Today Kenny Chesney released Hemingway’s Whiskey
Let’s take a look at each of the tracks so you know what you’re getting before you purchase. Although with Kenny Chesney there really is no question that you’re going to get a great album each time.
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney
Purchase the album Hemingway’s Whiskey
1) The Boys of Fall
Kenny’s latest #1 hit. The song coincides with a documentary film Kenny helped create that focused on the impact of high school football on the lives of Americans. The song is unusually long for a single (over six minutes) but it’s just hit the #1 spot on the country charts. Fans really took to this song. The imagery of football games, cheerleaders, and fans hit home with football people everywhere. And a great video with football heroes made for a great piece of American art.
Side note: It’s weird to think about it now, but Turning Home would seem to be the perfect track to follow The Boys of Fall. The track was co-written by Kenny but he let David Nail record it and it’s now a big hit for him. I guess that’s how thing work out sometimes.
2) Live a Little
A track co-written by David Lee Murphy – a guy that’s making a living by writing songs for Chesney (Living In Fast Forward). The tune is about taking some time off from working hard and hitting the grind all the time. Kenny gave an interview on his MySpace page for this song and said it matched his life perfectly. Everyone needs a little reminder to enjoy life sometimes. That’s what we work so hard for – enjoyment and pleasure. It’s another great track from Kenny – rocking, uptempo and fun.
3) Coastal
A nice little upbeat track here. Almost a little like Dave Matthews when it first starts out. Kenny holds nothing back on this track that is the devoted tune for his island love. For those Parrot Heads and Chesney fans out there that feel like quitting their job and finally heading to the islands for good this song is your anthem. I can see this song being a hit next spring or summer. It’s the perfect Friday song to kick off a weekend of spending time on the beach or lake with friends and family and not worrying about work or life’s stresses.
4) You and Tequila
A nice surprise here. It’s a co-written track from Deana Carter and Strawberry Wine writer Matraca Berg. This track is a great tune and a duet with blues singer Grace Potter. I love, love songs that compare life to drinks. It’s just something weird that trips my trigger. One of the lyrics in the chorus is One is too much/One more is never enough in reference to tequila and one more night with someone that makes you crazy. It’s these dividing circumstances in life that make us all a little crazy. There are good and bad things that happen with just about any decision we make. That’s what life is about I think – taking the good and bad no matter what the decision is. I hope Deana keeps writing songs like this. She’s a great artist and we already knew she was a great songwriter.
5) Seven Days
We follow up a slow ballad with another slow ballad. The instruments at the beginning are kind of haunting. There is definitely some lonely feelings in this album on more than a couple of songs. Perhaps it’s an interesting look at where Kenny is right now or was when he recorded the tracks. Either way this track is another great one. The narrator finds the love of his life in only seven days. Now he’s looking back at how wonderful it was and he longs to have those seven days back again. Very lonely and a very good country song.
6) Small Y’all (Featuring George Jones)
Now we pick things up for what is my favorite song on the album. I have to admit that George Jones is the main reason I love this song the most of any on the record. It’s upbeat, fun, and just a plain good country tune. Kenny does a great job on the track as always, but there is nothing like hearing Jones hit the high and low notes on a great country track. Nobody can do it like him.
7) Where I Grew Up
This track should be familiar to Kenny fans. It’s a look back at life and where the narrator comes from. The images of beer drinking, understanding love and life and what all goes on as we try to make our way to adulthood. Reminiscing is a big part of Kenny and his music. The themes of looking back at growing up and struggling with life have certainly connected with fans and this track is another one that could be a big hit for the same reasons.
8) Reality
A rocking tune to kick things back into gear. This track builds up and gets back to some rocking guitars that have an ’80s feel to them. The song is about escaping reality and finding the simple things that make us happy in our own little fantasy worlds. The last few years have been tough for a lot of folks out there and I think we’ve reached the point where we have to stop worrying and start enjoying life again. Songs like this one from Kenny touch on the same sentiment – kick back, forgot about it all, and have a good time right now.
9) Round and Round
A cover of the classic RATT song? Nah, but it’s another good one. This one kind of has a Jason Aldean-like feel to it. Rocking with some attitude. It’s a nice change of pace for this album and it’s a cool side of Kenny fans don’t get to hear too often on radio. This song sticks out as being unique on the album. There is just something about it that’s stands out as different from the rest. That’s not a bad thing. It’s a nice shakeup toward the end of the album. It’s an attention grabber.
10) Somewhere With You
The opening instrumentation on this track reminds me of a Don Henley song. And I’m a big Don Henley fan so you know I’m digging it. The song has a really dark side to it. Kenny speeds up the lyrics and you struggle just to keep up with the story. The narrator tells the story of love that he’s lost and wants to have back. It’s an eerie song with a crazy groove that really makes you want to hear the entire song. It’s like a mix of Kenny Chesney with Don Henley’s Boys of Summer and a little bit of Richard Marx’s Hazard. It’s a must listen to on this album.
11) Hemingway’s Whiskey
This song is kind of haunting. A slow and mysterious kind of tune with a story about a Hemingway – a great writer that struggled at times with life and whiskey. This is one of those reflective country songs that come mostly from the deep thinkers in the world that find themselves alone and deep in thought quite often. For those introverts out there this song will hit home.
12) Ain’t Ever Going Back Again*
The first of two bonus tracks on the album, this song starts out with just Kenny’s vocal and an acoustic guitar. It’s an interesting song about Kenny down in the islands and not wanting to head back to the states to live his regular life. He’s just wants to drift away. It’s an interesting and telling song since Kenny took some time off from his heavy tour schedule to sit back and settle down a little bit. I think we’ve all reached that point in our lives where we’ve needed to refresh, recharge the batteries and figure things out. I’m glad Kenny is back on his regular, stressful schedule. It sure makes for some great music when he’s refreshed and out performing.
13) I Didn’t Get Here Alone*
This bonus track starts out with Kenny talking to the crowd at one of his shows. The fans are all listening in intently. It’s silent. Kenny is reflecting on all the people it takes to put his show on as well as the fans that make it all possible. It’s his dream and he recognizes that without everyone else his dreams wouldn’t be possible. This song is Kenny’s self written tribute to everyone that is there helping him live his dream each day.
*Deluxe Package Bonus Tracks
Please share your thoughts on the new album in the comments.
Is it a must have for your MP3 and CD player?
Please, please, please come to Germany!!!!!!!!
Nadine