink Again鈥� and 鈥淪omeday I Gotta Quit.鈥� When you鈥檝e lost your job, girl and dog, a little solace can be found at the neighborhood honky-tonk. After continuous late nights spent with close friends Jim Beam and Jack Daniels, the cycle of masking the pain with alcohol and a pack of smokes remains unbroken.
鈥淕ood Times Don鈥檛鈥� brings the set to a happier close. It鈥檚 a great summer track with a nostalgic theme about enjoying the simple pleasures in life with Moore announcing, 鈥淭he world spins around, the kids get grown/But they still turn it up when Hank comes on/Yeah, times change but good times don鈥檛.鈥�
Perhaps Moore best captures the raise-a-glass sentiment of the new release when he sings, 鈥淭o good friends, good times, you and me/To the red, white and blue boys and girls overseas.鈥�
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.