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Kenny Chesney - Lucky Old Sun
| Billboard |
| Kenny Chesney does heroes George Strait and Jimmy Buffett proud on his latest set, which has a free-and-easy feel befitting its island inspiration. Like Strait, Chesney has mastered a laid-back vocal delivery that flows easily from song to song. And like Buffett, the East Tennessee native has learned to paint pictures that transport the listener to a more carefree place. There's plenty of guest appearances—Willie Nelson on "That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)," Dave Matthews on "I'm Alive," Mac McAnally on his own "Down the Road" and the Wailers on current No. 1 single "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven." But Chesney, who either wrote or co-wrote five of the set's 11 cuts, does just fine on his own with songs like "The Life," where he convincingly tells a tale of what's ultimately important. —Ken Tucker...full text |
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| Ew |
| They say ''Write what you know,'' so Kenny Chesney's co-written a batch of songs focused on his preoccupation with sailing the Caribbean; it's a slightly more commercial sequel to 2005's similarly mellow and nautical Be as You Are. Lucky Old Sun feels encouragingly personal for Chesney — particularly ''Way Down Here,'' written in the wake of his 2005 divorce, which sadly advocates a retreat to seafaring as an escape from landlocked heartbreak. But some other songs about zoning out and Zenning out in the sun lack that honest tension. It remains to be seen whether recession-hit country fans will see a message about the healing powers of leisurely sailing as untimely. B...full text |
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| Latimes |
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Last year's "Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates" sidestepped that issue with an album full of songs, and sentiments, written by others. Now he's written or co-written five of the 11 songs on this latest collection, "Lucky Old Sun," allowing the first glimpses of what's really been going on in his head and his heart. (A deluxe version of the album including bonus live tracks, video content and other extras came out Tuesday; the regular edition will be released Oct. 21.) Chesney's concentrating here on the aftermath of heartbreak and broken dreams and what it takes to move forward after loss. There's nothing in any of the songs to stoke the gossip mongers but plenty to nurture fans who have been worried about the object of their affection. There's also empathy for those who might be going through something similar (minus the paparazzi), but the result is more consoling than memorable. This is a quiet, introspective collection, predominantly an effort to find and take comfort wherever it presents itself. Pain is evident, but not the intimately revealed variety you'd expect from such esteemed songwriters as Rodney Crowell or John Hiatt. Relief from heartache is more crucial to Chesney than attempting to sort out what failings -- his or someone else's -- might have brought it on. There's no country-rock bravado, just gentle acoustic guitars, reassuring piano accents and occasional steel drums to add the requisite island flavor, soothing stuff you'd expect on a country version of "The Wave" radio station. He counts his blessings ("I'm Alive," "Everybody Wants to Go To Heaven") and leans on friends, metaphorically and literally with guest spots from Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson and the Wailers, all of whom show up to help jump start the healing process. -- Randy Lewis...full text |
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