Album Review – Jason Aldean’s “Rearview Town”
So here we go again. Another new Jason Aldean album, and another machine gunning of blistering arena rock guitars, braggadocios rural boy aphorisms, self-aggrandizing affirmations of what a badass he is, with very little substance or sincerity delivered between the lines to find enriching. For 15 songs it is relentless, with one of the few saving graces being that no single track stretches over 3 1/2 minutes, and once you’ve heard one, you’ve pretty much heard them all so you can skip around. One after another, it’s low-pitched verses about how hard or badass it is being from the country, leading into doubled up choruses that rise as predictably as the sun into massive Richie Sambora-style cacophonous lyrical and sonic platitudes.
Among other fair criticisms, Jason Aldean has turned in a record that challenges the once thought unattainable achievement of matching Chris Young for the most formulaic and creatively-static “country” music release in history. The guitars are loud, and the drums are punishing, one song after another. At this point, a Jason Aldean record is little more than a collection of new material for him to parade out at live arena shows. Want to know why rock is dead? It’s not just because acts like Limp Bizkit and Nickelback killed it. It’s because Jason Aldean and other arena rockers posing as country acts infiltrated the space, corporatizing and homogenizing it for Music Row’s devices.
Jason Aldean fans don’t listen to records as cohesive works encapsulating the creative muse an artist is immersed in at a given point in his or her career. It’s basically a merch play to hopefully get autographed, and a way to catalog the current radio singles. One new wrinkle to the material on Rearview Town is that Jason Aldean now has taken electronic drum beats and other digitally-produced enhancements and interwoven them with the live instrumentation. The rock drums are still there, but to keep up with mainstream country trends, they add in computerized ticks for that additional over-the-top texturing and busy-ness. It’s all just a mash of sounds coming at you, including in some songs these strange feminine (or synthesized) sighs and calls like something you would hear in the soundtrack of a 90’s-era war strategy RPG or 1st-person shooter game. Jason Aldean is the Vin Diesel of music.
And to top it all off, Aldean also re-introduces the always-polarizing element of rapping in certain songs. The purveyor of the first mainstream country rap hit “Dirt Road Anthem” returns to this approach in what will likely be a radio single, “Gettin’ Warmed Up,” and in other places.
But let’s also give Jason Aldean some due credit. One of the reasons he’s so consistent throughout this record and throughout his career is because he knows what he does well, and sticks to his guns. And yes, he does do what he sets out to accomplish very well. You listen to a Jason Aldean record or see him in concert, the blood will get pumping. He’s singing to the “work hard, play hard” crowd who busts their ass at jobs they hate all week, and want artists like Jason Aldean to help them unwind and swell with pride, and he delivers.
The other consistency in Aldean’s career is his slightly deeper understanding of the rural dwelling condition compared to some of his other pop country contemporaries. Where others love to portray country towns as a Candyland of bonfires, beer, and babes hanging out by the lake all day, Aldean often speaks to the forgotten nature of America’s farm towns, and the hard-fought pride furrowing the brow of the blue collar worker. In the title track of Rearview Town written by Kelley Lovelace, Bobby Pinson, and Neil Thrasher, Aldean sings of a frustrated rural dweller, heartbroken and out of dreams, not just demoralized by the disappearance of his hometown, but further depressed that he’s helping the statistical slide by deciding to leave himself.
Shoving the incredible amount of filler on this record aside, “Rearview Town” is one of a few more interesting moments on this record. So is the first single “You Make It Easy.” It also bucks the trend of sameness with its 6/8 timing, even though the lyrics are pretty stock. “Better At Being Who I Am” written by Casey Beathard, Wendell Mobley, and Neil Thrasher also speaks to something deeper, and something relevant to this record, to Aldean’s life, and to the pressures he’s facing through busybody journalists to speak out about certain things since it was he who was on the stage when the Harvest 91 Festival massacre took place in Las Vegas.
Jason Aldean may be as shallow as a kiddie pool, but it’s hard to portray him as not authentic to himself. And though his consistency is definitely a curse on this record and the creative assessment of his career, it’s also the reason Aldean has found commercial success, and a connection with his fans. They don’t want him out there crying crocodile tears, they want him helping them forget the problems of today for an hour or two, and to help recharge the batteries for another hard fought week.
