Billy Currington
Summer Forever (2015)
By Paul Nicholson
A friend asked me recently: “What is it about country music that you like so much?”
I just handed them a copy of Summer Forever, the latest album from Billy Currington, and said: “Listen to this… then you’ll get it.”
It’s an eclectic compilation of everything that is great about our chosen genre of the musical spectrum.
Billy doesn’t look like your stereotypical country artist, but he sure as hell sounds like one! Man – this guy can sing!
The album has a very soulful sound to it. The high tempo tracks are vibrant and toe-tappingly appealing. The slower songs are mellow, and have a particular R ‘n’ B feel to them. There’s even a touch of a Hip-Hop vibe to the penultimate song ‘Soundtrack’.
To coin the go-to phrase of my 15-year-old son, it’s a great album to ‘Chillax’ to.
The CD kicks off with ‘Don’t It’, and has you hooked from the first verse.
‘Drinkin’ Town With A Football Problem’ and ‘Wake Me Up’ follow, and by the time they’re done, you’re wondering how you’ve survived without this album.
The pace changes with ‘Good Night’ – featuring Jessie James Decker – which is simply spectacular. A cool, smooth, soulful tune, that is coolness personified. Hot on the heels of that is the infectious ‘Jonesin’ ‘.
I could wax lyrical about every song on the CD, but I won’t, because this is one of those albums you just HAVE to listen to.
The last offering is the title track ‘Summer Forever’, and, for want of a better analogy, it’s a seductive sultry, song that oozes sexiness.
If you’re cooking dinner for your loved one and you want the perfect accompaniment to your home-made Beef Bourguignon and bottle of Merlot, then ‘Summer Forever’ is your go-to soundtrack.
So the next time someone dares to question your reasons for being a country music fan, just tell them: “Billy Currington”…’nuff said.
Paul Nicholson