Blake Shelton: Red River Blue | Music Review

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Blake Shelton
Red River Blue
**½

by Jonathan Keefe on July 11, 2011
Jump to Comments (17) or Add Your Own

Much like the two EPs Blake Shelton released in 2010, Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight, Red River Blue proves that he's a capable singer who chooses to sing some lackluster songs. Since Shelton only writes a small percentage of his material, his records live or die based on his song selection, and Red River Blue falls into many of the same traps—strident, country-cred posturing and bloated pop ballads—that have made his previous albums underwhelming. Lead single "Honey Bee" doesn't make a hell of a lot of literal sense, as it hinges on pairing things that are supposed to scan as complementary but really don't ("You be my sugar, baby/I'll be your sweet iced tea"), yet Shelton sells the song with gusto. His performance elevates the track, and it's ultimately one of the better cuts on the record.

Enthusiasm and a burly, drawled baritone carry Shelton pretty far, in that he never wants for real presence and character in his performances. He's known as a smartass, though, and that too often leads him to some ridiculous novelty songs. "Get Some" has a terrific, catchy refrain and lays down a likable little groove, but the attempts at humor in its verses ("You get hungry/You get chicken/Your guitar/Needs pickin'") quickly wear out their welcome, and the song seems to last at least twice as long as it actually does. As far as songs about fucking in a barn go, "Hey" isn't the god-awful abomination that Trace Adkins's "Brown Chicken Brown Cow" is, but what the half-rapping Shelton does in the bridge—including a "coo-coo-cachoo" exclamation, no less—is embarrassing.

His weakness for overwrought, schmaltzy pop ballads rears its head on second single "God Gave Me You," which sounds like something Bryan Adams or Foreigner would have recorded 20 years ago. "Over" is actually worse, with Shelton shouting drippy lines like, "Tell me what I have to do to win you over," at full lung capacity to make sure he can be heard over the cacophony of orchestral swells and thundering percussion. Shelton has a strong enough voice to sing that kind of arena rock, but it simply isn't a good fit with his thick drawl that's better suited for more straightforward country songs.

To that end, the casual escapism of "Ready to Roll" and laidback come-on of "Drink on It" work far better. The title track, a duet with new wife Miranda Lambert, is easily the set's standout cut. Though it makes use of familiar, threadbare images, the song's narrative is heady and well-observed, and Shelton gives one of his most thoughtful vocal turns as Lambert provides lovely harmony vocals. "Red River Blue" may be a significant step forward for Shelton, but he's going to have to be far more consistent in his song choices and steer clear of reductive "I'm so country" shtick like "Good Ole Boys" if he hopes to keep pace with the quality of his wife's albums.

Label: Warner Bros.
Release Date: July 12, 2011

Comments

lanieb on July 11, 2011, 06:21 PM

Dear stupid critic,

You can kiss our country ass.

Sincerely,

Blake and BSers everywhere.

Kristin on July 11, 2011, 06:24 PM

You are sooo far of base with this review! Do you even listen to country music? It seems you dont! I have heard this album and It is AMAZING!! Blake best album yet even non country fans even say this album is amazing!! maybe you need to cleaan your ears out and listen to it again!

reeldeel123 on July 11, 2011, 06:31 PM

This has got to be one of the most juvenile attempts at reviewing an album. Mr. J. Keefe, if you don't like Country music, get a new job! Maybe you could review cookbooks or maps or something that doesn't offend your limited reasoning. The album in question, Red River Blue by Blake Shelton is fantastic! He is a great person, who truly loves and appreciates his fans and makes consistantly great music. He is not some snotty classless reviewer that hides behind a computer screen. Be prepared for a few more scathing comments from the BSers!!!