Another point of intrigue on the record is Aldean’s duet with Miranda Lambert, “Drowns The Whiskey.” Though it might be a slight step up for Jason Aldean, and maybe not the slide some Miranda fans were worried about when it was first announced, the song is still an electronic drums-driven mid-tempo formulaic effort easy to forget, despite the steel guitar. How many times has this song’s theme been done, both in the mainstream and in independent circles? At least Aldean is dueting with a woman in country as opposed to using the opportunity to highlight a pop star like many of his country radio buddies.
Where some recent radio singles from mainstream stars have been a pleasant surprise, including Jason Aldean’s okay “You Make It Easy,” and some recent mainstream albums are at least showing a step in the right direction, you get just about what you expect from Aldean on Rearview Town, with the dogged consistency possibly being the most remarkable wrinkle. Rearview Town would be disappointing if you expected more from him, but you don’t. Because if we’ve learned anything over the years that you can count on, it’s Jason Aldean to be Jason Aldean.
1 3/4 Guns DOWN (3/10)
– – – – – – – –
hoptowntiger94
April 16, 2018 @ 9:55 am
I don’t know much about Aldean. The last song I can recall by him was the one about Joe Diffie. But I saw him last night perform and accept his award and then read this review and he comes off very robotic in repetition and lack of emotion.
Messer
April 16, 2018 @ 10:06 am
This has nothing to do with the album, but I don’t agree that rock is dead.
Trigger
April 16, 2018 @ 10:09 am
Rock as a radio format, and an arena draw is really what I’m talking about here. Of course there’s lots of strength in metal, indie rock, etc.
Messer
April 16, 2018 @ 12:38 pm
Oh I get that. I’m a big metal fan and the metal these days in my opinion is pretty darn good. Seems like country and rock have several things in common, the radio sucking (for the most part) being a big one.
Marky Mark
April 16, 2018 @ 4:48 pm
I too am a big metal fan. Not much new I like, Black stone cherry and rival sons being two that spring to mind and neither really qualify as new anymore with 5 albums each to their credit. Love some tips on what’s I am missing. Still looking for a new Maiden or Dio.
Messer
April 16, 2018 @ 5:45 pm
They’ve been around a while, but Mastodon is one of my favorites out there right now. Theres Power Trip, Behemoth, King Woman, Pallbearer, Elder, Black Label Society, Ghost, and Opeth, to name a few. And some may not consider them metal, but I really like Avenged Sevenfold. And on the rock side of things there is The Pretty Reckless, Halestorm, Royal Thunder, Stone Sour. I’d check out all of these bands latest albums and maybe you’ll find something you like!
Barry Cheevers
April 16, 2018 @ 6:46 pm
@Messer, I too am a big sucker for Ghost. Beyond their schtick, their music is really damn good.
Travis
April 16, 2018 @ 7:19 pm
It may be a bit too extreme, but Inconcessus Lux Lucis album The Crowning Quietus was my favorite metal album last year from just shear fun of the music which mixes black, thrash, and nwobhm, into tons of awesome riffs and soloing (last two songs specifically). I typically don’t like black metal much at all so it really surprised me that it ended up being one of my most listened to albums last year. Again, if you don’t have a history of listening to extreme music, it will probably be difficult to get into but if you can get through it, I’m sure there will be a ton you enjoy if you’re a metal fan at all.
Dominick Vander Linden
April 16, 2018 @ 6:32 pm
pretty ignorant of you to say nickelback and limp bizkit killed rock music
have you even been paying attention to the scene lately?
Trigger
April 16, 2018 @ 7:30 pm
“the scene”?
I hate scenes.
Dominick Vander Linden
April 16, 2018 @ 7:46 pm
im not surprised
you music hispter snob, thinkin you know better
Barry Cheevers
April 16, 2018 @ 9:21 pm
You hate scenes? All of the music promoted on this site are part of a scene. I’m confused.
Trigger
April 17, 2018 @ 9:33 am
You can like music from a scene, but see the inherent dilemma in scenes as they both support artists on the grassroots level, but also keeping them from growing beyond an affixed ceiling from resenting success and not willing to be critical in an objective manner.
