Album Review: Bobby Bones & the Raging Idiots’ ‘The Critics Give It 5 Stars’

Though the serious types may skip a few tracks, after giving a listen to "Fishin' With My Dad," Bones' ability as a songwriter is undeniable.

Written by Annie Reuter
Album Review: Bobby Bones & the Raging Idiots’ ‘The Critics Give It 5 Stars’

Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots will release their debut comedy album The Critics Give It 5 Stars this Friday (March 18) with the help of some very famous friends. Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsay Ell, Charles Kelley, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks all lend their talents to the duo’s 13-song album.

The Raging Idiots are made up of Bobby Bones and Producer Eddie from the nationally syndicated The Bobby Bones Show. For Bones and Producer Eddie, writing little ditties for local television and radio comes naturally and the album showcases just this as well as gives a glimpse into Bones’ more serious side on the poignant ballad “Fishin’ With My Dad” which features Garth Brooks on backing vocals.

“The whole record we’ve been doing a lot of these novel, funny [songs]. We wanted to put something out that wasn’t too serious,” Bones says introducing “Fishin’ With My Dad” on the album. “Oddly, this next song is a serious song, it’s a real song about my life. It was never supposed to be on the record because I don’t take myself seriously.”
The song itself is a memorable one and has Bones looking back on his childhood, wishing he could go fishing with his dad after he watches a 10-year-old learning how to cast a fishing pole with his father. Years later, his mom would marry a new man and the remainder of the song sees his wish come true. It’s an unexpected ballad that comes 12 songs into the album but best showcases Bones’ ability as a writer and storyteller.

The Raging Idiots

Other highlights include the comical “We Can’t Stand Each Other,” written by Bones, Lindsay Ell and Thompson Square’s Keifer Thompson, that has Bones and Underwood exchanging verses about the progression of a relationship long after the honeymoon stage is over. “You leave your dirty dishes in the sink and you’re always peeing on the toilet seat,” Underwood belts on the humorous song.

“I Like You” features Paisley on guitar and has Bones trying with much difficultly to say “love” for the very first time to his girlfriend. While he proves unsuccessful throughout most of the song, the lighthearted song’s triumph is that it will get stuck in the listener’s head. Meanwhile, “Reenactments with Luke Bryan” follows suit and has Eddie impersonating the singer as he recreates famous moments in history by mimicking Bryan going on rambling tangents in his Georgia drawl.

Bones and the Raging Idiots provide something for both hip-hop and country fans as there are hints of each genre throughout The Critics Give It 5 Stars including two versions of “Starbucks.” The first has Bones rapping alongside slick beats and hip-hop production to the song, which is an ode to the popular coffee establishment. The country version features Ballerini with slowed down rhythms and old-timey country production with piano and slide guitar accompaniment, allowing both Bones and Ballerini’s voices to shine.

“Every time someone buys our record, an angel get its wings,” jokes Bones in a press release. “I’d buy 10 copies of this album. I’d go to the store and demand them right now! I haven’t listened to it yet, but I hear the critics love it.”

While a title like The Critics Give It 5 Stars is sure to confuse some shoppers, Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots manage to impress on the 13-track release. For those in need of a mid-day pick-me-up the album more than succeeds with a few good laughs. Though the serious types may skip a few tracks, after giving a listen to “Fishin’ With My Dad,” Bones’ ability as a songwriter is undeniable.