Blacktop Records



It’s often part of human nature that after taking a long break from something, you come back to it energised and with renewed passion. Such is the case with Clint Black and this, his tenth album, and first new release since 2005’s DRINKIN’ SONGS AND OTHER LOGIC. The 14 songs, all written or co-written by Clint, find the right balance between rough-edged mid-tempo numbers, reflective ballads and energetic tracks of rocky Americana. There’s a sense of purpose in the way that these songs carry on from his previous albums in their portrait of a constantly progressive and developing songwriter whose songs walk the line between recollection and reflection. The album’s sound straddles the border between traditional and contemporary country and crackles with fresh energy—thanks in part to Clint’s evocative twang, which works equally well on the robust kick-back rockers like The Trouble and gentler ballads Breathing Air and The Last Day.

Clint Black writes music that’ll make perfect sense a decade from now and would have sounded good ten years ago too. Doing It Now For Love is a track that has the sound of a heartland-rock song ala Tom Petty, with an emphasis on Brent Mason’s incredible guitar notes and the authentic notes of the chorus. Summertime Song is a beautiful, hazy gem, tinged with melancholy and infused with timeless hooks that linger for days. Then there’s You Still Get To Me, a co-write with Victoria Shaw—Clint’s nasal vocal delivery counterbalanced by the sweetness of wife Lisa Hartman-Black’s responses—is poignant and heartfelt. One Way To Live harkens back to the sound that many associate with Black—reflective and contemplative, highlighting his lyrical gift and some bluesy, tasteful guitar. A change of pace and style for him is provided by Beer, a song that had its beginnings in the UK a couple years ago, when Clint was touring with co-writers Bill Anderson and Bob DiPiero. Featuring Big & Rich on the chorus, this is as close to bottle fun as you’ll ever find on a Clint Black record.

An album full of confident songwriting and performances that come from talent and experience. In fact, there isn’t a track you’ll likely skip among the 14 on offer here. His songs combine modernity with timelessness, moody compositions with unexpected bursts of light. The musicianship throughout is exceptional and provides the perfect accompaniment to Clint Black’s heartfelt and edgy vocal delivery.

www.clintblack.com

October 2015