Travis
April 19, 2018 @ 10:43 am
Dominic, can you educate us on what’s wrong with what Trig said. What
Dominick Vander Linden
April 19, 2018 @ 10:51 am
If thi se 2 bands killed rock music then how come there was still rock hits charting on the hot 100 past the time
Songs like hanging by a moment by lifehouse or second chance by shinedown which hit the top 10 in 2008,
How come zombie by bad wolves charted with it’s peak at 54 I believe, or charting songs from the foo fighters, green day or my chemical romance
Or Beverly hills by weezer being a big hot 100 hit
And if rock was dead after nickelback and limp bizkit I suppose we wouldn’t have critically acclaimed acts like the strokes, white stripes, muse, brand new etc.
KSU
April 16, 2018 @ 10:08 am
I’ve always been curious where his career would be now if he had kept recording songs like Amarillo Sky.
Derek Sullivan
April 16, 2018 @ 10:19 am
I’ll skip it and just wait for the new Brothers Osborne album to come out on Friday.
Brandon F
April 16, 2018 @ 12:24 pm
I’ve listened to the new Brothers Osborne album several times on NPR First Listen already. I skipped around on the Aldean album since he’s had decent album cuts in the past but didn’t find anything I’d go back for.
Kevin Smith
April 16, 2018 @ 10:34 am
Bon Jovi with a southern drawl. Nothing more.
Countrygirl
April 16, 2018 @ 11:05 am
I don’t want to hear anything from this fake-ever. Plus his wife looked like a streetwalker last night.
kross
April 16, 2018 @ 11:08 am
I now like three Aldean songs. Flyover States, When she says baby, and Rear view town. At the rate he’s going, I’ll like a whole albums worth of songs in about 10 years.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 16, 2018 @ 12:00 pm
Amarillo Sky is very well done, too.
the pistolero
April 16, 2018 @ 1:11 pm
Yes. That and “The Truth” are my favorite Aldean singles. I get that he probably couldn’t have gotten away with doing entire albums’ worth of songs like that, but I really wish he had done more of them.
Matt
April 16, 2018 @ 2:14 pm
Take those two and “Why” and you have my three favorites from him.
Summer Jam
April 16, 2018 @ 7:13 pm
“The Truth” and “Why” are probably the best songs Aldean has ever recorded, very country sounding and both tell a story about troubles. “Amarillo Sky” and “Fly Over States” are also very solid songs that are undeniably country.
I wish country could still sound like it did in the mid 2000’s, the modern sound yet tons of steel guitar and fiddle, story telling, and lyrics about troubles.
Cody
April 17, 2018 @ 5:48 am
Asphalt Cowboy is another good song from his first album.
Marky Mark
April 16, 2018 @ 5:07 pm
I am a bit of an Aldean apologist, probably one of the few on here. As an old time rocker, I’d say he can do a decent enough Mellencamp since mellencamp won’t anymore, and as far as country songs he has more than a few good ones beyond those mentioned above:
Asphalt cowboy
On my highway
Too fast
Church pew or barstool
Grown woman
Why
Don’t change gone
Fly over states
Truth
Amarillo sky
Two night town
I believe in ghosts
I ain’t ready to quit
Not every man lives
Laugh until we cried
Do you wish it was me
Good to go
Any ol barstool
Any of the above would be a breath of fresh air compared to most of what they play on the radio these days.
I agree there are plenty better, but I still like him. I’ll also agree that he has gotten worse as time goes on, chasing the $ rather than being legit. Whoever called him Bon Jovi with a rural accent above is right. I would have said Poison, but the point is the same. Substance free but still better than most of what’s on the radio. When I want depth and talent, I know where to look and it’s not to him, but he is not worth the hate he gets here in my opinion. Save that for Luke.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 17, 2018 @ 7:18 am
He’s written a good number of songs that would be great to have as the lower-tier of country radio.
Joe
April 16, 2018 @ 7:02 pm
Considering it took you 13 years to get to 3 songs, it’s going to take more like 40 years to get an album’s worth.
Brian
April 16, 2018 @ 11:21 am
I actually think that Aldean has a type of song that he is very good at and if he would stick with that he could have success along with having decent material. I think songs like “Fly Over States”, “Church Pew or Bar Stool kind of Town”, “Amarillo Sky”, “Three Nights in a Two Night Town”, “Tattoos on This Town” and “Night Train” are examples of the type of song that could be successful and respectable. He has a very middle America feel to him that he does not take advantage of enough I think.
