I've had this one marinating on my playlist until I had a solid opinion about it. The takeaway. This is the most legitimate country sounding album by a mainstream artist so far in 2016 and it's not even close. Still at times the Nashville machine makes its presence known so it's far from perfect.
The album leads off with "Out of Style" which I was hoping would be more about how he is different, but just states how country doesn't go out of style. A bit cliché at times, but not a bad start.
Next is "Cowboy Hat" one of the better cuts on here with plenty of steel and fiddle. It's basically a song about how his lady looks good in nothing but the cowboy hat. If this song were done by FGL or the likes, it'd be full of clichés and probably a girl they met while crunking at the club, but with Pardi it works. The implication I get, it is a wife or intimate girlfriend that he is singing too not a one night stand. I could see this one being a single. Great infectious rhythm and lyrics that even some mainstream fans could enjoy.
Following that is the lead single "Head Over Boots" which isn't anything great, but again has traditional country arrangements and decent (if cliché) lyrics at times. Would fit in with most 90's country songs and great to see it as a single.
Next is "Night Shift" which is a perfectly fine drinking song with some good fiddle play throughout.
After this the album starts to get off the rails a bit. "Can't Turn You Down" isn't a bad song per se and does feature actual country instrumentation again, but the "phone call turns into a what’s up, what’s up" makes me cringe every time.
"Dirt On My Boots" is one of the worst songs on the album, but still has some decent fiddle play. It starts off with a EDM vibe though and is full of clichés. Oh Rhett Akins was one of the writers. Makes perfect sense now. I'm assuming this is something the label made him throw on and he does the best he can with it. Still a skip.
After that auditory assault though is a pleasant heartbreak ballad and hands down best song on the album, "She Ain't In It". This sounds like something Alan Jackson or George Strait would have pulled off back in the day. He's trying to move on after a breakup and is back to normal as long as she's not a part of whatever he's doing. This has song of the year potential especially among mainstream songs if it's released as a single.
After that uptick though it's back to some questionable songs. "All Time High" is cliché to the nth degree with some lyrics sounding very forced. Still has lots of fiddle though. Even the lesser cuts, Pardi still stamps with strong instrumentation at times.
"Heartache On The Dance Floor"'s intro makes me want to hit the skip button which I do occasionally. Starts out with a horrible drum loop/EDM rhythm but then features steel guitar and fiddle later on. Very strange song that may be better cutting the intro.
"Paycheck" is a rockier hard working, hard drinking song. It's not the best, but it's fine and perfectly at home being an album track.
"Lucky Tonight" features some more fiddle and steel guitar work, but I can't get past the lyrics on it usually. Again though it's a step above the other dreck in the mainstream due to instrumentation again.
The album finishes with the title track. "California Sunrise" is one of the stronger (and longer) songs on the album. By this point, I think I've hammered home enough how much Pardi appreciates traditional arrangement. More steel guitar and fiddle drive this song.
I was initially torn what to think of this album and I don't think I can really make a complete judgement until we see the singles that pop off of it. It's clear what Jon Pardi wants to be. He features steel guitar and fiddle prominently in every song with minimal electronic music and sings without needing autotuning to correct every note. Still I'm leery at how much pull the label will have over a young and un-established (as of yet) artist.
He also co-wrote 8 of the 12 tracks which is a highly encouraging sign even if his lyrics border on cliche at times. Just as good is one of the songs he didn't write ("She Ain't In It") is the highlight of the album showing he has a good appreciation of what makes a good song. He's young and I can see his writing improve once he has more experience.
Also encouraging is how hard he apparently pushed for "Head Over Boots" to be the lead single. It's sad when releasing an actual country song is bold, but that's what this was. It did well too which is a great sign.
If "She Ain't In It", "Cowboy Hat" and/or "California Sunrise" get released as singles, this album will have even more impact especially since the first 2 have #1 potential. If the label pushes for "Dirt On My Boots" or "Heartache On The Dancefloor" not so much.
I am torn on a grade for this. If this were released by an artist on Thirty Tigers, I'm thinking maybe a 6 or so. The fact is though that it was released on a major label. Just like we'll see in the Olympics, I think the much higher degree of difficulty is enough to bump this up. This is hands down the best mainstream release of the year and most likely the year. Jon Pardi may not be perfect, but if country radio is going to be saved, it's going to be a bunch of guys like him that do it and this is a huge step in the right direction.
8/10
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