Countrygiirl on July 11, 2011, 06:39 PM

You don't know country music for shit . How many of your singles went to #1 on iTunes? Grow up, and get a real job. Blake is the most talented all around artist in the industry . So I think I speak for blake&all BSers , or ANYBODY woth a pulse actually , That you can kiss our country asses sir .

robshq on July 11, 2011, 06:46 PM

wow. you need a new career....because u really suck at music reviewing.

gatorgrl73 on July 11, 2011, 06:54 PM

Wow really guy. What kind of critic are you? I mean not only is Blake Shelton the pure essence of country music his songs sing right to our ever lovin country hearts. Do you not know what sweet tea is or its chemical makeup??? It is made of sugar and yes it is something us southern country folks like to drink while we are listening to our favorite country music songs. The main thing I LOVE about Blakes songs are the simplicity of them and how sexy he sounds singing them. I would much rather listen to Blake sing about him being my honey bee than Katy Perry singing about her kissing a girl. If you don't like the king of BSers then kiss my country ass!!!

oksoonerfan69 on July 11, 2011, 06:56 PM

What the hell are you talking about city boy? You obviously do not listen to our kind of music! And yes lanieb, he can "Kiss my country ass" too!!!

reeldeel123 on July 11, 2011, 06:57 PM

Oh wait....this is only an online magazine!!! Not even enough subscribers to print this trash!!!

whiskeygirl1974 on July 11, 2011, 07:01 PM

I'm not sure what u were listening to but it sure as HELL wasn't Blake Shelton! You are a fool. Blake's music is the reason I listen to country, not to mention he is an amazing man! Gave a FREE concert last night on Fort Campbell for the military! What did you do last night? Besides eating your tv dinner, searching for your cat (who ran away for obvious reasons), and write bogus reviews. For all the BS'ers out there please keep ur mouth off our FAVORITE singer! Oh...and YOU CAN KISS OUR COUNTRY ASSES!

mermaid2424 on July 11, 2011, 07:28 PM

OK, I am wondering if you even reall listened to it, and if you did you need to have your ears checked !! It is some of the best music I have ever heard. I don't think you would know good music if it bit you in the ass. (which I guess is not a country one)

rhlymo64 on July 11, 2011, 08:27 PM

You are a dumbass!!! Have you ever even heard Blake sing. He is a great singer and you need to get your hearing checked. I hope you have another job cause you suck at this one and should be fired for lying through your teeth...

vnme99 on July 11, 2011, 09:02 PM

You are entitled to your opinion but in my opinion, you don't know anything about country music or Blake Shelton. Fortunately Blake has far more fans than you do. You seriously need to consider a career change.

CountryGirl25 on July 12, 2011, 01:29 AM

What kind of critic are you?..a dumbass critic. I'm sure Blake doesn't care what you think, & neither do BSers! Kiss our country ass, dumbass! Do you even listen to country music?..prob not. You don't know shit. & you think Honey Bee doesn't make sense?..I guess thats why it's been #1 for 10 consecutive weeks, right?..Your review doesn't make sense, if anything. You're so stupid, go do everyone a favor & get your hearing checked hun..You may want to consider getting a new job also..because you suck at reviewing. -Sincerely, BSers everywhere.

protools on July 12, 2011, 04:39 AM

I'm wondering if any of the other commenters are bothering to check that the same critic has given plenty of positive reviews to the likes of Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Emmylou Harris, etc etc...Chill out, people. No critic I'm looking at is absolutely loving this one. We can survive if it's not Barn & Grill quality. Y'all are just looking plain stupid.

Rob Humanick on July 19, 2011, 06:10 PM

@JKeefe: I'm sure it hasn't gone unnoticed to you that the people posting about our supposed need for a career change are simultaneously helping us in the opposite. Thanks for reading!

Glenn Heath Jr. on July 25, 2011, 11:27 PM

I have to admire @JKeefe's saintly patience in regards to these comments. Come on Blake Shelton fans, represent yourselves a bit better than this.

Jonathan Keefe on July 26, 2011, 10:42 PM

@Rob and @Glenn: I feel the same way about this comment thread as I do about the one for my Stevie Nicks review: That nearly all of the hatemail was posted before the album's actual release date and that not many people have rushed to its defense since then says pretty much all that needs to be said about the comments and the album itself.

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