Kenny Chesney
Welcome to the Fishbowl
Having sold more than 27Â million records, Kenny Chesney is one of country musicâs inarguably minted commodities. But from a traditional perspective, he is something of an oddity. With his good-timey sound and signature image of cutoff shorts, cowboy hat and Corona Light, he represents a peculiar strain of modern country whose main progenitor seems neither Bob Wills nor Merle Haggard, but rather Jimmy Buffett. Sometimes it seems strange to refer to Chesneyâs music as âcountryâ at all. Take, for example, his new albumâs first single. Itâs a noxious duet with Tim McGraw, âFeel Like a Rock Star,â which shoehorns in every conceivable cliche regarding rock-and-roll excess into a tune more befitting late period Van Halen than the Louvin Brothers.
Throughout, thereâs a paint-by-numbers character to Chesneyâs latest LP, âWelcome to the Fishbowl,â which seems intent on marking every box required of a major figure in the genre. This ranges from the obligatory tribute to small towns (subtly titled âIâm a Small Townâ), to the modern-technology-is-just-too-much-themed title track. There are moments that suggest Chesneyâs ability to transcend silly hats and advertising opportunities. The atmospheric âCome Overâ feels like a genuine exhibition of wounded longing, while âYou and Tequilaâ brings a shade more gravity to its tale of obsessive love gone wrong.
However, these exceptions are rare and as co-writer of only three of the recordâs 12 songs, it is difficult to imagine Chesney as much more than a punch-the-clock vessel for music carefully contrived to keep the faith with his reliable audience. âWelcome to the Fishbowlâ is far more product than personality.
â" Elizabeth Nelson
Recommended Tracks
âCome Over,â âYou and Tequilaâ
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