Review: Blake Shelton- ‘Red River Blue’

Blake Shelton jokingly claims that he is “the most interesting man in country music,” but what’s not a joke is that he may arguably be the busiest man in country music as of late. He was coaching contestants on “The Voice,” marrying the stunning Miranda Lambert, touring the country, and in the midst of all that he’s managed to record a new 11 track album, Red River Blue. Shelton’s highly anticipated eighth studio album has all the right components to keep Blake busy for a long while.

The album obviously has some fun loving songs such as it’s first single, “Honey Bee,” which has already reached No.1, making that the 4th consecutive No.1 for Blake. The second track on the album, “Ready To Roll”, has a beat that makes you want to roll your windows down and bob your head. Blake urges us to bail out of work early and waste away the day with the lyrics “We got some laid back country tunes on the radio/ We gonna burn all afternoon like it’s something to smoke/We got a whole lot of nothing to do and no where to go/ So baby I don’t know about you but I’m ready to roll.” And then there’s classic Blake personality coming through in “Hey” with the play between “hey” and “hay.” This should be funny to watch Blake act out in his live show. Track 4, “Get Some”, a song about living through the week just to get to the weekend is a perfect fit for Blake and his personality. This sing-a-long song could definitely be an anthem for country fans and has the potential to be a single.

Of course, everyone knows Blake is not only known for his wit but also for his ballads. Red River Blue’s second single, “God Gave Me You,” is one of those tunes. The song is written by fellow Nashville singer/songwriter Dave Barnes and has already had success by Barnes on the Christian and Adult Contemporary Charts. The song, which Blake says he first heard during a low point during his and Miranda’s relationship, immediately spoke to him and he knew he wanted to record it. That’s most likely going to turn out to be a smart choice for him as it definitely speaks to anyone who has been in a relationship and will appeal to radio masses. With simple, elegant lyrics such as “You stay here right beside me/watch as the storm blows through/and I need you,” it’s poised to possibly be the 5th consecutive No.1 for Shelton.

Speaking of Lambert, she lends her pipes to the title track of the album and she’s not the only guest vocalist on the album. Blake’s longtime friend Martina McBride belts out the backup vocals on “I’m Sorry,” another ballad on the album. The song has a great hook with “Just because you look me in the eye and say you’re sorry/Oh you’re sorry/You want it back the way it was/Well I’m sorry /But sometimes sorry just ain’t good enough,” and although it’s not written by Blake, it’s another testament to his ability to pick well-written songs and sing the story so flawlessly that you believe him. Of course, Martina’s powerhouse of a voice in the background gives almost a chill when combined with Blake’s voice, which doesn’t hurt either.

For a record that wasn’t even supposed to be recorded until this month, it delivers. It may be a little tamer than his previous seven albums, (it’s definitely less “Kiss My Country Ass” and more “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”) but Blake’s growing, and his music is, too. The album will definitely be successful as it has the ability to keep die hard Blake fans happy while also appeasing new fans he may have picked up while on “The Voice.”

Other Standout Tracks:

“Good Ole Boys”: Where did they all go? That’s what Blake wants to know. He’s one of the few left, and this song has the exact country attitude and melody that Blake’s been talking about for years.

“Red River Blue”: Johnny and June. George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Blake and Miranda. Singing a love song. How could it possibly be bad?!

Fans can purchase Red River Blue HERE. Plus, don’t forget to enter for a chance to win a copy HERE.