Countrygirl
April 16, 2018 @ 11:29 am
I don’t think it’s machine gun guitars. I think it’s AR-15s with bumpstocks. He could have warned the crowd but he just ran. Chicken little.
Kevin Davis
April 16, 2018 @ 12:14 pm
Oh, yeah, I’m sure that upon hearing gunfire — when you’re the one on the stage no less — your first reaction would be to warn the crowd instead of the basic human reaction of cover. Yeah right! Unbelievable hubris. I can’t believe people are still spewing this crap. Say what you will about his music, but he did nothing wrong that horrible night.
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 1:35 am
He did everything wrong and to deem him entertainer of the year after he showed no regard whatsoever for his fans is a complete abomination. Boycott anything regarding the ACM!!!!
Benjamin
April 17, 2018 @ 6:11 am
Trigger,
Please delete Countrygirl’s comments. As much as we dislike Jason aldeans cookie-cutter music, no one on this site wants to be viewed as people who blame an innocent man f
Trigger
April 17, 2018 @ 9:25 am
She’s being reigned in. I don’t mind people sharing their opinions as stupid as they may be. But posting the same thing over and over is in violation of the rules.
sbach66
April 16, 2018 @ 2:22 pm
This again? Really?
Countrygirl
April 16, 2018 @ 2:53 pm
Please delete my accidental like. Of course it’s “this again’. So sorry to bother you with notions of bravery, courage and valor. I’m sure if you were a victim s family member you wouldn’t be inconvenienced discussing this. Yes, as a former lifeguard and Mom hell yeah my first instinct would have been to save the crowd. Go ahead and keep worshipping track star Aldean. He’s no hero in my books.
Countrygirl
April 16, 2018 @ 3:04 pm
Every performer is liable for the crowd out there watching them and if they have any heart and soul this shouldn’t have to be explained. Just ask Sugarland about their stage collapse. Ask every act who chooses to go on in terrible weather. They are responsible for the fans who paid out the rear, took off work and struggled for hours to see them, and then you hear shots and can’t even say run or get down? Give me a break!!!!
Mike Honcho
April 16, 2018 @ 4:38 pm
A fucking lifeguard? Thank you for your service!
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 12:32 am
Oh, you’re so clever. I think I’ll let you drown.
Countrygirl
April 16, 2018 @ 11:31 am
Course then there’s the picture of him kissing ‘brittany’ behind the backs of his wife and daughters. Puke.
Nick
April 16, 2018 @ 11:35 am
I always thought he had potential to not suck. He sings about a lot of the same topics that guys like Isbell write about, but he has to muddy it down in a wave of drum machines and axe body spray. I’m sure they doctor the hell out of his voice, but it seems pretty strong on its own. His persona and his all-too-often tendency to take on the bro point of view in many of his songs just causes me to dismiss him entirely. Maybe one day he’ll drop the BS and find a love for true country/folk music.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 1:45 pm
Isbell is a superior singer and songwriter. Aldean picks songs to song that are the worst of the worst.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 1:46 pm
Songs to sing*
Nick
April 16, 2018 @ 2:53 pm
Obviously Isbell is superior. My point was that Aldean does cut tracks that stray from beer drinking and partying in favor of more serious topics from time to time. I haven’t heard an actual Aldean album in about 5 years so maybe he’s abandoned that style of song altogether by now.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 4:27 pm
I’d say he has. His last 3 albums, including this one, have been awful. Why someone would choose to cut songs that FGL wrote (surprised those fuckwads are able to form complete sentences) baffles the shit outta me man!
CountryKnight
April 16, 2018 @ 11:36 am
I am putting this album in my rearview mirror.
Lindsey
April 16, 2018 @ 11:49 am
He used to put forth some effort when he sang. I have concert audio recordings of him 10 years ago doing country covers at arena concerts. He didn’t have anything but his band and a backdrop to distract the crowd, so he had to put forth effort. He’s gotten too big for his britches. I listen to Amarillo Sky regularly.
Luiz
April 16, 2018 @ 11:51 am
The problem with Aldean is that when he is bad,he is terrible. But as usual , there´is some good songs on the album like “Drowns the Whiskey’ , “High Noon Neon’ and “Better at Being Who I Am”.
