There are only a handful of country singers who have matched Billy Currington’s chart consistency over the past decade. Since his debut song “Walk A Little Straighter” was released in 2003, eight of Currington’s 10 singles have made it into the Top 10 on Billboard’s country chart.
Need an artist to compare that accomplishment to? How about none other than country’s current darling Blake Shelton, who also has eight Top 10s during that period.
Consistent is an apt description of Currington’s fourth album, titled Enjoy Yourself. Currington, whose current hit declares that he’s “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer,” is also pretty good at delivering an easygoing groove. His relaxed delivery on songs like “Perfect Day” and “Enjoy Yourself” positions him as one of country’s most likable and most accessible singers, while his penchant for wry, sometimes self-depreciating humor often gives his music an ever so slight hint of edginess.
Enjoy Yourself finds Currington tapping in to more of that humor than ever before, and as such the album hits a mark just a hair left of the center. Certainly, this effort isn’t so adventurous that he’ll be seen as Nashville’s newest bad boy, but the slightly more liberal tact he takes here pays dividends.
On both “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer” and “Like My Dog,” he half-jokingly wears the hat of hillbilly slacker: “He never says I wish you made more money/He always thinks that pull my finger’s funny,” he sings on the latter, which paints an equally funny and poignant portrait of a deliciously dysfunctional relationship. When Currington declares, matter-of-factly, “He don’t get mad at me and throw a major fit/When I say his sister is a bitch,” it’s one of the year’s most unexpected—and most refreshing moments.
Produced by Carson Chamberlain (band leader and steel guitar player for Keith Whitley), the record also takes a few musical twists and turns. The title track boasts some of Chamberlain’s signature steel licks (though played by Paul Franklin), and sounds a bit like a throwback to mid-80s George Strait, while “Love Done Gone” features a wicked cool horn section that augments and underscores the song’s hook.
In the infamous Shania Twain duet “Party For Two,” Currington sang about “looking sexy in your socks.” While Enjoy Yourself is unlikely to knock your socks off—nothing here really stands out as especially memorable or resonant—there’s plenty here that’s sexy, thanks to Currington’s smooth-but-salty Georgia drawl and a demonstrated willingness to buck some of the format’s sonic norms.
As such, it’s a record that’s more than the sum of its parts. And, while it lacks much in the way of blockbuster material, Currington infuses these average and above songs with charisma and even, at times, a bit of charm.
Is there a site streaming this album presently? I understand it’s still two weeks from being released.
Obviously I can’t speak for this album until I have heard it, but what I will say is, if his first three albums are any indication, Currington has a very charismatic, impressionable, authentic quality to him in that he’s often able to elevate grossly mediocre material into something you can’t help but like upon hearing it (save “That’s How Country Boys Roll”).
I can easily see “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer”, if performed by most other of his contemporaries, converting it into a loud-and-proud anthem and thus rendering it insufferable. But Currington wisely interpreted the pacing and mood of the cut and, in spite of its lame lyrics, makes it sound authentic and appealing, even if it lacks staying power six months after it descends the charts.
By the look of it, Currington’s charismatic calling card (couldn’t resist the alliteration there! ;) ) lifts much of “Enjoy Yourself” so, even while I can’t see myself purchasing this album like all his other albums, it nonetheless sounds like something that may inspire a few cuts to find their way onto my iPod.
I cannot think of a duller artist than Billy Currington. I understand the appeal of his physicality, but the appeal of his musicality befuddles me, except as inoffensive background music. I also can’t help find any songs where he sings about being in love with a female unbelievable to the extreme. I can buy Elton John singing as a straight man, but Currington just doesn’t convince.
I’m actually very curious to hear this album, even though I didn’t particularly care for the single. That said, I do think that the cover photo looks pretty ridiculous. Billy’s song choices of recent years have not impressed me, but I enjoy the sound of his voice, as well as his distinctly country musical stylings. (I might also add that I myself have never gotten a gay vibe from him, and I fail to see what brings about such speculation of Billy as well as other male artists)
I like this album considerably better than the last one, but still wasn’t overly impressed with it. Other than that, ditto to Ben, except that I do like the lead single.