Album Review: Florida Georgia Line – ‘Here’s To The Good Times’
If you haven’t heard of Florida Georgia Line yet, your local radio station is failing you. The duo’s addictive single “Cruise” recently topped the charts and now they’ve now released their full length album, Here’s To The Good Times, making it a fantastic week to be Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley.
The album is a combination of 6 new songs and their previously released EP, “It’z Just What We Do.” The EP was a great introduction to the group’s catchy lyrics and rockin’ country influences. With songs like “Get Your Shine On,” “Tell Me How You Like It” and “Cruise,” Tyler and Brian showed country fans just that they do — make guys want to be them, make girls want to be with them, and make everyone want to party with them.
As for the new music, it picks up right after the EP left fans longing for more. “Round Here,” a song about how things are done in their area, has a melody that features a perfect rolling blend of banjo and electric guitar. Lyrics like “That fireball whiskey whispers temptation in my ear” are sure to get stuck in your head. The fun times continue with the title track “Here’s To the Good Times.” Urging us to start the party wherever we end up and to not look back, this relatable song is the perfect anthem regardless of where you are: the beach, a bonfire, or a back road. The duo’s live show has an electric feel that makes them hard to resist and paired with songs like “Here’s To the Good Times,” it’s easy to see why they will be much more than one hit wonder.
The one track on the album that breaks away from the party anthems and odes to women is “Stay.” The song is actually a cover of the rock band Black Stone Cherry’s song, but the painful emotion heard in their voices and the country spin on the melody makes it their own. It’s impressive that they can make a cover song sound like it could be a potential hit on country radio.
“Hell Raisin’ Heat of the Summer” is one of those songs that makes you start swaying along with the beat. The reminiscing lyrics paint a vivid picture of the crazy things people do in their youth when the world is still full of possibilities and consequences are minimal. This quality will make it relatable to everyone who is not a hobbit.
Fans of Florida Georgia Line know that the boys have a knack for putting the praise of the female body into their songs. “Dayum, Baby” is just that. Sarah Buxton helps out on the chorus, and their harmonies kind of sound like the guys are in a daze from this girl’s beauty. Who knew hearing someone say “Dayum, baby” could be such a compliment? This is another great, potential hit.
The final track on the album, “Party People,” is one of those that you hear while waiting for the concert to start, one to get the crowd rowdy and ready. Which right now is exactly what FGL is doing on tour for Jake Owen, and rumor has it that FGL is an expert at the job.
Here’s To the Good Times is packed with 11 songs that are radio ready. Florida Georgia Line has put together a solid first album that proves they are here to stay, and that their style of pop/rock/country is worthy of air time. Move over Sugarland, this modern day Brooks & Dunn is about to be the front runner in the Duo Category!
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
- Jayme Ottersburg, CMIL Contributor
Click HERE to purchase Here’s To the Good Times on Amazon and HERE to purchase on iTunes.