Clyde
April 16, 2018 @ 11:55 am
Trigger, you make a good point about Aldean having a slightly better grasp of rural and blue collar life than most of the other mainstream schlubs. It seems to be a lost art in both mainstream and independent circles to write and record socially relevant songs. Where are the modern Working Man Blues or Man in Black? These problems are still with us along with some new ones, but you really risk getting ripped to shreds if you go there today. Seems to alienate more than bring together. So it’s just more whiskey or poor me or party songs or you’re so hot songs or I’m so badass songs.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 16, 2018 @ 12:08 pm
It’s pretty much just Isbell who regularly operates in that space, these days.
Corncaster
April 16, 2018 @ 12:03 pm
So this is the FU song to the “Flyover States” crowd. Nice.
What a piece of work.
Gabe
April 16, 2018 @ 12:51 pm
To think he’s one of the few out there consistently talking about “pushing themselves” and somehow we get this???
KSU
April 16, 2018 @ 1:03 pm
It’s not a very songwriterly album to my ears.
Matt
April 16, 2018 @ 1:03 pm
I think you have to grade Aldean on a single basis. He is recording for digital downloads and radio air play. When that is the case, the albums as a whole are going to suffer. There are not many like Eric Church or Miranda Lambert or Zac Brown making solid albums anymore, and those focused more on albums can barely crack the top 30 charts.
I’d venture to say 11 or 12 of the songs on this album will never make it to radio, but some of the ones that will – “You Make It Easy” and “Rearview Town” for sure – are not bad when compared against what is on radio today. In that regard I think this is a step up from some of his recent efforts in which he helped to water down the new radio scene.
the pistolero
April 16, 2018 @ 1:24 pm
He is recording for digital downloads and radio air play
If that’s the case, then he needs to record just singles and not entire albums. If he’s going to record albums, then they need to be graded as a whole; grading him for the best work on otherwise subpar albums is rather unfair to all the artists who turn in great albums on a consistent basis.
Matt
April 16, 2018 @ 1:41 pm
I don’t have a problem with grading albums; I’m just saying that because his – or his management’s – focus is on singles, the album grades are always going to be bad.
I think we’re not too far removed from a time when a top artist will go to a singles-only recording format. I’m surprised we’re not there yet, to be honest.
Garrett H
April 16, 2018 @ 1:24 pm
It always feel like Jason can’t help but to make the same record he’s been making for almost three records now with a few really well written songs thrown in on each one. There are four really good songs on this album, “Rearview Town”, “Drowns The Whiskey”, “Better At Being Who I Am”, and “High Noon Neon”. The rest aren’t even listenable. Not even close. This album is probably the second worst of Jason’s career right behind the horrendous “Old Boots, New Dirt”. I’ll be honest, I’ve always rooted for Aldean.”The Truth” is one of my favorite country songs of all-time. I was ok with almost everything he put out, up to some of the stuff on Night Train, his last album They Don’t Know had more listenable songs on it then the previous, and with the singles I really was hoping this one was gonna get back to the more mainstream trad stuff he does very well, but nah just another dud with a few great tracks mixed in. Great review Trig.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 1:32 pm
I wouldn’t bother buying his music anyway. I just saw him perform on Ellen and he was just as flat as he was at the ACMs last night. He looks like he is totally uncomfortable and doesn’t want to be there to begin with.
Corncaster
April 16, 2018 @ 1:36 pm
I agree, he always looks like he’s just been discovered doing something wrong.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 1:44 pm
He was doing something wrong, Corncaster: he was releasing this album he think is actual legit country music.
MH
April 16, 2018 @ 1:54 pm
Don’t you know? He sounds that way because the sound wasn’t right!
Well, at least that’s the excuse they churn out every year post-awards show.
You’d think they would get the sound fixed after 20-some years.
/sarcasm
the pistolero
April 16, 2018 @ 4:07 pm
at least that’s the excuse they churn out every year post-awards show.
That’s some bullshit, ain’t it? I remember a few years back after Rascal Flatts got a bad review for their show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, several fans blamed it on the stadium acoustics or whatever — and I remember thinking that was funny, because I had seen George Strait several times at that very venue, for both rodeo and non-rodeo shows, and he sounded great every single time.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 2:23 pm
Like Luke Bryan, I’m pretty sure they’re good folls, but their songwriting/song selection leaves so much to be desired. I say put down the pen and paper and let someone else choose their songs…someone who knows what real country music is (and this sure as fuck ain’t it).
