I've dubbed Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party album the energizer bunny of albums because it's the album that just keeps going and going and going. It's not just that they've released a fifth single when most of the time they release four, though that's a part of it. It's more the fact that this album has been in the top five country album since it came out over a year ago. And as much as the people who don't like him would hate to admit it, that means something. Namely that this is a fantastic album that is well worth the money spent buying it. Yup, I am a fan, something that I've not exactly kept under wraps here. A fan of this album, yes, but also Jason himself. I remember seeing the "Hicktown" video and thinking the he was different in an interesting day and hoping that he'd do well. Think it's safe to say he ended up doing pretty well, eh?
I actually have a Jason story that I debated sharing, but chose not to for space purposes, but I might do a post about it another time. It's a story of the time I almost met Jason Aldean and still ended up with an autograph. We'll see if that ends up getting posted, but in the meantime, it's time for me to get to the focus of this post which is my thoughts about Jason's new single, "Fly Over States" which my iPad for some reason has listed as "Fly Over Town" which I find odd.
Time for some honesty - when I found out there was going to be a fifth single from this album, I was hoping it'd be "Church Pew or Bar Stool" because that is my absolute favorite song from My Kinda Party. At the moment anyway, that's been known to change. But I just love that song and find it interesting.
Which is also true for "Fly Over States", written by Neil Thrasher and Michael Dulaney who were two of the three writers of Jason's last hit "Tattoos On This Town". The third writer of Tattoos was Wendell Mobley for anyone curious. Lyrically speaking, I really like how visual "Fly Over States" is. It's so easy to picture what's being sung about and that's true for the entire songs. Sometimes there's songs that'll have maybe one line that does that, so I love when writers are able to continue that throughout the whole thing. There's a certain artistry about that I appreciate. My favorite lines: "On the plains of Oklahoma/with a windshield sunset in your eyes/like a watercolored painted sky". Beautiful writing there.
My favorite thing about this song is that in a time when there's so many songs about loving the small town, country lifestyle and all that, this song is kind of refreshing. It's in the same vein as those kinds of songs, but a lot more encompassing. It sets it apart. I also like the way this song plays out, with the two guys on the plane and this attitude that they have about the states they're flying over and then the shift to what it is about these states that make them special. Why they were made and the beauty that is found in them. If only these guys would see them for how they are and get over the attitudes they have about them.
Musically speaking, this is very solid - one of the perks of using the same band. I don't think I've kept my appreciation of his band a secret. He uses them for a reason. I really like the way this one starts out with the notes being played on their own before the rest of the band comes in. That and how they kick it up at the "They've never drove through Indiana" to go along with the vocal. I'm going to be saying about that momentarily so make a mental note. Or you know, just keep reading. Sticking to the music for now, I like how this kind of ebbs and flows. It kicks up, it pulls back and all that - just like it should. I have a weird love for those moments when a band will stop playing for a second and then jump back in all together and this song has a couple of those. It's interesting when you really start listening to the music, especially in a case like this where you have guys that play on all his stuff. You notice consistencies about the playing. I keep finding myself listening to the drums and bass and I'm partly blaming my dad for that since he got me in the habit of doing it. Very nice playing done all the way around.
I encourage you to really listen to the music when you listen to songs, focus on it, appreciate it, respect it. Whether you're listening to these guys in particular or just in general. See if you can notice things you may have missed otherwise. You don't have to know much about music to pick things up. I feel it enhances the experience.
Vocally speaking, this is a very solid vocal by Jason. To go back to the "They've never drove through Indiana like I said I was going to, I love the punch Jason gives it - the emphasis he gives the word drove to be specific. It adds a kind of passion to the lyrics, so you really get the impression that he feels pretty passionately about this. Which is good in terms of selling the song and the lyric. I feel like this is a very solid song and a pretty good choice for a single. It should do well.
And...those are my thoughts on "Fly Over States". I have a crazy amount of songs to review, so expect a bunch of those coming up. Songs by people like Luke Bryan. Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, Hunter Hayes, James Wesley and Ira Dean to name a handful. There's a lot more. I'm open to requests so if there's a song that you want to see reviewed sooner as opposed to later, let me know. Here, twitter, wherever. Comments of any kind would be lovely and appreciated. And speaking of appreciation, I appreciate you. Yes YOU, the person currently reading this whoever you are. There's so many blogs out there, so many country ones, so many great country ones at that - there's a lot to choose from. I'm kind of a tiny fish in a huge pond here so when people take the time to read mine, well, it makes me happy. So thank you.
