Country singer Jason Aldean has released his fifth studio album, Night Train, today, delivering a fantastic album that falls comfortably into today’s country music scene. The 15-track album strikes a successful balance between fitting in perfectly with the current country music scene and exploring previously untouched areas of the genre.
Aldean has compiled a diverse but strong album, singing a mixture of slow songs, upbeat country tunes and even venturing into country rap. His musical style appears to have remained constant with Night Train, with the exception of the country rap – which could and probably should be avoided in the future.
The album’s opener, “This Nothin’ Town,” lyrically paints the picture of a small country, with something always going on in this “nothin’ town.” In the song, Aldean sings, “It ain’t all just porches and plows,” implying there is more to small towns than just being rural wastelands.
In another track “Feel That Again,” the singer focuses on small, intimate details of relationships, one many listeners will likely relate to. “Gimme some of that you and me/Some of that way back when,” he sings over slow, rhythmic percussion and something akin to a grunge electric guitar line.
Next on the album is “Talk,” a softer romantic song about a new relationship and the excitement. Aldean deviates from his usual guitar-centric songs and focuses more on the piano on the track, helping to induce a more romantic feel.
Aldean partnered up with fellow country music artists Luke Bryan and Eric Church for “The Only Way I Know,” a triumphant song about accomplishment and success. The trio of singers, who all broke into the country scene around the same time, complement each other vocally on this song, creating pleasant harmonies.
The single released last July, “Take a Little Ride,” is a true country song touching on topics like women, country living and trucks. The song is true to Aldean’s typical style, having a similar sonic feel to past hits like “Hicktown” with strong guitar sounds, as well as a quick tempo. Aldean also kept to his style in the eponymous track “Night Train,” a song that fits in well with the current country scene in style and sums the album up well. The song is backed heavily by acoustic guitar, accompanied by drums.
Aldean changed the game in the next track, “1994,” a country rap. Though the content of the song is about being a country boy, Aldean chooses to express this in a rather atypical manner for the genre. The singer should use “1994” as a learning experience to stay within his genre and the track will likely be skipped quickly by many listeners.
Aldean sings about missing home and wishing he was with his old group of friends on “Drink One For Me.” The song is dominated by Aldean’s gently wavering vocals and repetitive, lulling percussion that allow the true star of the track, his voice, to shine.
“Black Tears” carries a classic country feel, similar to an old Reba McEntire song. The song explores the depression that a woman working in a gentleman’s club feels, taking the album and his career in a conceptual direction not explored before. The song covers topics normally avoided by country music artists and is different than anything else within the genre as a whole.
Night Train clearly demonstrates Aldean’s hard work and stands as a success, offering a plethora of diverse songs while still appealing to his current audience. The diversity among the songs, however, has the ability to pull in a new audience and appeal to a wider crowd that will undoubtedly flock to Aldean’s sound, despite the failed country rap attempt.