Thoroughbred
April 16, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
Not sure if it’s been said before, but I feel like Jason Aldean is the Kenny Powers of country music.
FunctionallyIlliterate
April 16, 2018 @ 2:32 pm
My God, this atonal, mumbled, spoken-word, bull shit is ridiculous. Isn’t this just a redeux of “Flyover States.” So this is like numetal Nickelback with shittier singing than Kroeger, I’ll call it nu-bro-country. Some of Aldean’s output has been passable this is insufferable, I’ve heard Pat Boone albums with more country flair. File this under more bullshit record companies ram down our throats to make profit.
Corncaster
April 16, 2018 @ 4:18 pm
“I’ve heard Pat Boone albums with more country flair.”
That’s gotta leave a mark.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 4:31 pm
That has to be the most accurate description of Jason Aldean’s music I’ve heard yet!!!! You made me spit out my beer!
The0ne
April 16, 2018 @ 2:38 pm
Probably not the best choice to start an Aldean review with “another machine gunning of blistering arena”, I know am being too sensitive but brings back some bad images, that Aldean will always be tied in with.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
April 16, 2018 @ 2:59 pm
HA! I didn’t read past the words “Jason Aldean” and I knew it was a big fat wad of malarkey.
(actually I did read it, and got what I was expecting/
You give this stuff WAY too much credit.
“work hard, play hard?” PA! more like “can’t tell the difference between your and you’re” crowd
Pelvis Elvis
April 16, 2018 @ 3:17 pm
My bro Jason’s new album is hot! Just got it last Friday and it’s amazing. New country is the best country!
Fuzzy TwoShirts
April 16, 2018 @ 3:25 pm
spinach is the best taco
Pelvis Elvis
April 18, 2018 @ 7:34 pm
Sorry Fizzy, but your analogy doesn’t make no sense.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
April 19, 2018 @ 5:04 am
neither does voluntarily listening to Jason Aldean
ScottG
April 19, 2018 @ 7:57 pm
Involuntary, though less severe, is still a crime. Especially in this case.
albert
April 16, 2018 @ 6:02 pm
….sorry about your hearing issues ,Pelvis, If I were your doctor I’d say play a few Joe Nichol’s classics and you won’t HAVE to call me in the morning
Pelvis Elvis
April 18, 2018 @ 7:36 pm
Nah Al, I think I’ll stick with Aldean, Bryan, Rhett, Hunt, etc. The better stuff…
ScottG
April 17, 2018 @ 9:23 am
“New” country. Ha.
I guess you don’t like the terms bro or pop country, which is really what it is, at best.
Pelvis Elvis
April 18, 2018 @ 7:38 pm
Call it what you want Scotty, it’s still better than that old-timey garbage. We took out the twangy bullshit and improved on it while still having lyrics and music that apply to younger people.
ScottG
April 18, 2018 @ 8:46 pm
LOL right. Lyrics that apply to younger people. So thats the marketing strategy. No wonder the music sounding like formulaic, generic, manufactured bullshit. He’s around 40 years old. Thats pathetic.
Adam
April 16, 2018 @ 3:19 pm
It’s funny because I had no clue this twat was even making an album, probably no one did because no one gives a shit about what these fucking morons do in the studio and when their albums are released. *random male country star* could release 2 albums in 2 days with the same songs mag on both and I wouldn’t notice or care, sad part is either would their fans.
Adam
April 16, 2018 @ 3:21 pm
It’s funny because I had no clue this twat was even making an album, probably no one did because no one gives a shit about what these fucking morons do in the studio and when their albums are released. *random male country star* could release 2 albums in 2 days with the same songs on both and I wouldn’t notice or care, sad part is either would their fans.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
April 16, 2018 @ 3:26 pm
Also in this picture he looks like he ate something that really didn’t agree with him.
does he ever look like he isn’t suffering some horrible disease
Marky Mark
April 16, 2018 @ 5:15 pm
Yes, but in your picture you look like a donkey in a sweater vest. ..but admittedly I am not wearing my glasses.
marty
April 16, 2018 @ 3:43 pm
his voice is so monotone. and for anyone who doesnt know, he doesnt write his own songs. he picks them off a ‘catalog’ almost everytime if you hear the song by the original artist its better. all these people paying to hear live karaoke
albert
April 16, 2018 @ 3:46 pm
HE CANNOT SING ! THE MAN CANNOT SING !
