Country's Bad Boy Turned Soft
Keith Urban is the classic bad boy with a soft centre creating riled up pop anthems that will be winning over girls all over the country. Keith Urban is the Bon Jovi of alt country/folk, his bad boy image and stubble adding integrity to his bright pop tunes, you know that if anyone else made songs like opener, 'Once In A Lifetime', in which Urban croons about love that lasts forever, they'd be slated as soft pop, yet with Urban the guitar cries and rock-y backing brushes it off with ease. I too soon find myself too being drawn towards the charms of Urban's gravelly country vocals; the reassuring and romantic lyrics carry you away to a place where men fight for their women as if feminism never existed! "When the falling of your tears makes a candle disappear, when you just can't see the light, baby I'll find a way to shine," Urban's music is undoubtedly smooth, well-written and heartfelt.
'I Told You So' is as smug as its title would suggest, beginning with lilting fiddles and turning into a smart mix of fleeting folk rhythms and rock music with militant percussion leading a fearsome coda that rages with passion. 'Raise The Barn' is the redneck equivalent to a bruising disco anthem, "Ain't nothing gonna stop the southern pride", cries Urban before launching into a list of barn dance tunes over a vamping string backing. 'Faster Car' is a stark contrast with a rocking pace, smooth "ooh" backing vocals and a moody bassline that will get you moving. 'God Made Woman' is a smouldering epic rock tune which would be suitable for guitar solo moments on cliffs, if it weren't for the cheesy lyrics, "When God made a woman he must have been proud, he must have been crying or laughing out loud". This kind of adoration is just wholly unnecessary!
After several listens I still can't decide if it's ok to listen to Keith Urban, there are some tunes that sound dangerously like Ronan Keating style ballads, take 'I Can't Stop Loving You' for example, but just when you start to get wary a lovely guitar solo kicks on or we reach a big chorus that dispels all the worries. 'Stupid Boy' is a far better example of a rock ballad in any case, its lyrics are charming and its pensive percussion and crashing chorus lead into an explosive coda section with squealing guitars and vocals straining at their tether, it fits the perfect rock ballad mould exactly.
The verdict on Urban is out, although there are some great mellow rock numbers, there are also some schmaltzy numbers that are pretty embarrassing to even listen to! Urban needs to concentrate less on charming the ladies and more on the rock spectrum of his repertoire.