Country Universe – A Country Music Blog

Single Review: Blaine Larsen, “Chillin’”

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

What to make of a single that does Kenny Chesney better than Kenny Chesney does these days?  Sure, it’s derivative and completely unnecessary, but I’d rather hear this than “Ain’t Back Yet.”

I like a lot of the lines, too, particularly the imagery of “got my thinkin’ cap hangin’ on a scarecrow.” But hearing the song as a whole makes me wish I was listening to “Beer in Mexico” instead.

Actually, that’s a lie. Hearing this sent me in a completely different musical direction, one that goes a little something like this:

Ok then, chillin’, chillin’, mindin’ my business
Yo, Salt, I looked around, and I couldn’t believe this
I swear, I stared, my niece my witness
The brother had it goin’ on with somethin’ kinda…uh
Wicked, wicked – had to kick it
I’m not shy so I asked for the digits

Oh, Salt n Pepa. You really knew how to make a summertime anthem.

Grade: B-

Listen: Chillin’

2-in-1 Single Review: Alan Jackson and George Strait

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

“It’s Just That Way” (Alan Jackson)

Written by Vicky McGehee, Kylie Sackley, and Keith Stegall

“I Gotta Get to You” (George Strait)

Written by Blaine Larsen, Jim Lauderdale, and Jimmy Ritchey

Just because you can sing the phone book doesn’t mean you should.

Grade for Both:  C

Listen: It’s Just That Way ; I Gotta Get To You

Blaine Larsen, “It Did”

Friday, July 24th, 2009

You may already recognize this song from Brad Paisley’s 5th Gear album. But then again, you may not, since it’s not especially memorable, anyway. Much like Paisley’s “Then”, “It Did” sentimentalizes that life just keeps getting better and better with each progressing milestone (courtship, wedding, baby).

Paisley’s version is superior in production quality while Larsen’s warm voice outshine’s Paisley’s vocals. However, in either case, the melody and lyrics are particularly bland with Larsen’s unimaginative pop infused production managing to turn an already unengaging song into something next to insufferable. Furthermore, this song just wasn’t worth recycling in the first place.

While Larsen has not always chosen songs that have risen to the occasion of his rich baritone, I was hoping that the lead single for his third album would show us that his song selections had finally caught up to his immense vocal talent. Disappointingly, “It Did”does not.

Written by Jim Collins & Marv Green

Grade: C

Listen: Blaine Larsen, “It Did”