keithpruitt's Full Review: Everywhere We Go by Kenny Chesney
Pure country artists are hard to come by these days it seems, but Kenny Chesney continues to add a measure of pure country sounds with his strong, emotional vocals and heartfelt music that for the last six years has won him hit after hit.
Everywhere We Go continues the string of hits for the young singer and might well be the best yet. And Kenny's trek to stardom has been swift and sure. Growing up in the east Tennessee town of Lutrell near Knoxville, Chesney has strong roots in the soul of country music with Randy Travis (who contributes a duet to this collection) serving as one of his influences. Chesney graduated in 1991 from East Tennessee State University and headed to Nashville where he quickly caught notice with his writing ability. He signed a writing contract with Acuff-Rose Publishing and followed that with a recording contract with Capicorn Records. His first album for the label, In My Wildest Dreams(94), failed to get notice.
When the label folded, he signed with BNA (label of BMG) and began cranking out the hits. All I Need To Know was his first cd followed by Me and You which included his first #1 hit When I Close My Eyes. His third project for BNA was I Will Stand and included the hits She's Got It All and That's Why I'm Here. And that brings us to his fourth BNA project Everywhere We Go.
The album has some great songs and has already been certified gold. It currently ranks 17th on the Billboard chart (8/3) and has been on the charts for an amazing 74 weeks with its highest position toping out at 5th. The album has an amazing mix of emotional and fun songs and a great cast of musicians from the talented Steve Gibson and Brent Mason on guitar; Buddy Cannon on bass; Eddie Bayers on drums; Sonny Garrish on steel; Larry Franklin on fiddle and mandolin. The harmony vocals include the likes of John Wesley Ryles, and Curtis Young.
THE TRACKS
What I Need To Do From the very soft melodious piano and fiddle opening accented by steel, you know this song is special. His current release is such a strong song, and no doubt will be big. Written by Bill Luther and Tom Damphier, this song tells about the journey toward love.
What I need to do is turn this car around
Drive as fast as I can till I see the lights of our hometown
Run to her; take her in my arms
Make her see how sorry I am
Well that shouldn't be hard,
But I drive on.
How Forever Feels This is one of Kenny's biggest hits to date hitting #1 and staying there for 6 weeks. Written by Wendell Mobley and Tony Mullins, the song has a quick hitting tempo with great fiddle accents. The lyrics are pure southern with reference to Richard Petty and the fast lane of life. So now he wants to know how forever feels with that special someone.
You Had Me From Hello I judge a writer by the company he keeps. Kenny wrote this beautiful song with the great Skip Ewing. So I reckon he's in pretty good company. As with most Ewing songs, this one has a wonderful piano accent, and with Chesney's raw emotion, this song is a great love song. (Interesting story: Kenny penned this song after seeing the movie Jerry McGuire.)
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me Written by Brett James, this song starts with out with an interesting fiddle solo transforming into a full band sound with a driving, toe-tapping beat. I really like the chorus of this song with the great vocals, but the verses lack a smooth feel. They seem a bit like listening to a monotone speaker. As in the tradition of Kris I give this one a B-.
Life Is Good I really like the lyrics and music of this Jeff Stevens and Steve Bogard song. This one has great potential. (Footnote: I think I have seen a video on CMT on this song.) This is just an all around feel good song. Got to like the music to this one; those harmony vocals are unbeatable.
Everywhere We Go The title track was written by the great Paul Overstreet (good company) and Billy Aerts. Everything about this song from music to lyrics has Paul Overstreet written all over it. It is a neat love song, but I'm not sure if it is powerful enough for single impact. We'll see.
She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy OK, I know this has got to be one of the silliest songs ever recorded, but there is something about that sexy voice of Chesney that won't let you shut it out. It is just catchy. Written by Jim Collins and Paul Overstreet, this song was another charted hit for Chesney. You just got to love that music; gets your feet and body moving. Be still my heart; that tractor is just so darn sexy!
California Written by the trio of Aimee Mayo, Bill Luther and Chris Lindsey, the soft, subtle fiddle intro makes it sound like a bad mix. I think this song also may have radio appeal as songs about leaving and going somewhere else to start life over seems to be all the rage just now. This song about a girl leaving home and starting over has just the right ring for radio appeal.
Baptism This song was written by Mickey Cates and is a duet performed with the traditional master himself, Randy Travis. With its strong roots in souther gospel, this song has a light, exalted feel accented by the wonderful mandolin work of Larry Franklin. This song takes me back to the days when country performers always included a religious song on their albums. This is a very touching tribute to those good old days.
A Woman Knows Co-written by Chesney with Don Sampson and Paul Overstreet, it starts with a melodious piano/fiddle run. This is a great vocal harmony song. I really like the way this song feels. I feel #1 on this one if it gets released as a single. Great song. Very simple, but very meaningful lyrics about the folly of cheating.
A woman knows when there's another woman
'cause she can feel her all over her man.
I Might Get Over You With Skip Ewing piano written all over it, you knew this song had to be written by that masterful muse, and indeed he co-wrote it with Kent Blazy, but unfortunately the song lingers to long before it picks up speed. That ones a C Kris.
All in all, this is a wonderful album full of romantic, emotional songs, songs of hope and life, a religious song full of meaning, and one fun loving, sexy number. Chesney would be hard put to come up with a greater project, but on September 26 he will be releasing his Greatest Hits album.
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