colt ford thanks for listening album review

Album Review: Thanks for Listening – Colt Ford

10 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on Album Review: Thanks for Listening – Colt Ford
colt ford thanks for listening album review
Average Joes Entertainment

Thanks for Listening – Colt Ford (Average Joes Entertainment, 2014)

From the moment he decided to pursue a music career, Colt Ford has fought up uphill battle. He didn’t seem to have any of the prerequisites to achieve success in an intransigent genre which increasingly favored looks over substance. He didn’t have any save one: determination. Through sheer tenacity, he slowly built a live reputation over the previous four album cycles. Now, with Thanks for Listening, he graduates to becoming an album artist as well.

Other country stars took notice too, and joining him on this release are five artists who had #1 hits, Keith Urban, Lee Brice, Justin Moore, Jerrod Niemann, and Randy Houser. Mind you, these are not people who need the extra exposure, they are involved in this project because they want to be. That alone speaks volumes about Ford’s acceptance and standing in the country music community. Other guest stars include Chase Rice, Walker Hayes, Daniel Lee, and Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson.

Appropriately, the title track is a thank-you note to his fans and the people who believed in him along the way. ‘Crickets’ is a Colt Ford interpretation of a charming love song, and on ‘Outshine Me’ he answers his (often very harsh) critics. Not abandoning familiar subject matter, ‘Farm Life’ is an ode to all things bucolic, and ‘Washed in the Mud’ celebrates trucks. ‘Sip it Slow’ is a standout with a valuable philosophy and a chorus to match.

The piece de resistance on this album, is ‘Workin’ On,’ surely one of the best written songs on any album this year. It is a self-improvement manifesto, and if you are a songwriter, you should be deeply envious of the chorus.

The production value is extremely high. Gone are the sloppiness, the overly harsh beats, and the forced performance, and in are balanced and style-appropriate tracks, and better storytelling. The many musical flourishes and surprises keep the album sonically interesting, and bring something to admire to even the less strong tracks. If you know me even a little, you know that any song (‘Cut ’em All’) that proclaims “if it flies, it dies,” I want to Ronaldo-kick into the next galaxy. But oh, if it wasn’t for that glorious fiddle line weaving its way through it.

The album has its flaws and quirks. The chorus of ‘Dirty Side’ does not live up to its potential (but it is great to hear Walker Hayes’ voice again), and it seems odd to talk about “livin’ the high life” and five tracks later tell us you’re “livin’ the farm life.” While the made-for-the-clubs mayhem of ‘Crank it Up’ contributes to the diversity of this release, it also doesn’t quite line up with the rest of it.

The most impressive thing about Colt Ford’s career is how he has found a way to connect with a very specific demographic, and then had them stay loyal to him as he developed as an artist and songwriter. If you don’t fit the target audience, that’s ok, and there is still plenty here for you to discover and enjoy. Having spent most of my life in various European cities, this album wasn’t made for me either. If you don’t set aside your preconceptions, you are missing a creative piece of work that, while it mainly seeks to have fun, genuinely has things to say. That has been my main take-away after learning to appreciate and respect Colt Ford’s career.

Thanks for listening? You’re welcome. Thanks for teaching me a lesson.

Thanks for Listening will be in stores and available digitally on July 1, 2014.

Thanks For Listening track listing:
1. ‘Thanks For Listening’ f/Daniel Lee
2. ‘She’s Like’ f/Keith Urban
3. ‘Cut ‘Em All’ f/Willie Robertson
4. ‘The High Life’ f/Chase Rice
5. ‘Dirty Side’ f/Walker Hayes
6. ‘Sip It Slow’ f/Lee Brice
7. ‘Workin’ On’
8. ‘Crank It Up’
9. ‘Farm Life’ f/Justin Moore
10. ‘Outshine Me’
11. ‘Crickets’ f/Jerrod Niemann
12. ‘Washed In The Mud’ f/Randy Houser

 

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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