I want to close this one by saying that this is coming on the heels of all those horrible storms and tornadoes yesterday throughout the Midwest and there's no telling how many people were affected. If you or people you care about were in the paths of those storms, just know that you are being kept in my and who knows how many others thoughts and prayers. It feels very appropriate that I'd be writing about a song celebrating all those fly over states, many of which had to deal with those storms. May God bless those states and the people in them. All of us really. Take care everyone.
I actually have a Jason story that I debated sharing, but chose not to for space purposes, but I might do a post about it another time. It's a story of the time I almost met Jason Aldean and still ended up with an autograph. We'll see if that ends up getting posted, but in the meantime, it's time for me to get to the focus of this post which is my thoughts about Jason's new single, "Fly Over States" which my iPad for some reason has listed as "Fly Over Town" which I find odd.
Time for some honesty - when I found out there was going to be a fifth single from this album, I was hoping it'd be "Church Pew or Bar Stool" because that is my absolute favorite song from My Kinda Party. At the moment anyway, that's been known to change. But I just love that song and find it interesting.
Which is also true for "Fly Over States", written by Neil Thrasher and Michael Dulaney who were two of the three writers of Jason's last hit "Tattoos On This Town". The third writer of Tattoos was Wendell Mobley for anyone curious. Lyrically speaking, I really like how visual "Fly Over States" is. It's so easy to picture what's being sung about and that's true for the entire songs. Sometimes there's songs that'll have maybe one line that does that, so I love when writers are able to continue that throughout the whole thing. There's a certain artistry about that I appreciate. My favorite lines: "On the plains of Oklahoma/with a windshield sunset in your eyes/like a watercolored painted sky". Beautiful writing there.
My favorite thing about this song is that in a time when there's so many songs about loving the small town, country lifestyle and all that, this song is kind of refreshing. It's in the same vein as those kinds of songs, but a lot more encompassing. It sets it apart. I also like the way this song plays out, with the two guys on the plane and this attitude that they have about the states they're flying over and then the shift to what it is about these states that make them special. Why they were made and the beauty that is found in them. If only these guys would see them for how they are and get over the attitudes they have about them.
Musically speaking, this is very solid - one of the perks of using the same band. I don't think I've kept my appreciation of his band a secret. He uses them for a reason. I really like the way this one starts out with the notes being played on their own before the rest of the band comes in. That and how they kick it up at the "They've never drove through Indiana" to go along with the vocal. I'm going to be saying about that momentarily so make a mental note. Or you know, just keep reading. Sticking to the music for now, I like how this kind of ebbs and flows. It kicks up, it pulls back and all that - just like it should. I have a weird love for those moments when a band will stop playing for a second and then jump back in all together and this song has a couple of those. It's interesting when you really start listening to the music, especially in a case like this where you have guys that play on all his stuff. You notice consistencies about the playing. I keep finding myself listening to the drums and bass and I'm partly blaming my dad for that since he got me in the habit of doing it. Very nice playing done all the way around.
I encourage you to really listen to the music when you listen to songs, focus on it, appreciate it, respect it. Whether you're listening to these guys in particular or just in general. See if you can notice things you may have missed otherwise. You don't have to know much about music to pick things up. I feel it enhances the experience.
Vocally speaking, this is a very solid vocal by Jason. To go back to the "They've never drove through Indiana like I said I was going to, I love the punch Jason gives it - the emphasis he gives the word drove to be specific. It adds a kind of passion to the lyrics, so you really get the impression that he feels pretty passionately about this. Which is good in terms of selling the song and the lyric. I feel like this is a very solid song and a pretty good choice for a single. It should do well.
And...those are my thoughts on "Fly Over States". I have a crazy amount of songs to review, so expect a bunch of those coming up. Songs by people like Luke Bryan. Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, Hunter Hayes, James Wesley and Ira Dean to name a handful. There's a lot more. I'm open to requests so if there's a song that you want to see reviewed sooner as opposed to later, let me know. Here, twitter, wherever. Comments of any kind would be lovely and appreciated. And speaking of appreciation, I appreciate you. Yes YOU, the person currently reading this whoever you are. There's so many blogs out there, so many country ones, so many great country ones at that - there's a lot to choose from. I'm kind of a tiny fish in a huge pond here so when people take the time to read mine, well, it makes me happy. So thank you.
I want to close this one by saying that this is coming on the heels of all those horrible storms and tornadoes yesterday throughout the Midwest and there's no telling how many people were affected. If you or people you care about were in the paths of those storms, just know that you are being kept in my and who knows how many others thoughts and prayers. It feels very appropriate that I'd be writing about a song celebrating all those fly over states, many of which had to deal with those storms. May God bless those states and the people in them. All of us really. Take care everyone.
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