I love the new album, but...

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » March 1, 2005 10:55 am

I'm gonna start this with a disclaimer. I love the new album, and like Kenny's music as a general rule. I've bought several of his albums, and have seen him in concert. It was once of the best concerts I've ever seen. I love the new album's style, and having a little island influence is wonderful. When I have the top down on the Miata, and I'm cruising, just about the only thing I listen to is Jimmy or Kenny.

That said, my review of the lyrics of this album isn't as flattering. He's not telling stories as much as he's repeating the same thing over and over again, in a slightly different manner. I'm hoping he learns how to write stories, not just lyrics, because he has wonderful potential. Redundancy isn't a good thing, but if you are going to be redundant, at least spread it out over several albums.

My review follows. Please, those who are so rabidly "Kenny can do no wrong," pay attention to what I said in my preamble. I would love to see some real discussion about this, instead of the sniping that every thread seems to have degenerated into in this part of the forum.

1 – Old Blue Chair – This is where I go to get away. If I could, I’d run away to this chair, especially since Cruzan paid for the re-recording of this song.

2 – Be As You Are – I want to get away back to the beach. This is where I go to get away. My life is hell and the beach makes it better.

3 – Guitars and Tiki Bars - I want to get away back to the beach. This is where I go to get away. My life is hell and the beach makes it better.

4 – Island Boy – This guy’s life was hell, and the beach makes it better. This is where he went to get away.

5 – Somewhere in the Sun - I want to get away back to the beach. This is where I go to get away. My life is hell and the beach makes it better, plus I like Foxy’s so much that I made sure I used their slogan in a past song and now I’m gonna tell the whole world where it is.

6 – Boston - This girl’s life was hell, and the beach makes it better. This is where she went to get away.

7 – Something Sexy About the Rain – I met this chick in an exotic place. I had to leave and go back to where my life is hell, but I still think about her.

8 – French Kissing Life – I’m stoned, so I think I could have been a pirate. Now that I’m on a boat, I’m taking full advantage of life and don’t care.

9 – Key Lime Pie – I’m back in the islands, where the beach is and where my life isn’t hell. I like pie.

10 – Sherry’s Living in Paradise – See Boston, but change it to Los Angeles, without the baby dreads.

11 – Magic – My life is hell, and sailing and the beach make it better. This is where I go to get away.

12 – Soul of a Sailor – Even though I’m from Luttrell, Tennessee, I’m a pirate just like this dude who came into the bar at the beach where I go to get away, because my life is hell. The only time I feel alive is when I’m doing nothing, instead of the thing that I wanted so badly for so long, even though that thing pays the bills so I can do nothing for weeks at a time.

FFishstick · Post by **FFishstick** » March 1, 2005 12:35 pm

I love the way you summarized those songs. Too funny.

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » March 2, 2005 12:26 am

the same can be said for some of Jimmy's songs.
That being said, who cares?

I'll take subjects like boats, beaches, bars, pirates, and rum all day long as opposed to the subjects of most music out there.

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » March 2, 2005 1:00 am

I agree with your preamble, and pretty close to your assessment as well.

The "vibe" I get from Be As You Are is that life on Kenny's beach is agonizing. I'll have to listen again to cite specific examples, but listening was definitely a downer.

In contrast, to me, life on Jimmy's beach is inspiring and invigorating, while heartwarming and soothing! Basically, a very content "vibe".

a1aara · Post by **a1aara** » March 2, 2005 6:06 am

Tiki Bar wrote:I agree with your preamble, and pretty close to your assessment as well.

The "vibe" I get from Be As You Are is that life on Kenny's beach is agonizing. I'll have to listen again to cite specific examples, but listening was definitely a downer.

In contrast, to me, life on Jimmy's beach is inspiring and invigorating, while heartwarming and soothing! Basically, a very content "vibe".

"agonizing". That's one way to describe it!

Pirate Lookin' at 40 · Post by **Pirate Lookin' at 40** » March 2, 2005 3:17 pm

I think that you should go to Billboard magazine and get a job. That was pretty funny.

Plus, I promise that if you do get a job a Billboard, I will not accuse you of being a JB copycat!!!

SEofDisorder · Post by **SEofDisorder** » March 2, 2005 4:09 pm

I dont think Kenny ever implies that his life was / is "hell" in any way, or any of the other characters from these stories. The theme of the islands making things better is deffinatley prevalent, but i think it rings true, so theres nothing worng with that.

ParrotheadGator · Post by **ParrotheadGator** » March 2, 2005 4:11 pm

I'm still stuck at the screenname "mrmiata"...not believing aguy admitted he drives one

CaribbnSoul · Post by **CaribbnSoul** » March 2, 2005 4:25 pm

i loved those summaries....great stuff!

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » March 2, 2005 5:24 pm

ParrotheadGator wrote:I'm still stuck at the screenname "mrmiata"...not believing aguy admitted he drives one

You'd be amazed.

I dont think Kenny ever implies that his life was / is "hell" in any way, or any of the other characters from these stories.

"I've had it up to here with this rat race. Need a smile on my face."

"Tired of my beeper, tired of my phone. Tired of this tired ol' tie I've got on. Sick of this traffic jam that I'm in."

"Just look at the hell they must be in. Swears he won't go back again."

"God I hate the snow, they even canceled the show."

"tonight I don't need to feel famous"

"Southern California could not hold her dreams."

"Chasing something or running from something."

Yeah. Cold fajitas are hell.

I don't mind the album. That's what my preamble says. In fact, I like it. I listened to it about 15 times (no hyperbole) yesterday. It's just so redundant. I really wish he would have spread it out over 12 albums instead of blowing it all on one pressing.

Here's to hoping, as I said, that he can learn to tell a story instead of write lyrics. He has a definite future if he can find the storyteller in him. Any musician can write lyrics. Few can tell you a story and have you sitting on the barstool next to the old pirate.

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » March 2, 2005 7:09 pm

again, who cares?
The message I get is "I wanna be in the islands" or either "I'm in the islands" and I'm fine with that because uh......that's where I wanna be.
Escapism is about escaping the problems of your world and I think there's nothing wrong with talking about what you're getting away from and where you are or wanna be.

SEofDisorder · Post by **SEofDisorder** » March 2, 2005 7:41 pm

mrmiata wrote: "I've had it up to here with this rat race. Need a smile on my face."

"Tired of my beeper, tired of my phone. Tired of this tired ol' tie I've got on. Sick of this traffic jam that I'm in."

"Just look at the hell they must be in. Swears he won't go back again."

"God I hate the snow, they even canceled the show."

"tonight I don't need to feel famous"

"Southern California could not hold her dreams."

"Chasing something or running from something."

yeah, "snow", "traffic jams", "phones", "not feeling famous", and "running from something" are really such hell!

anyway, i think its a great album and it may not be lyrically "deep", but who ever said good music has to be?

did anyone notice that the line

Kenny Chesney wrote:"tonight I don't need to feel famous"

is almost exactly the same as Buffett's line

Jimmy Buffett wrote:"don't need to feel important or famous"

from tonight i just need my guitar? I guess Kenny is a fan of FSOTW!