Toby Keith - American Ride (Show Dog Nashville, 2009)
Most people reading this will already have an opinion on Toby Keith, for better or for worse. He's just that kind of artist. This polarization is a real shame because I think it might be stopping the critics from giving 'American Ride' a listen.
The title track and first single is a prime example. In this song, written by Joe West and Dave Pahanish making it the only track Toby didn't write, he slates (or does he?) the shallowness of our consumer culture. The lyrics and the song's Terry Gillam-esque video instantly split listeners in 'for' and 'against'.
The songs on 'American Ride' tackle the usual suspects: love, loss, drinking, the road.
'Gypsy Driftin' describes the rewarding hardships faced by a traveling musician. 'Are You Feelin' Me', with classic 'do you still miss me?' lyrics is a note to a lost love (and for me the weakest track). Less explored topics come up in 'Woke Up on My Own', which tells the story of an addict who comes to realize he's on the wrong path without outside influence, and when Toby practises motivational speaking on 'If You're Trying You Ain't'.
Fun and humor are well represented here, 'Every Dog Has Its Day' and 'Loaded' (on which Lynyrd Skynyrd is channeled) are its main ambassadors, closely followed by the amusing duo 'If I Had One' and 'You Can't Read My Mind'.
Despite the public persona, the two songs Toby wrote solo are the most sensitive ones. 'Tender As I Can Be' is a touching and mature love song and 'Crying For Me (Wayman's Song)' is a moving goodbye letter to his jazz musician friend Wayman Tisdale who passed away earlier this year.
Closer 'Ballad of Balad' is probably not following public opinion and, more interestingly, probably not what the nay-sayers would think Keith's views are. The song was inspired by the harsh realities he saw during his most recent USO tour and contrasts those with the picture painted by army recruiters and certain media outlets.
'American Ride' is very much a Toby Keith record but you never feel he is just churning out the same old songs. With each CD, he develops as a songwriter. Unlike many "country" records these days, this is not a poprock CD with some country elements sprinkled on top to justify its presence on country radio. The prominent fiddle and steel here is an integral part of the music.
With Toby Keith stepping out to Europe next month, a thematically and musically diverse disc as 'American Ride' could be just the thing needed to bring in lots of new fans without disappointing the already-converted.
If you want to spend some time with well-crafted, honest and rocking country music, 'American Ride' is the CD for you.
checkout Wayman and Toby on waymantisdale.com