American Saturday Night [CD]

After a couple of not particularly good albums, Brad's back on form with "American Saturday Night"!!

It's a great hour of music. Standout tracks for me are "Welcome To The Future", with thoughtful lyrics and a fantastic bubbling 80s-rock style keyboard (think someone like Styx); the first single "Then", which appears in a longer version to the single, which somehow seems to sound better from the additional minute; the bluesy "She's Her Own Woman", with a marvellous guitar solo at the end; and the lost-love "Oh Yeah, You're Gone". I also like the two short reprises of "Welcome To the Future", firstly as an additional acoustic verse and then as a 'hidden' instrumental at the end of the album, with more of that great keyboard sound.

One of my criticisms of Paisley in the past has been his obsession with jokey tracks (it was this that killed his last 'proper' album "5th Gear" for me, just too many throwaway 'funny' songs) and the fact that an album couldn't go by with a 'comedy' sketch featuring his friends from country music. The problem was they just didn't bear repeated (in some case even single) listenings! Thankfully on this release he veers away from the comedy, with only "The Pants" falling into the comedy zone.

So thanks Brad - you're back on track!! How about some UK dates now??

I tuned into this on a transatlantic flight with BA. I was flying business class so should really have got my head on the pillow and gone to sleep. I could not stop listening to this great CD. Unlike many driving records this does not fade with listening. What a great record and wonderful guitar work. The lyrics on "welcome to the future" alone justify a purchase.

On this Brad's seventh album, the formula he has run with since 1999 seems to have rarely been altered. Albeit a commercial success with country radio, that formula's realistic success seems to have run dry here, with 'American Saturday Night'.

Being 14 tracks long (13, technically, with 'Welcome to The Future Reprise' extending track 3), you'd expect a varied album that delves into various themes and melodies. However, for the most part, the melodies are rather dull; the lyrics are devastatingly weak - these major flaws being covered up extensively with wild picking and crazy guitar solos. Paisley has never exactly been a martyr when it comes to lyrics, but usually there is some substance there. A few glimpses of this do appear with `Everybody's Here', `Welcome to The Future', and `Oh Yeah, You're Gone', but groundbreaking they're not.

The set kicks off with `American Saturday Night'. A fun song with a clever concept: the stereotypical American night out not actually containing anything the American's have created. The melody is okay, as are the lyrics - the song being saved really by the concept and the immaculate playing. This is going to be the album's 3rd single, and I'm sure it'll tear the country charts up - as every Paisley song does. `Everybody's Here' is arguably the best track on the album. The melody is laid back, and very comfortable to listen to and get into. The lyrics are the best on the album, and cover a good theme with a solid arrangement and delivery. Brad's vocal is fantastic here, and really sets the bar for many in country music.

With track 3, we encounter the second single release: the nostalgic `Welcome to The Future'. The melody and lyrics of the chorus are simple and very effective: straying from the cheese and providing something very sincere. The story telling is interesting, but isn't captivating. The song follows the technological changes from Brad's childhood, right through to the changes in society and prejudice. The verses aren't magical melodically, and very much mirror the notes used in the verses of `Online'. It hit #1, only briefly though, and was a hit with country radio. It doesn't seem to have impressioned anywhere else however - not provoking much reaction even from fans.
`Then' was the album's lead single, and is an endearing story of love. The #1 smash explores the progression of a relationship, and how the love only grows stronger with time. The melody is nice, and the arrangement typical contemporary love. Lyrically again it's okay, being bailed out by the sincerity of Paisley's delivery.

From here however, the album becomes rather sluggish and overly repetitive musically. `Water' is a cheesy song about the title, following a `love affair' with the substance from being a toddler to being a grown man. `She's Her Own Woman' is poor lyrically. The concept is good, but the words are just so corny, and the melody sounds like a poor rendition of a Smokey Robinson number. However, for both of these tracks, Paisley's vocals are good.

`Anything Like Me' is a `nice' song about being a dad. I say `nice' because that's what it is. A ten year can write more compelling pieces than this. `You Do The Math' is indefinitely the most irritating song on the record. Cheesy, unoriginal and downright poor. The most frustrating thing about these 2 songs however, is that for the first time since track 3, we encounter 2 solid melodies - and they are killed by shabby lyrics.

`No' is sincere, but too reminiscent of the theme Garth Brooks mastered with `Unanswered Prayers'. `No' is not in the same league, nor is it anywhere near. Sincere, but below par. `Catch All The Fish' is good melodically, and is actually very catchy. Funny without being corny, and would go down a treat with radio. The pickin' is the best on the album. `Oh Yeah, You're Gone' is also very strong melodically. The lyrics are good, a couple of clichés thrown about, but overall a solid track and one of the best on the album.

`The Pants' is just ridiculous. All I'll say is listen to the 2nd verse, and you'll understand why. Honestly.

`I Hope That's Me' is good melodically, but cliché. Paisley's delivery again though is endearing.

Something I'll never fault is Paisley's vocal style and delivery, as it is one of the best in male, contemporary country music. His guitar playing is impeccable too - the riffs and solos he branches out into in almost every song are musically brilliant. But, these tend to be the only `good' parts of the songs. The lyrics and melodies need to be of a higher calibre: surely if Paisley himself has not realised this himself, the producers or record label should have. If the latter 2 have failed to notice also, it may be time to move on Brad...

3 Stars.