If he’s on pitch on a record it HAS to be autotune …good song or shit song …because HE CANNOT SING ! Why are people who CAN sing ignored when this guy , who CANNOT SING gets awards ?
Corncaster
April 16, 2018 @ 4:20 pm
I dunno I’m going with “money”
JB-Chicago
April 16, 2018 @ 3:48 pm
Before I found this site I might of cared if a new Aldean album was any good. Even though I always thought he was over rated there was always a song here or there I could tolerate etc…. I already knew and heard the current single but after a listen or 2 of the album I don’t have any use or time for this guy’s music. I have much better current stuff to listen to that I found out about here.
bob
April 16, 2018 @ 4:19 pm
Don’t mean to nitpick, but out of curiosity wouldn’t 3/10 be 1 1/2 guns down instead of 1 3/4?
Trigger
April 16, 2018 @ 4:36 pm
I like to screw with the ratings so folks don’t take them too seriously. But technically you’re probably right. I thought there were three decent songs on the album, so a point for each, but if you distribute 10 points among 15 songs, it’s probably less.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 4:40 pm
Trigger,
This is Jason Aldean. His last 3 or 4 albums, including this one, have been abominations. A few decent songs can’t save this steaming pile of toxic camel shit. He chooses the worst of the worst of the worst songs to record. Why isn’t the producer telling him that these songs fucking suck?
Mike Honcho
April 16, 2018 @ 4:40 pm
I don’t mind Aldean, but he cant entertain a crowd for shit.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 4:41 pm
He can’t even sing on key. He always looks like he needs to take a massive shit anyway.
Mike Honcho
April 16, 2018 @ 4:50 pm
Like I said before. He must be doing something right, because he damn sure isn’t getting by with his looks. At least we know we wouldn’t have a 6 month Underwood drama if he happened to cut his face.
Troy
April 16, 2018 @ 5:04 pm
He has to be following his management and record label’s directions.
GrantH
April 16, 2018 @ 5:26 pm
Aldean is one of those artists that I’m surprised still releases full albums, much less albums with fifteen freaking songs on them. Only three songs per album actually ever get attention it seems.
kapam
April 16, 2018 @ 6:20 pm
Must admit, “Rearview Town” wasn’t quite as bad as I was expecting, but I know better than to think it represents the standard of an entire JA album. BTW, Trigger, I thought your Richie Sambora reference (concerning song stylings) was really apt.
Just another aside – in my view drum machines are (mostly) just an exercise in record companies and artists trying to save money. Time was when albums and songs could be compared and critiqued on the drum sound and the playing. But that rarely, if ever, happens now, ’cause all the drum sounds are exactly alike.
Trigger
April 16, 2018 @ 7:29 pm
What’s weird on this album is there’s live drums on it, but they put the drum machines in there anyway. Trying to appeal to everybody I guess.
DJ
April 16, 2018 @ 7:10 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71cIYDnDZUk
Justin C
April 16, 2018 @ 8:33 pm
Jason Aldean should thank his lucky stars to have a writer like Neil Thrasher to write a bunch of his hits and best album cuts.
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 1:48 am
Never heard of Neil thrasher and can’t get past the fact that rear view makes me think of ass. Sorry.. butt it does.
Cobra
April 17, 2018 @ 2:03 am
I don’t know why I keep expecting that one day Aldean might go back to making songs like “A Grown Woman,” “Back In This Cigarette,” “My Memory Ain’t What It Used to Be,” “Laughed Until We Cried,” “Why,” “The Truth,” or “Keep The Girl.”
He has the ability to make a good song if he tries, but the problem is, he just stopped trying so long ago.
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 2:19 am
Don’t want hoop earrings, chains on belts, plaid shirts, obligatory references to country roads or pickup trucks. Sorry poseur… Dont want none of that. We see strait through you!!!!
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 2:21 am
Where did Aldean really grow up? In an apartment in Arkansas? Seriously. Let’s find out just how country this entertainer of the year really is!!!
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 2:28 am
Jason Aldean entertainer of the year… Boycott anything acm
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 2:44 am
There were survivors in the audience and yall did nothing. Wtf?
Trigger
April 17, 2018 @ 7:44 am
Countrygirl,
You’ve made this point plenty across multiple articles. Move on.
