Keith Urban - Defying Gravity Review

Keith Urban plays it so safe on Defying Gravity, you'd think he got a musical lobotomy when he went to rehab. The album depicts an idyllic America, where young'uns suffer innocent heartache like so many Fifties teenagers. There's no economic crisis, no war and only one track ("Thank You") that hints at his marriage to Nicole Kidman and his highly publicized relapse. Instead, we get couples kissin' on a porch swing ("Sweet Thing"), a dusty old boardwalk (" 'Til Summer Comes Around") and slick guitar solos that are ready–made for the arenas. If this wasn't the same guy who put out the ambitious Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing three years ago, you could blame Nashville. But Urban has proved that he's capable of much better....full text The Defying Gravity album by Keith Urban features eleven tracks, which include Thank You, Only You Can Love Me This Way, Til Summer Comes Around, Sweet Thing and If Ever I Could Love....full text KISS A GIRL: Monty Powell, who I write a lot with, had that title. We don’t
generally write from titles, but I loved this one the minute I heard it. Even if
you’ve been in a relationship for a lot of years, it’s imperative to remember that
“spark”, the innocence, and the first part of a relationship. Why not keep that
alive – the idea of courting? Monty is good for me to work with first because
we’ve known each other a long time and there’s that comfort zone. You’re
divulging a lot. Monty also has a romantic side to him -- that’s why we click
really well when writing those kinds of songs. (Click here to read the single reivew)

IF EVER I COULD LOVE: “If Ever I Could Love” is a song I wrote with Darrell
Brown. We’ve written a lot of things before. I asked Darrell to send me some
drum loops. I write a lot from them. The title of the album comes from a lyric
on this song. We were in the studio doing some overdubs on the song and as I
was listening to the fiddle that was being played, I heard the lyrics going by and
especially that line “defying gravity.” I wrote it down and I realized that’s really
what this record is about.

SWEET THING: I have a ‘69 Mustang. I drove it to a writing session with
Monty Powell that day. This song came very quickly: about early romance and
courting. “Courting” is such a beautiful term. It keeps everything vibrant and
full of life. Monty had this great lyric and we got to the last verse, where we
needed a car reference, so he wrote that bit about the Mustang because my car
was sitting in his driveway. (Click Here to read the single review)...full text