Countrygirl
April 17, 2018 @ 5:33 pm
Excuse me?????? Move on???? Is that what you tell the victims families while you make your inappropriate jokes? I’ll move on when high schools stop getting shot up and Aldean stops getting awards for being a chickenshit.
Myranda Ward
April 17, 2018 @ 4:31 am
Cowboy Lady, look it up.
Chris
April 17, 2018 @ 4:58 am
same old Jason Aldean garbage, from start to finish. Can this asshole just disappear?
bamstrait
April 17, 2018 @ 7:52 am
I still haven’t recovered from “Little Green Tractor” or “Dirt Road Anthem” from years ago. He is destructive.
Paul
April 17, 2018 @ 1:27 pm
I just saw that both Jason Boland and Kelly Willis will have new albums released on May 18.
Wild Billy
April 17, 2018 @ 3:06 pm
Trig,
Just curious if you used all those “shooting” references on purpose? Not that I care, I just thought it was strange that you managed to work “machine gun” into the first sentence. And further used “first person shooter” and “sticks to his guns” later. – I’m a 2nd ammendment country redneck kinda guy, so it didn’t bother me, I just found it a little odd. I mean maybe it’s a little “tone deaf” considering the artist. Then again maybe not. Just an observation I suppose.
* “Another new Jason Aldean album, and another machine gunning of blistering arena rock guitars”
* “Like something you would hear in the soundtrack of a 90’s-era war strategy RPG or 1st-person shooter game”.
* “Aldean sticks to his guns”
If nothing else, it shows you I still read everything!
Keep up the good work
Billy
Trigger
April 17, 2018 @ 3:58 pm
Scouts honor, I was not thinking about the Route 91 Harvest shooting when writing this review. Or if I was, it was so deeply subconscious, I didn’t realize it. I wasn’t trying to be funny, or even trying to slide something by. I honestly didn’t even think of it until someone else posted about it many hours after I initially published this review. I have used the term “machine gunning” on this site multiple times to refer to something being spit out at rapid pace. It’s stock. There’s an example in this Tyler Farr review (https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/song-review-tyler-farrs-a-guy-walks-into-a-bar/). I do think Aldean’s music is very aggressive, so perhaps that’s why I thought gun stuff was a good allusion. Also, even though I posted this review Monday morning, I had written it on Sunday before the ACM Awards. So sorry to disappoint people who either thought I was trying to be subversive or slide something between the lines. If I’m guilty of anything, it’s not being present of mind enough myself to connect the dots.
Wild Billy
April 17, 2018 @ 6:25 pm
No biggie man.
(I actually got to thinking maybe you did it on purpose just to see who was paying attention)
Its all good !
Have a great night, and keep up the good work.
Billy
albert
April 18, 2018 @ 8:05 am
He sang his single on Colbert last night . The song layed there . The band sounded like a bunch of kids jammin in the garage …no dynamic whatsoever …..Aldean struggled as usual to hit notes and find some passion to inject into the thing . I think the best way for him to inject some passion into this track is to let someone else sing lead in his band .
Amanda
April 18, 2018 @ 10:54 am
Spot on analysis:
“The other consistency in Aldean’s career is his slightly deeper understanding of the rural dwelling condition compared to some of his other pop country contemporaries.”
StoneRover276
April 19, 2018 @ 10:09 am
Just another record about: a hot girl, a good time that’s getting started/warmed up with aforementioned girl, bars WITH the girl, and small towns. He’s never had McGraw’s “Humble & Kind,” Blake’s “God Gave Me You,” Chesney’s “There Goes My Life,” or even Luke’s recent “Most People Are Good.” And the truth is – Jason is a damn good singer, and could convincingly pull-off a song with a message. But every time we hope he’s going to have that breakout moment, his usual suspects rear their average head. And we’re back to a girl, a party, a bar, and a small town.
thebugman10
April 19, 2018 @ 11:29 am
What happened to the Jason that did “The Truth” and “Flyover States”? Those are definitely his best two singles (haven’t listened to any record deep cuts.)
Ann Stokman
April 27, 2018 @ 2:21 am
Great Album.
Cat
April 27, 2019 @ 5:39 pm
Ever since he met mistress it’s ruined him she will get all his money when he leaves her for younger woman